After scouring achtung panzer, feldgrau.com, all the usual haunts I am at a loss for information about Panzerjager units serving in Normandy. More specifically, I am looking for information on whether Nashorns would have served in Normandy around June 1944. I have found no information refuting that idea but none to reinforce it either.
Nashorns did serve on all fronts of the war, East West and Italy. Information about the schwere Panzaerjager Abt.s is a little thin as they aren’t as popular as the Panzer divisions. Any Heer unit would be fine for this info.
I do believe some Nashorns must have been around in the Panzerjager regiments because Jagdpanthers were not up to full production and were few and far between in June/July. Jagdpanzer IVs were in equally short supply. I figure some Marder III orig. and Ms were around as well as some Nashorns and variants. Some older Marder III’s and some lighter stuff would have been used if available as well. I bet these could be pretty haphazard units at times.
Let me know what you guys think. I betthese units. someone has far more encyclopedic knowledge about some of the specific orders of battle from
Checking my resources, which are by no means extensive, I can’t find any photos of Nashorn’s in Normandy in June. I did find a photo of what is called a Das Reich Hummel knocked out in July. I found a good photo of a Nashorn said to have been knocked out by Canadian troops in Italy in May of 44, but no unit was designated in the caption. Most panzer jager photos I found for Normandy seemed to be Marder III’s and ad hoc units based on captured French chassis’. Sorry I’m so little help.
Nashorns were issued to Independent Schwere Panzerjager Abteilungs 580, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. None of these units show up on the Order of Battle figures I have of Normandy. The only Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung in Normandy was the second company of sPzJgAbt 654, and they were equipped with 12 Jagdpanther. The 1st company of sPzJgAbt 525 and the first company of sPzJgAbt 93 and their Nashorns were assigned to sPzJgAbt 654, but not until on Dec 30, 1944. I have not not found an earlier use of Nashorn in the west than these. I haven’t traced the histories of all these units, but I’m not seeing their names pop up in Normandy.
Panzerjager Abt.654: formed on 1 April 1940, in 1942 with 7,5 cm cannons. 8 June 1943 attachedto Pz.Jg.Rgt.656, and used as II./Pz.Jg.Rgt.656, but at 1 Septemeber it was again renamed as the Pz.Jg.Abt.654.
Schwere Panzerjager Abt.654 (Panther): rearmed in September 1944 in Grafenworh. Heeresgruppe: Polen, Frankreich; Mittel- and Sudrusland (1942 2.Armee), Mai 1944 in Rethel, June/July Schlacht in der Normandie, November Oberrhein, December Ardennen, last Niederrhein with 15.Armee
I’m glad you know those specifics Kykeon. This is the best I’ve found on feldgrau, in fact their only reference in detail to any of the jager regiments. I know its the usual jumble of info. I’m not sure if the all inclusive 264th including units folded in with thier Nashorns or as you have indicated the Jagdpanthers which would have been latter reinforced in Nov/Dec possibly for the Ardennes campaigns or any of the near-Rhine actions.
I’ve been able to locate those units in number only but have not been able to find their histories. But those are the schwere unit numbers I was finding, so that’s one positive.
I dont have an Orders of Battle in front of me but I particularly enjoy researching photographic evidence of the Normandy battles and Cobra. The Heimdal, Concord and Histoire and Collections books have lots of photos. In my memory, I dont’ recall seeing any Nashorns. Many Mk IVs, Stug IIIs, Panthers, and odd Tiger or two. Some Wespen, a rare Hummel or Jagdpanther. A few Marders, the odd Becker French geschutzwagens – no Nashorns though.