100. Panzer Ausbildungs und Ersatz Abteilung
As the name implies this was not a regular combat unit, but a training unit. The unit had been raised in April 1941 in Germany. One year later it moved to France.1
On 18 May 1944 it was with 91. Division on the Cotentin. At that time it had the following tanks2:
14 R 35
8 Hotchkiss
1 Somua
1 Char B2
1 Pz III
Additionally there were five light French tanks whose type is not possible to read out from the document. It is clear however that they were equipped with short 3,7 cm guns.3 Probably they were FT-17.4
The manpower strength of the unit was 664 men.5
The unit was committed in Normandy with the 91. Division. On the Gliederungs chart for the 7. Army it is listed as subordinate to 91. Division until 22 June. From 23 June onwards it does not appear at all on the charts.6
The battalion was probably destroyed, since it was officially disbanded 1 July.7
Notes:
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1 |
G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975). |
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2 |
Kriegsgliederungen der AOK 7, Kleinere Verbände im Bereich LXXXIV. A.K., T312, R1566, F000214. |
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3 |
Ibid. |
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4 |
Thank You Bob Mackenzie for the following argument: Given that R-35 and Hotchkiss are already mentioned the remainder with short 37mm have to be FCM-36 or FT-17. Only 100 FCM-36 were built and the Germans converted 96 chassis to SP guns. Also I've never seen a pic of an FCM in German service. Plenty of pics of FT-17, so I'd guess that the remaining tanks were FT-17. |
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5 |
Kriegsgliederungen der AOK 7, Kleinere Verbände im Bereich LXXXIV. A.K., T312, R1566, F000214. |
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6 |
Kriegsgliederungen zum KTB der Führungsabteilung AOK 7 ab 6.6 bis 30.6.44, T312, R1566, F000002 - 000024. |
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7 |
Tessin, op. cit. |