Got the theme for my Dio Contest in mind

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:32 am

"Italian Holiday"

going to center around the 26. Panzer Division in 1943

Info on the unit: which was at every major battle in Italy for duration of the Campaign. One could say they became Kesselring's Firemen and did not surrender til capitulation at the end of Campaign when no more could be done.

26. Panzer-Division was formed Sep 1942 in Belgium from parts of 23. Infanterie-Division. It was transferred to Amiens, France Oct 1942 for training and coastal defense and remained there until July 1943 when it was sent to Italy where it fought the allied landings. It surrendered to the allies in northern Italy at the end of the war.

Known war crimes
In Padule di Fucecchio 162 civilians were killed by soldiers from Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 26 in retaliation for a partisan attack. Divisional commander Eduard Crasemann and the battalion commander Josef Strauch was convicted of this crime post-war.

Commanders
General der Panzertruppen Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz (14 Sep 1942 - 22 Jan 1944)
Generalmajor Hans Hecker (22 Jan 1944 - 20 Feb 1944)
General der Panzertruppen Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz (20 Feb 1944 - 6 July 1944)
Generalleutnant Eduard Crasemann (6 July 1944 - 29 Jan 1945)
Generalmajor Alfred Kuhnert (29 Jan 1945 - 19 Apr 1945)
Generalleutnant Viktor Linnarz (19 Apr 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations
Belgium (Sep 1942 - Oct 1942)
France (Oct 1942 - July 1943)
Italy (July 1943 - May 1945)

Nicknames

Grenadierkopf

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army (4)
Holders of the Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (1)
Schmidt, Paul, 01.02.1944 (448), Oberfeldwebel, 1./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 9
Holders of the German Cross in Gold (40)
Holders of the German Cross in Silver (7)
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (19)
Holders of the Knight's Cross (17, including two unofficial/unconfirmed)
Unit-Level Commendation Certificate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Army for Shooting Down Aircraft (2)
1./Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 9
Date/Place of Downing: 10.09.1943 bei Amato-Brücke
Award Date: 01.02.1944 (460)
9./Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 9
Date/Place of Downing: 13.05.1944 bei Priverno
Award Date: 01.08.1944 (520)

Order of battle (1943)

Staff

Staff

93. Mapping Detachment (mot)

26. Panzer Regiment

Staff

Signals Platoon

Regimental Band

2 x Battalion

Staff

Staff Company

2 x Light Panzer Company

Panzer Company

Panzer Maintenance Company

9. Panzergrenadier Regiment

Staff

Regimental Band

Staff Company

Signals Platoon

Panzerjäger Platoon

Motorcycle Platoon

Pioneer Platoon

Battalion (half-track)

3 x Company

Heavy Company

Pioneer Platoon

Flamethrower Platoon (self-propelled)

Gun Platoon

2 x Panzerjäger Platoon

Infantry Gun Platoon

Battalion (mot)

3 x Company

Heavy Company

Pioneer Platoon

Panzerjäger Platoon

Infantry Gun Platoon

Panzerjäger Platoon

Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)

67. Panzergrenadier Regiment

Staff

Regimental Band

Staff Company

Signals Platoon

Panzerjäger Platoon

Motorcycle Platoon

2 x Battalion (mot)

3 x Company

Heavy Company

Pioneer Platoon

Panzerjäger Platoon

Infantry Gun Platoon

Panzerjäger Platoon

Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)

93. Panzerjäger Battalion

2 x Panzerjäger Company (mot)

Panzerjäger Company (self-propelled)

26. Reconnaissance Battalion

Armored Car Company

2 x Reconnaissance Company (half-track)

Heavy Reconnaissance Company (half-track)

Pioneer Platoon

Gun Section

Infantry Gun Section

2 x Panzerjäger Platoon

Light Reconnaissance Supply Column

93. Panzer Artillery Regiment

Staff

Staff Battery

Battalion

Staff

Staff Battery

3 x Battery (self-propelled)

2 x Battalion

Staff

Staff Battery

3 x Battery (mot)

93. Observation Battery (mot)

93. Panzer Pioneer Battalion

Staff

Company (half-track)

Company (mot)

Brüko K Bridging Column

Light Pioneer Supply Column (mot)

82. Panzer Signals Battalion

Panzer Telephone Company

Panzer Radio Company

Light Signals Supply Column

93. Feldersatz Company

Support & Supply Units

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 11:46 am

I'm more interested in the 26. Pz A.A.(Recce Battion) for a crossroads action during Avalanche(salerno), here elements did like something out of the old west..fearing the Amis would use the road as a line of advance a mixed Kompanie of Aufklarers raced ahead in VWs and Motorcycles..setup a roadblock with a heavy MG42, a light cannon and a handful of men and stopped two American attempts to move up the road before more of the 26th arrived with armour and supplies.