As I mentioned in a previous article on German Tiger battalions, the 4th Panzer Division was heavily reinforced for the Kursk actions. This was apparently such a temporary reinforcement that it went largely unrecorded. (Tessen's work on the German Army fails to mention most of these changes, for example). A number of years ago, however, I uncovered a document in the microfilms of the German archives which detailed the division's organization in great detail. Although this is about as far from a typical German division as you can get, it is just too interesting not to pass it on. Here, then, is the Command Decision organization of the 4th Panzer Division at Kursk. Troop Quality: Veteran Morale: 8 (Reconnaissance: 9) Division Headquarters, with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand 1 field car 1 staff radio truck 1 recon motorcycle SMG stand 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 support stand Military Police Detachment, with: 1 recon MP stand 1 light truck Division Services, with: Headquarters Company, with 1 command stand and 1 kubelwagen Workshop Company, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 2 workshop vans 1 baggage medium truck 1 medium truck 2 support stands Admin Company, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 medium truck 2 light baggage trucks 2 support stands Supply Battalion, with: Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 kubelwagen 6 Heavy Truck Columns, each with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 4 heavy ammo trucks with trailers 2 support stands Heavy Fuel Truck Column, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 6 heavy fuel trucks 2 support stands Signal Battalion, with: Headquarters, with 1 command car and 1 car Radio Company, with: (Provides staffs for division and regiments) Telephone Company, with 1 command car 1 car 1 medium telephone truck with trailer 1 medium repair truck with trailer 1 support stand (Also provides staffs for regiments) 35th Panzer Regiment with: Headquarters: 1 command PzIVF2 1 recon Pz IIIJ 1 staff radio SdKfz 251 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen Supply Company, with: 4 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 maintenance tractor 2 fuel trucks 1 general supply truck with trailer 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 2 support stands I Battalion, with: Headquarters & Maintenance Platoon, with: 1 command PzKw IVF2 1 heavy recovery tractor 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 general supply truck with trailer 1 fuel truck 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 2 support stands 4 Companies, each with: 1 command PzKw IVF2 2 PzKw IVF2 H II Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command PzKw V 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 general supply truck with trailer 1 fueltruck 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 2 support stands Maintenance Company, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 maintenance van 1 recovery tank 1 recovery tractor 1 medium supply truck with trailer 2 support stands 4 Companies, each with: 1 command PzKw V 2 PzKw Vs III Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command PzKw VI 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 general supply truck with trailer 1 fuel truck 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 2 support stands Maintenance Company, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 maintenance van 1 recovery tank 1 recovery tractor 1 medium supply truck with trailer 2 support stands 2 Companies, each with: 1 command PzKw VIe 1 PzKw VIe 2 Pz IIINs 12th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, with: Headquarters, with 1 command stand, 1 kubelwagen, and 1 staff radio truck Supply Company, with: 2 medium ammo trucks with trailers 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 maintenance van 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 2 support stands Flak Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 3 SP 2cm Fla 1 support stand 1 medium truck Infantry Gun Company, with: 1 command stand 1 SdKfz 250/1 1 GW II or GW 38(t) 1 Maultier with ammo trailer 1 support stand Pioneer Company, with: 1 command stand 2 engineer stands 1 engineer flamethrower stand 1 weapons stand 2 medium trucks with engineer supply trailers I Battalion (gepanzert), with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 SdKfz 250 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 support stand 3 Panzergrenadier Companies, each with: 1 command stand 2 infantry stands 1 infantry flamethrower stand 1 weapons stand 3 SdKfz 251/1 1 SdKfz 251/10 Weapons Company, with: 1 command stand 1 75L12 infantry gun 1 gun crew (ds) 1 50L60 AT gun 2 gun crews 1 28/20 sPzBchs 41 4 SdKfz 251/1 II & III Battalions (mot.), each with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 support stand 3 Panzergrenadier Companies, each with: 1 command stand 2 infantry stands 1 infantry flamethrower stand 1 weapons stand 2 medium trucks Weapons Company, with: 1 command stand 1 75L12 infantry gun 1 gun crew (ds) 1 50L60 AT gun 1 gun crew 1 28/20 sPzBchs 41 1 8cm mortar stand (ds) 3 medium trucks 33rd Panzergrenadier Regiment Identical to 12th regiment, butall three battalions are motorized 34th Motorcycle Regiment, with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 staff radio truck 1 SP 2cm flak 1 recon motorcycle stand 1 75L12 AT gun 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 medium truck Armored Car Company, with: 3 recon SdKfz 222 armored cars 1 recon SdKfz 233 armored car I Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command motorcycle stand 1 light baggage truck with field kitchen 1 medium general supply truck Supply Column, with: 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 medium fuel truck with trailer 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 2 Motorcycle Companies, each with: 1 command motorcycle stand 3 motorcycle infantry stands 1 motorcycle weapons stand 1 motorcycle sPzBchs 41 stand Heavy Company, with: 1 75L12 infantry gun 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 50L60 AT gun 1 gun crew stand 1 engineer stand 1 medium truck 2 light trucks II Battalion (gepanzert), with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 SdKfz 250/1 1 light baggage truck withfield kitchen 1 medium general supply truck Supply Column, with: 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 medium fuel truck with trailer 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 2 Infantry Companies, each with: 1 command stand 3 infantry stands 1 weapons stand 3 SdKfz 250/1 1 SdKfz 250/10 Heavy Company, with: 1 75L12 infantry gun 1 gun crew stand (ds) 1 50L60 AT gun 1 gun crew stand 1 engineer stand 3 SdKfz 251/1 103rd Artillery Regiment, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 car 1 maintenance van 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 support stand I & II Battalions, each with: Headquarters Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 staff radio truck 1 FO stand 1 kubelwagen 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 support stand 3 Firing Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 gun crew (ds) 1 105mm howitzer 1 tractor 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 1 support stand III Battalion, with: Headquarters Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 staff radio truck 1 FO PzKw III 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 support stand 3 Light Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 Wespe 1 light ammo tractor with trailer 1 light truck 1 support stand IV Battalion, with: Headquarters Battery, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 staff radio truck 1 FO kubelwagen 1 medium general supply truck with trailer 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 support stand 3 Howitzer Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 gun crew (ds) 1 105mm howitzer 1 tractor 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 1 support stand 79th Pioneer Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 general supply truck 1 support truck Engineer Company (gepanzert), with: 1 command engineer stand 2 engineer stands 1 engineer flamethrower stand 1 weapons stand 4 SdKfz 251/1 1 medium truck with engineer supplies 2 Engineer Companies (motorized), with: 1 command engineer stand 1 engineer stands 1 engineer flamethrower stand 1 weapons stand 2 medium trucks with engineer supply trailers Bridging Column, with: 2 heavy trucks with pontoon trailers (1 class V bridge 1 medium truck with assault boat trailer Bridging Column, with: 2 medium trucks with pontoon trailers (1 class IV bridge 1 medium truck with assault boat trailer 290th Flak Battalion, with: Headquarters, with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 2 medium ammo trucks 1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen 1 general supply truck 1 support truck 2 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 3 SP 2cm flak guns 1 medium truck 1 support stand 2 Batteries, each with: 1 command stand 1 kubelwagen 1 88L56 flak gun 1 20L113 flak gun 1 gun crew (ds) 1 gun crew 1 heavy tractor 1 light tractor 1 medium ammo truck with trailer 1 support stand Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly #2 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1993 by Greg Novak. 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