456. Art. Abt.

456. Artillerie Abteilung

The battalion was formed in France in January 1943.¹ It was soon moved to the Cotentin peninsula, where it was located when the US airborne forces landed on in the area around Ste-Mère-Église.

In January 1944 the battalion possessed four 12,2 cm guns and eight 15,2 cm gun-howitzers.² It was motorized.³

On 11 April it was reported that the battalion was deployed as follows⁴:

1. Batterie    Magneville (9 km SW of Valognes)
2. Batterie    l'Etang-Bertrand (7 km SW of Valognes)
3. Batterie    l'Etang-Bertrand (7 km SW of of Valognes)

It still remained west of Valognes on 18 May⁵ and also on 5 June it was located SW of Valognes.⁶

After ten days of fighting on the Cotentin, US units threatened to reach the western coast of the peninsula, thus isolating the German forces in the Cherbourg area. For this reason it was suggested on 17 June that the 456. Art.Abt. should move south, to avoid encirclement.⁷

It seems that the battalion succeded to withdraw in time, since it was reported to be in the area of the 353. Inf.Div. and 17. SS-Pz.Gren.Div. on 22 June.⁸

The battalion had been slightly altered one month later. On 21 July it had the following structure⁹:

1. Batterie    Four 12,2 cm guns
2. Batterie    Four 8,8 cm guns
3. Batterie    Four 15,2 cm gun-howitzers

At that time it was in the area of 84. Korps, tactically it was subordinated to 17. SS-Pz.Gren.Div.¹⁰

On 1 September the battalion had one 15,2 cm gun-howitzers and two 15 cm s.FH operational.¹¹ At that time it was with 7. Army.

Notes:

1

G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).

2

BA-MA RHD 18/69.

3

Ibid.

4

AOK 7 Ia Nr. 2152/44 g.Kdos 11.4.44, T312 R1565, F000467.

5

Anlage zu HGr D Ia Nr. 315/44 g.Kdos, 18.5.44, T312, R1563, F000613.

6

Lagekarte AOK 7 5.6.1944, BA-MA RH 20-7/138K.

7

KTB AOK 7 Ia, T312, R1569, F000052.

8

AOK 7 Ia Kriegsgliederungen zum KTB der Führungsabteilung ab 6.6.44 bis 30.6.44, T312, R1566, F000013.

9

Gen.Kdo. LXXXIV A.K. Ia Nr. 035/44g.Kdos 22.7.44, Taktische Glederung der Artillerie, Stand 21.7.44, T314, R1604, F001388

10

Ibid.

11

Vorläufige Zustandsmeldung der Heeresartillerie beim OB West, Stand 1.9.44, BA-MA RH 11 II/v. 4.

1	G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).
2	BA-MA RHD 18/69.
3	Ibid.
4	AOK 7 Ia Nr. 2152/44 g.Kdos 11.4.44, T312 R1565, F000467.
5	Anlage zu HGr D Ia Nr. 315/44 g.Kdos, 18.5.44, T312, R1563, F000613.
6	Lagekarte AOK 7 5.6.1944, BA-MA RH 20-7/138K.
7	KTB AOK 7 Ia, T312, R1569, F000052.
8	AOK 7 Ia Kriegsgliederungen zum KTB der Führungsabteilung ab 6.6.44 bis 30.6.44, T312, R1566, F000013.
9	Gen.Kdo. LXXXIV A.K. Ia Nr. 035/44g.Kdos 22.7.44, Taktische Glederung der Artillerie, Stand 21.7.44, T314, R1604, F001388
10	Ibid.
11	Vorläufige Zustandsmeldung der Heeresartillerie beim OB West, Stand 1.9.44, BA-MA RH 11 II/v. 4.