341. Sturmgeschütz Brigade
This unit was formed as 341. StuG.Abt. in December 1943. It was reorganized as 341. StuG.Brig. in February 1944.In May 1944 the unit was located near Narbonne in southern France and it was still forming. On 1 June it had 19 StuG and 9 StuH which can be compared to an authorized strength of 45 assault guns. It remained in southern France during June and recieved further assault guns. On 1 July it was at full strength, having 33 StuG and 12 StuH.
Commanders
Hauptmann Dr Karl Ernst Bumm February 14 1944 - 6th August 1944 wounded
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1615/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341 leaves the Toulouse region in 5 convoys towards Pz.Gr.West.
1st convoy leaves on 25.7.44.
28.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1643/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy to Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc (northwest of Nantes, movement at 22:00.)
The brigade had 20 assault guns on 2 August, with most lost in the fighting in Brittany, five days later it reported twelve assault guns remaining. The unit retreated north from Ville Mayenne through the Alençon -Argentan Falaise pocket but seems to have escaped with most vehicles.
On 1 October the brigade had 544 men which was only four less than its establishment called for. During September casualties amounted to only 18 men, while 133 men arrived as replacements. Five men had left the brigade for other reasons than being casualties. Accordingly the brigade must have had 434 men on 1 September.
No deliveries of assault guns to the brigade has been found among the records of the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, except 17 StuG III and 10 StuH III sent to OB West on 31 July for further distribution.These arrived 9 August and may have ended up with 341. StuG.Brig. The assault gun deliveries indicated by Tornau/Kurowski may also have been taken from various training facilities in France (there was e.g. an assault gun school at Tours). On 1 October the brigade had 10 combat ready assault guns and 13 in short term repair.
Hauptmann Gunter Dreyer August 1944 - September 1944
Hauptmann Dr Eric Barkley September 1944- 8th December 1944 KIA
Movements
24.7.44Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1615/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341 leaves the Toulouse region in 5 convoys towards Pz.Gr.West.
1st convoy leaves on 25.7.44.
28.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1643/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy to Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc (northwest of Nantes, movement at 22:00.)
2nd convoy to Couëron (northwest of Nantes, movement at 22:00.)
3rd and 4th convoy on 26.7 at the entrance to Nantes.
29.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1648/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st and 2nd convoy to Rennes, movement planned at nightfall.
3rd convoy to Redon, movement in the evening.
4th convoy to Beslé* (north-east of Redon), movement in the evening.
* Beslé station is a railway station on the Rennes to Redon line, located in the municipality of Guémené-Penfao.
30.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1655/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy and 2nd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at La Boussac and Pleine-Fougères (east of Dol de Bretagne).
3rd and 4th convoy stopped at Rennes; continuation planned for 30.7 after dark.
5th convoy at the entrance to Nantes.
31.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1662/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
3rd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at Combourg (south of Dol).
4th convoy unloaded on 30.7 in the evening at Rennes.
5th convoy on 31.7 at Redon, continuation planned at nightfall towards Combourg.
1.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1672/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
5th convoy unloaded on 1.8 at Combourg.
It was reported on 1 August that the two committed batteries were almost all destroyed, while the third battery was still close to Rennes at Combourg. It was reported that five railway cars with elements of the brigade were still in Redon on 2 August.
2.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1681/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
(StuG of the 5th road convoy) 2.8 to Redon, movement at nightfall towards Mayenne
According to Tornau/Kurowski the brigade quickly received new assault guns from Paris via Tours. How many the brigade received is not clear, but it was reported that on 3 August four assault guns were in the area of Nantes and it is possible that these were intended for the 341. StuG.Brig in the Mayenne department area.
3rd and 4th convoy on 26.7 at the entrance to Nantes.
29.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1648/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st and 2nd convoy to Rennes, movement planned at nightfall.
3rd convoy to Redon, movement in the evening.
4th convoy to Beslé* (north-east of Redon), movement in the evening.
* Beslé station is a railway station on the Rennes to Redon line, located in the municipality of Guémené-Penfao.
30.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1655/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
1st convoy and 2nd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at La Boussac and Pleine-Fougères (east of Dol de Bretagne).
3rd and 4th convoy stopped at Rennes; continuation planned for 30.7 after dark.
5th convoy at the entrance to Nantes.
31.7.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1662/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
3rd convoy unloaded early on 30.7 at Combourg (south of Dol).
4th convoy unloaded on 30.7 in the evening at Rennes.
5th convoy on 31.7 at Redon, continuation planned at nightfall towards Combourg.
I & II battery Commitment to stem the American breakout at Avaranches
The unit was first comitted to combat in the Brécey - Avranches area on 31 July in Kampfgruppe Bacherer along with the iii Abteilung 897 regiment, 77th infantry division and two battalions II Fallschirmjäger-Ersatz-und-Ausbildung Regiment 2 FJD to retake Avaranches. Heavy fighting occurred whilst trying to retake Pontaubault bridge. It seems that 1st Batterie was the first unit to see action. During its first days of combat, this battery lost twelve of its fourteen assault guns. |
| StuG III destroyed by AT fire, note the modified Shurzen and debris guard on top of the Mantlet. |
1.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1672/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
5th convoy unloaded on 1.8 at Combourg.
It was reported on 1 August that the two committed batteries were almost all destroyed, while the third battery was still close to Rennes at Combourg. It was reported that five railway cars with elements of the brigade were still in Redon on 2 August.
2.8.44
Bv.TO with AOK 7.
Br.B.nr.1681/44 geh.
Daily report :
I) Troop transports:
a) Movements:
Sturmgeschützbrigade 341:
(StuG of the 5th road convoy) 2.8 to Redon, movement at nightfall towards Mayenne
According to Tornau/Kurowski the brigade quickly received new assault guns from Paris via Tours. How many the brigade received is not clear, but it was reported that on 3 August four assault guns were in the area of Nantes and it is possible that these were intended for the 341. StuG.Brig in the Mayenne department area.
III battery Fighting Mayenne
On the night 2nd of August the third battery moved from Rennes to Laval by train, disembarked on the western side of the Mayenne river line to defend the breakout of Pattons 3rd army east towards Le Mans. The company moved from Laval then north to Ville Mayenne on the western side of the river (as the Laval bridges were already demolished) to cross then defend the bridge in Ville Mayenne that the was open for the retreating supply units from Rennes and the movement towards the buildup area for operation Lűttich.
On the 3rd of August the unit joined Kampgruppe Coretti and seen action against the US 90th infantry division on the 5th of August, losing one Sturmgeschutz III to US tanks in Ville Mayenne.
On the 6th and 7th of August the remaining three vehicles counterattacked against the bridgehead at Mayenne with elements of the 708 Infantry Division, 9th Panzer Panzer IV, Panzer Lehr reconnaissance Abteilung and elements of the 1st Sicherung Division, losing another vehicle to anti tank fire between Aaron and Mayenne. After a fighting withdrawal to the North east towards Alençon. |
| Destroyed Sturmgeschutz III in Ville Mayenne, photo from a private collection. |
II battery Fighting Dinan - St. Malo area.
Remnants of II battery and support elements withdrew towards Saint Malo, where they join in the cities defence.
1944 at the corner of rue de Dinan and de Langrolay/Rance in Pleurtuit
The StuH was destroyed by a 57mm from the 121st Infantry Division on the 9th August, an artillery round subsequently hit the vehicle blowing it apart.
 |
| Destroyed by company L by bazooka 121st Infantry Division on the 8th August, St Malo, |
 |
| St Malo destroyed by C Company 644th tank destroyer battalion 12th August |
Withdrawal North East
The brigade had 20 assault guns on 2 August, with most lost in the fighting in Brittany, five days later it reported twelve assault guns remaining. The unit retreated north from Ville Mayenne through the Alençon -Argentan Falaise pocket but seems to have escaped with most vehicles.
On 1 October the brigade had 544 men which was only four less than its establishment called for. During September casualties amounted to only 18 men, while 133 men arrived as replacements. Five men had left the brigade for other reasons than being casualties. Accordingly the brigade must have had 434 men on 1 September.
No deliveries of assault guns to the brigade has been found among the records of the Inspector-General of Panzer Troops, except 17 StuG III and 10 StuH III sent to OB West on 31 July for further distribution.These arrived 9 August and may have ended up with 341. StuG.Brig. The assault gun deliveries indicated by Tornau/Kurowski may also have been taken from various training facilities in France (there was e.g. an assault gun school at Tours). On 1 October the brigade had 10 combat ready assault guns and 13 in short term repair.
Numbers known were
2- 201 stab
I battery 211 - 212 - 213 - 214
II battery 221 - 222 - 223 - 224
III battery 231 - 232 - 233 -234
IV battery 241 - 242 - 243
Building for Rapid Fire
I plan to add the Sturmgeschutz brigade
I company
2 x StuG IV
II company
2 x StuG IV
III company
2 x StuH III
Sources
Cheers
Matt
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