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Bennerscheid Panzer IV/70(A) 'Zwischenlösung' Then & Now 2
According to author the late great Tom Jentz, the term 'Zwischenlösung', or 'interim solution' is an "unimpressive" post war creation popularly used to describe the Panzer IV/70(A).
This beast was rarely photographed by Western Front standards, even rarer in western Germany.
From these aerial photos it becomes apparent this particular behemoth was either driven, or towed from the road to the left of this beautiful building into the garden.
According to Uli's info linked below, the US Army's 745th Tank Battalion claimed one Pz.Kpfw. IV and one SP knocked out in Bennerschied on 20-21 March 1945. At the time the 745th was attached to the 1st Infantry Division.
forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?t=10644
At first glance the only German armoured unit I could find reference to in this area around this time is 3. Panzergrenadier-Division, elements of which are mentioned defending Bennerscheid, along with elements of 3. Fallschirmjäger Division - this was part of the attempt to contain the ever expanding Remagen bridgehead:
www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/index.php/Thread/27840-K%C3%A4...
www.wwii-photos-maps.com/twelfthalliedarmygroup/1945/Marc...
This however presents a quandary, as Panzer-Bataillon 103 and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 where its two organic heavy armour units, but neither of them deployed the Panzer IV/70(A), according to Nuts and Bolts Volume 38, p.38.
www.nuts-bolts.de/volume-38.html
According to N&B's unit allocations, the alternative would appear to narrow down to five StuG units which were still serving in the west in March 1945, whose identities and final disposition breakdown as follows:
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 244 - last mentioned in the Ruhr Pocket. (N&B indicate its unclear if they ever actually received their consignment).
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 280 - disbanded in Bopfingen, between Ulm and Nuremberg, elements also mentioned in the Bad Tölz area.
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 341 - last mentioned split up in Harz area & southern Bavaria (also Bad Tölz area).
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 394 - last mentioned also in the Harz area. (N&B indicate its unclear if they ever actually received their consignment).
H.Stu.Art.Brig. 667 - last mentioned in southern Bavaria ( ie Landau, aka Landau an der Isar presumably).
H.Stu.Art.Brig. 905 - last mentioned in the Westerwald (N&B indicate its unclear if they ever actually received their consignment).
(H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 902 was another unit on the western front which received the Panzer IV/70(A), but it left for the eastern front very soon after, on 15 January 1945).
The source of these last locations are:
Sturmartillerie, Tome I, by Didier Laugier (Editions-Heimdal).
www.bookdepository.com/Sturmartillerie-Didier-Laugier/978...
And a planned book on StuG.Brig.280 by Scott Revell:
www.historiahouse.com/sturmgeschutz-brigade-280/
If anyone can clarify further please do, as info on these units east of the Rhine is very hard to come by.
Even though its consignment status is ambiguously listed in N&B, out of these six units H.Stu.Art.Brig. 905 might appear to be the more likely contender as former owner of this Panzer IV/70(A), at least based on it's last mentioned location, which is a mere 40 km east of Bennerscheid:
www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Westerwald,+Alpenrod,+Germany/...
Bennerscheid Panzer IV/70(A) 'Zwischenlösung' Then & Now 2
According to author the late great Tom Jentz, the term 'Zwischenlösung', or 'interim solution' is an "unimpressive" post war creation popularly used to describe the Panzer IV/70(A).
This beast was rarely photographed by Western Front standards, even rarer in western Germany.
From these aerial photos it becomes apparent this particular behemoth was either driven, or towed from the road to the left of this beautiful building into the garden.
According to Uli's info linked below, the US Army's 745th Tank Battalion claimed one Pz.Kpfw. IV and one SP knocked out in Bennerschied on 20-21 March 1945. At the time the 745th was attached to the 1st Infantry Division.
forum.panzer-archiv.de/viewtopic.php?t=10644
At first glance the only German armoured unit I could find reference to in this area around this time is 3. Panzergrenadier-Division, elements of which are mentioned defending Bennerscheid, along with elements of 3. Fallschirmjäger Division - this was part of the attempt to contain the ever expanding Remagen bridgehead:
www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/index.php/Thread/27840-K%C3%A4...
www.wwii-photos-maps.com/twelfthalliedarmygroup/1945/Marc...
This however presents a quandary, as Panzer-Bataillon 103 and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3 where its two organic heavy armour units, but neither of them deployed the Panzer IV/70(A), according to Nuts and Bolts Volume 38, p.38.
www.nuts-bolts.de/volume-38.html
According to N&B's unit allocations, the alternative would appear to narrow down to five StuG units which were still serving in the west in March 1945, whose identities and final disposition breakdown as follows:
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 244 - last mentioned in the Ruhr Pocket. (N&B indicate its unclear if they ever actually received their consignment).
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 280 - disbanded in Bopfingen, between Ulm and Nuremberg, elements also mentioned in the Bad Tölz area.
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 341 - last mentioned split up in Harz area & southern Bavaria (also Bad Tölz area).
H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 394 - last mentioned also in the Harz area. (N&B indicate its unclear if they ever actually received their consignment).
H.Stu.Art.Brig. 667 - last mentioned in southern Bavaria ( ie Landau, aka Landau an der Isar presumably).
H.Stu.Art.Brig. 905 - last mentioned in the Westerwald (N&B indicate its unclear if they ever actually received their consignment).
(H.Stu.Geschutz.Brig. 902 was another unit on the western front which received the Panzer IV/70(A), but it left for the eastern front very soon after, on 15 January 1945).
The source of these last locations are:
Sturmartillerie, Tome I, by Didier Laugier (Editions-Heimdal).
www.bookdepository.com/Sturmartillerie-Didier-Laugier/978...
And a planned book on StuG.Brig.280 by Scott Revell:
www.historiahouse.com/sturmgeschutz-brigade-280/
If anyone can clarify further please do, as info on these units east of the Rhine is very hard to come by.
Even though its consignment status is ambiguously listed in N&B, out of these six units H.Stu.Art.Brig. 905 might appear to be the more likely contender as former owner of this Panzer IV/70(A), at least based on it's last mentioned location, which is a mere 40 km east of Bennerscheid:
www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Westerwald,+Alpenrod,+Germany/...