D-Day StuG III

Hi all,

I'm trying to identify and get as much information possible on the StuG III (Ausf G??) in the attached photo. The image is a still from footage taken by a Sgt Parkinson (SCENES IN THE NORMANDY BEACH-HEAD D+1, D+2 (PART 9) [Allocated Title]) who landed with 50 Division on Gold Beach on D-Day and then followed 5 East Yorks advance towards Brecy.

 

Posted by mistake before I'd finished writing it....

....If the footage is uncut, then it is located between Crépon and St Gabriel.

WO 223/41 - The First and the Last (4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards) states:
“B” Squadron, who had reached Villiers-le-Sec without trouble; but as they came to the line of the River Seulles, one tank was knocked out by an SP gun, which was itself knocked out in return. The Squadron then crossed the river through St. Gabriel and pushed up on to the high ground, where they met strong opposition which came this time from three SPs which knocked out one tank, and hit two others without knocking them out. The Squadron, however, took up a good position and in turn claimed to have knocked out all three SPs. They then advanced further South to Brecy.

This suggests it was the first of the SP's to be knocked out. My understanding is that these were part of the German 352nd Infantry Division. Can anyone tell me which unit?

 

Some hope! Treat every 'cut' as a separate event.

You can see the (eventual) fate of this Stug in A70 57-8 at 1m 38s
DAMAGED ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ARE SALVAGED AND REPAIRED (PART 1) [Allocated Title]

 

Fair point. However, the rest of the footage seems to be in chronological order. Moves off landing craft, off the beach past Lavatory Pan Villa, through Ver-sur-Mer, then recognisable streets first in Crépon and then St Gabriel.[/QUOTE]

 

The Stugs would have been part of Panzer Jager Abteilung 352. There used to be a quite detailed website on 352 Inf Div but struggling to find that now.

 

I agree, I also believe that this StuG IIIG belonged to Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1352, formerly 2. Kompanie Panzer-Jäger-Abteilung 352, which would explain the initial "2" (2. Kompanie, 2. Zug, 2nd vehicle). See:
Panzerjäger Abteilung 352 - Feldgrau.net

Michel

 

Quoting from a wargaming website:

"This scenario is a snapshot of the fighting between 69th Brigade and KG Meyer from 352nd Infanterie Division and focusses on the fighting around Bazanville and Crepon, on the approaches to Fresnay le Crotteur, where the advancing 7th Green Howards and A Squadron of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards engaged German troops attempting to launch their own counter-attack. During the first few hours of D-Day it looked as though the Omaha assault had been stopped, and the chief concern of the 352d Division was with its right flank which was threatened by the British penetration near Meuvaines from troops pushing inland from Gold beach. To meet this, the LXXXIV Corps reserve, the reinforced 915th Regiment (Kampfgruppe Meyer) had been ordered to attack in the direction of Crépon. The 2nd Battalion of the 915th Regiment was split off from the force on its way toward Crépon and together with one antitank company (with twelve self-propelled 75-mm. antitank guns, likely Marders from 352 Panzerjager Abteilung) was attached to the 916th Regiment in the center of the division sector. The infantry reinforcements moved into the Colleville area in the early afternoon but reported that their counterattack had been stopped by firm enemy resistance and that they had suffered heavy losses. The rest of Kampfgruppe Meyer in the meantime had advanced toward the area Bazenville-Villiers-le-Sec whence it planned to attack to Crépon.
By the time it reached its assembly area at about 1730 it found that British units from 69th Brigade, part of 50th Division, were already in possession. The units on the right were able to withdraw to St. Gabriel where they were joined by the ten assault guns of the Kampfgruppe, StuG III Ausf G from the divisions Panzerjager Abteilung. But the infantry battalion under direct command of Oberst Meyer on the left brushed with British forces from the 7th Green Howards and A Squadron 4/7 Dragoons near Fresnay le Crotteur. Meyer was killed and the battalion lost contact with other German units for several hours, B Company of the 7th Green Howards recorded engaging and destroying an enemy Staff Car in their War Diary, killing its occupants in the process, this was probably Oberst Meyer. It seems clear that Meyer's forces made no concerted attack, but were destroyed in small defensive actions as they tried to meet the British advance piecemeal. The German assault guns scored the only success of the day in knocking out three A Squadron Sherman tanks (an event that was to filter down to other units, such as the Westminster Dragoons, as a counter-attack by '40 Tigers' during the late afternoon/early evening, the first case of ‘Tiger-Shock’ in the campaign when none were in the region). The Germans had four of their tanks lost, possibly to supporting Naval fire, but also likely from enemy armour and 6-Pounder Anti-Tank guns that had moved up with the Green Howards, it is interesting to note that the War Diary for the Green Howards records that the naval gunfire was a hazard to them, not just the Germans! Out of the entire Kampfgruppe only ninety men escaped. In the evening these remnants were attached to the 726th Regiment, which was ordered to establish a defensive line: Coulombs-St. Gabriel-the Seulles River west to Esquay-sur-Seulles-Hill 64 (west of Bazenville)-the Gronde River to Asnelles-sur-Mer."

Source: Approaching Fresnay - 6th June 1944

 

The above quoted text obviously derives quite directly from "Cross-Channel Attack" Chapter Six, without saying so. Direct quotes are highlighted as bold, and added text is italicized between square brackets:

"The failure of the Germans to exploit the weakness of V Corps was the result quite simply of their own greater weakness. During the first few hours it looked as though the OMAHA assault had been stopped, and the chief concern of the 352d Division was with its right flank which was threatened by the British penetration near Meuvaines [from troops pushing inland from Gold beach]. (See Map XIII.) To meet this the LXXXIV Corps reserve, the reinforced 915th Regiment (Kampfgruppe Meyer) had been ordered to attack in the direction of Crépon. By 1100 the division commander, General Kraiss, began to consider the situation in his center more serious in the light of additional information on the whole invasion front. The 709th Division opposing U.S. VII Corps was reporting strong armored reinforcements landed from the sea. At the same time the British were building up their beachhead. A concentration of shipping observed off St. Laurent was thought to indicate Allied intention to reinforce what had heretofore been considered minor penetrations in the St. Laurent area.91 General Kraiss concluded (apparently for the first time) that the Allies were planning a two-pronged attack on Bayeux from bridgeheads at St. Laurent and Meuvaines. The 2d Battalion of the 915th Regiment was therefore split off from the force on its way toward Crépon and together with one antitank company (with twelve self-propelled 75-mm. antitank guns[, likely Marders from 352 Panzerjager Abteilung]) was attached to the 916th Regiment in the center of the division sector. The infantry reinforcements moved into the Colleville area in the early afternoon but reported that their counterattack had been stopped by firm American [enemy] resistance and that they had suffered heavy losses.

The body [rest] of Kampfgruppe Meyer in the meantime advanced toward the area Bazenville–Villiers-le-Sec whence it planned to attack to Crépon. By the time it reached its assembly area at about 1730 it found the British [that British units from 69th Brigade, part of 50th Division, were] already in possession. The units on the right were able to withdraw

--330--

to St. Gabriel where they were joined by the ten assault guns of the Kampfgruppe[, StuG III Ausf G from the divisions Panzerjager Abteilung]. But the infantry battalion under direct command of Colonel [Oberst] Meyer on the left brushed with British forces near Bazenville [from the 7th Green Howards and A Squadron 4/7 Dragoons near Fresnay le Crotteur]. Meyer was killed and the battalion lost contact with other German units for several hours[, B Company of the 7th Green Howards recorded engaging and destroying an enemy Staff Car in their War Diary, killing its occupants in the process, this was probably Oberst Meyer]. It seems clear that Meyer's forces made no concerted attack, but were chewed up [destroyed] in small defensive actions [as they tried to meet the British advance piecemeal]. The [German] assault guns scored the only success of the day in knocking out four British tanks near Brecy [three A Squadron Sherman tanks (an event that was to filter down to other units, such as the Westminster Dragoons, as a counter-attack by '40 Tigers' during the late afternoon/early evening, the first case of ‘Tiger-Shock’ in the campaign when none were in the region)]. On the other hand four of the guns were themselves lost possibly to British naval fire [The Germans had four of their tanks lost, possibly to supporting Naval fire, but also likely from enemy armour and 6-Pounder Anti-Tank guns that had moved up with the Green Howards, it is interesting to note that the War Diary for the Green Howards records that the naval gunfire was a hazard to them, not just the Germans!]. Out of the entire Kampfgruppe only about ninety men escaped. In the evening these remnants were attached to the 726th Regiment, which was ordered to establish a defensive line: Coulombs–St. Gabriel–the Seulles River west to Esquay-sur-Seulles–Hill 64 (west of Bazenville)–the Gronde River to Asnelles-sur-Mer."

Source: HyperWar: US Army in WWII: Cross Channel Invasion [Chapter 8]

 

The Sherman DD tanks on Sjt Parkinson's film in St Gabriel (Turret No.40, around 07:26):



and after (No.54, 08:05):


are definitely "B" Sqn, not "A" Sqn as mentioned in the wargaming site additions to Cross-Channel Attack.

Can't really say for the DD at 07:00 (just before the StuG), but it also looks like its turret number might be starting with a "4":


In addition, the OC's tank (No.10) can be seen at 07:13, right after the StuG sequence:


These tanks are parked on the right side of the street (D158B) just after entering the village of St Gabriel, and Sjt Parkinson is looking NW:


He will soon turn around to film No.40 turning right to D158A (first pic above).

Just to show how lousy the current quality of the online films at the IWM websites is, as compared to what it could (should) be, here is a Britsh Pathé still dating back from 2012, made from what is probably the copy of a copy of a copy etc. of the original film, whereas the IWM holds these original films but does not know how to properly scan them:



Michel

 

Thanks for all the information, gents, it makes interesting reading.

I have managed to find a history of the 352nd ID up to and including D-Day written by Oberstleutnant Fritz Ziegelmann shortly after the war (Fold3 Browse) and seems to be the source for "Cross Channel Attack" quoted above. There is also a communications log from D-Day (Fold3 Browse).

From it I gather the StuG's of Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1352 were positioned around Vouilly - Colombières (about 8 miles south of Pointe-du-Hoc). Can anyone confirm this?

Then, at some point after a "telephone conversation with the Corps commander, General of Artillery Marcks, shortly before 0800 hours .... the 1352nd Assault Gun Battalion (ten assault guns) was subordinated to then 915th Infantry Regiment and brought up to Esquay (east of Bayeux)." That's a distance of 20-25 miles!

The counter-attack by Oberstleutnant Karl Meyer's reinforced 915th Infantry Regiment - reinforced, but having lost a battalion to bolster the defence of Omaha after having been sent chasing paratroops south of Carentan only to be recalled before getting there in order to counter-attack towards the western end of Gold Beach - had the original start time delayed from 12:00 to 14:00 and then to 14:30.

Then...
"Shortly after 1400 hours, the division received a radio message from the reinforced 915th Infantry Regiment that it had no communication yet with 2/915th Infantry Regiment, but that it would, nevertheless, start its counterattack on Crépon at 1430 hours. By that time, intense activity by fighter-bombers was going on, and several tanks felt their way forward from Crépon toward the south and the west.

At about 1500 hours, the reinforced 915th Infantry Regiment reported by telephone that the enemy anticipated our attack by overrunning our spearheads with his tanks—supported by fighter-bombers—and that he was now advancing toward the River Suelles in the south. The commander of the 915th Infantry Regiment fell at this time on the field of battle. The commander of the 352nd Rifle Battalion and the commander of the 352nd Assault Gun Battalion were missing. The troops had suffered heavy casualties, and now they were retreating."

The communication log states:
"15.50 hours: Report from 915th Grenadier Regiment (Task Force Meyer): We have established contact with 1st Battalion/916th Grenadier Regiment, which is committed left of us. The general direction of the attack is Meuvaines–Asnelles. The assault guns have arrived at the Regiment."

"16.00 hours: Report from 915th Grenadier Regiment: The task force is going to attack from a line of departure with its right wing at Villiers-le-Sec, and left wing at Bazenville. Enemy tanks near Creully have pushed through to the south."

"17.30 hours: Report from 915th Grenadier Regiment (Task Force Meyer): At the time of our movement into the assembly position, the enemy infantry and tanks have taken Villiers-le-Sec and the hill south of it. In face of a superior enemy, the fusilier battalion (on the right wing) had to withdraw to St Gabriel, as the assault guns could not come up against a superior number of enemy tanks. There is no longer any connection to the left 1st Battalion/915th Grenadier Regiment near Bazenville. The Commander, Obstlt Meyer, presumably seriously wounded and made prisoner."

"22.55 hours: Report from 352nd Fusilier Battalion: The strength of the Battalion is but forty men, plus additional fifty men from 1st Battalion/915th Grenadier Regiment; furthermore, there are six assault guns intact. In face of strong enemy pressure, the task force has withdrawn toward Ducy."

So, it seems the 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards' claim of destroying four SP guns is correct and that, given the apparent chronology of the film footage, "222" was the first StuG to be knocked out in the Gold Sector on D-Day.

 

Michel

Thanks for the breakdown. I had managed to find all the locations except the one with the non-DD Shermans on the outskirts of St. Gabriel (I was seeing a normal pitched roof on the building in the background and not the single sided one it actually was).

You mention the OC’s tank, can I ask which OC? The squadron’s or the regiment’s? I assume the regiment as I would have thought the squadron OC’s were in DD’s.

Also, can someone explain the turret numbers on 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards tanks? Does the first number correspond to the tank’s troop?

Cheers

Philip

 

Philip,

Congratulations on you excellent find of the German records in fold3. They do seem to confirm 222's dubious honour of being the first StuG to knocked out in this area, and perhaps in the whole British-Canadian sector.

Yes, I mean the Regiment's OC (I should really have written CO), Lt Col BYRON (27613). More about Sherman III No.10 'MONS' (as identified by Ondrej Rott) in this Missing-Lynx thread.

My take at the turret numbering system used in 4/7 DG is in Post #13.

Sherman DD No.40 should therefore be 'B' Squadron Leader's.

Michel

 

Michel

Thanks for the link. Fascinating stuff.


Philip

 

The tank which was knocked out in this action contained my late Father-in-law (L/Cpl CAB Day) he and the tank commander Lt Charlton were very badly wounded but survived the war. I know precisely where they wer knocked out but until now had no real idea by what.

 

4th/7th B Troop leader was Lt Charlton - the hull number of his tank was 43. (My late father-in-law was the loader/operator in this tank.) the tank was named 'Blue Peter'

 

Thank you for your two posts, Ray. Glad this thread has helped you get a wider picture of your late Father-in-Law’s experiences.

Would you share with us where his tank was knocked out? I have up to now assumed the StuG was lying in ambush between St. Gabriel and the road bridge north of the village and any information to confirm or counter this would be much appreciated.

Philip

 

Wasn't Charlton one of the casualties in the friendly fire incidents that evening.

See thread here H.M.S. Orion shelling own troops on D-Day

 

Hi, Sheldrake,

No, it was A Squadron that got caught by H.M.S. Orion south of Creully. Lieutenant Charlton was Troop Commander, 1 Troop, in B Squadron.

Philip

 

I attempted to get some clarity on the AFVs encountered by the 4/7th RDG in Normandy some years ago. I interviewed members of The Creully Club variously in the 1990s and 2000s. Unfortunately I don't have the notes anymore. Despite published accounts loosly refering to SP Anti-tank guns and mixing 88s and 75s, those on the ground knew the differences in viceral terms - the threat and how to defeat it (rather than types and models). Despite subsequent encounters and the passage of time since the events, most were clear about encountering mostly what we would call Marder type SPs however there were definitely Stugs in early Normandy battles.