The Combat History of
GERMAN TIGER TANK BATTALION 503 IN WORLD WAR 11 EDITED By FRANZ-WILHELM LOCHMANN, RICHARD FREIHE...
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The Combat History of
GERMAN TIGER TANK BATTALION 503 IN WORLD WAR 11 EDITED By FRANZ-WILHELM LOCHMANN, RICHARD FREIHERR VON ROSEN, AND ALFRED RUBBEL
+ WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY FORMER MEMBERS . OF TIGER TANK BATTALION 503
STACKPOLE BOOKS
Copyright © 2000 by J. J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Ine. Published in paperback in 2008 by STACKPOLE BOOKS 5067 Ritter Road Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 www.stackpolebooks.com All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to J. J. Fedorowicz Publishing, Ine., 104 Browning Boulevard, Winnipeg, MB, R3K OL7, Canada. :ijfpub.mb.ca
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Cover design by Wendy A. Reynolds Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Combat history of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 The combat h istory of German Tiger Tank Battalion 503 in World War II / [edited by 1 Franz-Wilhelm Lochmann, Richard Freiherr von Rosen, and Alfred Rubbel. - 1st ed. p. cm. Originally published: Combat history of Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503. 2000. ISBN-13: 978-0-8117-3484-4 ISBN-IO: 0-8117-3484-6 1. Germany. Heer. Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503. 2. World War, 1939-1945-Regimental histories-Germany. 3. World War, 1939-1945-Campaigns-Europe. I. Lochmann, Franz-Wilhelm. 11. Rosen, Richard, Freiherr von. Ill. Rubbel, Alfred. IV. Title. D757.58503rd . L63 2008 940.54'1343-dc22 2007036078
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOIrllJord
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vii
PART ONE: Organization o f the Battalion .
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Introduction
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1
Chap ter I.
I n Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2 .
Summar y o f t h e Employ me n t H is tory o f Tiger Tan k Battalion 503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 3 .
Roster o f Sen ior Posi t i o ns i n Tiger Tan k Battalion 5 0 3 , 1 942-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 4 .
Recipie n ts o f H igh M i l i t ary Decorations i n Tiger Tan k Battalion 503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3
Chapter 5 .
Organ ization and S tr e ngth of a Tiger Tan k Battalion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5
Chapter 6.
A Tan k Comman der Re members
Chaptel- 7 .
The 2 n d Company
Chapter 8.
My Time with tht: 3rd Co mpany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1
Chapter 9.
Tec h n ical Serv ices and Supply / Logistics
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
PART TWO: First Employment in the Kalmuck Steppes, 1 942-43 ........................................ 55 Chapter 1 0 .
The Sen i or Tiger Battalion-Tiger Tan k Battalion 503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Chapter 1 1 .
Organization of t h e 3rd Company ( formerly t h e 2nd Company, Ti ger Tan k Battalion 502) a n d I ts I n i tial Employ m e n t w i t h Ar my Gr oup D o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Chapter 1 2 .
Recollections o f a Panzer Soldier o f t h e 1 st Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Chapter 1 3.
D i ary E n tr ies of Le u lllan t von Koerber, Platoon Leader of the Lst Company ( l J a n uary to 7 Febr uar y 1 94 3 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Chapter 1 4.
First After-Act i o n Report of t h e Company Comman der of t h e 2 n d Company, Tiger Tan k Battalion 502 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
PART THREE: In The Ukraine, 1 943-44 ........................................................... 1 05 Chapter 1 5.
With Ar my Grb u p Don in t h e U kraine fr om Apr i l 1 943 to May 1 944
Chap ter 1 6.
Recollections fro m My Time as Commander of Tiger Tan k Bat talion 503, J u ne 1 94 3- J a n uary 1 94 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 09
Chapter 1 7 .
Recollections of a Panzer Soldier ( Part 2 )
Chapter 1 8 .
Fendesack's Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 1
Chapter 1 9 .
The Dog a n d Pony Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 35
Chapter 20.
Ci tadel . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 37
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lV
THE COMBAT HISTORY OF GERMAN TIGER TANK BATTALION 503 IN WORLD WAR II Chapter 21.
Tiger 311 on the First Day of Citadel
Chapter 22.
Tiger 332 in Action from July 1943 to the End of January 1944 . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .. .. .. .. 145
Chapter 23.
From the Donez to the D njepr in September 1943 .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. . . .. . .. . 151
Chapter 24.
Tscherkassy
Chapter 25.
The Operations of Tiger Tank Battalion 503 in Opening the Tscherkassy Pocket
Chapter 26.
Battle Group Mittermeier (Tiger Tank Battalion 503 "new")
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143
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155
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175
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189
PART FOUR: Normandy, 1 944 ................................................................... 25 1 Chapter 27.
The Battalion Receives the King Tiger
Chapter 28.
Employment on the Invasion Front,July-August 1944 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 257
Chapter 29.
Recollections of a Panzer Soldier (Part Ill)
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PART FIVE: In Hungary, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, 1 944-45
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253
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279
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303
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Chapter 30.
Employment in Hungary
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305
Chapter 31.
After-Action Reports of Hauptmann Fromme and Oberleutnant Oemler
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335
Chapter 32.
Recollections of a Panzer Soldier (Part IV): The Reorganization of the Battalion
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341
Chapter 33.
The End of Separate Unit Status: Incorporation into Panzer Corps "Feldherrnhalle"
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347
Chapter 34.
Diary Entries from 14 December 1944 to May 1945 as Commander of Tiger Tank Battalion 503 .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Chapter 35.
The Final Engagements of the Battalion with Army Group South
PART SIX: The End, 1 945
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371
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397
Chapter 36.
The Final Hours of the Battalion
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399
Chapter 37.
Recollections of a Panzer Soldier (Part V)
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405
Chapter 38.
Woe to the Vanquished!
Chapter 39.
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..... .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 409 : My Period as a Prisoner of War from May 1945 to October 1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Appendix
1:
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Perso nnel Losses of the Battalion
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Ajlpendix 2: Short Biographies of the Contributors
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427
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437
FOREWORD
S
ince the end of the war we have talked about
The editors did not consider checking the con
attempting to write a history of our battal
tents of the accounts to be part of their task, that
ion. The fact that more than 250 former
lying beyond both their mission and capabilities.
members regularly get together after forty-five
The authors vouch for their reports by the use of
years is a clear indication that a better form of
their names. Furthermore, one must consider that,
record needs to be created than that which is pre
after forty-five years, our memories are not entirely
served in our memories.
reliable. It need not be mentioned that the com
The Kleine/Kuhne book, Tign·: The His/m)' o/a
rades who have put their contributions into this
Legend(II)1 WeajJo 11, whose German edition came
book gave it their best effort. It is unavoidable that
out in the mid 1970s, presented a comprehensive
there will be discrepancies regarding dates, place
picture of all of the Tiger battalions. It was a
names, and persons. Such discrepancies occur
remarkable attempt to present their history. That
even in the most rigorous military histories. That is
book, which was well received, and not only by for
why we replaced the common term-battalion his
mer Tiger men, consisted largely of contributions
tory-in the German edition with the less exacting
and illustrations from them. Unfortunately, the authors did not always hit their targets, and the
l:-ri1111eru11gel1 ([11 die Tigel�Ableilu11g 503 (Rf'collecliol7s 0/ Tiger Battalion 503) .
presentations in the book did not always meet the
In spite of an abundance of records, there are
expectations of those who had provided the infor
still holes in the source material that could not be
mation. The portion devoted to Tiger Tank Battal
eliminated by inquiry. Therefore, the companies
ion 503 was, of necessity, limited in its scope. That
could not all receive equal emphasis, nor have
was another reason for us to proceed in our plans
individually important wartime events all received
for our own account. Given those starting points,
the emphasis they deserve in our account. On the
we went to work two years agG>. This book is partic
other hand, some events are described several
ularly notable for giving the greatest possible
times from differing viewpoints.
number of our comrades a chance to speak.
Our book is no replacement for the battalion
What is presented here should not be evalu
war diary that was lost at the end of the war. Nor
ated as a historically documented report, but as
does it make literary or historical pretenses in pre
the sum of more or less subjective accounts. These
senting the wartime experiences of our unit. The
are based on facts and experience, but written
editors set themselves the task of putting together
down as experienced by the individual authors.
a suitable collection from available, comprehen-
v
vi
THE COMBAT HISTORY OF GERMAN TIGER TANK BATTAllON 503 IN WORLD WAR II
sive, but exceedingly varied sources, from the liter ature as well as new accounts that would present a portrait of Tiger Tank Battalion 503 as it exists in our memories. Our book is intended primarily for reading, rather than looking. It was not written for the individual companies, but, rather, for the entire battalion. We took pains to present factual reports instead of emotional presentations. Personality cults were avoided. However, it lies in the nature of things that some individuals received extensive mention, others less, and the majority none at all. We, the authors, have to give manifold thanks. First in line are the comrades who have encour aged us in the project and who helped with advice and deed during the two years of work that went into its production.
Without the many contributions in form of text, pictures, documents and assistance, the book would never have reached completion. For that, we offer special thanks. As is well known, nothing takes place without money. Those whose timely contributions supported the project financially, in good faith that the project would succeed, receive our heartfelt thanks. We present our comrades with these recollec tions. We hope it meets their expectations. This book is a tribute to Tiger Tank Battalion 503. We are proud to have belonged to it. We also wish to honor our dead. Dr. Franz-Wilhelm Lochmann Richard Freiherr von Rosen Alfred Rubbel Rolf Sichel May 1 990
INTRODUCTION
by the Last Commander of the Battalion
I
t is not easy, forty -five years after the German
soldier. From the beginning, it was no group of
collapse, to prepare a greeting to the surviving
"wild warriors," no "bloodthirsty conquerors" or
members of a military unit, men who coura
"fanatical
lazis striving for world conquest." It
geously performed their duty-disciplined and
was, rather, a sworn comradeship whose efforts
conscious of their responsibility-to the bitter
were based on personal values and courage, on
end. Today, if one uses words like courage, com
unconditional comradeship and on matter-of-fact
radeship and fulfillment of duty, one runs the
fulfillment of duty. The obvious bond between
danger of being categorized by the media as a
officers, noncommissioned officers and men was
warmonger, cold-war fighter or potential mur
universal, but especially so among the armored
derer. The molders of public opinion prefer to ' label as "heroes," those who did not fulfill their
force, where tank crews operated within the clos
duties, who committed acts of sabotage, who
burdens, dangers faced or common fate.
est of quarters and there were no distinctions as to
deserted. Those are the ones for whom monu
The time of the rapid assault and successful
ments are erected, holidays celebrated. Those
offensive operation had already gone by the time I
who disfigure or destroy memorials are honored
led this unit. It had become a matter of defending
as "true friends of peace." It is notable that, in
against an enemy who was superior in manpower
Europe, only the Germans engage in this form of
and equipment and of throwing him back in local
self�reeducation. One has only to compare such
counterattacks so as to enable our own army, the
behavior with that of the French, who, after con
wounded and the civilian population to withdraw.
quering almost all of Europe and, then, after the
There was no room for grand language, for exhor
collapse of Napoleon, still honor and count as
tations to success and promises of ultimate victory.
heroes of the Crrmrif' Nation thei r soldiers who
There were no great laurels to be won. It was only
were badly beaten in the baHles on the Beresina,
daily, grinding, costly defensive combat with inad
at Leipzig and at Waterloo.
equate supplies and replacements.
So, in this place, I offer a word of recognition
In that depressing phase of the war, the strength
to the soldiers of Tiger Tank Battalion 503, whom
and discipline of this courageous unit shone forth
I had the honor to command during the difficult
in exemplary fashion. No one sought to shirk
final five months of the Second World War. This
action, never was a wounded comrade left in the
was a unit that had, for three years, enj oyed a rep
lurch. Even in the most hopeless situation, each
utation for performance above that of the average
placed his life on the line for his fellow soldiers as
vu.
Vlll
THE COMBAT HISTORY OF GERMAN TIGER TANK BATTAllON 503 IN WORLD WAR II
the obvious and only thing to do. The unit would never have been such a reliable bulwark and "fortress in the storm" to the last days without the successful activities of the logistical units which day and night-fought their way through , often between the lines, or without the self-sacrificing technical helpers from the maintenance company and the maintenance sections which , in the midst of the fighting and under enemy fire, repaired our tanks or towed them to the rear. Just as vital were the motorcycle messengers with their dare devil journeys in the battle lines. Until the very end, the radio operators, motor cycle drivers and liaison officers of the battalion enabled us to have a seamless overview of the situ ation while attached to a panzer corps-despite the holes in the defensive front. It was an extremely heavy burden for our battalion that we had to bury so many especially reliable and suc cessful comrades in the last weeks of the war.
Thus, this has become a eulogy for Tiger Tank Battalion 503. We were unable to do that at the end of the war. For those who were members of the battalion, it went without question they would fulfill their duties to the end-in the midst of the collapse of the leadership and the desperate war situation, which, for many, was tied up with loss of homeland, many family members, their homes and all of their belongings. There, once again, the true value of soldierly conduct was proven, and I wish for us and for all the family members of those who were in Tiger Tank Battalion 503 that this memory-in contrast to the "modern" attacks on the values of the honorable soldier-may live on into the future. That is also the purpose of this small account of the battalion and of the long-last ing bonds of our comradeship. Dr. Nordewin von Diest-Koerber June 1 989
PA R T
ON E
ORGANIZATION OF THE BATTALION
C HAPTER
1
In Review A lfred Rubbel
T
h e battalion was d issolved at Dobrusch , west o f Budweis, on 1 0 May 1 945. The main body of the bat talion-around 450 men-had moved there with i ts veh icles. Wi thin a few hours the bat talion had d ispersed to the four wi nds, headed towards the west. In the numerous disc ussions with members of the battalion that took place durin g the prepara tion of this record, i t was obvious that .o u r memo ' ries had become u n reI iable. Because of that and because many of the peri pheral occurren ces related to the battali o n 's existence might not be known, a l i ttle "review" will be offered here . T h e th reatening superi ori ty o f t h e Russian KV- l and T-34 tanks over the German Panzer HIs and Panzer IVs accelera ted the development of the follow-on model that had been underway since 1 939. Within twelve months that resulted i n a n experimen tal model t h a t resembled the Tiger. At fi rst, preference wen t to the tec h nically i n ter esti ng VIeplace ment Battalion as a vol u n teer. In 1 94 ] with the 5th Panzer Regi ment i n North Africa. October 1 942, Leutnant der Reserve. From August 1 943 to May 1 945, with Tiger Tan k Battalion 503, fi n ishing as acting commander of the 503's 3rd Com pany. From May ] 945 to October 1 955 in Soviet cap tivi ty. After release, studied law and poli tical sci ence from ] 956 to ] 960 at the U n iversity of Gottinge n . Referendar in circuit of Oberlandes gerich t Dllsseldorf from ] 960 to 1 963. Started i n September 1 963 a s Reg. Assessor with the Regierungspnisiden t Dllsseldorf. From May ] 974 until retirement at the end of March 1 988, depart ment head with the Regierungsprasident Arnsberg. Married since October 1 957 with three daughters. FRANZ-WILHELM LOCHMANN, MD Born 22 April 1 923, Hamburg. Abitur 1 94 1 . Reichsar-bei tsdienst i n East Prussia. Vol u n teer to the 5th Panzer Replacement Battalion at NeUl-up p i n . Tan k radio operator i n the 1 st Company, Tiger Tan k Battalion 503, from its activation until
the end of the war. Final rank: Unteroffi zier. I n ninety-five armored engagements. After t h e war, studied medicine with several years of additional clin ical trai n i ng as specialist in internal medicine and general medicine. Settled down as practicing physician in Hamburg until 1 986. GERHARD NIEMANN Born ] 923 in Hamburg. Business tra i n i ng. ] 94 1 vol un teer. Attended the army i nfantry noncom m issioned officer academy at Treptow/ Rega in ] 94 1 ; in 1 942 at the armor noncommissioned offi cer academy a t Putlos and Eisenach . April 1 943: Tiger trai ning at Paderborn . From May 1 943 to May 1 945 with the 503's 3rd Company. After a short period of U .S. captivity in Czecho slovakia, commercial clerk in the wholesale textile trade. In the Bundeswehr from 5 April 1 956 to 30 September 1 977. I n 1 970: warrant officer. Final service position, warrant officer i n charge of induc tion station for vol u nteers at Hanover. Author of articles on the military and on m i l i tary h istory. HERMANN ROPSCHER Born 1 920 in Frankfurt/ Main (Grieshei m ) . After school ing and i nstruction, j oi ned the 8 ] st Rifle Replacement Regi ment at Meiningen (Thuri ngia ) . ] n November 1 940 with the battalion staff of the 2nd Battalion, 1 1 2th Rifle Regi ment, at Ohrdruf (Th uri ngia) . Russian campaign , J une 1 94 1 . Frost bite o u tside of Moscow, Winter 1 94 1 . H ospital, Dresden . Replacement unit (signals) of the 8 1 st Rifle Regi ment at Meiningen (Thuri ngia ) . J une 1 942, Neuruppi n , Tiger Tan k Battal ion 503 ( Maintenance Company and then the ] st Com pany) . U n teroffizier up to February ] 945. Transferred to the 2 1 1 th Field Replacement Batal lion. Employed as infantry in the lesser Carpathi ans and lower Austria. Wou n ded at the Thaya bridgehead at Laa. H ospital in Bohemia. Dis charged by the U .S. Army in Germany. Profession ally active since June 1 945. 1 949, examination for Master's degree (elec trical engineering) . Metrol ogy and automatic controls tech nology, engineer in sales process e ngineering unti l 1 983. RICHARD FREIHERR VON ROSEN Born ] 922. October 1 940: Fah nenj u n ker ( officer candidate) i n the 35th Panzer Regiment. With that regiment (4th Panzer Division) on the East ern Front in 1 94 1 .
Short Biographies of the Contriblltors
1 942: Leutnant. Starting in J uly 1 942 wi th the 2nd Company, Tiger Tan k Battalion 502. Redesig nated as 3rd Company, Tiger Tan k Battalion 503, i n Jan uary 1 943. Platoon leader. Starting in September 1 944, acting company commander of the 503's 3rd Com pany. Effe ct ive 1 November 1 944: Oberleu t nant and company commander. Eastern Front; Nor mandy; and, H ungary. Wou nded five ti mes. After a short period in U .S. captivity and activity in farm ing, joined the Bundeswehr in 1 955 as a Hauptman n . General staff training a t the Ecole Superieure de Guerre in Paris. Troop and staff assignments. Final rank: Generalmajor. Retired 1 982. ALFRED RUBBEL Born 1 92 1 at Tilsi t/East Prussia. After school, vol un teer. After a short time in the infant ry, to the
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5th Panzer Replacement Battalion, then with the 29th Panz e r Regi ment of the 1 2 th Panzer Divi sion. I n the central and nort h e rn sectors of the Eastern Front. 1 942 with the 4th Panzer Regiment of the 1 3th Panzer Division in the Caucasus. ] 943 conversion training on Tigers. March 1 943 to May 1 945 with Tiger Tan k Battalion 503, with detailing to school to become a reserve officer in the summer/fall of 1 944. Last duty assignment: spe cial duty staff officer in the battalion. After a short period of U . S. capt ivi ty, professional t raining and agricultu ral activi ty. ] 956 to 1 978 i n the Bun deswehr. Final official position: Class advisor at armored troop school . Followi ng that, active in defense technology.
G E R MAN AR M O R I N ACT I O N Whether spearh ead i n g the b l i tzkrieg i n 1 939-40 o r goi n g muzzle-to-muzzle with Soviet T-34s i n t h e East, German panzers thundered across t h e battlefields of World War
1 1 a n d revolution ized
modern warfare. These h eavily i l l ustrated, large-format books place readers in the turrets of Tigers, E lefa n ts, and other leth al veh icles.
TI G E RS I N CO M BAT I Wol fgang Schneider
$2 9. 95 • PB • 8 '/2 x 1 1 '1j.� • 416 pages 4 1 5 illustrations · 978-0-81 1 7-3 1 71-3
TI G E RS I N COM BAT 1 1 Wolfgang Schneider
$29. 95 • PB • 8 '/2 x 1 1 '1j8 • 368 pages 4 73 illustrations • 978-0-81 1 7-3203- 1
PAN Z E R TACTI CS German Small-Unit Armor Tactics in World War 1 1 Woifgang Schneider
$29. 95 • PB • 8 1/2 x 1 1 '1j8 • 368 pages 5 9 7 illustrations • 978-0-81 1 7-3244-4
TH E COM BAT H I STORY O F
G E R MAN H EAVY ANTI-TAN K U N IT 653 I N WO RLD WAR 1 1 Karl h e i nz M u n c h
$29. 95 • PB • 8 '/2 x 1 1 '1j8 • 384 pages 4 74 illustrations • 9 78-0-81 1 7-3242-0 TH E COM BAT H I STORY O F
G E R MAN TIG E R TAN K BATTALI O N 503 IN WO RLD WAR 1 1
Franz-W i l h e l m Lochman n , Ric hard Frei h err von Rose n , and Alfred Rubbel
$29. 95 • PB • 8 '/2 x 1 1 '1j8 • 384 pages 3 71 illustrations • 978-0-81 1 7-3484-4 WWW. STACKPOLEBOOKS.COM
