Pz Funk Komp A 657, help needed

[Joda]

Can you help me finding info about

- Pz Funk Komp A 657

(FpNr48678)

Which unit was it attached to? Where did it served during 1942?

Thank you very much!

[Simon O.]

As it became Panzer-Nachrichten-Kompanie Rhodos, i would assume this was an early name for the unit, perhaps originally earmarked for the 999 le.Afrika division as it was also desginated a tropical unit but ended up being used to form Sturm Division Rhodos.

[Archi]

Hi !

It will be very hard to find any details on such a small unit. Therefore it might be useful to know,
where this unit is mentioned, and what you know about it so far.

What I could find :
I agree with Simon in general.
It seems Panzer-Nachrichten-Kompanie 657 was raised in very late 1942
or in early 1943 (not sure at which location) and intended for use in Afrika.
(the "a" should be small and refers to the KStN used for this specific unit).
It was probably intended to be (or for a shortwhile was ?) subordinated
to HGr. Nachrichten-Regiment 10 (Afrika) (see scan).

It shows up in some Kriegsgliederungen, but not before ~Feb. 1943.
(I've attached those two, left is the earlier one. NARA T78 R406 F6375707/09).
The handwriting is very hard to read, but I think it says :
(Perhaps someone can read that better or has as better version of that roll.)

On the left :
above : z.[ur] Z[ei]t. in Aufstellung (in process of formation).
below : ... ... Pz.Nachr.Rgt 10 (?!)

Around the second symbol (on the right, dated probably May 1943) :
Umglied.[erung] in Panzer Nachr.[ichten] Kp. Rhodos durch WK XI
befohlen bis 5.6.43. (followed by an order number).
Nach Umglied.[erung] in Panzer Nachr.[ichten] Kp. Rhodos krglm.
(kriegsgliederungsmässig) bei Sturm Division Rhodos.
(followed by two order numbers).

Translation in short : In May 1943, orders were given to WK XI to reorganize the unit
into Pz.Nachr.Kp. Rhodos and after that, it should be a firm part of Sturm-Division Rhodos.

Cheers,

Archi

[Joda]

Hi guys,

many thanks for your replies.

I have a soldbuch of a soldier who served with Sturm Division Rhodos, and in the pages dedicated for equipments, there is the stamp for "Dienstelle FpNr 48678" 31.12.42.
For sure he served into the Pz Nachr Komp "R" (Rhodos), as written at page 4, but I'd like to understand if the Pz Funk Komp A 657 was part of the units in Africa or not..it was intended for use in Africa, but was it sent there or only it will became the Sturmdivision Rhodos?

Thank you for your help!

[Archi]

Hi !

Thanks for your reply.
If you have the Soldbuch, you should be able to answer the question:
If the unit (or this soldier) were transported to Africa, in principle there should be an entry :
"Hat am [... date ...] afrikanischen Boden betreten"
somewhere in the the Soldbuch. (~ set his foot on african soil on .. .. ..).

Cheers,

Archi

[Joda]

Hi !

Thanks for your reply.
If you have the Soldbuch, you should be able to answer the question:
If the unit (or this soldier) were transported to Africa, in principle there should be an entry :
"Hat am [... date ...] afrikanischen Boden betreten"
somewhere in the the Soldbuch. (~ set his foot on african soil on .. .. ..).

Cheers,

Archi

Thank you Archi!
I'll have a look inside..

[Joda]

..for sure it has no "Tdf" (Tropendienstfahig) medical note.. So I suppose he was never sent in Afrika..