"44. Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch und Deutschmeister" Topic

Hello,

I was hoping if anyone can assist in providing any information as to vehicles and weapon systems used by the above in Italy Aug 43-Nov 44. I understand that the 46th PzJgr Abt used Italian Stug M42s.

Italy (Aug 1943 – Nov 1944)

Grenadier-Regiment 131
Grenadier-Regiment 132
Reichsgrenadier-Regiment Hoch- und Deutschmeister
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 44
Artillerie-Regiment 96
Granatwerfer-Bataillon 44
Pionier-Bataillon 80
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 46
Nachrichten-Abteilung 64
Feldersatz-Bataillon Hoch- und Deutschmeister
Versorgungseinheiten 44

Information gathered:

46. Panzerjäger Abteilung
1 company of StuG M42 75/18 and 75/34

Any information provided would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you,

SH

Found this little tidbit about Hetzers ,
"The first 14 Jagdpz. 38 and 1 Bergepz. 38 were reported as arrived by Pz.Jg.Kp. 1048 of Pz.Jg.Abt. 46 on 14.11.1944.
When the Reichs-Gren.Div. H.u.D. was transferred to Hungary in late 1944 up to 10 Jagdpz. 38 went along.
4 replacement Jagdpz. 38 and another Bergepz. 38 were shipped to Pz.Jg.Kp. 1046 on 16./18.12.1944 probably to bring back the company to authorized strength of 14 guns."
link
And then this,
"The 44th Inf Div was in 1943 in Reichsgren.Div. But renamed HUD, which had no consequences praktiche, the Division was a normal infantry divisions. and had no special features apart from a StuG-train in their PzJgAbt (from summer 1943) and a grenade launcher-bag (from late 1944).

Summer of 1943 were the Panzer Division use company-35 (with 10 Pz III 5 cm and 8 Pz IV Ig) and the Tiger Group Meyer (with 8 tigers) is assumed.
Gep on their own vehicles, the division had only one company (1) of the PzJgAbt 46 (probably 14) martens III, and – after the disarmament of the Italian army – a train of Recon. 44 Italian AB PzSpaehwg.

On 14.09.1943, the Division reported as ready StuG 3 and 12 marten (belonging to the subordinate units: PzIII 7 and 9 of the Pz IV PzEinsKp 35, 7 Flammpz III, which were under the same company provides, and 5 tiger).

The tank insert company verlasste 35 September 1943, the division, the Tiger Group Meyer in November.

Later still got the PzJgAbt Italian Stug: on 1.4.44 the division had 13 martens (1 bp / PzJgAbt), 2 German Stug and 8 Italian StuG 7.5 cm (2 bp), 6 Italian Stug 10, 5 cm (4 Kp – the company was briefly then be disbanded and the StuG in the 2nd Company incorporated) to 7 AB in the Recon."
link
Robert

Great link Kaos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks. It took me awhile to find any information. Robert

"From August to November 1943, schwere Panzer-Kompanie/Tigergruppe Meyer, equipped with eight Tiger I tanks,[85] was attached to the division for the disarmament of Italian formations in northern Italy After a brief rest it was transferred to Hungary and fought the Red Army while retreating into Austria. It managed to avoid capture by the Red Army and surrendered to US forces at Hohenfurth on 10 May 1945.
Strength and losses
Summer 1942, rebuilding an attack force for Operation Blue

On the first May 1942 the average infantry division in Army Group South was 2400 understrength and lacking about 50% of their infantry[86]
Loses at Cassino

The 132 Infantry Regiment had been particularly hard hit in the defence of the Rapido valley, and the hills behind it. Its battalions had been 'bled white' and were sometimes down to platoon strength.[87] For example when relieved the I/132 had only a dozen men in each company left and no company officers, the only offices in the whole battalion were the battalion commander and his adjunct.[88] The 8/132, when relieved by a paratrooper unit on the Cassino Massif was down to only 9 men[88] Von Sengerund E noted that battalions in the front line were led by very young officers commanding around 100 men.[89]

General Clark, commander of the 5th Army claims the division was "practically eliminated",[90] and the 5th Army records show that 1303 men were captured from the 44th Division between 16 January and the end of March, with 540 from the 132 Intantry Regiment alone.[91] Nevertheless, although the attrition of front line infantry soon eat away at a divisions combat strength to a point where it would be no longer effective, the overall headcount could remain little changed and over ten thousand men[92]

The low numbers reported of German battalions often excluded service and support elements, such as supply, medical, communications and even staff troops, who servered as a base, together with the few surviving combat troops around which infantry battalions could be quickly rebuilt. As a case in point, the decimated units of 132 Infantry Regiment were withdrawn from action at the beginning of February, refreshed and the regiment was able to go back into line in March with all three battalions deployed in the new divisional sector, around the village of Terrel."
link

Thank you very much for the information supplied.

regards,

SH

Most welcome SH. I hope it helps. Robert