102. schwere SS-Panzer Abteilung
This unit was formed 22 October 1943 from a Tiger battalion that was intended for the II. SS-Panzer Corps.1 The latter unit had been forming during the summer 1943, but sceduled deliveries of Tigers had been diverted to the eastern front as replacements.2 The first delivery of tanks to the battalion did not take place until 21 April 1944, when 6 Tigers were shipped.3
At the beginning of June the unit was in Oldebroek in Holland.4 It was not ready for combat since many men were detached from the unit. The majority of the tank drivers had been sent to Paderborn in Germany for training. Similarly the majority of the radio operators had been sent away. Also 70 technician had been sent away for training. They were all scheduled to return to the battalion on 15 June. After that date excercises with in platoon and company formations could be initiated. The battalion commander estimated that his unit would be combat ready on 15 July.5
In terms of manpower, the unit was almost at full strength on 1 June6, even though many of them had been sent away, as indicated above. The availability of tanks was not as bright. Between 20 and 29 May 39 Tigers were shipped to the battalion7, bringing it up to its authorized strength of 45 Tigers. On 11 June it was reported to be at full strength.8 The battalion received no tank replacements during the campaign.9
Despite the battalion commanders estimate that the battalion was not combat ready until mid July, it was ordered to transfer to Normandy in June. On 22 June, eight trains had departed, six of them had reached the area around Paris.10 One day later, three trains had unloaded west of Paris.11 The rail transport took several days, it was not until 2 July that the last train was unloaded (at Versailles)12. This extended rail transport resulted in the battalion being committed piecemeal which is shown by the battalions tank strength at various dates given below:
|
Date |
Number of operational tanks |
Tanks in Short-Term Repair |
Tanks in Long-Term Repair |
On Approach March |
|
1 June13 |
28 |
1 |
? |
? |
|
9 July 14 |
25 |
? |
? |
10 |
|
11 July 15 |
14 |
12 |
1 |
11 |
|
13 July 16 |
10 |
14 |
2 |
11 |
|
14 July 17 |
19 |
7 |
3 |
10 |
|
15 July 18 |
19 |
8 |
2 |
? |
|
20 July 19 |
17 |
11 |
3 |
10 |
|
30 July 20 |
30 |
? |
? |
? |
|
5 August 21 |
20 |
? |
? |
? |
|
8 August 22 |
21 |
? |
? |
? |
|
11 August 23 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
? |
After having unloaded from train at Paris, the battalion had to drive the Tigers to Normandy.24 During July the battalion was with II. SS-Panzer Corps, usually as a substitute for the missing Panther battalion in Frundsberg (10. SS-Pz.Div.). It seems that the battalion first went into action on 9 July.25
Until 31 July the battalion lost three Tigers (complete write-offs).26 At the beginning of August the battalion was still with the II. SS-Pz.Korps but on 9 August it was sent to the area north of Falaise.27 It fought successive actions at Espins, Martainville, Falaise and Necy until 18 August.28 During the retreat from the Falaise pocket the battalion seem to have lost most of its tanks. Several damaged Tigers were lost when they had to be blown up on 24 August during the retreat to the Seine.29
Notes:
|
1 |
Georg. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler u. Sohn, Frankfurt am Main (vol 1-5), Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück (vol 6-14) 1966-75), entry for units with number 102). |
|
2 |
See Vertailung der Panzer Fahrzeuge, Band ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. |
|
3 |
Vertailung der Panzer Fahrzeuge, Band ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. |
|
4 |
Der Generalinpekteur der Panzertruppen Nr. 032/44 g.Kdos, 3.6.44, T78, R623, F000201. |
|
5 |
BA-MA RH 10/334. |
|
6 |
The battalion had an authorized strength of 1 036 men and reported a shortage of 43 men on 1 June 1944 (BA-MA RH 10/334). |
|
7 |
On 20 May 18 Tigers were sent by rail, 22 May 6, 26 May 12, 29 May 3. See Vertailung der Panzer Fahrzeuge, Band ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. |
|
8 |
HGr B Ia Entwurf 11.6.44 (OB West Ia, Nr 4470/44 g.Kdos. 11.6.44, T311, R25, F7029465. |
|
9 |
Vertailung der Panzer Fahrzeuge, Band ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. |
|
10 |
OB West Ia Nr. 4858/44 geh.Kdos, den 22.6.44., T311, R25, F7029750. |
|
11 |
OB West Ia Nr. 4952/44 g.Kdos, 24.6.44, T311, R25, F7029824. |
|
12 |
OB West Ia Nr. 5228/44 g.Kdos. 2.7.44, T311, R28, F7034145, but see also OB West Ia Nr. 5152/44 g.Kdos. 30.6.44, T311, R25, F7030013 and OB West Ia Nr. 5185/44 g.Kdos, 1.7.44, T311, R28, F7034124. |
|
13 |
BA-MA RH 10/334. |
|
14 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 306/44 geh. von 10.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 9.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
15 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 361/44 geh. von 12.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 11.7., T313, R420, F8713888. |
|
16 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 348/44 geh. von 14.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 13.7., T313, R420, F8713904. |
|
17 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. (impossible to read), v. 15.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 14.7, T313, R420, F8713914. |
|
18 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 388/44 g.Kdos 16.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 15.7, T313, R420, F8713921. |
|
19 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 491/44 geh. von 21.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 20.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
20 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 665/44 g.Kdos. 31.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 30.7, T313, R420, F8714049. |
|
21 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 775/44 g.Kdos. 6.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 5.8, T313, R420, F8714097. |
|
22 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 846/44 g.Kdos. 9.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 8.8, T313, R420, F8714139. |
|
23 |
PzAOK 5 Ia Nr. 899/44 g.Kdos, 12.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 11.8, T313, R420, F8714187. The battalion was at the time subordinated to 271. Inf.Div. |
|
24 |
W. Tieke, Im Feuersturm letzter Kriegsjahre (Munin Verlag, Osnabrück 1986) p 115ff. |
|
25 |
Ibid, p. 152. |
|
26 |
Anlage 3 zu Gen.Kdo. II. SS-Pz.Korps Qu. Tgb.Nr. 765/44 geh. vom 3.8.44, copy found in LVIII. Pz.Korps Qu Anlagen, T314, R1497, F000430. |
|
27 |
W. Tieke, Im Feuersturm letzter Kriegsjahre (Munin Verlag, Osnabrück 1986) p 233. |
|
28 |
Ibid, p. 245. |
|
29 |
Ibid, p. 275. |