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502nd Heavy Tank Battalion (Germany)
Encyclopedia
The 502nd Heavy Tank Battalion was a German
World War II
independent armoured battalion
(German
: Abteilung
) equipped with heavy tanks. The battalion was the first unit to receive and field the Tiger I
or Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E. It fought on the Eastern front
. It was one of the most successful German heavy tank battalions, destroying 1,400 tanks and 2,000 guns.
from the 35th Panzer Training Battalion . On 23 July Hitler
ordered that the first Tiger I tanks be sent to the Leningrad Front
. The 502nd became the first unit to receive Tiger Is when on 19 and 20 August 1942 four Tiger Is were sent to the unit, which only partially equipped one company (German regulations called for a heavy tank battalion of three companies, with 45 tanks in total). On 29 August 1942 the 502nd arrived at the Leningrad Front
, but was not immediately engaged in combat. Befitting the unit equipped with the heaviest tank of the time, the 502nd carried an emblem of a mammoth.
near Leningrad. On 22 September, after crossing a causeway, a Tiger became bogged down in the mud, due to enemy fire the tank could not be recovered despite a number of attempts; the tank was destroyed on 25 November to prevent its capture by the enemy. This marked the first total loss of a Tiger I. Several more Tigers and Panzer III
s arrived on 25 September and were used to completely equip the 1st company. Several more Tiger Is were issued to the unit in February 1943 as replacements for losses. On 1 April 1943 a second and third company were formed. 31 Tigers were shipped to the unit in mid to late May 1943, they brought the battalion up to full strength. In June 1943, due to a change in the organization of heavy tank battalions, the 1st company was completely outfitted with Tiger Is, rather than a mix of Tigers and Panzer IIIs.
The 502nd fought defensive battles on the Eastern Front during 1943 and 1944. They operated around Lake Ladoga from July to September 1943and Newel, near Belarus during November and December 1943 covering the retreat of German forces from the Leningrad area. The 502nd defended Narva
, Estonia from February to April 1944. The 502nd fought in Pleskau in April and May 1944, then around Dunaburg, Latvia in July.
s. The last 13 Tiger IIs built were picked up directly at the factory by crews of the 3rd Company of the 510th and the 3rd company of the 502nd on 31 March 1945. The 502nd received eight Tiger IIs and took the tanks into combat on 1 April 1945.
until 27 April when the battalion was disbanded. It surrendered to the Red Army
on 9 May. By then the battalion had been issued 105 Tiger I and eight Tiger IIs, it claimed the destruction of 1,400 enemy tanks. and 2,000 guns.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
independent armoured battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
(German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Abteilung
Abteilung
Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
) equipped with heavy tanks. The battalion was the first unit to receive and field the Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
or Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E. It fought on the Eastern front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
. It was one of the most successful German heavy tank battalions, destroying 1,400 tanks and 2,000 guns.
Formation
The 502nd was formed on 25 May 1942 at BambergBamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
from the 35th Panzer Training Battalion . On 23 July Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
ordered that the first Tiger I tanks be sent to the Leningrad Front
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
. The 502nd became the first unit to receive Tiger Is when on 19 and 20 August 1942 four Tiger Is were sent to the unit, which only partially equipped one company (German regulations called for a heavy tank battalion of three companies, with 45 tanks in total). On 29 August 1942 the 502nd arrived at the Leningrad Front
Leningrad Front
The Leningrad Front was first formed on August 27, 1941, by dividing the Northern Front into the Leningrad Front and Karelian Front, during the German approach on Leningrad .-History:...
, but was not immediately engaged in combat. Befitting the unit equipped with the heaviest tank of the time, the 502nd carried an emblem of a mammoth.
Tiger I
The 502nd took the Tiger I into combat for the first time on 16 September 1942 south of Lake LadogaLake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a freshwater lake located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, not far from Saint Petersburg. It is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.-Geography:...
near Leningrad. On 22 September, after crossing a causeway, a Tiger became bogged down in the mud, due to enemy fire the tank could not be recovered despite a number of attempts; the tank was destroyed on 25 November to prevent its capture by the enemy. This marked the first total loss of a Tiger I. Several more Tigers and Panzer III
Panzer III
Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
s arrived on 25 September and were used to completely equip the 1st company. Several more Tiger Is were issued to the unit in February 1943 as replacements for losses. On 1 April 1943 a second and third company were formed. 31 Tigers were shipped to the unit in mid to late May 1943, they brought the battalion up to full strength. In June 1943, due to a change in the organization of heavy tank battalions, the 1st company was completely outfitted with Tiger Is, rather than a mix of Tigers and Panzer IIIs.
The 502nd fought defensive battles on the Eastern Front during 1943 and 1944. They operated around Lake Ladoga from July to September 1943and Newel, near Belarus during November and December 1943 covering the retreat of German forces from the Leningrad area. The 502nd defended Narva
Narva
Narva is the third largest city in Estonia. It is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, by the Russian border, on the Narva River which drains Lake Peipus.-Early history:...
, Estonia from February to April 1944. The 502nd fought in Pleskau in April and May 1944, then around Dunaburg, Latvia in July.
Tiger II
The 502nd only received a few Tiger IITiger II
Tiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B,Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. .The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf...
s. The last 13 Tiger IIs built were picked up directly at the factory by crews of the 3rd Company of the 510th and the 3rd company of the 502nd on 31 March 1945. The 502nd received eight Tiger IIs and took the tanks into combat on 1 April 1945.
Re-designated to 511
The 502nd was re-designated the 511th on 5 January 1945. It fought on the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
until 27 April when the battalion was disbanded. It surrendered to the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
on 9 May. By then the battalion had been issued 105 Tiger I and eight Tiger IIs, it claimed the destruction of 1,400 enemy tanks. and 2,000 guns.
Commanders
- Major Märker (August to November 1942)
- Hauptmann Wollschläger (November 1942 to February 1943)
- Major Richter (February to July 1943)
- Hauptmann Schmidt (July to August 1943)
- Hauptmann Lange (August to October 1943)
- Major Willy JähdeWilly JähdeWilly Jähde was a highly decorated Major in the Wehrmacht during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Willy Jähde was captured by American...
(October 1943 to March 1944) - Major Schwaner (April to August 1944)
- Hauptmann von Foerster (August 1944 to April 1945)