German Order of Battle at Ponyri Station

The German massed a strong strike force against the sector containing Ponyri Station in the Battle of Kursk.

Most details from Lexicon der Wehrmacht although supplemented by Remson and Anderson (2000).

German Order of Battle at Ponyri Station

  • XXIII Corps
    • 78. Sturm-Division Juni 1943
      • Sturm-Regiment 14
        Sturm-Regiment 195
        Sturm-Regiment 215
        Granatwerfer-Bataillon 5
        Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 189
        Flak-Abteilung 293
        Artillerie-Regiment 178
        Pionier-Bataillon 178
        Panzerjäger-Abteilung 178
        Sturm-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 178
        Kommandeur der Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 178
  • XLI Panzer Corps
    • 656th Heavy Panzerjäger Regiment
      • Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 653: 49 x Ferdinands
        Panzerjäger-Abteilungen 654: 45 x Ferdinands
      • Sturm-Panzer-Abteilung 216: 45 x Brümmbärs (attached to 86 and/or 292 Division)
    • 86. Infanterie-Division
      • Infanterie-Regiment 167
        Infanterie-Regiment 184
        Infanterie-Regiment 216
        Artillerie-Regiment 186
        Pionier-Bataillon 186
        Feldersatz-Bataillon 186
        Panzerjäger-Abteilung 186
        Divisions-Füsilier-Bataillon 86
        Infanterie-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 186
        Infanterie-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 186
    • 292. Infanterie-Division 1944 (and presumably 1943)
      • Grenadier-Regiment 507
        Grenadier-Regiment 508
        Grenadier-Regiment 509
        Division-Füsilier-Bataillon 292
        Artillerie-Regiment 292
        Pionier-Bataillon 292
        Panzerjäger-Abteilung 292
        Divisionseinheiten 292
    • During Kursk the following were attached to 86 and/or 292 Division
      • 177th Sturmgeschütz Brigade
        244th Sturmgeschütz Brigade
    • 18. Panzer-Division 1943 Ostfront
      • Panzer-Abteilung 18
        Panzergrenadier-Regiment 52
        Panzergrenadier-Regiment 101
        Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 18
        Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 88
        Heeres Flak Artillerie Batterie
        Panzerjäger Abteilung 88
        Pionier Bataillon 98
        Panzer Nachrichten Abteilung 88
        Panzer-Versorgungstruppen 88
    • 10. Panzer-Grenadier-Division
      • Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 20
        Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 41
        Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 10
        Panzer-Abteilung 7
        Artillerie-Regiment 10
        Panzerjäger-Bataillon 10
        Pionier-Bataillon 10
        Feldersatz-Bataillon 10
        Panzergrenadier-Divisions-Nachrichten-Abteilung 10
        Nachschubtruppen 10

78th Sturm Division

The 78th Sturm Division itself had a special organization with almost as many armored vehicles as a Panzer Grenadier Division. In addition it was accompanied by an Armoured Engineer Company (either the 811th or 813th) equipped with Goliath midget tanks used for breaching minefields.

656th Heavy Panzerjäger Regiment

According to Remson and Anderson (2000) all Ferdinands were in this regiment. They give 45 to 654 Battalion and 49 to 653 Battalion, although they give the total as 90. For some reason Lexicon der Wehrmacht specifies 653 Battalion as having Tigers, but perhaps this was after they gave up their Ferdinands.

18th Panzer Division

During Kursk the 18th Panzer Division contained 72 more conventional vehicles including 5 Pz II, 10 Pz III kz, 20 Pz III 75, 5 Pz IV kz, and 3 Pz Bef Cmd, and also the 101st Panzer Grenadier Regiment.

10th Panzer Grenadier Division

During Kursk 10th Panzer Grenadier Division had an exceptionally powerful artillery complement: seven artillery battalions, a Nebelwerfer regiment, a heavy mortar battalion and an assault gun battalion.

References

Lexicon der Wehrmacht [German]

German language site similar to Wendel, M. (2005).

Remson, A. and Anderson, D. (2000). Mine And Countermine Operations In The Battle Of Kursk, Final Report. U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.

A great resource. This is the primary source of my historical background. It was available on-line but disappeared with Geocities.

Wendel, M. (2005). 292. Infanterie-Division. Axis History Factbook. On-line http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=3882.

1 thought on “German Order of Battle at Ponyri Station”

  1. In regards to; According to Remson and Anderson (2000) all Ferdinands were in this regiment. They give 45 to 654 Battalion and 49 to 653 Battalion, although they give the total as 90. For some reason Lexicon der Wehrmacht specifies 653 Battalion as having Tigers, but perhaps this was after they gave up their Ferdinands.The ferdinands were converted from Porsche designed chassis’ intended for the heavy tank project which ended up as the Tiger. Reference works will designate between the two Tiger prototype designers- Henschel and Porsche.

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