Panzer-Beute-Kompanie (E)

Discussion in 'Axis Units' started by reinaart, Jul 3, 2015.

  1. reinaart

    reinaart Active Member

    Hi, according to Jentz/Regenberg (Panzer Tracts No.19-2) Panzer-Beute-Kompanie (E) was the only unit created to be outfitted solely with British Beute Panzer. It was assigned to Pz.Abt.(F) 100.

    In his Beutepanzer book (Waffenarsenal) Regenberg states:

    [​IMG]

    I wonder if anyone can give me some further info on this company. Could it be that this company constituted the 4th company of Pz.Abt.(F)100 ? Recently a Pz.Abt.(F) 100 album appeared on ebay from which it emerged that the German soldier in question had belonged to the 4th company. This album contains quite a few pics of A12 Matilda II's and Cruiser A 13's apparently arriving in Terneuzen (Holland). I also wonder where the British armoured vehicles had been collected and restored before they were sent to Zeeland.The 3 names of the Matildas are also puzzling, these are "Arras"," Loretto" and "Vimy". Since most Matildas had names beginning with the letter "G" I wonder if these three names were of German origin.

    I finally wonder if there is a link between this unit photographed at Truppenlager Wünsdorf-Zossen and the Panzer-Beute-Kompanie ? I doubt if all these vehicles were merely collected for evaluation purposes. Besides, evaluation was usually carried out at Kummersdorf :

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    Regards,

    Arjan
     
    Smudger Jnr likes this.
  2. reinaart

    reinaart Active Member

    In the mean time I have found confirmation in Peter Schenk's "Landung in England" that the British Beutepanzer were indeed in the 4th company. This company had been created by Hauptmann von Zezschwitz, the commander of Pz.Abt.100 (F) for the impending invasion of Britain:

    Page 222:

    "Aus Beutefahrzeugen stellte er eine "Landungskolonne" und eine 4. Panzerkompanie auf, die bei den Landeübungen verwendet wurden."

    Pz.Abt.100(F) with its flame throwing tanks was supposed to have an important role in Unternehmen Seelöwe and unlike most of his colleagues Hauptmann von Zezschwitz was a fervent advocate of the landing operation. According to Peter Schenk this probably explains why the first three Landwasserschlepper (amphibious vehicles) had been assigned to his unit (for trials).

    Regarding the other question I raised, I'm quite sure that it's not a coincidence that these pics were taken at Wünsdorf-Zossen. Pz.Abt.100(F) was raised in Wünsdorf in March 1940 and the unit moved to Zossen later in July.

    http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/PanzerAbt/PanzerAbt100-R.htm

    Arjan
     
  3. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Arjan,

    Two very interesting Posts.

    Regards
    Tom
     

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