Fighting strength of the 21 encircled German Stalingrad divisions on 28 December 1942.

Source : war diary (Kriegstachbuch) of Armee Oberkommando 6 (AOK6) 

A teletype message of 28 December 1942 to Army Group Don.

Sent by AOK 6 - Department Ia ( Oberst i.G. Hans Elchlepp)

A copy of the first and last page of the document (Nr. 6014/42 geh.) is included.

 

Research Geert Rottiers

Thanks to Jason Mark

Belgium, 9 June 2003

 

 We notice that on 28 December 1942 the 29. Infanterie Divsion (mot.) was the only unit suitable an offensive operation.

                                              

 

 

1.) 71. Infanterie Division

 

a) 7 battalions of which

    2 strong (60%)

    5 moderate (65%)

 

b) 8 light batteries with 30 cannons, 35% mobile

    2 heavy batteries with 7 cannons, 35% mobile

 

c) 6 medium batteries - 8 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : horsedrawn parts are not mobile

                                             motorised parts 40% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

2.) 295. Infanterie Division

 

a) 7 battalions of which

    1 moderate (85%)

    6 weak (85%)

    not mobile

 

b) 9 light batteries with 29 cannons, not mobile

    2 heavy batteries with 7 cannons, not mobile

 

c) 7 medium batteries - 7 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 15% mobile

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

3.) 100. Jäger Division

 

a) 3 battalions of which

    1 strong (68%)

    1 medium strength (70%)

    1 moderate (68%)

    55% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 23 cannons, 20% mobile

    4 mountain batteries with 15 cannons, 100% mobile   

    2 heavy batteries with 5 cannons, 50% mobile

 

c) 6 medium batteries - 5 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - moderate : 50% mobile

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

4.) 79. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    1 moderate (70%)

    2 weak (60%)

    3 worn out (40%)

    10% mobile

 

b) 9 light batteries with 32 cannons, not mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 8 cannons, not mobile

 

c) 12 medium batteries - 9 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 50% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

5.) 305. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    1 moderate (34%)

    3 weak (40%)

    2 worn out (60%)

    5% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 18 cannons, not mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 11 cannons, not mobile

    2 Werfer batteries with 10 Werfern, not mobile

 

c) 10 medium batteries - 8 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - worn out : 60% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

6.) 389. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    1 medium strength (45%)

    4 moderate (55%)

    1 weak  (60%)

    10% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 17 cannons, not mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 8 cannons, not mobile

    2 Werfer batteries with 10 Werfern, not mobile

 

c) 9 medium batteries - 1 piece of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - moderate : 5% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

7.) 24. Panzer Division

 

a) 5 battalions of which

    5 weak  (80%)

    100% mobile

 

b) 3 light batteries with 11 cannons, 100% mobile

    1 heavy battery with 2 cannons, 100% mobile

    1 Flak Battery 3 - 8.8 cm, 100% mobile

    1 Flak Battery 5 - 2 cm, 100% mobile

 

c) 19 medium batteries - 2 pieces of Pak

 

d) Panzer Pioneer Battalion - weak : 100% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

8.) 16. Panzer Division

 

a) 4 battalions of which

    1 weak  (40%)

    3 worn out (10%)

    85% mobile

 

b) 3 light batteries with 12 cannons, 80% mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 8 cannons, 80% mobile

    1 light Flak Battery 15 - 2 cm, 80% mobile

    1 heavy Flak Battery 3 - 8.8 cm, 80% mobile

 

c) 17 medium batteries - 6 pieces of Pak

 

d) Panzer Pioneer Battalion - worn out : 80% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

9.) 60. Infanterie Division (mot.)

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    5 moderate (80%)

    1 weak (65%)

    75% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 22 cannons, 75% mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 10 cannons, 70% mobile

    1 light Flak Battery 12 - 2 cm, 60% mobile

    1 heavy Flak Battery 2 - 8.8 cm, 80% mobile

 

c) 9 medium batteries - 5 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 80% mobile.

 

e) Suitable for defensive operations at any time.

 

 

 

 

10.) 113. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    2 moderate (75%)

    2 average (95%)

    1 weak (65%)   

    1 worn out (90%)

    10% mobile

 

b) 8 light batteries with 24 cannons, 15% mobile

    2 heavy batteries with 4 cannons, 50% mobile

 

c) 9 medium batteries - 3 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 40% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

11.) 76. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    2 moderate (35%)

    4 weak (50%)   

    10% mobile

 

b) 9 light batteries with 25 cannons, 10% mobile

    2 heavy batteries with 5 cannons, not mobile

 

c) 5 medium batteries - 9 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 30% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

12.) 44. Infanterie Division

 

a) 5 battalions of which

    4 weak (60%)

    1 worn out (30%)   

    20% mobile

 

b) 5 light batteries with 13 cannons, 70% mobile

    1 heavy batteries with 2 cannons, 60% mobile

    1 Werfer battery with 2 Werfern, 50% mobile

 

c) 5 medium batteries - 18 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - worn out : 80% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

13.) 376. Infanterie Division

 

a) 3 battalions of which

    1 moderate (21%)

    1 weak (30%)

    1 worn out (65%)

    10% mobile

 

b) 3 light batteries with 8 cannons, not mobile

    1 heavy batteries with 3 cannons, not mobile

    2 Werfer batteries with 10 Werfern, not mobile

 

c) 17 medium batteries - 11 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 50% mobile

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

14.) 3. Infanterie Division (mot.)

 

a) 5 battalions of which

    1 moderate (60%)

    4 weak (35%)

    50% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 22 cannons, 50% mobile

    2 heavy batteries with 7 cannons, 50% mobile

   

c) 17 medium batteries - 11 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 50% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

15.) 29. Infanterie Division (mot.)

 

a) 8 battalions of which

    1 strong (100%)

    5 medium strength (100%)

    1 moderate (100%)

    1 worn out (10%)

    90% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 20 cannons, 90% mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 10 cannons, 90% mobile

   

c) 16 medium batteries - 3 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - moderate : 90% mobile.

 

e) In circumstances units suitable for offensive operations.

 

 

 

 

16.) 297. Infanterie Division

 

a) 8 battalions of which

    1  medium strength (90%)

    4 moderate (90%)

    3 weak (85%)

    50% mobile

 

b) 9 light batteries with 27 cannons, not mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 7 cannons, not mobile

   

c) 13 medium batteries - 12 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 50% mobile.

 

e) Suitable for defensive operations at any time.

 

 

 

 

17.) 371. Infanterie Division

 

a) 7 battalions of which

    2 moderate (60%)

    5 weak (75%)

    50% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 24 cannons, 30% mobile

    3 heavy batteries with 9 cannons, not mobile

    2 Werfer batteries with 11 Werfern, not mobile

 

c) 18 medium batteries - 8 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - weak : 15% mobile.

 

e) Suitable for defensive operations at any time.

 

 

 

 

8.) 14. Panzer Division

 

a) 4 battalions of which

    1  medium strength (25%)

    1 moderate (25%)

    1 weak (60%)

    100% mobile

 

b) 3 light batteries with 12 cannons, 100% mobile

    1 heavy battery with 5 cannons, 100% mobile

   

c) 2 medium batteries - 9 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - attached to other units of the division.

 

e) In circumstances units only suitable for defensive operations.

 

 

 

 

19.) 94. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    5 weak  (60%)

    1 worn out (10%)

    20% mobile

 

b) 6 light batteries with 24 cannons, 15% mobile

    2 heavy batteries with 5 cannons, 15% mobile

   

c) 4 medium batteries - 4 pieces of Pak

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - worn out - 5 % mobile

 

e) Units of the division attached to the 16. and 24 Panzer Division.

 

 

 

 

20.) 384. Infanterie Division

 

a) 6 battalions of which

    4 weak  (60%)

    2 worn out (35%)

    10% mobile

 

b) 5 light batteries with 24 cannons, not mobile

    1 Werfer batterys with 5 Werfern, not mobile

   

c) none

 

d) Pioneer Battalion - worn out - 15 % mobile

 

e) Units of the division attached to the 44. and 376. Infanterie Division.

 

 

 

 

21.) 9. Flak Division

 

 

 

The division, also encircled, was not a part of AOK 6.

 It acted as an independent unit in the Stalingrad "pocket".

No numbers concerning strength are available.

The 9. Flak Division is NOT mentioned in the teletype

message of 28 December 1942 to Army Group Don.

 

 

 

The first and last page of the teletype message of 28 December 1942 to Army Group Don.

The 7 pages long message was sent by AOK 6 - Department Ia ( Oberst i.G. Hans Elchlepp)

Document (Nr. 6014/42 geh.)