Eastern Front 1944, Capture of Balta 30/31.3.44

Dear Forum,

My name is Michael Wood and I'm from the U.K. I have 2 burning question really, as follows.

1, When the Russians captured Balta during late March 1944, would anyone know how many Tigers were found in Balta that were left behind by SS-Pz.Rgt 3, from the Totenkopf Panzer Division.
2, During a rail transport to Tiraspol, SS-Pz.Rgt 3 blew up it's remianing tanks on the 14.4.44, would anyone know of any further datails about this event.

Kindest regards, Mike.

Dear Michael,
Hope this is not too late, but as you can see I have only just joined the Forum.
The number of operational Tigers in SS-Panzer regiment 3 was 4 on 1st march 1944. The tanks of SS-Totenkopf (4 x PzIII, 8 x PzIV, 4 x PzVI) were employed piecemeal across the entire divisional sector. On March 11, the 4 Tigers were involved in a counterattack in the Kwitka area. These were entrained on 12 March in Kapistino and transported across the River Bug to Kriwoje Osero. Somewhere around the 15 or 16 March, the train was rerouted to Balta where they detrained on 16 March. 4 Tigers were operational on the 17 March. 2 Tigers were part of Kampfgruppe Pittschellis that fought in the Balta area on 24 and 25 March. 3 Tigers were involved in the counterattack from Balta on 27 and 29 March. They were then involved in the fighting withdrawal crossing the Dnjestr River near Dubossary on 3 April. On 8 April the division receives the order to assemble in the Roman area, attached to 57th Panzer Corps. On April 14 while on railway transport to Tiraspol, all train traffic comes to a halt on the single rail line. All tanks have to be blown up. It wasn't until 30 April that a detail was to form to collect new tanks. The new tanks that arrive on 2 May, including 3 Tigers, are sent to reinforce a divisional Kampfgruppe near Costesti (northwest of Targul Frumos) to stop enemy assaults south of Ruginoasa. SS Obersturnfuhrer Neidthart takes over command of the company.
Nearly all this information is from Tigers in Combat II by Wolfgang Schneider.
Hope this helps,
Hannover

Hannover,

Many thanks, for the reply, no it's not to late. Here's what I can add. On 10.1.44, SS-T still had 16 Tigers on hand, 4 were knocked out on the 16.1.44. On the 26.2.44, XXXX Pz.Korps still reported 12 Tigers on hand with 4 operational. On the 13.4.44, 9 Kp loaded in Krassna for transport to Tiraspol, on the 14.4.44 the Russians attacked in the direction of Tiraspol, stopping the departure movement. The thing is, I believe SS-T blew up 5 Tigers due to chronic shortages of fuel and spare parts, on the 30.3.44, and 7 Tigers were blown up on the 14.4.44, the crews reached Bacau on the 19.4.44. The reason I believe 7 Tigers went up, is because s.SS.Pz.Abt 102 reported 7 Tigers on hand on the 10.4.44, now the Abt didn't receive it's first Tigers until the 21.4.44, now 9 Kp was supposed to be the Abt's new 3 Kp. So I'm wondering if SS-T Tigers were already being counted on the Abt inventory.

Mike.

Dear Michael,
Kamen Nevenkin in his new book 'Fire Brigades' lists 10 x Panzer VI delivered to SS-Totenkopf in April 1944 and 5 x Panzer VI delivered in July 1944. These are the only deliveries to Totenkopf of Panzer VIs.
Interestingly I have the 1.3.44 strength as 4 plus 5 in short term repair (less than 3 weeks). Nevenkin gives the next entry on 15.4.44 as 0, followed by 1.6.44 as 2 operational and 5 in short term repair. It would also seem that all tanks were destroyed on the railway track including Panzer IVs and IIIs. This seems a large but seemingly unavoidable waste. Do you know the reasons for this or were they worried simply about being cut off by the Russian advance?
The new Tigers presumably detrained at Roman and were picked up on about 30th April as on 2nd May they are in combat again North of Targul Frumos.
Do you have any information on Totenkopf strength and involvement at Targul Frumos on May 2nd 1944 as this is the reason for my interest in this period?
Cheers
Hannover

something here?!

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=10353

Hi Mike

Would you be THE Michael Wood, as in the historian & broadcaster (of "In the footsteps of Alexander the Great" and "The story of India" fame)?

Tyke,

Alas, no I'm not the famed historian Michael Wood, but we are from the same area in England.

Mike.

Hi Mike

Thanks for the clarification.

Alan in Bradford

Mate,

From Bradford, I'm from Disley in Cheshire, the other M.Wood is from Manchester. Just to say, I've had a lucky break, I'm hoping to get in the next few days, some info from the Russian Archives regarding this thread, when I do, I'll post again.

Mike.

Good night! Interest the actions of Romanian Army at the defense of Bukowina in march 1944 or operative maps... Who will be able to help?

Who can prompt, group of general Aubba, it is Romanian connection?
This connection took part of defense Northern Bukovina in 1944.