High Scorers with Panzers and Paks

[alcius]

I found some sources on Leutnant Rudiger von Moltke of Pz.Rgt.35.
In the last month of 1945 he destroyed 35 enemy tanks on his Panzer IV.
I don't know if alone, or with his company

Antonio

[Gastolli]

I don't know if alone, or with his company

Hello Antonio,

I know this, he destroyed 35 tanks within two months in Westpreussen with his Zug, not allone. But, anyway, you may credit him with at least 10 tanks or so, a Zug usually had fife or four tanks, and less than that in the last stages of war for sure. On the other hand: He was Führer of 8. Kompanie of Pz.Rgt. 35 from early February 1945, so this success in my opinion could also be, or should be?, the success of his company!

Further, he got the EK2 in November 1943 and EK1 in March 1944, so he was an experienced tank commander a year before already, obviously picking up some point for a later Deutsches Kreuz in Gold proposal !

But, I have no total or details as to his personal success, unfortunately.

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver

From germandocsinrussia.org
CAMO-500-12475-22-0169
12/07/1944
Unteroffizier Pieper - 8/Pz.Rgt.26 - PZ.IV - 4 Sherman

pieper unt.png

Antonio

[Gastolli]

Unteroffizier Pieper - 8/Pz.Rgt.26 - PZ.IV - 4 Sherman

Hi Antonio,

thank you for that! Unfortunately Pz.Rgt. 26 is one of the units I'm lacking information on their men, so I can't add anything to this person.

Nice find

Oliver

[alcius]

Leutnant Hubertus Drolshage - Knight's Cross - Panzerjäger-Abteilung 41 (sfl)
From what I understand, he attacked 9 T34s, but I don't know if he destroyed them

drolshage.png

Antonio

[Gastolli]

From what I understand, he attacked 9 T34s, but I don't know if he destroyed them

Hello Antonio,

unfortunately this article doesn't give us a clue as what exactly happened, but he single handedly stopped these 9 T34's with his thinnly armored Marder.

From several books I know that he had destroyed 2 T34 on 24.11.1943 and 1 T34 on 22.3.1944, by occasion I would like to say, but this wasn't the Ritterkreuz feat. He could well have destroyed more than 5 tanks, much more I think ...

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver

I found in
Der Führer / Kreisausgabe Rastatt (21/09/1943) 261
https://digital.blb-karlsruhe.de/blbz/p ... e%20pak%22
some panzerjager names.
Rahlenbeck, Fasel and Weidlich I had already entered.
Obergefreiten Wagner, is Erich Wagner - Geschützführer 16./Jäger-Regiment 38 - 9 kills
But I haven't found any of these.
Obergefreiter Kratochwil – Schweren Pak - 3 kills
Unteroffizier Chilian – Schweren Pak – 3 kills
Gefreiter Bargsten – Mittleren Pak – 6 kills

Antonio

[Gastolli]

some panzerjager names.

Hello Antonio,

ah, nice Of course, Rahlenbeck, Wagner and Weidlich are "well known", so to say.

I haven't heard from Fasel yet, that was new to me!

So, o.k., we still have three soldiers to go:

Ogfr. Kratochwil
This is a PK-report, name also could have been Kratochwill, Kratochvil or Kratochvill (you know the accuracy of these kind of stuff), but anyway I have no details on this man. The report says "Südlich der Flugplatzstraße vor der Stadt", sounds like the immediate vicinity of Staraja Russa, so from the chart I would say he must have belonged to 30. Inf.Div.

Uffz. Chilian
Also, unknown to me, but a very unusual German family name. I can see all those men listed in the Volksbund database born in Northern Germany, so I would expect Uffz. Chilian also belonged to 30. Inf.Div.!

Gefr. Bargsten
Here, also this name can be found in Northern Germany, usually. But I found a note of mine from Bundesarchiv sources, that
Gefreiter Dietrich Bargsten, 14./G.R. 6 (30. Inf.Div.)
was recommended for the "Nennung im Ehrenblatt", but this recommendation was rejected (no further details). So, you can't find him in any lists, but at least we have a full name. I can't find a Dietrich Bargsten in the Volksbund database, so he could have survived WW2.


Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver
I thought I already put Fasel.
However you find it in
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/300 ... Walter.htm
From the site it appears that he destroyed 14 enemy tanks

Antonio

[alcius]

2 more, about which I know nothing.

Gefreite Erich Bardehle - 4 kills
Westfälische Tageszeitung 91 (14/05/1942) 131
https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbms/periodical/ ... panzern%22

bardehle.png

Gefreite Johannes Bohme - Geschutz - 10 kills
Der sächsische Erzähler : 07.03.1942
https://sachsen.digital/werkansicht/313 ... e6d5452969

bohme.png

Antonio

[Gastolli]

From the site it appears that he destroyed 14 enemy tanks

Hello Antonio,

thanks for the addition. I'm not sure if the one tank destroyed in close combat by Fasel is included in his total of 14, but anyway a nice find.

Oliver

[Gastolli]

Gefreite Erich Bardehle - 4 kills

Hi Antonio,

well, one of many Richtschützen of a gez.Pak, I would say, although a gunner of a tank or a Sturmgeschütz also is possible to be true.

There's one Erich Bardehle in the Volksbund database, missing between 23.-30.8.1944 in Romania:
https://www.volksbund.de/erinnern-geden ... a09f8488d9

Oliver

[Gastolli]

Gefreite Johannes Bohme - Geschutz - 10 kills

Hi Antonio,

Johannes Böhme (with the Umlaut Ö) most probably died on 30.8.1944 at Schloßberg, Ostpreußen:
https://www.volksbund.de/erinnern-geden ... 46d5455a2e

I just searched for the place of birth "Wilthen", and it's not 100% save but pretty sure, that this is the right person.

Most probably a Pak gunner, year of birth 1920 does fit with his rank in early 1942 as did his rank in the summer of 1944.
His unit remains unknown to me of course.

Oliver

[alcius]

Thanks Oliver
As for Fasel, I have some newspaper clippings confirming 1 tank destroyed in close combat in the Knight's Cross action, so it's included in the total of 14.

Antonio

[alcius]

Oberleutnant Leitheser - Sturmgeschutz - 6 kills
Zeitung 8/9/1944

leitheiser.png

I found in
https://www.wehrmacht-forum.de/index.ph ... /&pageNo=1

LEIDHEISER, Karl; OLt., RDA: 1.3.44 (94), *23.10.1911 • †17.08.1944 a.d.F.d.Verw. Bretville/Frankr.); Pz.Jäg.Abt. 272 (EKII)

Since the article refers to a fight against the Americans, it could be him.

Antonio