The Combat History of German Tiger Tank Batallion 503 in World War II

450 Pages·2008·52.09 MB·English

by  Franz-wilhelm Lochmann

ThCeo mbHaits toofr y
GERMAN TIGERT ANK
BATTALION5 03
INW ORLD WAR 11
EDITEBDy
FRANZ-WILHELLOMC HMANN,
RICHARFDR EIHERVRO N ROSEN, RUBBEL
AND ALFRED
+
WITHC ONTRIBUTIOBNYSF ORMERM EMBERS
.O F TIGER BATTALION
TANK 503
STACKPOLE
BOOKS
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Combahti stoofSr cyh wePraen zer-Ab5t0e3i lung
The cohmsibtaotor fGy e rmaTni gTearn k Bat5t0a3il nWi oornlW da rI I/ [edibty1e d
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Origipnaulbllyi sChoemdb:ah ti stoofSr cyh wePraen zebrt-eAil5u0n32g.0 00.
ISBN-91738:- 0-8117-3484-4
ISBN-0I-O8:1 17-3484-6
1.G ermaHneye.Sr c.h ewrPea nzer-Ab5t0e32i..Wl ournlWgda r1,9 39-1945-Rehgiismteson-rtGiaeelr many.
3.W orlWda r1,9 39-1945-CampaigInL.s o-cEhaumnrnoF,pr ea-.nW zilmh.1e 1Rl.o seRni,c haFrrde,i hveonr.r
IlRlu.b bAellf,r IVe.dT .i tle.
D75578.503.r6Ld32 008
940.54'1343-dc22
2007036078
TABLEO F CONTENTS
FOIrllJor.d. . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v. . . . . . . . . . .
Introdu.c.t.i.o.n. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . ...... . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v. .i.i. . . .
PART ONE:O rganizoaftt hiBeoa nt ta.l. .i.o.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. . . . . . .......... . . . . . .1. .
ChatpeIr. InR evie.w. . . ............ . .................................... . . . . .3. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chatpe2r. Summrayo f tEhmep lyomenHti sotryo fT igerT ankB atta5l0i3o. n. . . . . ............5. .... . .
Chatpe3r. Rotseorf S einoPro stiisoi nnT iegrT ankB atta5l0i3o1,n49 2-4.5 . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chatpe4r. Reciepnisto fH ighM ilriytD aecroatiionnTs ig erT ankB attali5o0n3. . . . ............1.3. . . . .
Chatpe5r. OrganizatainodnS r tengtohf a T igerT ankB attal.i.o.n . . . . . ................1..5. ... . . . . .
Chatpe6r. A TankC ommadnerR emembers. . . . ............ . . . . . .....................2...1. .....
Chapt7e.l T-he2 ndC ompan.y . . . . . ................. . . . ......................2..7 .... . . . . . . . . .
Chatpe8r. TMiym e wtihtt3hr: d C ompany. . . . . ........................ . . . . . . . .31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chatpe9r. TechnciaSle rivceasn dS uplp/yLogist.i.cs. ........ . . . . . . . .............3.9.. ...........
PART TWO:F irEsmtp loymeinntt h Kea lmuSctke pp1e49s2,- .4.3. ....................5.5. ...............
Chatper1 .0 TheS einroT igerB attna-lTiigoerT ankB atta5l0i3o. n.. .. . . . . . . ...............5..7... .. .
Chaprt 1e.1 Orgnaizatoifto hn3e r dC ompan(yof rmertlhy2e n dC ompa,nT yigerT ank
Batta5l0i2oa)nn dIs tI ntiiEamlp lyomenwti tAhrm yG roupD on. . . ................ .59. . . .
Chaprt 1e2.R ecollecotfia o Pnazsne rS oledrio f t1htseC ompan.y. . . . . . . . . . ..........6..3. ........ . . .
Chatpe1r .3 DiarEy nrteiso fL eullltav nonK oerbePrl,a toLoena dreo ft he CLosmtp any
(Jlaunartyo 7 Feburary1 493). . . . .. .. .. .. .. ....................... ........6.9. .....
Chatpe1r .4 FirAsftt ert-iAocRne poorftt hCeo mpanCyo mmadnero ft h2en dC ompayn,
TigreT ankB atta5l0i2o. n. ........ . . . . . . ................................7.9. . . . . . . .
PART THREEI:n TUhker ai1n49e3,- 4.4. ................................1.50. .......................
Chatpe1r .5 WitAhr myG rbupD on tihnUe k rainoem A frpri1l49 3 Mtaoy 1 494 . . . . . . . . . .1.70 . . . . . . . . . .
Chatper1 .6 Recollecftrioomn sTM iym eas C ommadnero fT igerT ankB attali5o0n3 ,
Juen 1493-Jaunar1y4 94. . . . ............................. . . . . . . . .190. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chaprt 1e.7 Recollecotfia o Pnasne zrS odlire (aPrt2 ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chatpe1r .8 FendesaPclka'tso .on. . . . . . . ....................... . . . . . . . . .1.3.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chatpe1r .9 TheD oga ndP onSy how. . . . . . . . . . . . .......................................1...53.. .
Chatpe2r0 . Citade.l. . .'.. .. .. .. .. . ................. . ...................... . .1.73. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THEC OMBTAH ITSORYO FG ERMAN TIGETRAN KB ATTALIO5N0 3 WINO RLD WAR II
lV
Chapt2e1r.T ig3e1ro1 n tFhierD satoy f C iatdel . .. 143
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . ... . . . . . . . .
Chapt2e2r.T ig3e3r2i nA ctifornoJ mu l1y9 4t3ot hEen do fJ anu1a9r4y.4 . ......................1 .45.
Chapt2e3r.F rotmh Deo netzot hDen jepirnS eptem1b9e4r.3 .. ................................1.5 1
Chapt2e4r.T schekarssy 155
. . . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapt2e5r. OTpheer oantosif T igTeanr kB aatlti5o0n3i nO penintgh Tesc herkaPsoscyk et . 175
. . . . . . ....
Chapt2e6.rB atGtrloeu Mpit term(eTiiegTrea nrkB aatlti5o0n3" new") 189
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PARTF OURN:o rmdayn1,4 94. .....................................2.51. ...........................
Chapt2e7.r BTahatelt iRoenc eiveKsi nTtgih gee r . . 253
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........ . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapt2e8r.E mploymoenn ttI hnaevs iForno nt,Jul1y9-4A.4u .gu.s.t. ..........2. 5.7. ...............
Chapt2e9.rR eclolectoifa Po annsz Seorl d(iPearIr ltl ) ... 279
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... . . . . . . . ..... . . .
PARTFIVE : InH ungaAruys,tri aa,n dC zechosl1o49v4a-ki4a.5.,. . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . ........ . . .... . . .3. 03
ChapterE m3p0l.o ytmi enHn ungary 305
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .......... . . . . . . . . . . . .
ChapterA f3t1e.tr i-oARnce poorftH sa upatnmFnr ommaen Odb erleuOtenmalnetr 335
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapt3e2.rR ecloelctoifaoP nasn zSeorl d(iPearIVr )tT: h eR eoarngaitziooftn h Bea tta.l.i. .o..n. . .. .3 41
Chapt3e3r.T heE ndo fS eparUantiSett atIunsc:o rpoirnoaPt tainoznCe orr p"sFd ehlerrnhalle"3 47
. . . . . . . .
Chapt3e4r.D iaErnytr iferso1 m4 D ecemb1e9r4t 4oM ay1 94a5sC ommander of
TigTeanrk B atta5l0i3.o ..n ..........................34.9. .........................
Chapt3e5r.T heF inEangla gemseo nftt hBea atltiwointA hr mGyr oup South 371
. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PARTS IX: TEhned 1,49 5 397
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapt3e6.rT heF inHaolu rosft hBea atltion . 399
. . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapt3e7r.R ecollecotfai P oannszS eorl d(iPearVr )t 405
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapt3e8r.W oet ot hVea nquishe.d.!. .......................................4 .0.9 ..........
. . .:
Chapt3e9r.M yP eriaosad P risoonfWe arrf roMma y1 94t5oO ctob1e9r5 .5 ..........4.11. ............
Appen1:dP iexors nneLlo ssoefts h Bea atlti.o.n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4. .2.7. . . . . .
Ajlpe2:nS dhioxrt Bioogftr haCepo hnitersoi rb.su. .t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4. .3.7. . . . .
FOREWORD
incteh ee ndo ft hew arw eh avtea lkaebdo ut Thee ditodrisdn otc onsidcehre ckitnhgec on­
S
attempttionw gr itae h istoorfoy u rb attal­tentosft hea ccounttobs e p arotf t heitra stkh,a t
ionT.h ef actth amto ret han2 50f ormer lyinbge yonbdo tht heimri ssiaonnd c apabilities.
memberrse gulagreltyt ogethaefrt efro rty-fiTvhee a uthovrosu cfho trh eirre porbtyts h eu seo f
yearissa cleairn dicattihoaant b ettfeorr mo f theniarm esF.u rthermoonreem ,u st consider that,
recornde edtso b ec reattehda tnh awth icihsp re­ aftfeorr ty-yfeiavroesu ,rm emoriaersen ote ntirely
serviendo urm emories. reliabItln ee.e dn otb em entiontehda tth ec om­
TheK lei/nKeuhneb ookT,i gnT·h:eH is/om/)a' radewsh oh avep utt heicro ntribuitnitotonh si s
LegendW(eIIa)j11,J1 w o h oseG ermane diticoanm e bookg aviett hebiers etf foIrtit s.u navoidathbalte
outi nt hem id1 970psr,e senatc eodm prehensivteh erwei lble d iscreparnecgiaersd diantge psl,a ce
pictuorfea llo ft heT igebra ttaliIotwn ass.a namesa,n dp ersonSsu.c hd iscrepanocciceusr
remarkaabtltee mtpotp resetnhte ihri stoTrhya.t eveinn t hem osrti gormoiulsi thairsyt orTiheasit.s
bookw,h icwha sw elrle ceivaenddn, o to nlbyy f or­ whyw er eplactehdec ommont erm-battahliiso­n
merT igemre n,c onsisltaerdg oeflc yo ntributiotnosr y-tihneG ermaend itiwointt hh el esesx acting
andi llustraftrioomtn hse mU.n fortulnyat,th ee l:-ri11([111d1ie erT ui1g1egle�lA1b5 l0e(3iR lf'uc1o1lgl ecliol7s
authodrisd n ota lwahyistt heitra rgeatnsd,t he 0/T igBeart ta5l0i3.on)
presentaitnit ohnebs o okd idn ota lwamyese tt he Ins piotfea na bundanocfre e cortdhse,r aer e
expectatoifto hnoss weh oh adp rovidtehdei nfor­stihloll eisnt hes ourcmea tertihaalct o ulndo tb e
matioTnh.e p ortidoenv otteodT igeTra nkB attal­eliminabtyei dn quiTrhye.r efotrheec, o mpanies
ion5 03w aso,f n ecessliitmyi,ti enid t ssc opTeh.a t coulndo ta lrle ceievqeu aelm phasinsor,h ave
wasa nothreera sofno urs t op roceiendo urp lans individiumaplolryt waanrtt iemvee natlsrl e ceived
fooru ro wna ccounGti.v etnh osset artpionign ts,t hee mphastihse dye serivnoe u ra ccounOtn. t he
wew entto w orkt woy earasg G>T.h ibso oki sp artic­other hasnodm,ee ventasr ed escribseedv eral
ularnloyt abfleo rg ivintgh eg reatepsots siblet imefsr omd ifferviinegw points.
numbeorf o urc omradaec sh ancteos peak. Ourb ooki sn or eplacemfeonrtt h eb attalion
Whati sp resentheedr es houlndo tb ee valu­ward iartyh awta sl osattt hee ndo ft hew arN.o r
ateads a historidcoaclulmye ntreedp orbtu,ta s doeistm akel iteroarhr iys torpirceatle nisnpe rse ­
thes umo fm oreo rl esssu bjective accountsse.n tTithnhegesw ea rtiemxep erieonfco eusru niTth.e
areb aseodn factasn de xperienbcuetw, r ittene ditosrestt h emseltvheets a sokfp uttitnogg ether
downa se xperienbcyet dh ei ndividauuatlh ors.a suitacbollel ectfiroonma vailacbolmep,r ehen-
v
vi THEC OMBATHI STORYO FG ERMAN TIGERT ANKB ATTAllON5 0IN3 WORLD WAR II
sive,e xcbeuetd vianrgisleoydu rfcoremst ,h et elri­ Withotuhte mcaonnyt ribiuntf oirmoo nfs
atuarswe e lalsn ewa ccoutnhtawsot u lpdr esae ntt ext, pdiocctuumsrea ennstd, asstihsbeto aonkc e,
portorfaT iitgT earn kB atta5l03ia osn e ixtii snt s woulnde vhearv ree achceodm pleFtoitro hna.t ,
oumre mories. weo frfs epectihaalnAs k isws.e lkln ownno,t hing
Ourb ooiksi netndepdr imafrorir leya dingt,a kpelsa wciet hmoountey T.h ose wthiomseel y
rathtehral no okiIntg .wn aoswt r itftoret nh e cotnribustuipopnostr htpeer djo ecfnita nica,li lny
idnividcuoamlp anbiuetrs,a, t ,hf eorrt he tierne goofdia tthh atthp er joewcotu lsdu ccereedc,e ive
batitoaWnle.t oopka itnops r esfecanttu raelp ortosu hre aerltttfh anks.
instoefa d emotpiroensaeln taPteirosnoysn .a liWte presoeuncrto mrawdietsth h erseec ollec­
cuslw teraev oidHeodw.e v, erit lineast uirnet itohWnees h .o pietm eettsh eeixrp ectaTthiiosn s.
oft hisnt ghasto miedn ividrueaclesie vxetde nsibvoeo ka t irsi btuoTt ieg Teanr kB atta5l03iW.o en
mentiootnhs,el resasn,dt hmeaj oryn iotnaeta ll.a rper outdoh avbee lontgoie tdW.e a lswoi stho
We,t haeu thohravste,og ivmea noilftdh anksh.o nooru r dead.
Firisnlt ie na rteh ceo mardewsh oh aveen co­ur
ageuds inp rjtoehcaetn d whheol pweidta hd vice DrF.r anzl-hWeiLlomc hmann
andd eeddu ritnhgte w o yoefwa orrstk h awte nt RichFarredi hveorRnor s en
intiotp sr oduction. AlfrReudb bel
RolSfichel
May1 990
INTRODUCTION
byt hLea sCto mmanodfte hrBe a ttalion
Iti sn ote asfyo,r -tfyiyveea rasf ttehr eG erman soldiFerro.m t heb eginniintwg a,s n og rouopf
collaptsope r,e paarg er eettiont gh es urviving"w ilwda rrionros ",b"l oodthciornsqtuye roorrs "
memberosf a milituanriytm ,e nw hoc oura­ "fanatilcaazlis str ivfionrwg o rlcdo nquesItt. "
geouspleyr formtehde idru ty-discipalnidn edw asr,a th,e rsaw ornc omradeswhhiops eef forts
consciooufts h eirre sponsiboi ltihteyb -ittter wereb aseodn personvaall uaensd c ouragoen,
endT.o dayi,fo neu sewso rdlsi kceo uragceo,m ­ unconditicoonmarla desahnidpo nm atter-of-fact
radeshainpd f ulfillomfed nutt yo,n er unst he fulfillomfed nutt yT.h eo bviobuosn db etween
dangeorf b eincga tegoribzyte hde m ediaas a officneornsc,o mmissioofnfeidc aenrdsm enw as
warmonger, coflidgt-hew roa rrp otetni aml u r­ univerbsuatle ,s pecisaola lmyo ngt hea rmored
dereTrh.e m olderosfp ubliocp iniporne fetro forcweh,e rtea nckr ews opewriatthetidhn e c los­
'
labeals" heroetsh,oe"s w hod idn otf ulfill tehesoitfr q uartaenrdst herwee rneo d istincatsit oon s
dutiewsh,o committaecdt osf s abotawgheo, burdendsa,n gers ofrac coemdm onf ate.
deserted. aTrheto hseeo nesf orw homm onu­ Thet imeo ft her apid asasnadus lutc cessful
ment sa ree rectehdo,l idacyesl ebraTtheods.e offensoipveer athiaodna lreagdoyn eb yt het imIe
whod isfigourdr ee strmoeym oriaalrseh onored ledt hiusn itI.th adb ecomaem attoefrd efending
as" trufer ienodfsp eaceI.ti" sn otabtlhea ti,n againasnte nemyw how ass uperiionmr a npower
Europe, tohneGl eyr manesn gagient his foofr m ande quipmeanntdo ft hrowihnigmb acikn l ocal
self�reeduOcnaeth iaosno .n ltyo c omparseu ch counteratstoaa cstk ose nabloeu ro wna rmyt,h e
behaviwoirtt hh aotf t heF rencwhh,o ,a ftceorn ­ woundeadn dt hec ivilpioapnu lattiowo int hdraw.
querianlgm osatlo lf E uropaen dt,h ena,f ttehre Therwea sn or oomf ogrr anlda nguafgoeer,x hor­
collaposfNe a poleosnt,ih loln ora ndc ounats tatiotnoss u cceasnsdp romisoefus l timvaitcet ory.
heroeosf t heC rrmNraitf'i tohner is oldiwehros Therwee rneo g realta uretlobs e w on.I tw aso nly
werbea dlbye ateinnt heb aHleosnt heB eresina,d ailgyr,i ndicnogs,t ly decfoemnbsaiwtvi eti hn ad­
atL eipzaingda tW aterloo. equatseu pplainedsr eplacnetsm.e
So,i nt hipsl acIeo ,f fearw ordo fr ecognition Int hadte presspihnagso eft hew a,rt hes trength
tot hes oldioefrT si geTra nkB attal5i0o3wnh ,o m andd iscipolfit nheic so urageuonuisst h onfeo rth
Ih adt heh onotro c ommanddu rintgh ed ifficulitn e xemplary faNsoh oinoens .o ughtto s hirk
finfailv meo nthosf t heS econWdo rlWda rT.h is action, neav weoru nwdaesd comlreafidtnet he
wasa u nitth ahta df,o trh reyeea rse,njo yeadr ep­ lurcEhv.e ni nt hem osth opelessist uateiaocnh,
utatifoonpr e rformaanbcoev teh aotft hea verage placehdi lsi foent hel infeo rh ifse llsoowl diaesr s
vu.
THEC OMBATH ITSORYO FG ERMAN TIGER TANKB ATTAllON5 0IN3 WORLD WAR II
Vlll
thoeb vious atnhdit noog n dloy.u nTiwhtoe u ld Thutsh,hi asbs e coame eu olgfyo Tri gTeanrk
nevehra vbee esnu cah r eliabbullew aarnkd Batta5l0i3Wo.en w eruen abtlode o t haattt he
"fortirnte hssest ortmot" h lea st daytsh ew ietnhdoo uftt h wea rF.o trh ose wewrhmeoe mbeorfs
succeascstfiuvloi ftt hiee sl oguinsiwtthisic cahl­ thbea tltiaoinwt,e nwti thqouuets ttihoewnyo uld
day annidgt h-ofughtth ewiaryt rhou,go hften fulfitlhle diurt iteots h een d-itnhm ei dosftt he
betweenl itnoheresw ,i thtohusete -lsfacrificcionlgl aopfts hele e aderasnhdti hpe desperate war
technhieclearplfsor mt hmea inetnanccoem panys ituawthiiocfnho,m,r a nwya,ts i eudp wliotoshfs
andt hmea intensaencctewi hoin,csi h nt hmei dsth omelamnadn,yf ma ilmye mbertsh,eh iorm es
oft hfieg htianngdu nder efinreerm,ey p aireadn d oaftl hleb ierl ongTihnegrosen.,c e atghaei n,
outra nokrst owed ttoht ehrmee aJru.sa tsv italt ruvea loufes oldliyce orndwuacpstr ovaenndI,
werteh meo otrcymcelses enwgietrthsh ediarr e­wisfhor us faorn da llf maitlhmyee mbeorfs
devjioulr nyesi nt hbea tltilnee s. thowsheo w ere inT anTkiB gaetrt a5l0i3to hna t
Untilv etrehyne dt ,hr ea doipoe ramtootrosr,­ thmiesm oyr-nic otnratsott h "em odeartnt"a cks
cycdlrei vaenrdls i aiosfifocnes o rft hbea ttalioonnt he voaflt uheheso norasbolled- imaeyrl ive
enabulset doh avaes eamloevsesr voifte hwse i tu­oni nttohf eut urTeh.ai tas l stohp eu rpoofst eh is
atiwohni altet acthoe pdaa nzceorr ps-despsimtaeal clc ooufnt thb ea ttaalniodof tn h leo -nlgast­
theh oleisnt hed efensfoirnvteI .tw asa n ing boofno ducsro rmadheisp.
extrehmeevalyby u rdfeorno ubra ttalion that we
hadt ob ursyom aneys pecrieallilaaynb dsl uec ­ DrN.o rdevwoiDnnie st-Koerber
cesscfoumlr adients h el aswte ekosft hwea r. Jun1e89 9
P AR T O N E
ORGANIZATION
OF THE
BATTALION