Elite • 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers NIGEL THOMAS PhD ILLUSTRATED BY JOHNNY SHUMATE Series editor Martin Windrow 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 1 28/11/2016 15:27 This electronic edition published in 2017 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First published in Great Britain in 2017 by Osprey Publishing Nigel Thomas would like to thank the correspondents whose interest, PO Box 883, Oxford, OX1 9PL, UK kindness and patience have contributed so much to this book: Nik Cornish, 1385 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA Christopher Harrod, and Ventsislav Tchakov. He would also like to thank his E-mail: [email protected] wife Heather for her tireless encouragement and support. For further information on Nigel Thomas or to contact him please refer to Osprey Publishing, part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc his website © 2017 Osprey Publishing Ltd. nt-associates.com. All rights reserved COVER PHOTO Panzergrenadier MG42 team, probably from 4th or 5th Pz You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make Div, prepare to support a PzKw V Panther tank in defence of Kovel, north- available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means western Ukraine, some time during March–July 1944. Note two men (left) (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, with Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifles and the associated canvas triple photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written magazine pouches. (Tchakov Collection) permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Print ISBN: 978.1 47281 943 7 PDF ebook ISBN: 978 1 47281 944 4 ePub ebook ISBN: 9781472819451 Editor: Martin Windrow Indexed by Mark Swift Typeset in Sabon and Myraid Pro Originated by PDQ Media, Bungay, UK Osprey Publishing supports the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. Between 2014 and 2018 our donations are being spent on their Centenary Woods project in the UK. www.ospreypublishing.com To find out more about our authors and books visit www.ospreypublishing.com. Here you will find our full range of publications, as well as exclusive online content, details of forthcoming events and the option to sign up for our newsletters. You can also sign up for Osprey membership, which entitles you to a discount on purchases made through the Osprey site and access to our extensive online image archive. Abbreviations used in text and battle-order tables Acronyms Armd armoured AA Anti-aircraft Bde brigade APC Armoured personnel carrier Co company AT Anti-tank Div Division C. Central Engr Engineer CO Commanding officer Gren Grenadier E. East Hvy Heavy FBD Führer Escort Div (in German, Begleit) Inf Infantry FGD Führer Grenadier Div Lt Light FHH Feldherrnhalle Mot Motorized GD Grossdeutschland M’cycle Motorcycle HMG Heavy machine gun Mtr Mortar HQ Headquarters (in German, Stab) Ptn Platoon IG Infantry gun PzFus Panzer Fusilier LAA Light anti-aircraft PzGren Panzergrenadier LMG Light machine gun Regt Regiment MG Machine gun Repl Replacement N. North Sigs Signals S. South Sqn Squadron SA Sturmabteilung Wpns Weapons SMG Sub-machine gun SP Self-propoelled W. West 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 2 28/11/2016 15:27 CONTENTS ORIGINS 4 Background, and definitions INFANTRY IN PANZER DIVISIONS, 1935–45 8 Pre-war composition, 1935–39 First Panzer expansion, 1939–40 – second expansion, n 1940–41 – third expansion, 1941–42 Panzergrenadiers, 1942–45 Panzer Divisions, n n 1943–44 The Panzer-Division 45 – formations and final deployments n Field uniforms: National Socialist symbols Headgear – tunics & legwear – overclothing – n winter clothing – camouflage clothing – footwear Insignia: Ranks & field rank insignia – branch insignia – unit insignia Equipment & personal weapons: Officers – senior NCOs – junior NCOs and men INFANTRY IN LIGHT DIVISIONS, 1938–43 38 Pre-war composition, 1934–39 At war, 1939 North Africa, 1941–43 n n Tropical field uniforms, 1941–43: Headgear – tunics & overclothing – legwear & footwear Tropical field uniforms, 1943–45 n Light Div & tropical insignia: Ranks & field rank insignia – branch insignia – other insignia Equipment INFANTRY IN MOTORIZED INFANTRY DIVISIONS, 1937–43 48 Pre-war composition, 1937–39 Expansion, 1940–41 Eastern Front, 1941–42 n n Reorganization, 1943 Field uniforms & insignia: Ranks – branch & unit insignia INFANTRY IN PANZERGRENADIER DIVISIONS, 1943–45 55 Reorganization – the Panzergrenadier-Division 43 Retreat, 1944 – n the Panzergrenadier-Division 44 1945: the final months n Field uniforms & insignia: Ranks – branch & unit insignia SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 63 INDEX 64 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 3 28/11/2016 15:27 WORLD WAR II GERMAN MOTORIZED INFANTRY & PANZERGRENADIERS ORIGINS The German armed forces, the Reichswehr, officially formed on 1 January 1921, comprised the Army (Reichsheer) and Navy (Reichsmarine). It was subject to the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, signed 28 June 1919 as a post-Great War settlement; this limited German military strength to 100,000 professional personnel, whilst an air force, a general staff, tanks, anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns, and poison gas shells were forbidden. The Reichsheer defied Versailles by assigning cover-names to units prohibited by the Treaty. Thus seven Motor Battalions (Kraftfahrabteilungen), numbered 1–7 and ostensibly transport units, trained as tank units. In 1927 Major Heinz Guderian joined the Transport Department of the Truppenamt (the cover-name for the General Staff). Developing his theories, he concluded that battlefield success required the creation of armoured (Panzer) divisions, comprising fast battle tanks with integral infantry, artillery and support services mounted on trucks or tracked personnel carriers.1 The tanks would bypass the enemy’s strongpoints, infiltrate weakly held positions in overwhelming force, and break through the opposing front line, Feldwebel of the trapping enemy troops in Grossdeutschland Motorized Infantry Regiment, Soviet the rear and causing the Union, July 1941. He wears an outflanked front line to M1935 field tunic with dark collapse. Guderian regarded green collar and M1939 collar supporting infantry as patches, but M1940 field-grey essential for a successful shoulder straps. He displays the Iron Cross 1st Class, and the armoured force. (His ideas, M1940 General Assault Badge though distinctive, were awarded to motorized infantry influenced or shared by before their bronze version of Col John Fuller and Capt the Infantry Assault Badge was introduced on 1 June 1940. Basil Liddell Hart in Great His binoculars and MP40 SMG suggest that he is a platoon commander. He wears on his 1 This book covers only Army right sleeve a ‘Großdeutschland’ units, not Waffen-SS or Luftwaffe cuff title. equivalents. 4 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 4 28/11/2016 15:27 Generalmajor Oswald Lutz, Inspector of Motor Troops (seated centre) and his staff in 1933. Seated right is his chief-of-staff, Oberstleutnant Heinz Guderian, who would command 2nd Panzer Group during Operation ‘Barbarossa’ in 1941; seated left is Major Walther Nehring, who would command the Africa Corps in 1942. Although Guderian achieved more lasting fame and reputation, it is Lutz who is regarded today as the father of the Panzer troops. Note Reichsheer M1920 service uniform with the eight-button tunic still popular during the Third Reich period. The provincial cockade worn on the front of the cap crown would Britain, MajGen Jean-Baptiste Estienne and LtCol Charles de Gaulle in France, be replaced in February 1934 by the eagle-and-swastika. and Gen Mikhail Tukhachevsky in the Soviet Union.) (Author’s collection) On 1 October 1931 GenMaj Oswald Lutz, today regarded as the father of German armoured troops, was appointed Inspector of Motorized Troops with Obstlt Guderian as his chief of staff, and the two officers formed a productive relationship. Following the installation of Hitler’s National Socialist government in 1933, and the renaming of the Reichswehr as the tri-service Wehrmacht on 21 May 1935, the first three Panzer divisions (numbered 1–3) were formed on 15 October. On 1 November 1935 Lutz became the first officer to be promoted General der Panzertruppe, but on 28 February 1938 he was dismissed during Hitler’s purge of senior generals and replaced by Guderian, who was prepared to accommodate Hitler’s régime. Guderian went on to pursue a distinguished career, becoming Inspector of Panzer Troops on 1 March 1943 and, on 21 July 1944 with the rank of Generaloberst, Chief of the Army General Staff. Definitions Motorized infantry followed the advancing tanks in ‘softskin’ trucks, which carried or towed support weapons such as heavy machine guns, mortars, anti-tank guns and infantry guns. In terrain with a good modern road network (but not elsewhere) they could move as fast as tanks, occupying territory and mopping up resistance. On contact with the enemy they would dismount to fight on foot like ordinary infantry. In June 1939 the SdKfz 251 halftrack armoured personnel carrier began production, and from September 1939 these vehicles began to transport the Panzer divisions’ integral Rifle and later Panzergrenadier (‘armoured grenadier’) regiments. The APCs allowed them to keep up with the tanks’ cross-country advance, and to fight as mechanized infantry, engaging the enemy under fire before dismounting. For ease of reference, in this book the Rifle, Motorized Infantry (Mot Inf) and Panzergrenadier (PzGren) regiments are described under their various parent division types. Individual regiments can be located by using the divisional order-of-battle and deployment Tables 1–5. Motorized infantry and PzGren units were assigned to divisions as follows: 5 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 5 28/11/2016 15:27 A platoon of motorized infantry make their way through a Polish town in September 1939 mounted on four 8-tonne SdKfz 7 halftrack tractors, one ten- man section per vehicle. The troops are wearing standard infantry uniforms and light field equipment. (Bundesarchiv, Bild 1011-380-0066-27) • In 43 Panzer Divs, active between 15 October 1935 and 8 May 1945, each with one or two Mot Rifle (19 September 1939, ‘Rifle’; 5 July 1942, ‘Panzergrenadier’) Regts. • In eight Light Divs, active between 1 April 1938 and 13 May 1943, each with one-three Cavalry Rifle, Rifle or Mot Inf Regts. • In 17 Motorized Infantry Divs, active between 12 October 1937 and 22 June 1943, each with two-three Mot Inf (15 October 1942, ‘Motorized Grenadier’) Regts. • In 15 Panzergrenadier Divs, active between 23 June 1943 and 8 May 1945, mainly organized from former Mot Inf Divs, each with two-three Mot Gren (1 December 1944, ‘Panzergrenadier’) Regts. BLITZKRIEG, 1939–40 ‘S’ for Rifles. He carries a holstered Walther P38 pistol and A (1) Oberfeldwebel, 9th Cavalry Rifle Regt; Bzura, Poland, 10x50 ‘long binoculars’. September 1939 (3) Obergefreiter mit mehr als 6 Dienstjahren, 2nd Rifle This senior NCO at 9th Regiment HQ, 3rd Light Div wears Regt; Dunkirk, France, May 1940 Reichsheer uniform items with Third Reich insignia: M1918 This 2nd Pz Div ‘old sweat’, displaying on his left sleeve the helmet, M1934 field tunic with dark field-grey collar and chevron-and-star that marks more than six years’ service, M1934 pointed shoulder straps braided with NCO Tresse, wears the M1935 field cap with M1937 insignia and Panzer- M1935 trousers, and the short-lived M1933 buckle-boots. His pink ‘Russia braid’ chevron (piping with a central line of M1933 collar braids have Cavalry golden-yellow central stitching). His M1935 tunic has a dark green collar with M1938 pipings; in peacetime his shoulder-straps would have borne patches and M1938 shoulder straps, and shows the radio- the regimental insignia ‘S/9’. He wears the enlisted ranks’ belt operator’s sleeve badge above his chevron, and the Austrian with M1936 buckle, and carries a P08 Luger, Zeiß 6x30 ‘small Occupation Medal ribbon on his left breast. His M1935 binoculars’, and an M1935 dispatch case. trousers are tucked into M1927 long-shaft marching boots. His (2) Major, 1st Rifle Regt; Cheveuges, France, May 1940 M1935 helmet hangs by its chinstrap from his rifleman’s This battalion CO in 1st Pz Div has an M1934 ‘old style’ officers’ equipment, which has M1935 concealed supporting straps; field cap with embroidered insignia; a remodelled ex-Austrian visible are the M1911 ammunition pouches, M1938 gas cape Army M1933 officer’s field tunic, retaining Austrian three- on the chest, and M1931 water bottle behind his right hip. pointed breast-pocket flaps but adding a German M1935 dark Hidden at this angle are the M1931 breadbag and messtin on green collar; officers’ M1920 riding breeches, and M1919 the back of his belt, the frogged bayonet scabbard and M1934 riding boots. His M1932 collar braids have Panzer-pink centre entrenching tool on the left hip, and the M1936 ‘short’ pipings. For security he too has removed the regimental gasmask canister on the lower back. His weapon is the number from his M1940 field shoulder straps, but retains the standard Mauser Kar98k rifle. 6 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 6 28/11/2016 15:27 A platoon of motorized infantry make their way through a Polish town in September 1939 1 mounted on four 8-tonne SdKfz 7 halftrack tractors, one ten- 3 man section per vehicle. The troops are wearing standard infantry uniforms and light field equipment. (Bundesarchiv, Bild 1011-380-0066-27) 2 • In 43 Panzer Divs, active between 15 October 1935 and 8 May 1945, each with one or two Mot Rifle (19 September 1939, ‘Rifle’; 5 July 1942, ‘Panzergrenadier’) Regts. • In eight Light Divs, active between 1 April 1938 and 13 May 1943, each with one-three Cavalry Rifle, Rifle or Mot Inf Regts. • In 17 Motorized Infantry Divs, active between 12 October 1937 and 22 June 1943, each with two-three Mot Inf (15 October 1942, ‘Motorized Grenadier’) Regts. • In 15 Panzergrenadier Divs, active between 23 June 1943 and 8 May 1945, mainly organized from former Mot Inf Divs, each with two-three Mot Gren (1 December 1944, ‘Panzergrenadier’) Regts. BLITZKRIEG, 1939–40 ‘S’ for Rifles. He carries a holstered Walther P38 pistol and A (1) Oberfeldwebel, 9th Cavalry Rifle Regt; Bzura, Poland, 10x50 ‘long binoculars’. September 1939 (3) Obergefreiter mit mehr als 6 Dienstjahren, 2nd Rifle This senior NCO at 9th Regiment HQ, 3rd Light Div wears Regt; Dunkirk, France, May 1940 Reichsheer uniform items with Third Reich insignia: M1918 This 2nd Pz Div ‘old sweat’, displaying on his left sleeve the helmet, M1934 field tunic with dark field-grey collar and chevron-and-star that marks more than six years’ service, M1934 pointed shoulder straps braided with NCO Tresse, wears the M1935 field cap with M1937 insignia and Panzer- M1935 trousers, and the short-lived M1933 buckle-boots. His pink ‘Russia braid’ chevron (piping with a central line of M1933 collar braids have Cavalry golden-yellow central stitching). His M1935 tunic has a dark green collar with M1938 pipings; in peacetime his shoulder-straps would have borne patches and M1938 shoulder straps, and shows the radio- the regimental insignia ‘S/9’. He wears the enlisted ranks’ belt operator’s sleeve badge above his chevron, and the Austrian with M1936 buckle, and carries a P08 Luger, Zeiß 6x30 ‘small Occupation Medal ribbon on his left breast. His M1935 binoculars’, and an M1935 dispatch case. trousers are tucked into M1927 long-shaft marching boots. His (2) Major, 1st Rifle Regt; Cheveuges, France, May 1940 M1935 helmet hangs by its chinstrap from his rifleman’s This battalion CO in 1st Pz Div has an M1934 ‘old style’ officers’ equipment, which has M1935 concealed supporting straps; field cap with embroidered insignia; a remodelled ex-Austrian visible are the M1911 ammunition pouches, M1938 gas cape Army M1933 officer’s field tunic, retaining Austrian three- on the chest, and M1931 water bottle behind his right hip. pointed breast-pocket flaps but adding a German M1935 dark Hidden at this angle are the M1931 breadbag and messtin on green collar; officers’ M1920 riding breeches, and M1919 the back of his belt, the frogged bayonet scabbard and M1934 riding boots. His M1932 collar braids have Panzer-pink centre entrenching tool on the left hip, and the M1936 ‘short’ pipings. For security he too has removed the regimental gasmask canister on the lower back. His weapon is the number from his M1940 field shoulder straps, but retains the standard Mauser Kar98k rifle. 7 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 7 28/11/2016 15:27 An SdKfz 251/1 Ausf A halftrack personnel carrier, with a partial crew and lacking the front and rear LMGs, photographed probably in Germany before the outbreak of war. This model was unarmoured, being manufactured with 5mm plain steel plates to speed up production; 350 examples had been built by 1940. This was the original version of the personnel carrier which entered service in September 1939; some saw action in the Polish campaign, and with 1st Rifle Regt in the Blitzkrieg against France in May 1940. (Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-801- 0664-37/ CC-BY-SA 3.0) Although the SdKfz 251/1 had double rear doors, this mounted infantry section photographed in 1940 are practising leaping out over the sides. They have stowed their packs in trucks of the unit’s rear echelon, leaving them encumbered only by light battle equipment. The APC has two MG34 LMGs mounted at front and rear. (Nik Cornish at www.Stavka.org.uk) INFANTRY IN PANZER DIVISIONS, 1935–45 Pre-war composition, 1935–39 The first three 14,373-strong Panzer Divs (numbered 1–3), were formed Twenty-seven Panzer Divs (numbered 1–27) were formed between 15 15 October 1935. A Panzerdivision 35, commanded by a Generalleutnant October 1935 and 1 October 1942; 23 of them (numbered 1–20, 22–24) (in wartime, Generalmajor), included two two-battalion Pz Regts, a contained Rifle Bdes, formed 12 September 1935–2 December 1941 and Motorized Rifle Bde, and support units and services. 1st–3rd Mot Rifle Bdes carrying the divisional number. A further 16 Panzer Divs were formed 5 April (Schützenbrigade (mot)), usually under an Oberst, comprised a Bde HQ, a 1943–6 April 1945: six numbered 116, 155, 179, 232, 233 & 273; three Mot Rifle Regt (Schützen-Regiment (mot)), and a Motorcycle Battalion. An elite formations, Panzer Instruction (in German, Lehr) numbered 130, and M1935 Mot Rifle Regt, commanded by an Oberst (wartime, Oberstleutnant Feldherrnhalle 1 and 2; and eight named divisions or equivalent – Clausewitz, or Major), had a Regt HQ (with sigs ptn); a supply column (half-company); Döberitz/Schlesien, Holstein, Jüterborg, Krampnitz, Müncheberg, Norwegen and ten cos in two motorized bns on trucks. The regiment’s I Mot Rifle and Tatra. Bn (Schützen-Bataillon (mot)), under an Oberstleutnant or Major (wartime, 8 9781472819437 ELI 218 World War II German Motorized Infantry & Panzergrenadiers v4.indd 8 28/11/2016 15:27