17th SS Götz von Berlichingen, Pays de Loire part 2- SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 17

Defence of the Mayenne River Laval to Le Mans 4-15th August 1944

The 17th SS was the only Armoured unit that was of any resistance was the Panzerjager battalion against two Armoured, two cavalry and two infantry divisions with independent tank regiments of Pattons 3rd Army when they reached the Pay’s de Loire area. The decision was made by AOK 7 to defend the Mayenne river line until 9th Panzer had been deployed.

At the beginning of June 1944, the SS-Pz.Jg.Abt. 17 was only represented by the 3rd Company in its division. It had 3 Panzerjäger 38 (t) for 7.62 cm Pak 36 (Sd.Kfz. 139) and 9 Panzerjäger 38 (t) for 7.5 cm Pak 40/3 Ausf. H.

The majority of the stab, 1. and 2 Kompanie /SS-Pz.Jg.Abt. 17 was still being set up and trained on the Jagdpanzer IV (7.5 cm Pak 39 L/48) (Sd.Kfz. 162) and remained in the previous assembly area near Saumur when the division left. 31 Jagdpanzer IV were then delivered on 30.6.1944.

Together with the Pz.Flak platoon that had arrived from Germany for the SS-Pz.Abt. 17 with 12 Panzerkampfwagen 38 for 2 cm Flak 38 (Sd.Kfz. 140) the SS-Pz.Jg.Abt. 17 marched towards Normandy on August 4th, 1944. On the orders of the AOK 7, however, it was halted and deployed in the Laval - Le Mans area and was almost destroyed in a few days.

By August 15, 1944 at Nogent Le Rotrou , there were only 5 Jagdpz. IV (all damaged), 5 StuG IV (all damaged), 2 Marder III M and 4 Flakpz. 38 left (but at least 2 more Flak pz. 38 must have arrived in the following days) on the returns. A few days later, the 3 more Pz.Bef.Wg. IIIs arrived. The 5 StuG IVs had been given to a Pz.Werkst.Kp. in the Greater Paris area for repairs. It is not entirely clear whether they ever returned to the division.

Structure for Rapid Fire

SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 17 : SS-Sturmbannführer Schuster 1 x PzJagd IV lang, 2 x flakpanzer 38
1. Kompanie : 2 x Pz Jagd IV lang (deployed in Pays de Loire)
2. Kompanie : 2 x PzJagd IV lang (deployed in Pays de Loire)
3. Kompanie : 1 Panzerjäger 38 (t) for 7.62 cm Pak 36 Ausf M, 1x Panzerjäger 38 (t) for 7.5 cm Pak 40/3 Ausf. H, 1 x pak 50 4 crew maultier. (All Deployed in Normandy)