301. Funklenk Panzer Abteilung

 

This unit has sometimes erroneously been assumed to have taken part in the Normandy campaign. It was however not far from being comitted to the battle.

On 18 May the battalion was located ner Avesnes.¹ It was at full strength, with four companies totalling 1 085 men.² But orders were issued 3 June instructing the battalion to depart for the eastern front on 5 June.³ This did not include the fourth company which was to remain in France.⁴ It was intended to use the company as a cadre for the forming of 302. Fkl.Pz.Abt.⁵

The forth company did however not join the 302. Fkl.Pz.Abt. It fought with 2. Pz.Div. in Normandy.⁶ On 1 June 1944 this company had two Pz III, six StuG and 36 B IV remote controlled vehicles.⁷ Given the strength of the entire battalion, it can be assumed that the company had 200 - 250 men.

1	Anlage zu HGr D Ia Nr. 315/44 g.Kdos, 18.5.44, T312, R1563, F000613.
2	Status report to the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/219.
3	Abschriften KTB mit Anlagen 1.6. - 15.6.44, HGr B, BA-MA RH 19 IX/93. See also OB West Ia Nr. 4253/44 g.Kdos, 2.6.44, T311, R24, F7029065.
4	Ibid.
5	OB West Ia/Pz.Offz. Nr. 954/44 g.Kdos BA-MA RH 21-5/50.
6	See OKH/GenStdH/Org.Abt. u. Gen.Insp. d. Pz. Tr./Org II Nr. 1669/44 g.K. v. 2.7.44, BA-MA RH 10/20 and Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 572/44 g.Kdos., 26.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 25.7, BA-MA RH 21-5/50.
7	Status report from 2. Pz.Div. to the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/141.