Artillerieschule Suippes
This was a training facility located at Suippes-Mourmelon south east of Reims. In case of emergency it was to set up two artillery battalions. One was to be motorized and consist of two batteries, while the other was horse-drawn and had three batteries.1
The horse-drawn battalion was also known as 937. Art.Abt.2 This has perhaps been a cause of confusion, since it is easy to assume that an extra battalions existed.
It is possible that a third battery was added to the motorized battalion (which was usually referred to as I./Suippes). One document states that 3./Art.Abt. Suippes (mot) had arrived at 2. Fallschirm Korps on 19 June.3
The motorized battalion (I./Suippes) was ordered on 10 June to move to Normandy as quickly as possible and it was to march by road.4 Exactly when it arrived is not clear, but was at 2. Fallschirm Korps on 15 June.5
On 10 June the horse-drawn battalion (937. Art.Abt.) was ordered to move by rail to Normandy.6 It is interesting to see how much slower the railnet was after the allied air attacks. One week after it was ordered to transfer to Normandy, the battalion had unloaded at Versailles.7 Seven days later, on 24 June, the battalion was at Breteuil (south west of Evreux).8 Thus it still was about 100 km from Caen. Finally, on 30 June, the battalion was located seven km north east of Argentan.9 It was on its way to 2. Fallschirm Korps.10
After the Normandy campaign, on 1 September 1944, both battalions were asessed to be "zerschlagen".11 The horse-drawn battalion was certainly disbanded after the campaign.12 It is most likely that the motorized battalion was disbanded too. Any remnants of the battalions might have been used to replenish other battalions.
Notes:
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1 |
Anlage zu HGr D Ia Nr. 315/44 g.Kdos, 18.5.44, T312, R1563, F000613. |
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2 |
See G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975) and also Gliederungen AOK 7 18.6.44 - 28.6.44, T312, R1566, F000009-000021. Especially the latter frame is evident on this issue. |
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3 |
OB West Ia Nr. 4739/44 g.Kdos, 19.6.44, T311, R25, F7029652. |
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4 |
AOK 7 Ia Tagesmeldung 10.6.44, BA-MA RH 20-7/135. |
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5 |
AOK 7 Ia Kriegsgliederung zum KTB 15.6.44, T312, R1566, F000006. |
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6 |
AOK 7 Ia Tagesmeldung 10.6.44, BA-MA RH 20-7/135. |
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7 |
OB West Ia Nr. unreadable/44 g.Kdos, 17.6.44, T311, R25, F7029619. |
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8 |
KTB AOK 7 Ia Anlagen 24.6.44, Stand der Aufmarschbewegungen (24.6), T312, R1565, F001298. |
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9 |
AOK 7 Ia 30.6.44 BA-MA RH 20-7/135. |
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10 |
Gliederung AOK 7 27.6.44, T312, R1566, F000019. |
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11 |
Vorläufige Zustandsmeldung der Heeresartillerie beim OB West, Stand 1.9.44, BA-MA RH 11 II/v. 4. |
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12 |
Tessin, op. cit., entry for units with number 937 |