Video on Jagdtiger Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 512 und 653

[Schütze0815]

Hi gents,
I am working on a You Tube Video on Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 512 und 653.
If you have pictures or other informations on that units or fighting reports I would be happy to use it.
Thanks for your help.
Best
Sascha

[Mark of Cain]

Hi Shutze, if you do a quick search of this forum there is quite a bit of info already here regarding Jagdtiger equipped units 512 and 653 Pnzr Jag Abt. There are 2 well known films of the official surrender of the 512 unit in the city of Iserlohn featuring 3 Jagdtigers under Albert Ernst the battalion commander surrendering to the U.S forces.

The books by Andrew Devey Jagdtiger vol 1 and volume 2 cover what else is known of both JT equipped units. There is also a book by Karl Heinz Munch on the unit history of Schwere PnzrJaeger 653 which covers this older tank destroyer unit.

The panzer wreck series by Archer and Auerbach features some very good quality Jagdtiger photos from after the battles in and around the Ruhr pocket.

[Schütze0815]

Thank you for the help, I found some good stuff here, and also the iserlohn surrender. Looking for Fotos from users - if they offer them to use I dont steal from postings here....that the better way to play it save.
TX Buddy

[Mark of Cain]

Hi Schutze this is the Schw Pzr Jaeg 512 unit emblem.

The 512 Jagdtiger unit had some veteran Commanders like Albert Ernst who had served in Nashorn's earlier in the war on the Eastern Front with extensive combat experience. Ernst I believe also spent time in Jagdpanther's before moving across to the Jagdtiger tank destroyer near war's end and finised up running the show at the units surrender in Iserlohn.

Otto Carius whom every one with more than a passing interest in Tiger tanks also served in the 512 as well. Heinz Rondorf another Tiger veteran from earlier in the war whom served in The Schwere Abteilung 503 also finished up fighting in the Jagdtiger's with the 512 as well. You can read his memoire, Tigers in the mud which also mentions his time in Jagdtigers. (He wasn't a fan coming from Tigers )

I have always held an interest in Heinz Rondorf who officially commanded Jagdtiger "X 2" which is erroneously said to be the middle JT in the Iserlohn surrender. There is more than enough evidence to indicate the middle JT is not "X2". "X2" is seen in the nearby Lemarthe area knocked out with different battle damage.

I wouldn't mind putting Heinz Rondorf in charge of Ernst's "X1" at Iserlohn surrender as by this late stage the higher ranks had abandoned the area and this put Cptn Ernst in charge of all remaining units. Rondorf who was extensively decorated with awards including the German Cross in Gold I feel would have slid into Ernst Command JT "X1" which is definitely present in Iserlohn footage.

I believe he Ernst would have been far to busy with the day to day running of the battalion and other forces in and around the Iserlohn area to be scrapping about in his command Jagdtiger.

If you Google Aussie artist Barry Spicer he has done an awesome painting recently of Jagdtiger X2 with Heinz Rondorf aboard.