I Need info on the 15th motorcycle battalion in Afrika 1941

Help. I am looking for any information and photos, on the 15th motorcycle battalion, attached to the 15th Pazer Division during the war in Afrika. Thanks.

 

Edited, if a Mod sees these posts, please delete.

 

Hmmm, yet another one who requests info and doesn't acknowledge it.

Info now erased.

 

I Don't understand. I'm looking for your responces, but not finding them. Please don't delete me. Tell me why I can't find them. Knabe

 

I don't know whyt you can't find info on the 15th Panzer? Just google it. I would have left the info I posted here had there been a response?

One thing I can say since I don't have my info handy-is that I have three neat pics of the survivors of the 15th Panzer-in somekind of formation or ceremony held out in the desert. I have two others which are 15th Panzer-one shows several men being awarded their EKIIs and another shows some of that Divs Panzers on the moove down some dusty road.

I dont have my info handy and dont have internet service at home for some reason-or I would repost it again. Also, nobody is out to delete your posts-I deleted mine because not only me, but several other longtimers here are getting tired of replying and taking the time to give great info that we paid a lot of money for to get and then give freely here-only for it to go unacknowledged and unappreciated.

I don't stand alone on this.

 

I understand your point of view. I would not like to do something for someone who would not thank me either. But the truth be known. I missed the day you posted your info for me. I came on line the next day and it was removed. If you don't post it again I will understand completely, after what you have just explained to me. Also you are very much correct. there is much information on the web about the 15th panzer division, and it is easy to find. However with all the research I have already done over the last six months, I have been unable to find what i'm looking for, which is info on the 15th motorcycle battalion in the DAK in afrika during 1941. But I will keep searching. So let me say this to you. Thankyou very much for your effort to help me. your's truly knabe.

 

Hi Knabe. Much appreciated and after I wake up tomorrow morning and providing I still have internet access, ill repost the 15th Panzer Division info I have on hand. Like I say, the info on that unit doesn't list a 15th Krad Btn as part of its make-up but is probably more like the 15th Recon Btn. Anyway, ill repost the info here if still wanted?

Cheers, Rootbeers and best regards-C.

 

Thankyou, yes Please. Knabe

 

Hi Knabe, I haven't forgotten. It's just now-rather since early yesterday, iv'e ben fighting a stomach viris and my computer is running slow. Anyway, now that im mhere, I do have my info on hand.

15th PzDiv and it's sub-units include: 8th Pz Rgmt, 115th PzGdr Rgmt, 33rd PzArty Rgmt, 33rd PzRecon Btn--which would be the Krad unit your looking to get info about) 33rd AT/ PzPi & Pz Signals Battalions-rspectively.

Homestation: Kaiserslaughtern in Wehrkries XII.

This unit was originally ofrmed in 1935-1936 as the 33rd Inf Div of the old Peacetime Army. Originally it included the 104th, 110th and 115th Inf Rgmts. They fought in France in 1940 and then were redesignated the 15th PzDiv in the fall of 1940-recieving the 8th PzRgmt while giving up the 110th Inf Rgmt to the 112th Inf Div. All of their Horses were transferred to Wehrkries IX and incorporated into the 129th Inf Div.

It was sent to Libya in the Spring of 41 which formed one of two Divs that became Rommels Afrika Korps. That Summer it gave up it's 104th P.G Rgmt to the 5th Light Div which was reorganized and became the 21st Pz Div. The 15th Panzer fought in all of the actions on the North African Front except the first because it arrived too late to be on hand when Rommel captured Benghazi in April 41. The Div took part in the unsuccessful Tobruk attacks in April and May 4 and then helped t defeat the British relief attempts aimed at Tobruk thatSummer (Operations: Brevity and Battleaxe) and was severely mauled in heavy fighting in Operation Crusader Nov 18 to Dec 7th 1941.

Now down to a handfull of tanks, it retreated into Libya. Reinforced by shipmentsof tanks from Europe, in Jan 42, thew 15th Pz fought inRommels 2nd Cyrenaican Campaignand helped retake Benghazi. Later in 42 it was involved in the Battles of the Gazala Line, the capture of Tobruk, and the invasion of Egypt. It was checked and virtually destroyedin the El Alamein Battles. By the time that Rommel retreatd in November 42, the 8th Pz Rgmt had lost all of its tanks, and it's Rgmt Kdt was dead, the 33rd PzArty Rgmt had only seven guns left.

The 15th Paqnze retreated through Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. There it turned to attack again, at the Kasserine Pass. Finally checked, the division was destroyed in the final colapse of North Africa in May 43. It's commanders include: Genmaj Prittwitz (1941) Genmaj Hans-Karl von Esebeck (1941) Genmaj Walter Neumann-Silkow (1941) Genmaj Gustav von Vaerst (1942) Colonel Eduard Craesmann (1942) GenLt Willibald Borowietz (1943)

Warning though, some of this info is undoubtedly a bit outdated but still not bad.