[Request] German Formations in the Moro River Campaign

[Ithikial]

Doing some research and work around the Moro River Campaign in Italy, December 1943. I have plenty of good sources regarding the Allied formations involved but getting information on the German divisions involved is a little hard. Most only focus after this campaign when most of the forces involved found themselves around Monte Cassino following the early US failures on that side of the mountains. The books focusing on the Allies have bits and pieces but the Germans obviously aren't the focus.

If anyone has any information on the following divisions in and around December 1943 it would be much appreciated.

1st Fallschirmjager Division
26th Panzer Division
65th Infantry Division
90th Panzergrenadier Division

- Strength at the time, particularly in armour.
- Condition of the troops.
- How each Division approached the Adriatic Coast to face the Eighth Army's advance.

Cheers

 

[Mad Mike]

Hi @Ithikial,

according to "Panzertruppen Part 2" by Thomas L. Jentz, Panzerregiment 26 (of 26. Panzerdivision) had the following armour strength on 20th of August 1943:

92 Pz total

16 x Pz III (7.5cm / L24 - kurz)
17 x Pz IV (7.5cm / L24 - kurz)
36 x Pz IV (7.5cm / L48 - lang)
9 x Panzerbefehlswagen (command versions of either Pz III or IV, hard to be sure, could also be a mix)
14 x Flammpanzer III

There is a chart showing the OPERATIONAL armour strength of Panzeregiment 26 for the months from August 1943 to February 1944. The numbers around November 43 / December 43 and January 44 are interesting:

30.11.1943 - 75 Pz total (~12 Pz III kurz, ~8 Pz IV kurz, ~38 Pz IV lang, ~7 Panzerbefehlswg., ~10 Flamm III)

10.12.1943 - 60 Pz total (~10 Pz III kurz, ~4 Pz IV kurz, ~35 Pz IV lang, ~6 Panzerbefehlswg., ~5 Flamm III)

20.12.1943 - 30 Pz total (~5 Pz III kurz, ~1 Pz IV kurz, ~19 Pz IV lang, ~3 Panzerbefehlswg., ~2 Flamm III)

21.01.1944 - 86 Pz total (~10 Pz III kurz, ~4 Pz IV kurz, ~60 Pz IV lang, ~5 Panzerbefehlswg., ~7 Flamm III)

So there seems to have been heavy fighting in December 1943, during which the operational strength was significantly reduced, but this was regained / rebuilt during January 1944.

For the 90. Panzergrenadierdivision, the OPERATIONAL armour strength is given for Panzerabteilung 190 for 20th of August 1943 and 21st of January 1944 as follows:

20.08.1943 - 58 Pz total

1 x Pz III (5cm / L42 - kurz)
20 x Pz III (7.5cm / L24 - kurz)
37 x Pz IV (7.5cm / L48 - lang)

21.01.1944 - 46 Pz total

2 x Pz III (5cm / L60 - lang)
14 x Pz III (7.5cm / L24 - kurz)
26 x Pz IV (7.5cm / L48 - lang)
4 x StuG (exact type unknown, III or IV)

Unfortunately, not much more info is provided for the 90. Panzergrenadierdivision.

Anyway, hope this helps a little bit.

 

[Ithikial]

Thanks Mad Mike definitely along the lines of what I was after.

Those tank losses make sense from my readings from the Allied viewpoint. The Moro River was a largely static affair in deteriorating weather conditions. Despite this the Germans as part of their overall doctrine still stuck with the idea of launching counter attacks wherever possible and this put a lot of strain on their Panzer forces in bad ground conditions. When they were employed on the static defence alonside AT guns they had a frightful toll on Allied Armour trying to advance.

One such German attack was against the New Zealand line north of Orsogna where Flampanzers were employed at night. They were used the burn out farm houses, barns, hay stacks etc. Anything that could be used by the Kiwi's to anchor a defence upon. Unfortunately this also made the tanks stand out and were sitting ducks for the waiting AT guns. This also meant the advancing German Infantry forces were visible for most of their approach. Not the best tactical decision of the war...


Any info on the Infantry Divisions also appreciated.