Table of Contents
Foreword 1
Introduction and Acknowledgements 2
Chapter 1 The Origin of Separate German Armored Brigades in 1944 5
1.1 Organization and Equipment 5
1.2 Employment Fundamentals 19
1.3 The Activation of Panzer-Brigade 105 21
Chapter 2 Movement to the Western Front 39
2.1 Development of the Situation in the West 39
2.2 Friday, 1 September 1944 40
2.3 Saturday, 2 September 1944 41
2.4 Sunday, 3 September 1944 44
2.5 Monday, 4 September 1944 47
2.6 Tuesday, 5 September 1944 51
Chapter 3 Initial Fighting Forward of the Meuse River 58
3.1 Wednesday, 6 September 1944 58
3.1.1 Development of the Situation West of the Meuse 58
3.1.2 Establishing the Defense along the Meuse 65
3.2 Thursday, 7 September 1944 67
3.2.1 The Situation Becomes More Critical 67
3.2.2 The German Command Seeks a Way Out of the Crisis 75
Chapter 4 Between the Meuse and the Westwall 78
4.1 Friday, 8 September 1944 78
4.1.1 The Failed Relief Attack on Lüttich 78
4.1.2 Bringing Up Reinforcements 93
4.1.3 The 9. Panzer-Division 94
4.1.4 The Role of the General of the Panzertruppen West 97
4.2 Saturday, 9 September 1944 98
4.2.1 General Situation 98
4.2.2 Reinforcements and Preparations for Defense along the Westwall 114
4.3 Sunday, 10 September 1944 115
4.3.1 Fighting for the Linchpin of Limbourg 115
4.3.2 Waiting for the 9. Panzer-Division 129
4.3.3 Additional Measures Taken to Improve the Defense of the Westwall 133
4.4 Monday, 11 September 1944 135
4.4.1 Kampfgruppe 9. Panzer-Division Assumes Responsibility for the Defense in the Limbourg Sector 135
4.4.2 The German Front Collapses 141
4.4.2.1 Limbourg Area of Operations 141
4.4.2.2 The Fighting on the Right Wing of the Corps 178
4.4.2.3 The Fighting in the Sector of the LXXIV. Armee-Korps 181
4.4.3 Establishment of a New Defensive Line in Front of the Westwall 182
4.4.4 Preparations along the Westwall and Reinforcements 184
4.5 Tuesday, 12 September 1944 187
4.5.1 Mission and Order of Battle of the U.S. 3rd Armored Division 187
4.5.2 Order of Battle and Status of the German Defenders 190
4.5.3 The American Advance (Through Early Afternoon) 192
4.5.4 At the Westwall 198
4.5.5 Other Combat Operations in the sectors of the LXXXI. and LXXIV. Armee-Korps 202
4.5.6 Organization for the Defense of the Westwall 206
Chapter 5 The Defense of the Westwall 209
5.1 Wednesday, 13 September 1944 209
5.1.1 The Dreiläger Reservoir and Rott Sectors 210
5.1.2 The Schmidthof Sector 218
5.1.3 The Oberforstbach and Schleckheim Sectors 218
5.1.4 Additional German and American Measures 225
5.1.5 Other Events in Neighboring Sectors 226
5.1.6 Additional Actions of Other Commands 232
5.2 Thursday, 14 September 1944 233
5.2.1 Kampfgruppe Bockhoff Sector 234
5.2.2 The Panzer-Brigade 105 Sector 238
5.2.3 Sector of the 353. Infanterie-Division 240
5.2.4 The Crisis in Leadership and the Status of the 9. Panzer-Division 246
5.2.5 Other Combat Operations in the Corps Sector 249
5.2.6 The Rear Area and Higher Levels of Command 254
5.3 Friday, 15 September 1944 256
5.3.1 The Sector of Kampfgruppe Panzer-Brigade 105 257
5.3.2 The Sector of Kampfgruppe Sperling 265
5.3.3 General Situation and the Insertion of the 353. Infanterie-Division into the Line 271
5.3.4 Bringing Up New Reinforcements 274
Chapter 6 The Stolberg Bulwark 276
6.1 Saturday, 16 September 1944 276
6.1.1 Development of the Situation in the Area of Operations of the 9. Panzer-Division 276
6.1.1.1 Panzer-Brigade 105 Sector 276
6.1.1.2 Employment of Füsilier-Regiment 27and the Fighting in the Area of Operations of the 116. Panzer-Division 283
6.1.1.3 Kampfgruppe Spelling Sector 288
6.1.1.4 Sector of the 353. Infanterie-Division 291
6.1.1.5 The Conduct of the Fighting on the Right Wing of the LXXXI. Armee-Korps 293
6.1.2 Assumption of Command in the Stolberg Area by the 12. Infanterie-Division 294
6.1.3 Reinforcements and Measures Taken by the Chain of Command 305
6.2 Sunday, 17 September 1944 306
6.2.1 Area of Operations of the 12. Infanterie-Division 308
6.2.1.1 Füsilier-Regiment 27 and Kampfgruppe Panzer-Brigade 105 308
6.2.1.2 Kampfgruppe Bockhoff 312
6.2.2 Strength Figures for the German Forces in the Stolberg-Gressenich Area 320
6.2.3 Development of the Situation on the Right Flank of the LXXXI. Armee-Korps 322
6.3 Monday, 18 September 1944 327
6.3.1 The Fighting in the Münsterbusch-Stolberg Area 330
6.3.2 The Fighting in the Hammerberg-Mausbach Area 332
6.3.3 The Fighting on the Left and Right Flanks of the Corps 339
6.3.4 Planning for the Further Conduct of Operations 341
6.4 Tuesday, 19 September 1944 343
6.4.1 Area of Operations of the 12. Infanterie-Division 343
6.4.1.1 The Fighting in the Western Section of Stolberg 346
6.4.1.2 The Fighting in the Southeastern Section of Stolberg 350
6.4.1.3 The Situation of the 12. Infanterie-Division in the Evening 355
6.4.2 The Fighting on the Left and Right Wings of the Corps 356
6.5 Wednesday, 20 September 1944 359
6.5.1 The Fighting in the Sector of the 12. Infanterie-Division 359
6.5.1.1 The Diepenlinchen-Mausbach-Gressenich Sector 361
6.5.1.2 The Donnerberg-Duffenter Sector 363
6.5.1.3 The Atsch-Münsterbusch-Büsbach-Liester Sector 369
6.5.2 The Situation on the Wings of the Corps 374
6.5.3 Status of the German Formations in the Evening 375
6.6 Thursday, 21 September 1944 379
6.6.1 Fighting in the Sector of the 12. Infanterie-Division 379
6.6.2 Events of the Wing of the LXXXI. Armee-Korps 387
6.6.3 Strength Reports 389
6.7 Friday, 22 September 1944 395
6.7.1 The Fighting in the Sector of the 12. Infanterie-Division 395
6.7.1.1 The Stolberg-Donnerberg Sector 396
6.7.1.2 The Gressenich-Schevenhütte Sector 403
6.7.1.2 Events on the Wings of the LXXXI. Armee-Korps 404
6.7.3 Strength Reports 407
6.8 Saturday, 23 September 1944 409
6.8.1 The Fighting in the Sector of the 12. Infanterie-Division 409
6.8.2 Events on the Wings of the Corps 412
6.8.3 The Relief of the 9. Panzer-Division and Panzer-Brigade 105 414
Chapter 7 The Deactivation of Panzer-Brigade 105 420
7.1 The Brigade is Pulled Out of the Line 420
7.2 Deactivation and Consolidation of Panzer-Brigade 105 into the 9. Panzer-Division 423
7.2.1 Headquarters and Headquarters Company of Panzer-Brigade 105 425
7.2.2 Panzer-Abteilung 2105 425
7.2.3 Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 2105 428
7.2.4 Panzer-Pionier-Kompanie 2105 429
7.2.5 Panzerjäger-Kompanie 2105 430
7.2.6 Elements That Were Not Consolidated 430
7.2.7 Aspects That Could Not Be Clarified 431
7.3 Evaluation of the Reconstitution 432
7.4 Last Traces of Panzer-Brigade 105 433
Chapter Endnotes 454
Chapter 1 The Origins of German Armored Brigades in 1944 454
Chapter 2 Movement to the Western Front 457
Chapter 3 Initial Fighting Forward of the Meuse River 460
Chapter 4 Between the Meuse and the Westwall 463
Chapter 5 The Defense of the Westwall 474
Chapter 6 The Stolberg Bulwark 482
Chapter 7 The Deactivation of Panzer-Brigade 105 498
Annex 1 Preliminary Guidelines for Commanding and Employing the Armored Brigade 503
Annex 2 Organizational Diagrams of a German Armored Brigade 507
Annex 3 Tables of Organization and Equipment for a German Armored Brigade 509
Annex 4 Arrival of Panzer-Brigade 105 in the Area of Operations of the 7. Armee 517
Annex 5 Attachment of Panzer-Brigade 105 to the 116. Panzer-Division 518
Annex 6 Release of Elements of Panzer-Brigade 105 to the 116. Panzer-Division 519
Annex 7 Arrival of the 9. Panzer-Division in the Sector of Panzer-Brigade 105 520
Annex 8 Organization of the 9. Panzer-Division (11 September 1944) 521
Annex 9 Organization of Panzer-Brigade 105 (18 September 1944) 522
Annex 10 Loss Report of the 9. Panzer-Division (22 September 1944) 523
Annex 11 Major Combat Systems Report (23 September 1944) 524
Annex 12 Camouflage Schemes and Tactical Numbering Employed within Panzer-Brigade 105 525
Annex 13 Town Names in Belgium 528
Annex 14 Military Abbreviations and Glossary 529
Annex 15 The 7. Armee and Allocated/Attached Commands 535
Annex 16 Senior Command and Leadership Positions of Panzer-Brigade 105 545
Annex 17 Comparisons of Authorized and Assigned/On-Hand Personnel/Equipment within Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 2105 548
Annex 18 Losses within Panzer-Brigade 105 and the 9. Panzer-Division 553
Annex 19 Attachments and Detachments within the Area of Operations of the LXXXI. Armee-Korps 559
Annex 20 Distribution of Armored Fighting Vehicles within a German Armor Brigade 563
Annex 21 Rank Comparison Table 566
Bibliography 567
Photo Credits 577
