A question regarding the 2/FJ PzJg Abt 1 in May 1944

[moranimal]

To all,

Someone told me the following:

"There are a number of photos of the FJ panthers, Gefr Fries from
2/Fallsch PZ Jager ABt1 in may 1944 is definetly sitting in a
panther tank (on 21/22 may he knocked out 17 enemy tanks and was awarded the knights cross of the Iron cross)"

Also quoted the following:

To quote from the i site I found about him "Leutnant , Herbert Fries member of the 1st Fallschirmjœger Anti-tank Battalion, 2nd Company. During the 3rd battle of Cassino in a Panther he nicknamed "Schlafmütze", the 19 year old knouckout 20 allied
sherman tanks while holding the left flank. Thus preventing the
encirclement of paras pulling out from Cassino and the Abby. In the end 3 JadgPzIV's and 20 paras were all there was between incirclement and escape."

From: <http://www.fallschirmartz.com/fjkc_02.html>

My question to all of you, is it true that Panthers (Pz V) were issued to the 1st PzJg Abt of the 1 FJD? The account ends with JgPz IVs performing rear-guard duties, and this would make sense to me. However, I'm open to any information that you might have, and thank you in advance for it. (I'll cross post over on the FJ Forum as well.)

[Mike C]

Hello Bill,

During the time of the Anzio-Cassino battles, the only panthers in Italy were those of the 1st Battalion, Panzer Regiment 4 (an independent abteilung). The 1 FJ Division was reinforced by assault guns (as I remember, from the 907th Assault Gun Brigade) at Cassino - but did not, I believe, have any form of integral armour.

No panzerjaeger abteilung (Heer or Luftwaffe) that I know of was ever issued Panthers - generally they were a mix of towed and self-propelled anti-tank guns.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[moranimal]

You are correct!

Hi Mike,

The person I was talking with insisted that the FJ had Panthers. I was skeptical, but without direct proof or access to my information, what could I say? Anyway, it's straightened out, and thanks again for your help.