The official AHF WW2 in Eastern Europe quiz thread

[Sgt. Seltin]

Unless you are referring to the StuG batterei that was eventually transferred to the Ostfront to be part of the LSSAH's StuG Abteilung and fought at Kharkov with Peiper's Kampfgruppe ,(Amongst other engagements) I'm stumped. I haven't been able to find a reference to the actions undertaken by the Wiking Division's StuG forces. Perhaps a hint?

[GregSingh]

Are you thinking about Hermann Lange's StuG battery which arrived early in 1942?
It became a part of 5th AA Abteilung together with 20mm and 88mm AA batteries.

But then SS-Wiking was only a (mot) div, not Panzer Grenadier???

[John Hilly]

Are you thinking about Hermann Lange's StuG battery which arrived early in 1942?
It became a part of 5th AA Abteilung together with 20mm and 88mm AA batteries.
But then SS-Wiking was only a (mot) div, not Panzer Grenadier???

Sorry my bad with Panzer-Grenadier!
I was thinking of Lange's Batterei that suffered great losses in its first struggle. And yes Sgt. its remaining StuGs were transferred to LSSAH.

Your turn next Greg!

With best, J-P

[Graham Clayton]

As it has been six months since a question was posed, I'll post one to get things moving again.

Q: What was the name given to the combined German-Finnish-Italian naval unit that was formed in May 1942 to try and gain total control over Lake Ladoga?

[Max Payload]

There was 'Naval Detachment K' based primarily on Italian MTBs, but I don't know if that particular unit designation included Finnish vessels.

[Graham Clayton]

My source has the unit with a Finnish sounding name - does that help?

[John Hilly]

I think that Max's answer is correct. Its Finnish name was Laivasto-osasto K by its commander Lt.Cmdr. Kalervo Kijanen.
Detachment K and German Luftwaffe Siebel unit Einsatzstab Fähre Ost (EFO) were detached under command of Colonel Eino Järvinen, Commander of Laatokan Rannikkoprikaati - Ladoga Coastal Brigade.

In some sources it is called Osasto Järvinen or something like that, but IMHO it isn't correct.

A very good page also in English here: http://maximietteita.blogspot.fi/2014/0 ... oup-k.html

With best, J-P

[Graham Clayton]

Hi John,

Thanks for the clarification - Laivasto-osasto K was the name I was thinking of.

Max, your turn to ask a question.

[Max Payload]

Thanks. Though I think John's answer was maybe a little more comprehensive than mine!
Anyway - In early March 1944 the area from Ternopol to Khmelnitsiy in the western Ukraine was the scene of ferocious fighting between Fourth Panzer Army and First Ukrainian Front for possession of what was, for the Germans, a strategically important section of railway line between the two towns. By mid-March this fighting had lost its strategic significance for the Germans.
Why?

[John Hilly]

Anyway - In early March 1944 the area from Ternopol to Khmelnitsiy in the western Ukraine was the scene of ferocious fighting between Fourth Panzer Army and First Ukrainian Front for possession of what was, for the Germans, a strategically important section of railway line between the two towns.

Wasn't it First Panzer Army in that area?

With best, J-P

[Max Payload]

Not as I understand it. The offensive hit the boundary of the two panzer armies, and the left flank corps of First PA (59th AK) was surrounded for a time before escaping south, but the main weight of Zhukov's offensive fell on the sector of the frontline (or gap in the frontline) west of Shepetovka that was the responsibility of Raus and Fourth PA. As First Ukrainian Front advanced south the defence of the sector of the railway under discussion was assigned to Balck and his 48th PC which was subordinated to Raus. If I'm wrong on this, my apologies, and perhaps I can reword the question as - the left wing of Army Group South - in place of - Fourth Panzer Army.

[John Hilly]

Thanks for you're reply and clarification. I asked because I have a book, whose map shows only the 1 PA.
And unfortunately the map doesn't show railroads or rivers, so I haven't have an answer to your question yet.

[GregSingh]

When Soviets surrounded Ternopil, railroad from Lvov to Khmelnytskyi couldn't be used.
The whole action shifted to Ternopil when it was declared a fortress by AH.

[Max Payload]

There was certainly heavy fighting for Ternopol during the second week of March, but the town did not fall and the attacks did not cause Manstein to lose interest in trying to secure the rail line east of the town. Reinforcement divisions were arriving from the west and as late as 16 March Raus reported that he would be able to push First Ukrainian Front back and secure the Ternopol - Khmelnitsiy link. But by then this was no longer a strategically important objective. Why?

[GregSingh]

Because of envelopment of 1st Panzer Army in Kamenets-Podolsky pocket?