sPz.Jg.Abt.653 didn't do anything during the month of December, 1944 other than load and unload onto railcars and sit on railroad sidings.
"The first company departed from the Dollersheim Training Area on December 7th, 1944, with 7 guns, to take part in the upcoming Ardennes Offensive.....All of the 653rd Battalion's trains were blocked by the completely bombed out rail lines. All the troops and supplies intended for the offensive had to remain in the Mosel Valley or in the Eifel." This situation lasted from the 12th of December until December 31st.
- Combat History of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653, page 431.
Only 2 Jagdtigers from the 3rd company were on hand at the start of Operation "Nordwind" in the Saar-Pfalz area on December 31st, later joined by 4 guns from the 1st company on January 4th, to attack US forces in Rimling, France. This was the 653rd's first combat use of their Jagdtigers.
So, the 653rd wasn't in the Battle of the Bulge either....
(Insert wind-blown tumbleweeds here)
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Ferdinand in the Battle of the Bulge - color
Paska
Washington, United States
Joined: August 30, 2004
KitMaker: 55 posts
Armorama: 54 posts
Joined: August 30, 2004
KitMaker: 55 posts
Armorama: 54 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 05:53 PM UTC