3 Panzer- Grenadier Division- 3 Infanterie Division( mot.)

Discussion in 'Axis Units' started by Stuart Avery, Jan 19, 2019.

  1. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    For the detail fetishists: what I have called a Panzerfaust resp. satchel charge in the translation was called „Faustpatrone“ resp. „geballte Ladung“ in the original.
    The „Faustpatrone“ is the precursor of the Panzerfaust 30 called „Gretchen“ and lacked the aiming device
    Faustpatrone.png

    The „geballte Ladung“, originally invented during the Great War as an ad-hoc measure for anti-tank defence:
    geballte ladung.jpg

    The mentioned rapid fire rifles (Schnellfeuergewehre) were most likely G43 self loading rifles
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2021
  2. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Here are four photos of the Flyover (looking North up, or South down the Anzio-Albano road)? I've never seen these photos before in the (eight years) of being a apprentice into researching this devastating campaign. No point in trying to improve the quality in my opinion. The last one looks has if its been taken from a vehicle on the move..Looking south are rare has rocking-horse s...
    16082798965481041615145.jpg
    1608279972333599308628 (1).jpg 1608280539159976730055.jpg 16082799888511213677202.jpg
    STILL working on the 5 Grenadier Guards war diary!:D Loads of pages.

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2023
  3. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    15.2.
    After completing the reconnaissance mission, the 2nd Platoon is deployed on the road to search for mines, and the quick barriers on the road at point 82 and the motorway overpass are made ready.
    The company returns to the accommodation at about 3.00 a.m. without any particular incidents, although the enemy is constantly bombarding the roads.
    At 10.00 a.m. the two commandos are sent out to occupy the quick barriers that have been set up and to blow up the two British AT mines found during the night south of Aprilia.
    In the afternoon, the chief is ordered to the battalion and receives new operational orders. The attack on the beachhead Nettuno is to begin tomorrow morning. The order is: "LXXVI PzKorps with emphasis on 3rd PzGrenDiv. on both sides of the Albano - Nettunio [sic] road attack the landed enemy and throw him into the sea!"
    For the coy, the task is to break open the enemy positions with the vanguard of the infantry and, in the course of the further attack, to advance with Kuska's battle group to the second attack objective in order to then be relieved by the 1st coy.
    At 19.00 hrs. the chief announces the situation to the platoon leaders. During the night the platoons were to march off, platoon leaders ahead to establish contact.

    16.2.
    At 1.00 a.m. the 1st platoon moves forward, one hour later the 2nd platoon and at 3.00 a.m. the 3rd platoon. In the meantime, the platoon leaders have established contact with the III Battalion of the Infantry Lehr Regiment.
    The 1st coy is assigned to the 9th coy, the 2nd platoon to the 1st coy, while the 3rd platoon is held in reserve in Carracheto. At 5.00 a.m. the platoons are in the staging areas. After a short, heavy fire segment, they move in. The remote-controlled carriers ["Goliath", translator's note] mostly stall before reaching their targets. The infantry also stopped before reaching point 82. The enemy lays down a tremendous barrage in front of his line. Enemy fighters and bombers intervene. The battle increases by the hour.
    At 8.35 a.m., Platoon Friedrich is 30 metres to the left of the homestead at Point 82. The 9th Coy has stalled further back, so that Platoon Friedrich has to hold. He receives strong flank fire. Under the terrible fire of the enemy, the own infantry begins to fall back. Around noon, however, it succeeds in bringing the retreating line to a halt at the dam south of Aprilia. The infantry is quite confused. They rally at the dam.
    Here the I. - III. GR 29 is deployed. It is to be attacked again at 14.15h, but the heavy enemy barrage does not let up. The second and third platoon are now on the right of the road culvert, while the first platoon has dug in on the left.
    At 16.00 hrs the coy receives the order to be relieved by the first coy. Accordingly, contact is immediately made. At 20.00 hrs the relief takes place. The coy marches to the staging area at Mausoleo, 2km northwest of Aprilia.
    It was a hard day that cost the coy 4 dead, 22 wounded and 8 stragglers.
    Trench strength 2/7/43, operational light machine guns 12
     
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  4. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    stolpi, or Itdan, are you up for doing a ( little bit more) when it comes to translating a rare book that dropped through my letter box the other day. Its a division that I've been chasing for quite some time & never thought that I would come across a history of it..

    I'm only pulling your legs (has you two have done enough!) The following A4 book is rather rare in my eyes.. Its by Otto Schwentker, & is a reprint. Page 307-323 of the illustrations are not much use has they have been photocopied in greyscale. The photos are my only complaint with it. I would not like to pay for the original if one can be found?

    See files below.

    Regards,
    Stu.
    rsz_20210205_171626.jpg
    rsz_20210205_171703.jpg
    20210205_172127.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2021
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  5. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    That's it, supposedly less than 100 copies exist.
    As for the translation:
    it all depends on how much of a hurry you're in - 2021 is still young ;-)
    regards
    Olli
     
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  6. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Hi to all that are following this thread, (been a bit busy with more important matters)! Its a case of spot the difference with these two illustrations has they both get on my nerves. Which one do I believe of the two captions? I'm going with the second one regarding the detail. The sharp-eyed amongst you will notice the difference in the middle of each illustration.
    1..jpg

    The above is taken from the ANZIO BEACHHEAD (22 January-25 May 1944) American Forces in Action Series Historical Division Department Of The Army. This is the caption below: German Artillery in the Factory, ( which its not!) It's Carroceto. I would argue pink is black! In the Factory was a well- concealed position to hamper Allied armour attacking the position. In the fore-ground is a modified German 150-mm, infantry howitzer, & behind is a knocked- out American Sherman tank and enemy medium armoured personnel carrier. This photo was transmitted to Americans during World War II by News sources in a neutral country. Which News sources & which Country? The following caption does go on for a while. You need your specs on to be able to read it all in the book .. Bloody small print.
    2..jpg
    Two of these three self propelled artillery guns used for infantry were hidden on the (26 February, 1944) in the ruins of Carroceto on the outskirts of Aprilia (south of Rome.) It is [South west of Rome], and thanks to the directions received by the Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf. C half-track placed behind them, fired on the Anglo-American bridgehead of Anzio and Nettuno. The crews wore, ( or is it wear its heavy coats?) The camouflage of the vehicles appears to be Dunkelgelb with the wide stripes of Rotbraun and perhaps Olivgrün. The small detachment belonged to the 3 Panzergrenadier-Division, deployed in force in that area during the German counter-attacks. During the same period, the 13. Kompanie of the Panzergrenadier -Regiment 29 had the full compliment of six Grille SPGs, while the 13. Kompanie of the Division's Panzergrenadier-Regiment 8 had only two. In the foreground of the photo on the right, there are some wooden and hemp containers for the 150mm projectiles. Notice the wrecks of the two M4A2 Sheman tanks, the diesel tanks, the diesel version largely used by the British forces.(IWM).

    I'm thinking these tanks may belong to the 46. Royal Tank Regiment? Gary, If you have the war diaries, then I would like them. I will email you. It would fab to have them.

    The above is taken from ITALIENFELDZUG GERMAN TANKS AND VECHICLES 1943-1945. The German ground forces in the Italian Campaign. Volume 2. Its by DANIELE GUGLIELMI & MARIO PIERI. Yet to buy Volume 1. Its ( all in English text & can be obtained at a decent price!) Shop about.



    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2022
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  7. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    There is a second SP gun nearer to the building:

    000 image.jpg
     
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  8. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Good eyes, Stolpi! The picture in better resolution, so I then also recognized it:

    Grille Carroceto.jpg

    (Obviously, some retouching was done here as well - see the drive of the Grille SPG)
    The "factory" is the building in the background top right
    Here is another page with pictures: APRILIA 1944 THE FACTORY - I T A L I A 1943
     
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  9. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    The building behind the SPW is a electricity building: Elettricità
     
  10. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    OK: the building FAR in the background
     
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  11. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Hi Itdan .. you were right! It was not my intent to question your statement ... but rather adding to it, that the building in the foreground seems to be an electricity house (as is indicated on the inscription on the gable). ;)
     
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  12. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Back of the photo shown above. Was sent according to the text on April, 17, 1944 via Lisbon to New York. Have improved the image quality a little in favor of readability
    source: https://www.catawiki.com/l/8998799-...man-gun-on-italian-front-italy-carroceto-1944
    Grille Carroceto 2.jpg Grille Carroceto 3.jpg

    Here is a picture of two half-track vehicles. Looking at the towers of "the factory" in the background, I suspect that they are on their way to the same postition as the two SPGs
    Grille Carroceto 4.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2021
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  13. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    This caption is getting longer!o_O More photos to follow.
    Someone needs to do some retouching & get rid of the NAC if possible? Its spoiling a decent picture. Why must they do that?
    Olli, I will PM you. Not had the chance to look at your link.

    Much ta,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2021
  14. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    Aerial view of the front section in question
    Carroceto strike_155.jpg
    source: Mission 151
     
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  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  16. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    370 Euros? Robert Capa original?

    What was he doing? Hiding out behind German lines? :unsure:
     
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  17. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    :lol::lol::lol:

    I would strongly suspect captured German footage, presumably from a PK photographer. What Robert Capa has to do with it is absolutely beyond my knowledge: the inscription said nothing about it.

    However, there are really strange tendencies in the trade of WW2 photos, especially with regard to the sometimes absurdly high prices.:screwy:
     
  18. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Post removed. I was trying to insert a link that's worth a read.:)
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2021
  19. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Here are some photos that I've never seen before. I really do like the first one & must visit the museum when I get the chance. The 5 Grenadiers nicknamed it "The Factory". I'm reliably informed that the model is fabulous. The IO (Intelligence Officer) drew a street plan of Aprilia. Its in the War diary. The Adjutant deserves another medal for compiling the diary. Probably one of the most detailed diaries of The First Division in the Anzio Campaign. Apologies for the different sizes of the fonts. I'm working on it. That also go's for the photos.:rolleyes:
    5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_41b.jpg
    5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_41f.jpg 5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_45a.jpg 5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_45c.jpg 5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_45d.jpg
    5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_45e.jpg 5 Grenadier Guards War Diary Jan-Dec 1944_Page_45f.jpg
    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2021
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  20. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Came across this reprint whilst waiting for my paperwork at a RDC. I'm glad that they was (rather slow in checking off) my delivery. I would have not found it if they had been quicker.;) For once I take my hat off to them for being slow! Its a book that I would strongly recommend for those that cant read German text. I've spent some serious time in getting the original maps scanned from a copy that I bought from a chap in America. Even that book had ( the last TEN pages missing!) I bought it for the original maps that are ace. It was nightmare in getting raid of the folds. I'm running out of wall space for these large maps.:D If only the company had bothered to copy them has they should of done? That's my only complaint. The last map was tricky in joining the two together.

    Regards,
    Stu.

    rsz_20210613_075253.jpg

    rsz_map_no27_situation_map.jpg

    rsz_map_no28_the_allied_bulge_&_its_elimination.jpg

    rsz_map_no29_situation_map_9_feb.jpg

    rsz_map_no30_the_german_attack_february_15-20.jpg

    The above map is brilliant for detail. I would bet the contents of my wallet that a more detailed map is not available.
    rsz_map_no31_the_german_attack_feb_29.jpg

    rsz_map_no32_allied_break_through_may_23-31.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2021
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