657. Panzer Jäger Abteilung
The battalion had been formed in november 1943 to act as a staff for Pz.Jg.Kp 612, Pz.Jg.Kp 613 and Pz.Kp. 224. It was located in the Netherlands.1 It remained there on 18 May 1944.2
The fact that the battalion had been formed from three separate companies was reflected in its equipment, which remained a hotchpotch on 1 June 1944. The battalion had the following equipment3:
Thirteen combat ready Char B2 and four in
workshops
Two Somua tanks
Six 4,7 cm Pak (t) on self propelled chassis
Nine 7,5 cm Pak 40
Six 5 cm Pak 38
Six 8,8 cm Pak 43/41
It had an authorized strength of 733, but it was short of 131 men and was considered by the battalion commander to be combat ready for defensive missions.4 Also some men seem to have remained in the Netherlands, since only 480 men accompanied the battalion when it left for Normandy.5
On 11 June, it had been dispatched to Normandy, all the trains had departed by that date.6 It took some time for the battalion to get into the line, but on 24 June it was deployed in the St. Lô area.7
One explanation for the long delay is that the battalion had to change part of its equipment. The Somuas and Char B2 were discarded and replaced by 7,5 cm Pak 40. Fifteen such guns were on their way to the battalion but had not yet arrived on 27 June.8
Further information about its activities in Normandy has not been found.
The battalion was disbanded 14 October 1944.9
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 |
Anlage zu HGr D Ia Nr. 315/44 g.Kdos, 18.5.44, T312, R1563, F000614. |
|
3 |
Status report to the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, Stand 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/246. |
|
4 |
Ibid. |
|
5 |
Der Kommandierende General und Befehlshaber der Truppen des Heeres in den Niederlanden (Gen.Kdo. LXXXVIII. A.K.) Ia Nr. 2467/44 g.Kdos., 30.8.44, T314, R1626, F000481. |
|
6 |
OB West Ia 4487/44 g.Kdos., 11.6.44, T311, R25, F7029461. |
|
7 |
KTB AOK 7 Ia Anlagen 24.6.44, Stand der Aufmarschbewegungen (24.6), T312, R1565, F001298. |
|
8 |
AOK 7 Ia 27.6.44, BA-MA RH 20-7/135. |
|
9 |
Tessin, op. cit. |