StuG WP related to Lehr-Batterie 901 and the formation of early StuG units

[Archi]

Hello !

Here is a Wehrpass I found interesting:
It is related to a Lehr unit (StuG-Batterie Lehr-Rgt. 901 in winter battles 42/43 in Southern Russia)
and also to the formation of the first StuG units at Jüterbog and later to the StuG Schule Burg.

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1.) Pre-War : short time training in (E) = Ergänzungs-units :

Kurt Schroeder was born in 1910 and therefore a member of the so called "Weisse Jahrgänge":
too young to be trained or serve in WW I, but too old for the regular drafts, that started in 1935.
Those men were typically drafted to short term (6-8 week) training courses, which took place in so called (E) units = Ergänzungs-Kp./Bttr.
This is what happened to him in May 1939. His first training unit was the 7. (E) Bttr. of Art.Rgt. 39, led by Hptm. Maedel,
where he was trained with the 15cm s.F.H. 18, the standard weapon of the schwere (heavy) Artillery units.

This battery was subordinated to Grenz-Artillerie-Abt. 101, one of only 3 Grenz-Artillery units (101, 105, 106) that were ever raised.
(Not really important, but as I am interested in all those strange varieties of early "Grenz" units, this was a nice surprise !)

Interestingly, this unit was located at the Jüterbog training ground, to which place Kurt Schroeder would return later and spent
a large part of his career.

In July 39, he would be transferred for another ~5 weeks of traing to the 5./Art.Rgt. 59, located at Brandenburg (Havel), before he
would be dismissed on 14th of August, 1939.

His rank was still : Kanonier, but he was found capable of becoming an NCO (Unterführer-Anwärter).

[ s.F.H. 18 photo from : Uwe Kleinert, Organisationsgeschichte der deutschen Heeresartillerie ]

...

[Archi]

2.a) Short history of the birth of the "StuG idea" :

Now the real interesting part begins and from now on he always served with the "Sturmartillerie" !

There was some discussion, why the Sturmgeschütze (StuG) would be typically manned by artillery soldiers :
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...3&postcount=56
Therefore, and because this soldiers career is related to the formation of the very first StuG field units, a small section,
how this weapons branch developed :
The idea of an armored infantry support weapon was brought up by von Manstein and was supported by Model, Beck and others
from 1935/36 onward. 5 test vehicles, based on a Pz III carriage, were built (but with a soft iron hull) and tested successfully until 1938.

Then in the German army a discussion started, which weapons branch should take care of the further development :
The Infantry was concerned about the maintenance issues, the Panzer branch (= Guderian) was opposed to the whole idea
(because the very limited tank production capabilities should not be dispersed),
and so it was finally decided, that the StuG development would be run by the Artillery branch.

Below are some early pictures from the early testing at Jüterbog training ground, displaying those soft "Series 0" StuG and their
support vehicles. (From: Fleischer, Die deutschen Sturmgeschütze)

[Archi]

2.b) Starting the formation of StuG combat units

The first combat ready StuG III were delivered in early 1940. Around the same time, a Sturmartillerie-Aufstellungs-Abteilung was formed
and the formation of StuG Batterie 640 started. This was the first of many StuG units to follow.

Until 1942, most of those StuG-units were raised in Jüterbog under control of the Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment,
respectively the Sturmartillerie-Aufstellungs-Abteilung, the unit of Kurt Schroeder.

Below some pictures taken during the training in early 1940.

....

[Archi]

2.c) Service with Sturmartillerie-Aufstellungs-Abteilung :


Kurt Schroeder was either redrafted (or volunteered) in February 1940 and from then on continuously served with StuG Lehr-units,
first under Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment in Jüterbog and from mid 1943 at the Sturmgeschützschule Burg (near Magdeburg).

With his first unit, the "Sturmartillerie-Aufstellungs-Abteilung", he was trained as Unterführer (NCO) [Unterführer-Lehrgang] and
received also a "Sturm-Artillerie-Ausbildung".
The task of this unit was to organize the formation of the very early Sturmgeschütz formations.

Sadly, no dates are entered on p. 21 . I would especially be interested, how long such a "StuG-Ausbildung" was and what it did include ?!
Training as driver, Kanonier, some technical topics (or a mix) ? If anyone could give some help/hints on this, that would be great !

He was promoted to Gefreiter in April 1940 and to Uffz. on 1.4.41.

From the organizational point of view, it seems that Kurt Schroeders unit, the Sturmartillerie-Aufstellungs-Abteilung, was formed in
Jan./Feb. 1940 and was expanded to 2 batteries (17. and 18./A.L.R.) in April/May 1940.

It later became: VI. Abt./Artillerie-Lehr-Rgt. and, with the split of the A.L.R. into two parts, finally became III./Art.-Lehr-Rgt. 2,
as it is written in the WP of Lt. Kohbrok (but not in this WP).

(See last scan for the organization in Oct. 1942, shortly before the 8. Bttr. was sent to the field with Inf.-Lehr-Rgt. 901.)

....

[Archi]

3.) Combat in Winter 1942/43 in Southern Russia :

Kurt Schroeder continued to serve with III./ALR. 2 until mid December 1942.

With the desaster at Stalingrad developing, Infanterie-Lehr-Regiment 901 was mobilized as field unit. A StuG battery (8.)
from A.L.R. 2 was assigned to Inf.-Lehr-Rgt., to improve its firepower and mobility. The official designation seems to
have been : StuG-Batterie Lehr-Regiment 901 (mot)

This battery is often designated as StuG-Lehr-Batterie 901. I do not know its exact organization, but as the Lehr units
usually were organized to the most recent standards, I assume that it looked close to this :
https://www.wwiidaybyday.com/kstn/kstn446a1nov42.htm
Then it would consist of ~160 men, and 10 StuG III with long barrel.

In winter 1942/43, the German troops were better prepared (at least partially) for the harsh winter conditions :
Felt boots and winter camouflage was available, and tanks and Sturmgeschütze were equipped with track extensions, to improve mobility.
(see photos below).

To provide some background, the first map shows the general situation in late 1942, when the defensive front of the Italian 8th Army
had been broken through (Operation "Little Saturn", follow up to the Stalingrad operation "Uranus").

Some important strong points, that served as wave-breakers, were Kantemirowka, Tschertkowo, Millerowo.
Several German units were sent to that area in late Dec. 1942, to stabilze the front again and relieve those garrisons.

Inf.Lehr-Rgt. 901 and StuG-Lehr-Batterie 901 arrived around Christmas at Starobielsk. They were subordinated to 19. Pz.Div.,
which also had just been thrown in from HGr. Mitte.

Until March 1943, Lehr-Rgt. 901 and its StuG battery 901 fought mainly in close connection with the 19. Pz.Div.

The second map shows the major tasks/events and deployments, that occured for this combat group :
(It also shows, how complicated those actions were, moving back and forth between several main points of action)
1.) retake Strelzowka and establish connection with Tschertkowo, to relieve the garrison
2.) Hold the traffic junction at Starobielsk as long as possible, to allow a retreat of those relieved forces
3.) Stop the Soviet advance West of the Donez
4.) Drive back the enemy across the Donez and secure some starting positions for a counter offensive in spring/summer.

...

[Archi]

3.a) relieving Tschertkowo :

The following is compiled from the Lexikon article on Pz.Gren.Lehr-Rgt 901, a KC article on Hptm. Alfred Müller (Bttr.Chef 901)
and the pictorial (Rolf Hinze) and written (Knobelsdorff) histories of 19. Pz.Div. Any additional infos or pictures would be great !
(most of the pictures are from the Hinze book).
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...r/PGR901-R.htm

The first task was to establish a new frontline along the river Derkul, to stop the Red Armies advance. Then a bridgehead at
Strelzowka should be established, halfway between Belowodsk and Tschertkowo. (see photo 1 for an impression of the terrain).

Strelzowka was taken on 29.12.42. The final goal was to establish contact with Tschertkowo, where remnants of Italian troops
and of the 298. Inf.Div. were encircled.
[These were sometimes mentioned as Gruppe Tyroller and Gruppe Göller. Every additional info would be nice !].

On 16. January 1943, those battlegroups could be relieved (see pictures 2 and 3 below).

....

[Archi]

3.b) Battle for Starobielsk and beyond the Donez

Then the StuG Battr. 901 fought as rearguard : At Strelzowka, Bielowodsk, and Jewsugg and Schulginka important battles took place.
From the 20.1.43 onward it is reported, that the StuG battery 901 knocked out many tanks (among them several T 34) and relieved
many infantry battlegroups from encirclement.
Despite all efforts, by 23.1.43 Starobielsk had to be abandoned and the ammunition depot was blown up (see photo 2).

By the 6.2.43, the battery had been driven back behind the Donez and fought important battles at Toschkowa and Loskutowka (8.2.).

Around that time, the Red Armies advance could be finally halted.
For these actions of a very small unit described above, the Batterie-Chef Hauptmann Alfred Müller was awarded the Ritterkreuz.

The map below shows all places marked in blue, where it is confirmed from various sources, that StuG-Lehr-Bttr. 901 was heavily involved.
Places related to actions of Inf.-Lehr-Rgt. 901 in general, are marked green (underlying map is dated ~mid March 43).

....

[Archi]

3.c) Early March 1943 counterattack :

From early March 1943 onward, the German army started a counterattack and drove the enemy back across the Donez.
This task was achieved within a few days. At that time, the StuG still used the track extensions (1st photo below).

What happened in the second half of March is unclear to me : Was the battery 901 dispatched somewhere else, or still with Lehr-Rgt. 901 ?!
The second photo is the only one I found, which clearly shows the tactical sign of Lehr-Batterie 901 : a windmill !
(At that time, the track extensions had been removed, so I assume, this was taken in late March or early April 43.)

On 2. April, FW. Schroeder was wounded at Donezkowo by shrapnels. I couldn't find that location. Any help would be great !

He was sent home first to the Sanitätsstaffel Döberitz-Elsgrund, which entered his VWA schwarz on p. 21.

A few days later, his battery was also sent home and returned to Art.Lehr-Rgt. 2.
During his short time of action, Kurt Schröder was awarded the Sturmabzeichen (allgemein) and the VWA (schwarz).

If anyone has further infos on the 2nd photo (or other photos from this battery) or could shed some light on what happened
in March/April 1943, I would really appreciate it.

The last info I found on the Inf.-Lehr-Rgt. 901 is, that in early April 43 it was SE of Lissitschansk, in the area of 62. Inf.Div.

....

[Archi]

4.) Mid 1943- 1945 : Training/Teaching at Sturmgeschütz-Schule Burg (bei Magdeburg) :

After his return, he was for a short while with Sturmgeschütz-Gerät-Abteilung of III./Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment(mot.) 2.
In early June 43, he was transferred to the StuG-Schule Burg (near Magdeburg), which was just in the process of formation.
This school became now the new training center of the Sturmgeschütz branch.

Within this school, he first served one year in the 2. Lehrbatterie, passing over his experiences from the field service to
new StuG crews. Mid 1944 he was transferred to the Taktische Lehrstab of the school. Here he stayed until the end.
Interestingly, here he also met again with Major Albert Müller, his former Chef of the Lehr-Bttr. 901, who became Kdr. of this Lehrstab
in July 1944, and from August onward became Kommandeur of Sturmgeschützschule Burg.

By August 1944, the school had expanded and now consisted of (see scan below):
- Aufstellungs-Abteilung (formation of new units)
- Lehr-Abteilung (demonstration unit)
- Lehrstab (overseeing instruction courses for Officers, officer candidates, technical branches and officials)
- Versuchs-Gruppe (probably testing new/improved weapons, vehicles etc.)

What happened at the very end is unclear :
- From the combat ready elements, mid April 45 a Kampfgruppe Burg was formed, which finally ended in Inf.Div. Schill.

- The rest of the school was first sent to the area of Pilsen, then via locations in Bavaria finally sent to Millstatt (southern Austria,
about 20km from the Italian border).
Here they went into British captivity, 10 days after the end of the war and were finally released end of June 45 at Aalen (Baden-Württemberg).

A very good account of these last actions can be found here (big thanks to Roland_P ) :
https://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/i...bei-magdeburg/

As no further entries are made pointing to any combat unit, I think it is most likely, that he ended up with this part of the school,
but I am surprised, that no entries are made about his dismissal ...

Any further infos on every part of his career (or the StuG training in general) would be very welcome.
All other comments are welcome as well !

Best regards,

Archi

[fabioq]

Nice topic.

In February 1940, the Organisationsabteilung demanded:

" Subject: Volunteers for infantry escort artillery.
For the establishment of armoured Sturmgeschütz batteries non-commissioned officers and conscripted men of the artillery will be needed. These have to be recruited from volunteers only in the artillery regiments of infantry divisions . . .
Only fully-trained, independently acting and combative non-commissioned officers (vehicle commanders, platoon leaders) and conscripted men (gunners, radio operators) can be considered.
The identity of the service (armoured Sturmartillerie) will be reported only to army officials and has to be kept secret. All voluntary reporting will be referred to under the designation: infantry escort artillery.
The following are ordered to supply:
Army group A 45 NCOs 120 men
Army group B 25 NCOs 60 men
Army group C 20 NCOs 70 men
All those volunteers selected are to be sent to the artillery school Jüterbog."

[Edward]

Archi, fine write up with plenty of information to read over. The "Sturm-Artillerie-Ausbildung" entry is also neat.

[mufasa]

Great Wehrpass, great unit, great research and great studi on the Stug Batterie.

Thanks Oriano

[senders221]

Great research!! Amazing WP!

[Lionel H.]

Awesome researches, as usual for our Member Archi

[Archi]

Hello !

Edward, Oriano, senders221, Lionel :
Many thanks for your kind comments !

fabioq : Thanks for the interesting info !

Best regards,

Archi