BLACKCOCK 1945: 176 and 183 Volksgrenadier Divisions?

Discussion in 'NW Europe' started by Chris C, Jun 30, 2021.

  1. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi all,

    The official Report on Operation Blackcock says that the area was defended by 176 and 183 Divisions "organized on a Volksgrenadier basis", so I suppose we might say 176 and 183 Volksgrenadier Divisions? Is this accurate? Wikipedia is a bit incoherent about 183 Division - I just wanted to check that the official report was correct.

    Cheers,
    Chris
     
  2. Ramiles

    Ramiles Researching 9th Lancers, 24th L and SRY

    Geleen, The Netherlands & Operation Blackcock

    Has, for instance...

    DISPOSITIONS
    8. : Two divs, organised on a Volksgrenadier basis, were disposed
    along the 12 Corps front. On the RIGHT, 183 Div with three regts and a fusilier Battalion was holding a front of about 9 miles. On the LEFT, 176 Div, also with three regts, and a fusilier bn, was stretched over a 19 mile sector. To the NORTH of this Div, it was believed that the ROERMOND area was held by Regt HUBNER.
    183 Div was badly mauled. in the fighting during Nov'44 and
    was withdrawn to be reformed, but it appeared that reinforcements had arrived fairly regularly. From PW statements a fair average of strength would be about 60 per rifle coy and 80 per heavy coy. in both divs.
    9. Owing to a recent renumbering and reorganisation of the arty
    units in the area, it was difficult to determine the number of guns on the front, but from all sources, it was estimated there might be a total of 90 field guns, 36 mediums and 18 x 7.5 cms, some of the latter probably SP.

    Is this the "official report" to which you refer?
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2021
    Chris C likes this.
  3. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Yes, that's the document I have been using as a reference.

    edit: I just managed to order a copy of Battle for the Roer Triangle from a store selling via Evilzon (Amazon) :)
     
  4. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    There was
    the 183rd Volksgrenadier Division (formed from Schatten-Division Döllersheim in Sept ´44)
    and
    the 176th Infantry Division (formed from Division Nr. 176 in Nov ´44)

    Both had in common the structure with 3 regiments to 2 battalions. This was due to the general shortage of personnel in the Wehrmacht and was normal at that time of the war.

    The personnel strength of the "badly mauled" 183rd VGD was only 3,705 men at the beginning of February.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  5. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Hi Itdan,

    So to confirm then, the 176th was not a Volksgrenadier Division? Well, from what you said, that's the case.
     
  6. Gary Kennedy

    Gary Kennedy Member

    There are very short 'bios' of the two Divisions over on the Axis History Factbook (and I would assume also Lexikon-der-Wehrmacht.de). As ltdan notes 176 remained Infanterie and 183 became Volks-Grenadier. Three Regiments each of two Battalions was indeed standard for the both the 'Type44' Infantry Div and the VG Div. VG Arty Regt was different from that of the Type44, with the former authorised two Howitzer Bns (12x 10.5-cm in two Btys of six each), one Medium Bn (12x 15-cm howitzers in two Btys of six each), and a Gun Bn with 18x 7.5-cm Pak (in three Btys of six guns each). The VG Anti-tank Bn was to have three Coys, each of nine weapons, one Coy each of towed 7.5-cm Pak, SP 7.5-cm Pak and 3.7-cm Flak.

    Gary
     
    ltdan likes this.
  7. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    The history of the division in a nutshell:

    emerged from the
    Division No. 176 (Replacement Army)
    Formed at Bielefeld, Wehrkreis VI, on 26 January 1943, in place of Division No. 166. In September 1944, the division was mobilized in the Valkyrie Call with 10,637 men.
    Nov. 2, 1944, the division was reorganized as the 176th Infantry Division.
    The supply services came from the disbanded 49th Infantry Division.

    The data on operational strengths usually only existed on paper, especially for heavy equipment.
    In reality, everything that was available at the time was used, and that was usually very little.
    Significantly, not even the commander of the 176th is known.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  8. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Thank you very much!
     

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