Heavy Chariot Division (German Empire)
Heavy chariot departments were units of the German army in the First World War .
history
Despite the appearance of the first English tanks on the Western Front in September 1916, the German leadership had long refused to build tanks themselves and preferred to rely on anti-tank defense. But with the successes of the enemy tanks one came to the conclusion that one had to develop tanks oneself. At the end of 1916, therefore, Department 7 Transportation of the General War Department in the Prussian War Ministry was commissioned with the development and construction of a combat vehicle. However, this project was made more difficult by the situation during the war and the scarcity of raw materials, which significantly hampered development and production.
The War Ministry ordered the establishment of the first assault armored car departments in September 1917. Since only 20 A7V tanks were produced, only three departments with five tanks each could be equipped with them. Five tanks remained in reserve.
In January 1918, the Supreme Army Command (OHL) authorized the field force chief to set up additional A7V departments. However, the appropriate combat vehicles were missing, and so from March 1918 six more departments, equipped with British Mark IV loot tanks , were set up.
The assault armored vehicle departments were directly subordinate to the Supreme Army Command. They were assigned to the respective armies for use . During the assignment, they were subject to the responsible commanders of the motor vehicle troops in disciplinary and technical terms. Replacement troops in all departments, with the exception of Bavarian Department No. 13, was the Prussian Motor Vehicle Replacement Department No. 1 in Berlin .
In mid-August 1918, at the instigation of the OHL, the merging of the previous combat vehicle departments was ordered. The previous designation "Sturmpanzerkraftwagen" was changed to "Kampfwagen". According to the new organization, the previous assault armored car divisions were to be merged into heavy combat car divisions (A7V or booty) into three companies with a total of 15 heavy tanks (A7V or booty). The new companies therefore corresponded to the previous division in terms of vehicle strength. From the existing booty armor departments, seven “heavy combat vehicle departments (booty)” with the numbering “101” to “107” were to be formed. It was also planned to set up four “light combat vehicle departments” with the numbers “201” to “204”. The light chariots intended for this purpose, however, were no longer ready for the front.
On September 22, 1918, the Prussian War Ministry ordered the new names. Until November 30, 1918, a transitional arrangement was in place so that both forms could be used side by side in correspondence. The change in the organizational structure was no longer carried out due to the end of the war.
In November 1918 , the combat vehicle departments were relocated to Wiesbaden and then dissolved.
The number of personnel differed depending on the combat vehicles used. In April 1918, the A7V divisions had seven officers , 42 non-commissioned officers and 129 men , for a total of 178 soldiers . The material was available: five A7Vs, three cars and seven trucks .
Due to the lower manning of the British Mark IV, the booty departments had a slightly smaller staff budget of 142 men, more precisely: seven officers, 36 NCOs and 99 men. The departments were equipped with five Mark IV, three cars and eight trucks.
Due to the end of the war, the planned establishment of a Württemberg and a Saxon storm armored car department did not come about.
units
Commander of the Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Departments
By order of the Ministry of War of May 17, 1918, the chief of field motor vehicles was requested to set up the commander of the storm armored vehicle departments in the field . He had the disciplinary power of an independent battalion commander and all assault armored vehicle departments were subordinate to him. On May 28, 1918, Captain Friedrich Bornschlegel was appointed.
Heavy Chariot Division (A7V) No. 1
Formation history
By order of the War Ministry of September 29, 1917, the Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 1 was set up. On January 8, 1918, the association announced that it was ready to move. The first commander was Captain Greiff, his successor was Captain Thofehrn. The first German tank operation took place on March 21, 1918 as part of the Michael company near St. Quentin . This was followed by further missions at the Battle of Amiens in the Villers-Bretonneux area on April 24, 1918 and on June 1, 1918 at Fort de La Pompelle west of Reims . On June 9, 1918, the division took part in the Battle of the Matz and on July 15, 1918 in the 7th Army in the second Battle of the Marne . After the defensive battle at Cambrai on August 31, 1918, the department had hardly any fighting vehicles. So in September 1918 it was combined with Department No. 2 to form one department. The unit's last combat mission was during an attack near Cambrai on October 11, 1918.
equipment
At the end of October 1918, five A7V assault armored cars were added to the department .
Heavy Chariot Division (A7V) No. 2
Formation history
On September 29, 1917, the War Ministry ordered the establishment of Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 2 . Their commander became Captain Steinhard. The detachment was ready for deployment on January 8th and had its first deployment on April 24th, 1918 at the Battle of Amiens in the Villers-Bretonneux area. In doing so, she led the first tank battle in history. As commander of the A7V "Nixe", Lieutenant Blitz put two British tanks out of action before he had to give up his own combat vehicle after enemy fire. Further missions on May 31 at the Pierquin Ferme north of Reims, on July 15 in the second Battle of the Marne and on August 31, 1918 in the defensive battle at Cambrai followed. After the division had lost all chariots, it was merged with Division No. 1 in September 1918.
equipment
The department was etat standard equipped with five storm tanks A7V.
Heavy Chariot Division (A7V) No. 3
Formation history
The unit was set up in December 1917 as Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 3 and was mobile from February 26, 1918. The commanding officer was Captain Otto Uihlein. The tanks were used for the first time at the Battle of Amiens in the Villers-Bretonneux area on April 24, 1918. On June 9, 1918, they took part in the Battle of the Matz. At the beginning of October 1918, the unit was given the new name, Heavy Combat Vehicle Department (A7V) No. 3 . After attack operations on October 7, 1918 near St. Etienne, no combat vehicle was ready for action.
equipment
The department was equipped with five A7V assault armored vehicles.
Heavy chariot division (booty) No. 11
Formation history
The department was set up as Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 11 on March 8, 1918. Captain Adolf Reinhard Koch was the only commander from May to November 1918. The department started its first assignment a few days later on March 21, 1918 as part of the Michael company. At the beginning of April 1918 she was supposed to support the 2nd Lorraine Infantry Regiment No. 131 of the 42nd Infantry Division in the so-called Archangel offensives "Georg" and "Georgette" . However, the ground in the planned operation area was so soggy and boggy that the tanks soon got stuck and could not be used at all. The tanks of the 7th Reserve Division drove further combat missions as part of the Blücher offensive of the 7th Army in the area between Reims and Chauny on May 27, 1918 and of the Army Reserve AOK 3 in the second Battle of the Marne on July 15 1918. On October 2, 1918, it was renamed Schwere Kampfwagenabteilung (Prey) No. 11 . The last time she was used in attack operations at Cambrai in October 1918.
equipment
The department was initially equipped with five female Mark IV tanks in mid-March 1918: Nos. 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105. In early April 1918, two female tanks were replaced by two male tanks. In May 1918 only the female "Bremen" and No. 102 "Hedda" cars and the male "Käthe" (!) Cars were still operational. At the end of May 1918, "Hedda" was transferred to Department No. 13.
Heavy chariot division (booty) No. 12
Formation history
Set up on March 13, 1918 as Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 12 , it was supposed to support the 2nd Lorraine Infantry Regiment No. 131 of the 42nd Infantry Division during the so-called Archangel offensives "Georg" and "Georgette" in April 1918. As with Section 11, the tanks soon got stuck in the wet and boggy ground and were not even used. The association finally received its baptism of fire on May 28, 1918. It was subordinate to the 50th Infantry Division , which fought in the area between Reims and Chauny as part of the Blücher offensive of the 7th Army. During the second Battle of the Marne on July 15, 1918, the division was used in the 88th Infantry Division ( XIV Army Corps ) of the 3rd Army. On October 2, 1918, the Sturmpanzer-Kraftwagen-division was renamed to Schwere Kampfwagenabteilung (Prey) No. 12 . His last combat action was a counter-attack in the Sebourg / Curgies area. At that time she was subordinate to the 28th Reserve Division . From May to July 1918, Captain von Frankenberg was the commander of the department, then Captain Eberhard Herf until the end of the war .
equipment
On May 27, 1918, the department had five British Mark IV tanks: two male cars, one named "Paul", and three female cars, including cars No. 110 and 107 "Ännchen".
Bavarian heavy chariot division. No. 13
Formation history
The Bavarian Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 13 was set up on February 5, 1918. However, May 12, 1918, the day of budgeting, was considered the foundation day. The training took place at the motor vehicle replacement department No. 2 in Berlin-Schöneberg . Set up as a war formation, the division had no peace garrison . Replacement troops were the Bavarian Motor Vehicle Replacement Department No. 1 stationed in Munich . Lieutenant Karl Wilhelm was the only commander in charge of the department from its formation to its dissolution.
The department's tanks were used for the first time as part of the Blücher offensive of the 7th Army at Juvincourt on May 27, 1918. It was assigned to the 52nd Infantry Division . The second mission took place on June 1, 1918 at Fort de La Pompelle west of Reims. After a few weeks of rest, while the department was refreshed in terms of material and personnel, its third assignment took place on July 15, 1918. This was in the second battle of the Marne with the Bavarian 1st Infantry Division , Bavarian 1st Army Corps of the 3rd Army. On October 2, 1918, the unit became part of the Bavarian Heavy Combat Vehicle Department. Renamed No. 13 . The association had its next mission in attacks at Cambrai on October 11, 1918. On November 1, 1918, she was assigned to the 28th Reserve Division and had her last combat action there. She drove a counter-attack in the Sebourg / Curgies area. After the end of the war, the department in Munich was demobilized and dissolved on November 30, 1918.
equipment
Contrary to the original intention, the unit was equipped with English captured tanks instead of German A7V tanks. The chief of field forces on April 14, 1918 made this decision because there were not enough A7V tanks. On May 25, 1918, three female and two male Mark IV tanks were removed from the bay. Army Motor Vehicle Park No. 20 taken over. The female tanks were given 100 numbers, the male 200 numbers.
The first tanks were car no. 103 "Schnucki", no. 104 "Kathi", no. 112 "Marianne", no. 201 "Max" and No. 206 "Moritz".
Between May 28 and May 31, 1918, two of the five tanks had serious technical problems, and so the department had to be brought back to full strength by two tanks from other departments. These were the female tanks "Ännchen" from Department No. 12 and "Hedda" from Department No. 11. After the failure of the "Bob" tank on July 15, 1918, the department still had car No. 209 "Wolf", "Berta", "Kerlchen" and "Kathi". A good two weeks later, on August 3, 1918, it was car no. 118, 123 and 127 as well as 209 “Wolf” and 213. Before the attack near Cambrai on October 11, 1918, the division was responsible for female cars No. 118, 127 and 142 as well as 209 and another male Mark IV. Car No. 142 had been assigned to the reserve since September 29, 1918. After all the tanks failed, the department was given new cars. As of October 25, 1918, these were car numbers 134, 138 and 149 as well as 224 and 228.
Heavy Chariot Division (Prey) No. 14
Formation history
The Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 14 was registered as mobile on May 7, 1918. From the establishment in May to the demobilization in November 1918, Captain Wilhelm Negenborn was its commander. It was used for the first time on the Chemin des Dames , a striking ridge in the triangle of the cities of Laon , Soissons and Reims in northern France . This was followed on May 27, 1918 by a deployment with the 5th Guard Infantry Division as part of the Blücher offensive of the 7th Army in the area between Reims and Chauny. On June 1, 1918, the division fought at Fort de La Pompelle west of Reims. The Guard Cavalry Rifle Division , XII. (1. Kgl. Säch.) Army Corps subordinated to the 3rd Army, they fought on July 15, 1918 in the second Battle of the Marne. Like all other departments, it was renamed in early October 1918 to heavy combat vehicle department (booty) No. 14 . Assigned to the 28th Reserve Division, the division carried out a counter-attack in the Sebourg / Curgies area on November 1, 1918 as the final combat action.
equipment
The department was initially equipped with four female and one male Mark IV tanks: car no. 113 "Liesel", no. 116 "Lotte", no. 117 "Dora" and "Grete" and car no. 207 "Heinz". In August and September 1918, the female carriages No. 120 "Liesel", No. 119 "Lotte" and No. 128 "Dora" as well as the male "Heinz" and "Fritz" cars were subordinate to the department.
Heavy Chariot Division (Prey) No. 15
Formation history
After the already existing divisions No. 11 to 14 had been equipped with booty tanks, the Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-division No. 15 was set up together with its sister unit No. 16 in August 1918 and reported as operational on August 28, 1918. Their commander was first lieutenant Wilhelm Knoop. Shortly after it was set up, it was renamed Heavy Chariot Division (Prey) No. 15 . The unit's first and last deployment was in October 1918 in attack operations in the Cambrai area.
equipment
Basically, the division was equipped with three female and two male Mark IV booty tanks. The male tanks were numbered (1) and (2), the female tanks were given the numbers (3), (4) and (5). On October 8, 1918, car no.218 (2), no.219 (1), no.134 (3) and no.138 (5) were in use, car no.136 (4) was already in service on October 4th damaged. Car No. 219 (1) was destroyed during the fighting. After the mission, car no. 134 (3) and no. 138 (5) were placed under Division 13, while the damaged car no. 218 (2) was transferred to the bay. Army Motor Vehicle Park No. 20 was given for repair.
Heavy Chariot Division (Prey) No. 16
Formation history
The Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department No. 16 was set up like its sister unit No. 15 in August 1918 and reported as operational on August 28, 1918. At the beginning of October 1918, the name was changed to Heavy Combat Vehicle Department (Prey) No. 16 . Like Division No. 15, it was used in October 1918 in counter-attacks in the Cambrai area. The commanding officer was First Lieutenant Heinrich Colnot.
equipment
The division was equipped with three female and two male Mark IV booty tanks.
Bavarian Army Motor Vehicle Park No. 20
The army vehicle park was set up in May 1916 as the stage vehicle park No. 20 in Munich. Until January 1918 he was subordinate to the Austro-Hungarian Army , where he looked after the fleet of allies deployed on the Italian front . Between January 18 and February 3, 1918, the park was relocated to Charleroi in Belgium to build a special facility for tanks and caterpillar trucks and to restore captured enemy tanks. It was the central tank repair facility on the Western Front. Here captured enemy tanks were grouped, tested and, for the most part, made roadworthy again or cannibalized for spare parts. By March 31, 1918, more than 50 British tanks had accumulated in this way throughout the operation of the army fleet in the west. A7Vs were also serviced and repaired in Charleroi. After the armistice, the park returned to Munich, was demobilized and finally dissolved on November 21, 1918.
At the beginning of 1918 the park had a staff of four officers, 35 non-commissioned officers and 319 men. By May 1918, the number of officers grew to seven officers, 49 non-commissioned officers and 491 men. The need for soldiers who could be used at the front led to the hiring of Belgian civilian workers, so that from June 1918 the staff consisted of the following: four officers, 48 non-commissioned officers, 439 men and 254 Belgian workers. The commanders were Captain Hiltmann from May 1916 to February 1918 and Captain Seefried from February to November 1918.
literature
- Uwe Böhm: The establishment of the German combat vehicle troops in the First World War. in: Committee for reconstruction of the A7V assault armored vehicle: A7V assault armored vehicle. From the original tank to the Leopard 2. A contribution to the history of the military and technology. P. 155ff. Bernard & Graefe Publishing House. Bonn 2003. ISBN 3-7637-6243-4 .
- Franz Koch: captured tanks in the First World War. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, Wölfersheim-Berstadt 1994, ISBN 3-7909-0520-8 .
- Thomas Müller: The Bavarian Sturm-Panzer-Kraftwagen-Department 13. Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. Bayreuth 2013. ISBN 978-3-938845-45-5 .
- Klaus Paprotka: Tactical operations of the A7V assault armored car in 1918. in: Committee for the reconstruction of the A7V assault armored vehicle: A7V assault armored vehicle. From the original tank to the Leopard 2. A contribution to the history of the military and technology. P. 209ff. Bernard & Graefe Publishing House. Bonn 2003. ISBN 3-7637-6243-4 .
- Rainer Strasheim: Booty Tanks. British Tanks in German Service. Vol. 1. Tankograd Publishing. Publishing house Jochen Vollert. Erlangen 2011. ISBN 978-3-936519-24-2 .