SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 "Wiking" - 1944

 

1944
1.1.44 I. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz III: 35 authorized, 13 combat-ready
Pz IV: 14 authorized, 8 combat-ready
StuG III: 7 authorized, 4 combat-ready
Total: 56 authorized, 25 combat-ready
(II. Abteilung as of yet has no tanks assigned, still in forming process)

26.1.-17.2.44 Division encircled in CHERKASSY Pocket. Fights its way out along with divisions of the Heer, but loses all of its vehicles, tanks and heavy weapons in the process. SS-Stubaf. Köller killed in action 17.2.44.

18.2.44 Division mentioned in Wehrmacht Bulletin one day after success of breakout from the CHERKASSY Pocket for exemplary heroism, daring spirit of attack and self-sacrificing comradeship.

6.2.44 Headquarters, SS-Pz. Rgt. 5 and II. Abteilung conduct gunnery practice and company-scale maneuvers at Mailly-le-Camp training area.

18.2.44 Transfer of remnants of division, including survivors of I./SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 to LUBLIN (Poland) where the division is to be reconstituted.

18.3.44 Training in France declared complete; Regiment and II. Abteilung alerted for movement to the east.

23.3.44 HQ, SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 and II. Abteilung transferred to CHOLM in Poland to complete its training program and link up with division, which had been destroyed in the CHERKASSY Pocket and was to be “refreshed” and rebuilt in CHOLM.

18.3.-28.4.44 Battle for KOVEL. Kampfgruppe Richter from remnants of Wiking as well as Headquarters, SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 and the new II. Abteilung with 5. – 8. Kompanie (Panther) participate in relief of beleaguered garrison. The I. Abteilung continues to reform in CHOLM, Poland (1. – 4. Kompanie).

20.3.44

22 StuG IV are shipped from an ordnance depot in Germany to the 5. SS-Pz.Div.. Originally they had been intended for the 4. SS-Pol.Pz.Gren.Div. in Greece, but on short notice they were allocated to the "Wiking" division.

Remark: The remained the only shipment of assault guns the division received until the end of the war. About 4 months later, on 10.7.1944, the Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Tr. sent 20 StuG III G which were initially intended for "Wiking", but on short notice these assault guns were allocated to another unit.


21.3.44
First time regiment was assembled, with the rebuilding I. Abt. and the new II. Abteilung meeting up in CHOLM, Poland.

24.3.44 SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 receives 42 additional Pz V Panther; total number of Panther in regiment HQ and II. Abt. now 78.

27.3.44 Heaquarters, SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 and II.Abteilung arrive west of KOVEL and begin their contribution to the relief operation.

1.4.44

SS-Ostuf. Karl Nicolussi-Leck breaks through 1 Apr with 7 Panther from his 8. Kompanie to restablish contact with defenders in Kovel, for which he receives the Ritterkreuz.

I. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz III: 7 authorized, 0 assigned.
Pz IV: 73 authorized, 21 combat-ready (of 22 on hand)
StuG IV: 31 authorized, 19 combat-ready (of 21 on hand)
Total: 111 authorized, 40 combat-ready

II. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz V: 75 authorized, 58 combat-ready

Regimental Total: 186 authorized, 98 combat-ready


3.4.44 Wehrmacht Bulletin of the day mentions fighting in KOVEL area and highlights achievement of Nicolussi-Leck during the relief operation.

6.4.44 Division mentioned again in Wehrmacht Bulletin of the Day for its conduct during KOVEL fighting and mentions bravery and leadership of Gille, the division commander.

17.4.-18.7.44 Division continues reestablishment in KOVEL area. SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 (minus I. Abteilung) serves as reserve for LVI. Pz. Korps. Bulk of division becomes army reserve in LUBLIN area, then transfers to SS Training Area at HEIDELAGER (DEBICA), then to assembly area of SOKAL, east of CHOLM. I. Abteilung arrives in DEBINCA 4 Jun 44.

1.6.44 I. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz III: 2 authorized, 0 assigned.
Pz IV: 73 authorized, 27 combat-ready
StuG IV: 7 authorized, 20 combat-ready (issued in lieu of Pz. IV)
Total: 82 authorized, 47 combat-ready

II. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz V: 75 authorized, 77 combat-ready

Regimental Total: 157 authorized, 124 combat-ready

8.7.-11.7.44 Giant tank battle at MACIEJOV, where SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 (minus I. Abteilung) destroys 99 Soviet tanks in two days at the loss of none of their own. Best defensive success of division’s history.

10.7.44 I. Abteilung declares that 3. and 4. Kompanie are ready for action, but 1. and 2. Kompanie will need more time and must remain in DEBICA until they receive their new vehicles.

11.7.44 Division commended in Wehrmacht Bulletin of the Day for its performance in heavy defensive fighting by MACIEJOW near KOVEL, where after 4 days of combat alongside panzer divisions of the army, repulsed the advance of 10 Soviet rifle divisions, a tank corps and two tank brigades causing the enemy considerable losses in men and materiel. During this fighting, 295 enemy tanks were destroyed by the combined German force. The Kampgruppe from 5.SS-Pz.Div. Wiking (consisting of SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 (minus I. Abteilung) and III. Btl. (gep) Germania “distinguished itself through their exemplary steadfastness.”

19.-27.7.44 5. SS-Pz. Division Wiking, now reformed (minus 1. & 2. Kompanie from SS-Pz.Rgt. 5, still reforming in DEBICA), engaged in heavy defensive battles in the area WYSOKIE-MITEWSKIE vicinity of BREST-LITOVSK.

1.8.- 12.8.44 Division participates in counterattacks against Soviet forces in vicinity of STANISLAV and RADZYMIN.

1.8.44 I. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz III: 2 authorized, 0 assigned.
Pz IV: 73 authorized, 12 combat-ready
StuG IV: 0 authorized, 11 combat-ready
Total: 75 authorized, 23 combat-ready

II. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz V: 75 authorized, 42 combat-ready

Regimental Total: 150 authorized, 65 combat-ready

2.8.44 Division mentioned in Wehrmacht Bulletin of the Day for its superb conduct during successful counterattack north of WARSAW.

10.8.44 Fritz Darges assumes command of SS-Pz. Rgt. 5 from Johannes Mühlenkamp.

13.-30.8.44 Division participates in 1st defensive battle for WARSAW east of RADZYMIN.

25.8.44 Division mentioned in Wehrmacht Bulletin of the Day for its successful defensive fighting on the VISTULA and northeast of WARSAW. During 18. – 22. Aug, IV.SS-Pz. Korps destroyed 98 Soviet tanks.

26.8.44 3. Kompanie/I. Abteilung (with 6 Pz IV and 2 StuG IV) virtually wiped out in heavy fighting when forced to blow up its last remaining vehicles on the eastern bank of the Bug River while fighting in the Slenzany Bridgehead. I. Abteilung loses 8 Pz IV and 4 StuG IV in a single day of fighting. Its commander, SS-Hstuf. Saumenicht, is mortally wounded. Command of I. Abteilung goes to SS-Ostuf. Kurt Schumacher.

31.8.-9.10.44 Division participates in 2nd defensive battle for WARSAW near ZERGCE.

1.9.44 I. Abteilung (1. – 4. Kompanie) tank strength as follows:
Pz III: 2 authorized, 0 assigned.
Pz IV: 73 authorized, 4 combat-ready
StuG IV: 0 authorized, 4 combat-ready
Total: 75 authorized, 8 combat-ready

II. Abteilung (5. – 8. Kompanie) tank strength as follows:
Pz V: 75 authorized, 19 combat-ready

Regimental Total: 150 authorized, 27 combat-ready

2.9.44 Division mentioned in Wehrmacht Bulletin of the Day for its conduct during successful defensive fighting northeast of WARSAW, where units of IV. SS-Pz. Korps (Totenkopf and Wiking) distinguished themselves “through unshakeable steadfastness and courageous counterblows.”

6.9.44 3. Kompanie, which lost all of its tanks at the end of August, is reestablished.

7.9.44 SS-Pz.Rgt. 5 celebrates the destruction of its 500th Soviet tank since the regiment’s baptism of fire 29 Mar 44.

17.9.44 The Combat Engineer Company (Pz. Pio. Kp.) of SS-Pz.Rgt.5 disbanded with one platoon being assigned to both I. and II. Abteilungen.

25.9.44 1. and 2. Kompanie (Pz IV) training and re-equipping period ends and are transported to rejoin rest of I. Abteilung, which occurs on 28 Sep. 2. Kompanie now has 17 Pz IV ready for action.

10.-28.10.44 Division participates in 3rd defensive battle for WARSAW near NIEPORENT and SEROCK

10.10.44 2. Kompanie/I. Abteilung loses 5 brand-new Pz IV in heavy fighting in town of NIEPORENT when it encounters a concealed Soviet PaK-front.

29.10.-25.12.44 Division engaged in heavy defensive fighting east of MODLIN, Poland.

1.11.44 I. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz III: 2 authorized, 0 assigned.
Pz IV: 73 authorized, 7 combat-ready
StuG IV: 0 authorized, 3 combat-ready
Total: 75 authorized, 10 combat-ready

II. Abteilung tank strength as follows:
Pz V: 75 authorized, 15 combat-ready

Regimental Total: 150 authorized, 25 combat-ready

mid-Nov 44 Due to shortage of tanks due to heavy (and irreplaceable losses), the regiment is divided into a combat-ready element consisting of the 2., 4., 5., and 6. Kompanien and a training (Lehr) element consisting of the 1., 3., 7., and 8. Kompanien. The training element is placed under the command of SS-Ostuf. Nicolussi-Leck and is sent to LODZ 13 Nov 44 to get new tanks and to train new crews. Eventually, the Lehr element is transferred in Feb 45 to SENNELAGER in Germany when new tanks fail to materialize. The fighting element remains in action and supports a now – static front outside of WARSAW.

26.-31.12.44 Division receives orders to entrain for movement to Hungary to participate in relief of BUDAPEST with rest of IV.SS-Pz.Korps.


 

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