Panzerjäger Abteilung 743 / Panzer Abteilung 5

[Stoppelhopser]

Hello,

I got these documents. May you please help me to get some information about the tanks the unit has been equipped with? Is there any chance that this soldier was a crew member of Hetzer and Panther lateron?

Any information about combat areas are welcome - especially of Panzer Abteilung 5. (I already read the information from lexikon-der-wehrmacht)

Best regards,
Stefan

[Simon O.]

In Nov.44 the 5 Pz.Abt. had or should have had 3 kompanien with 11 panthers each and 1 kompanie with 11 Jagdpanzer.IV/L70, by mid december the last (and i guess the 4 Kp.) was desginated a panzerjäger kompanie, so my guess is your man crewed, or given his rank perhaps commanded a Jagdpanzer IV L/ 70 at that time.

2./Armee-Pz.Jg.Abt. 743 was, in january 44 equipped with the following, basically Marder III. As i understand it the unit was only re-equipped with Hetzers when reformed in july '44

1 x 7,5/40 Lorraine
9 x 7,5/40 38t
3 x 7,62 38t

[Stoppelhopser]

Thank you Simon. I am afraid I do not have any documents dated between July and January, which might prove that Wehrle was attached to this unit after it was re-equipped with Hetzers. As far as I know Panzer Abteilung 5 has been destroyed in June 1944 and reformed in January 1945. So Wehrle could not have been with Panzer Abteilung 5 much earlier. I assume that he was still member of the Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743 after it has been reformed. He has been with this unit since 1943 and served since 1939 with Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 36, which lateron was renamed/redesigned to Panzerjäger-Abteilung 36 and in 1943 to Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743. What I am trying to express: He had a very straight line of duty with this unit and there was little reason why he should have been ordered to another unit in second half of 1944 as Panzerjäger-Abteilung 743 has been reformed again shortly after it has been destroyed. Do you agree with my thoughts? I agree with your assumption that he may have been commanding a tank/td according to his rank and experience.

Where did Panzer-Abteilung 5 fight as Wehrle got wounded? Can you tell me a source for Panzer-Abteilung 5 has been equipped with Panzerjäger IV? (Just personal interest)

Best regards,
Stefan

[Simon O.]

Pz.Jg.Abt.743 was also destroyed in the summer of 44. My guess would be that he was wounded or otherwise away from his unit and was simply posted to the rebuilding Pz.Abt.5 from his ersatz unit. Because of his combat experience, specialist training and rank there would have been specific requests put in for men with his skills. Are these the only two documents you have to him? Seems like a very interesting soldier.

My information on Pz.Abt.5 comes from Nafziger's work on the order of battle of the German army.

[Stoppelhopser]

There are further documents of this soldier: ek2, ek1, eastern medal, wound badge black + silver, general assault badge, shooting lanyard (1939).

Thanks to your help I was able to do some further research:
Panzer-Abteilung 5 has been rebuilt as part of 25th Pz.Gren.Div. and participated in the fights of operation Nordwind in Alsace/Lothringen. Operation Nordwind failed and Panzer-Abteilung 5 has been sent to the eastern front where the unit arrived at Küstrin on January 31st. It was part of 9th army, army-group Weichsel. In February it fought at Küstrin-Kietz, Bleyen, Gorgast, Manschnow, Alt Tucheband, Genschmar.
As the heavy fightings of April 1945 started (Russian offensive heading to Berlin, fightings at Seelower Höhen), Pz.Abt.5 was equipped with 9 Pz. IV/70(V) and 34 Panther. It had heavy engagements at Wriezen and had to retreat along Reichsstraße 1. It passed Finow, Löwenberg, Fürstenberg, Neustrelitz, Neubrandenburg, Dahmen, Crivitz.


Wehrle must have been wounded during the fights of operation Nordwind in Saarlouis (Alsace/France). As the wound badge document has been signed by the Abteilungsführer of Pz.Abt. 5, I assume Wehrle did not receive a severe wound and did not leave the unit for medical treatment in an army hospital. (otherwise a doctor would have signed the document).

4./Pz.Abt. 5 had 5 Pz. IV/70(V) on December 31st 1944 (most likely early ones covered with Zimmerit). 22 Pz. IV/70(V) without Zimmerit cover were delivered to 25th Pz.Gren.Div on January 2nd 1945 (to 4./Pz.Abt. 5 and 1. and 2./Pz.Jg.Abt. 25).

I wonder if there is any further piece of information about action and losses of P.Abt.5's Pz. IV/70(V), especially at the time it took part at operation Nordwind? Also looking for information about 25th Pz.Gren.Div.'s locations and fightings during operation Nordwind.

Any help highly appreciated!

(Sources: Most information is picked up by various posts of Mr. Martin Block, who seems to be a ingenious German historian.)

Best regards,
Stefan