12/30/07

Tiger II Tanks Documented in the Ardennes Offensive (continued)

This list provides information on tanks positively identified by photographic evidence or veterans’ accounts as having been a part of s. SS-Pz.Abt. 501 during the Ardennes Offensive.  Tanks are listed by turret number and tank commander, where known.  The names of the tank commanders are taken from Patrick Agte’s book.  Disposition lists where the tank was knocked out or abandoned.  Description includes whether the camouflage paint was applied by brush or spray, whether or not the tank was painted in the “light and shadow pattern,” and other features.

1. Kompanie

105 - Company Commander (SS-Obersturmführer Jürgen Wessel)

Disposition: Abandoned in Rue Haut Rivage, Stavelot, 18 Dec 44 after tank was struck by antitank fire and driver reversed into a house and immobilized the tank.  After the war 105 was hauled to a location west of Stavelot and left beside the N23, possibly during the scrapping process.  Several post-war photographs show 105 in this position with its turret number already faded away.

Description: brush, light and shadow pattern, no national cross, no 1. SS-Pz.Kps. insignia.  Large letter G painted on glacis plate.  Seen in post-battle photographs. 

SS-Hauptsturmführer Wessel's tank 105 crashed backwards into a house in the Rue Haut Rivage in Stavelot as it tried to avoid enemy fire.  The close up shows the letter G, which may have designated a tank that had Glysantin antifreeze.  (M. Courtejoie, Stavelot)

Wessel's tank may have been taking fire from a US antitank gun or bazooka sited in the church square, near where this modern photo was taken.  (author's photo)

The turret number 105 is barely visible in the bottom view.  (M. Courtejoie, Stavelot)

After the war 105 was hauled out of Stavelot along the N23 highway to a point west of the Antoine farm, where it was pushed off the road.  It was probably scrapped from this location.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

Gérard Grégoire drew this map showing the final location of 105 at a bend in the N23 west of tank 008's location.  (author's collection)

A comparison of the paint patterns on the photos of 105 taken in Stavelot and the tank at the bend of the N23 road show that these are the same tank.

___ - Tank commander unknown.  This tank may have been 104.

Disposition: abandoned in Chemin Vieille-Voie, a side street in La Gleize, 23 Dec 44.

Description: brush, light and shadow pattern, no turret number visible on right side of turret, national cross in center of right turret side, 1. SS-Pz.Kps. insignia not visible.  Seen in post-battle photographs.  By process of elimination of the other tanks left in La Gleize according to their companies, this was probably a 1. Kompanie tank, used by SS-Obersturmführer Wessel after his Nr. 105 was left in Stavelot.  It may have been tank 104.

Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division used this tank for bazooka target practice in January 1945.  Looking toward the distance behind the tank shows how it could have had a good field of fire to defend against any enemy forces coming from the direction of Cheneux, if only it had been turned the other way!  (US National Archives at College Park, Signal Corps Collection, 111-SC-265224)

None of the bazooka rounds penetrated the tank's frontal armor, though the side armor of the turret suffered.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

The tank had the "standard" light and shadow paint scheme, but lacked a turret number and had a Balkenkreuz on the turret side instead.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

It couldn't shoot at much from the location where it ended up.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

123 - Section Leader (SS-Standartenjunker Franz Staudegger)

Documented in Ardennes Offensive by veteran’s account, if Staudegger was riding in his assigned tank.  Other information unknown.

124 - SS-Oberscharführer Arno Salamon

Documented in Ardennes Offensive by veteran’s account.  Said to have fallen out near Stavelot with final drive failure.  Other information unknown.

132 - Platoon Leader (SS-Oberscharführer Jürgen Brandt)

Disposition: withdrew across Ambleve River to Wanne assembly area 25 Dec 44, later disposition and other information unknown.  Documented in Ardennes Offensive by Werner Wendt’s account.

133 - Section Leader (SS-Oberscharführer Werner Wendt)

Disposition: abandoned near Petit Spai bridge outside Trois Ponts, 25 Dec 44.

Description: brush, other details not visible.  Seen in post-battle photographs, and documented by Werner Wendt’s account.

Werner Wendt's 133 rolled away from Stavelot after a US shot (probably from a Sherman tank) damaged his hull and transmission, and came to rest across the road from the Petit Spai bridge.  Wendt said that he set demolition charges in the tank before his crew abandoned it, but he never saw them go off ... either those charges or possibly US aircraft damaged the turret, and most of it has already been removed in this photo.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

133 eventually ended up on the opposite side of the road, with the remains of the Petit Spai bridge in the background.  (December 1944 Museum, La Gleize)

Go on to a listing and photos of the Tiger tanks of the 2. Kompanie documented in the Ardennes Offensive

All text copyright 2005-2008 Gregory A. Walden. All rights reserved; material from this website may only be republished with the author’s permission.