| uglyfatbloke | 11 Sep 2013 9:23 a.m. PST |
Anybody have any info about the NCO training school 'Krafft'? Anything might be useful, but particularly numbers and types of vehicles. |
Monkey Hanger  | 11 Sep 2013 9:59 a.m. PST |
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| Worgaimz | 11 Sep 2013 10:45 a.m. PST |
The Robert Kershaw book,"It Never Snows in September", in my humble opinion a must for enthusiasts of Market Garden, has detailed information on this and other German units involved in the battle. |
| vforvictory | 11 Sep 2013 10:53 a.m. PST |
Kraft's SS Panzer Grenadier Depot and Reserve Battalion 16 was not an SS NCO School. The SS NCO School Arnheim was a. Seperate unit and lead by SS Colonel Lippert and consisted of experienced troops selected for NCO training. It was initially organised as a Battalion with 2 companys of 3 platoons and a 3rd heavy weapons platoon with mortars and 20mm cannon. As the battle went on, it was fed reinforcements and became the nucleus for a regimental size battlegroup. Krafts Battalion was initially organised with 2 infantry companies, a third heavy weapons company and had access to heavy mortars, antitank guns, flak guns and flamethrowers. Both units used locally sourced vehicles. Through out the battle the addition of further sub units including Marines and police battalion companies to these battle groups and their subordination to various HQs, for example Division Von Tettau battle group around the 19th September and a day or so later the 9th SS Panzer Division battle group makes it difficult to research with full acuracy. its fair to say that they probably had access to a variety of support vehicles. V |
| marcus arilius | 11 Sep 2013 1:19 p.m. PST |
link 1330 hrs starts Krafts story |
| marcus arilius | 11 Sep 2013 1:22 p.m. PST |
SS Kraft (partially motorized);
----SS Pzgren depot and reserve Battalion 16 made up of two rifle companies and a heavy weapons company equipped with mortar, light flak, anti-tank and flammthrower platoons. A company of military police acting as infantry was added later. This unit had a total of 410 men
link |
| marcus arilius | 11 Sep 2013 1:29 p.m. PST |
link interesting list of vehicles in area |
| rvandusen | 11 Sep 2013 6:58 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the fascinating links. It is interesting that Kraft's command appears to have relied on 3.7cm PAKs for ATG defence. In late 1944, no less. |
 Mserafin  | 11 Sep 2013 7:42 p.m. PST |
It is interesting that Kraft's command appears to have relied on 3.7cm PAKs for ATG defence. In late 1944, no less. Good thing they were "only" fighting paratroopers, then! |
| Andy P | 11 Sep 2013 11:19 p.m. PST |
The mortars mentioned in the text were a mix of 8cm and 5cm Mortars but cant remember exact numbers off top of my head.
The "Trench Mortar" that is discussed was actually a ground mounted Werfer, which is sometimes attributed to Werfer abt "Nickmann". |
| rct75001 | 11 Sep 2013 11:42 p.m. PST |
This is what you need – recently released and it is a great book just like the author's prior one. The author is behind the Defending Arnhem website noted above. Lots is detail and reserch in it – but a great read. link You will have to do a search elsewhere to buy it as Amazon says they no longer have it. |
