"Volksgrenadier Kompanie Organisation" Topic

I noticed that Nafziger and a few other sources state that the Volksgrenadier Kompanie organization remained on the 1.9.1944 KStN through the end of the war, but I have seen some games (Flames of War, IABSM etc.) use the 1.11.1944 KStN. Which is correct?

The Nov44 one actually shows the Stg44 issue, while the Sep44 shows them in with the MP40s. I'd go with the Nov44 one myself as that's incorporated into the end of 1944, beginning of 1945 Div summaries I've seen.

Gary

Gary, I'm curious what evidence do you have that the 1.9.1944 KStN is with the MP40? I've not seen any indication that they Volksgrenadiers actually used MP40 in their assault platoons.

I was only referring to the fact that the first Volks Grenadier Rifle Coy KStN don't have a separate entry for Stg44s. They show the normal weapon types of rifles, pistols, machine pistols and LMGs, with notes as to rifle grenade launchers and semi-automatic rifles and those with telescopic sights.

The equipment table (KAN) for KStN actually shows only machine pistols with their allocation of 9-mm ammn, no mention of 7.92-mm short. A weapons table for the VG Div using the 01Sep44 table as a ref does show 55 Stg44s for the Rifle Coy. This is the same figure carried over into the 01Nov44 issue of 131V, which now shows a separate entry for the Stg44s as a subcategory under the rifle column heading. I've not been able to get hold of the KAN for this table.

Gary

I can confirm that the MP in the September ‘44 KStN was indeed the MP44 (Sturmgewehr). It is complicated in practice, though, since there was never enough of these to fully equip every VGD right away. In practice, Volksgrendier sections would continue using some number of rifles or MP40 in the Sturmzüge right up to the end of the war.

I think the problem with the November ‘44 KStN (aside from the secondary sources that dismiss it) is that there was never a mobilization for it to be implemented. The last real mobilization, as far as I know, was the 32nd Welle which was in August 1944 and this used the 1.9.1944 KStN. By early October, all the prior 1944 Grenadier formations were converted over to Volksgrenadier using the same KStN. There were a few mobilizations after that in early 1945, but in reality these were adhoc affairs and only a couple VGD were involved. The military situation made the 1945 mobilizations unusual Welle to say the least (incorporating fortress units, volkssturm etc. into last ditch defensive formations). I doubt implementing changes was high on the priority list, and in any case the later Welle would have fought for maybe a month or less before the war ended.

There are some interesting but slight differences between the two KStN, all of which can be accommodated by having the pers authorised under the Sep44 issue stand in a different place to create the Nov44 issue. The main difference was taking the Squad from nine to eight, by putting the three rifle grenadiers in Pl HQ, and in the Assault Pls going from two spare LMGs to one, meaning the third Squad now had two manned LMG teams. There was no increase on the 55 Stg44s given in the Sep/Oct44 summaries to that properly shown in the Nov44 table. I don't think it's a big leap from one to the other, and it clears up the issue from the Sep44 table which simply states there are 64 machine pistols, with no distinction between MP40 and MP44.

Gary