Delays Due to Bombing

The planned delivery schedule could not be completed due to air bombardment of the factories, and because of the subsequently ordered equipping of additional divisions.

a) Comparison of the expected and actual deliveries:

Expected Delivered Shortfall
Pz.Kpfw.IV 350 269 81
Panther 300 222 78
Tiger 85 36 49
Sturmgesch. 380 262 118

b) These deliveries were not included in the plan:

16.Pz.Div. 98 Pz.IV 42 Sturmgesch.
Feldherrnhalle 22 Pz.IV -
120 Pz.IV 42 Sturmgesch.

According to information sent by the Ministry of Armament and War Production, due to interruption in the tank production from air bombardments, the following deliveries can be expected:

Planned Anticipated
Pz.Kpfw.IV 350 300
Panther 340 Unknown, approximately 250
Tiger 75 Unknown, approximately 50
Sturmgesch. 375 250

Planned Deliveries

The November numbers show the previous month's expected deliveries for November. The December numbers show the expected deliveries for December. The Sturmgeschütz number is the number of assault guns that were allocated for Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppe, not the total production.

Vehicle November December
Pz Kpfw IV 350 300
Panther 300 340
Tiger I 85 75
Sturmgeschütz 180 ?

Pz Kpfw IV

November allocation

Unit Planned Assigned Dispatched
16. Panzer-Division - 98 98
21. Panzer-Division 20 - -
Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle 27 49 49
9. SS-Panzer-Division 19 19 19
10. SS-Panzer-Division 19 - -
12. SS-Panzer-Division 63 26 26
Reinforcements (East) 100 100 100
233. Reserve-Panzer-Division 6 - -
LVIII. Reserve-Panzer-Korps 18 - -
Export (Bulgaria) 15 - -
Export (Romania) 10 4 4
Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppe 8 - -
Total 305 296 296

Appendum to Führer Talk at 3 December 1943

Through the increase of the reinforcements to the East from 50 to 100 Pz Kpfw IVs in December, the following equipment statusses of the units in the West have been reached:

Planned Reached
SS(9.)Pz.Div.Hohenstaufen 49 Pz.IV, 44 Stu.G. = 93. As planned, 93.
SS(10.)Pz.Div.Frundsberg 49 Pz.IV, 44 Stu.G. = 93. 27 Pz.IV, 44 Stu.G. = 71.
SS(12.)Pz.Div.Hitlerjugend 73 Pz.IV 60 Pz.IV
21.Pz.Div. 78 Pz.IV 70 Pz.IV
337 294

December plan

The original document containing the planned Pz Kpfw IV allocation for December contains multiple corrections, and contains no explanation for the numbers or corrections. Consequently, it has been omitted.

Panther

November allocation

Unit Planned Assigned Dispatched
I./Panzer-Regiment 1 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks.
I./Panzer-Regiment 2 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks.
I./Panzer-Regiment 26 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks.
I./Panzer-Regiment 31 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks.
5. SS-Panzer-Division2These Panthers were originally from 1. SS-Panzer-Division, which therefore received a new allotment of Panthers in October. 2+21It is not clear what the two additional vehicles refer to, though it is most likely either command or recovery tanks. 2+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. -
12. SS-Panzer-Division2These Panthers were originally from 1. SS-Panzer-Division, which therefore received a new allotment of Panthers in October. 8 8 8
Heeresgruppe Nord2These Panthers were originally from 1. SS-Panzer-Division, which therefore received a new allotment of Panthers in October. 60 60 60
Total 374+10 374+10 372+8

December plan

Unit Planned Allocation Notes
I./Panzer-Regiment 2 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. From November production.
I./Panzer-Regiment 4 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. -
I./Panzer-Regiment 6 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. -
I./Panzer-Regiment 23 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. Newly formed from reinforcements.
Panzer-Lehr-Regiment 27 New strength: 34
5. SS-Panzer-Division 76+21The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. -
Total 331+8 Not including I./Panzer-Regiment 2.

Tiger I

November allocation

Unit Planned Assigned Dispatched
schwere Panzer-Abteilung 501 10 13 13
schwere Panzer-Abteilung 508 45 - -
Reinforcements (East) 30 - -
Total 85 13 13

Due to engine refurbishing and regulator changes, no further deliveries can be made.

December plan

Unit Planned Allocation Notes
schwere Panzer-Abteilung 503 20 Reinforcements from Eastern Front pool.
schwere Panzer-Abteilung 507 45 -
schwere Panzer-Abteilung 508 45 From November production
schwere SS-Panzer-Abteilung 501 8 New strength: 45
Total 73 Not including schwere Panzer-Abteilung 508[/lang].

Sturmgeschütz

November allocation

Unit Planned Assigned Dispatched
16. Panzer-Division - 42 42
Panzer-Division Feldherrnhalle - 2 2
9. SS-Panzer-Division 2 - -
10. SS-Panzer-Division 2 - -
16. Panzer-Grenadier-Division3For tank battalion. 19 - -
18. Panzer-Grenadier-Division 20 23 23
Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland4For assault gun battalion. 17 - -
11. SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division 10 38 38
6. Infanterie-Division5For anti-tank battalion. 10 - -
7. Infanterie-Division5For anti-tank battalion. 10 - -
17. Infanterie-Division5For anti-tank battalion. 10 - -
46. Infanterie-Division5For anti-tank battalion. 10 - -
Funklenk-Kompanie 312 9 - -
Funklenk-Kompanie 314 6 - -
Reinforcements (East) 18 - -
Reinforcements (South) 37 - -
Export (Romania) - 4 4
Total 180 109 109

December plan

Unit Planned Allocation Notes
16. Panzer-Grenadier-Division3For tank battalion. 18 New strength: 45
Panzer-Grenadier-Division Großdeutschland4For assault gun battalion. 18 New strength: 31
20. Luftwaffe-Feld-Division 10 Newly formed.
7 infantry division tank destroyer companies 70 Of which four companies from November production.
Reinforcements (South) 20 For armored infantry divisions.
LVIII. Reserve-Panzer-Korps 10 -
Export (Romania) 4 -
Total 150 -

Notes

  1. The additional vehicles are probably either command or recovery tanks. Back
  2. These Panthers were originally from 1. SS-Panzer-Division, which therefore received a new allotment of Panthers in October. Back
  3. For tank battalion. Back
  4. For assault gun battalion. Back
  5. For anti-tank battalion. Back

Sources

  1. Führervortrag am 3. 12. 43. Berlin : Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen, 1943. 7 p. NARA T78 R720.
  2. Zusatz zum Führervortrag am 3. 12. 43. Berlin : Generalinspekteur der Panzertruppen, 1943. 1 p. NARA T78 R720.