Part of the Thumbnail Histories of the Sturmartillerie and Sturmgeschütz Units of the Heer series
by John

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 245

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XIII.
Date of Formation: 13 Jun.1941:
----- At Jüterbog Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III
First Commanding Officer: Major Hans Zielsch.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 200.
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 300.

UNIT HISTORY:
Early Jul.1941..... Attached to 100. leichte Infanterie-Division, LII. Armeekorps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
15 Jul.1941..... Attached to LII. Armeekorps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
21 Aug.1941..... Attached to XXXXIV. Armeekorps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
15 Sep.1941..... Attached to LII. Armeekorps, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
31 Oct.1941..... Assigned to Gruppe “von Schwedler” (named after Gen.d.Inf. Viktor von Schwedler, commanding IV. Armeekorps and  XXXXIV. Armeekorps), 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud, fighting in the area of the Donez River.
21 Nov.1941..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.245, still attached to Gruppe “von Schwedler”, 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud, reaches Rostov – “Gateway to the Caucasus”.
1 Feb.1942..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.245 attached to Gruppe “von Schwedler”, 17. Armee (minus one batterie attached to XXXXIV. Armeekorps) Heeresgruppe Sud.
3 Mar.1942..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.245 attached to Gruppe “von Schwedler”, 17. Armee (minus one batterie attached to XXXXIV. Armeekorps) Heeresgruppe Sud.
Jul.1942..... Unit attached to XXXXIV. Armeekorps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
6 Nov.1942..... Attached to LI. Armeekorps, 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe B.
Jan.1943..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.245, along with Stu.Gesch.Abt.244, was destroyed at Stalingrad, along with the rest of  6. Armee.
10 Apr.1943..... Unit reformed at the Jüterbog Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III.
30 Jun.1943..... Attached to XLVII. Panzerkorps, 9. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte, in the vicinity of Orel.
4 Jul.1943..... Attached to XLVII. Panzerkorps, 9. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte, located in the Orel region.
26 Jan.1944..... Unit attached to LIII. Armeekorps, 3. Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Mitte.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 245.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 249

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XIII.
Date of Formation: 10 Jan.1942:
----- Originally only 2.Bttr./Stu.Gesch.Abt.249 was formed at the “Adolf Hitler Camp”, Jüterbog Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III. Other batteries, already serving on the Eastern Front, were to be united with 2.Bttr./Stu.Gesch.Abt.249 at a later date to form the complete Stu.Gesch.Abt.249.
First Commanding Officer: Major Kurt Schaff.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 200.

UNIT HISTORY:
19 Feb.1942..... 2.Bttr./Stu.Gesch.Abt.249 sent to the Crimea.
23 May 1942..... The unit, as a whole, assigned to 11. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
6 Jun.1942..... Attached to XXX. Armeekorps, 11. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
Jul.1942..... Assigned to 11. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
4 Jul.1943..... Assigned to 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
10 Feb.1944..... Attached to III. Panzerkorps, 1. Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Sud, as part of the relief force attempting to reach the trapped units in the Korsun Pocket.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 249.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 259

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis unknown at this time.
Date of Formation: Jun. or Jul.1943:
----- Near Jüterbog at Niemegk, in the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark, Brandenburg, Wehrkreis III with cadre from the Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 660.
First Commanding Officer: Unknown at this time.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 400.

UNIT HISTORY:
End of Jul.1943..... Unit assigned to the Mius River sector of the Eastern Front, where the Soviets had managed to break through the German lines.
26 Aug.1943..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.259 unloaded at Stalino and immediately embroiled in the ongoing battle. During the next three months of retreats Stu.Gesch.Abt.259 was attached, at different times, to at least 70 different Korps and Divisionen.
15 Sep.1943..... Unit attached to 3rd Gebirgsjäger-Division.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 259.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 261

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XI.
Date of Formation: 1 Jul.1943:
----- At Altengrabow Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III.
First Commanding Officer: Unknown at this time.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 500.

UNIT HISTORY:
10 Aug.1943..... Unit transferred to the Kharkov region of the Eastern Front.
5 Jan.1944..... Assigned to XI. Armeekorps, 8. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud, fighting in the area around Kirovograd.
28 Jan.1944..... Unit took part in The Battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 261.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 270

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XIII.
Date of Formation: 3 Jan.1943:
----- 1.Bttr./Stu.Gesch.Abt.270 formed at Neisse Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis VIII.
First Commanding Officer: Major Karl Bergholz.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 200.
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 300.

UNIT HISTORY:
Late Nov.1942..... 1.Bttr,/Stu.Gesch.Abt.270 departed Neisse, bound for the Eastern Front, and was assigned to Heeresgruppe Mitte. The personnel for the other two batteries were sent to the Eastern Front in Dec.1943 and received their equipment from the soon to be departing Stu.Gesch.Abt.197.
15 Dec.1942..... Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 904, which was forming at Jüterbog, was to be redesignated Stu.Gesch.Abt.270, but this order was soon cancelled and (in Feb.1942) Stu.Gesch.Abt.904 was sent to the Eastern Front. In the meantime, the equipment required to outfit the other two batteries of Stu.Gesch.Abt.270 were taken from Stu.Gesch.Abt.197, which was to return to Germany (in Jan.1943) for conversion to schwere (heavy) status.
Jul.1943..... Assigned to Heeresgruppe Mitte (Reserve) stationed at Orel.
1 Jan.1944..... Attached to 1st Skijäger-Brigade, Heeresgruppe Mitte (Reserve).
*10 Jun.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 270.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 276

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XI.
Date of Formation: 21 Jun.1943:
----- At Altengrabow Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III, with a cadre supplied from former members of 2.Bttr./Stu.Gesch.Abt.190.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Runger.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 600.

UNIT HISTORY:
4 Jul.1943..... Unit completing its formation at Jüterbog Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III.
7 Sep.1943..... Originally intended for deployment to the Southeast Theatre, it was now transferred to the Bryansk sector of the Eastern Front.
Early 1944..... Reported fighting in the Vinnitsa-Korosten sector of the front.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 276.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 277

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis unknown at this time.
Date of Formation: 21 Jun.1943:
----- At Neisse Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis VIII, from Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-u. Ausbildungs-Abteilung 300, but without vehicles.
----- Fist training exercises held at Wishau Truppenübungsplatz, at Brünn, before receiving their assault guns at Altengrabow.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Bernard Flacchs.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 400.

UNIT HISTORY:
21 Jul.1943..... Completed its formation at the Jüterbog Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III, where it received its Assault Guns.
Jul.1943..... Assigned to 6. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
Late 1943..... Unit transferred to the area around the Nikopol Bridgehead.
Dec.1943..... The personnel of Stu.Gesch.Abt.277 were withdrawn from the front and sent (via Odessa) to be refitted with new equipment at the Altengrabow Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 277.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 278

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XIII.
Date of Formation: 1 Aug.1943:
----- At Schweinfurt Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis XIII, from Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-Abteilung 200, without equipment.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Johannes Stier.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 200.

UNIT HISTORY:
13 Aug.1943..... Unit transferred to Aufstellungsstab West (Unit Activation Staff West), and stationed at “Camp du Richard”, outside of Tours, France. The “Aufstellungsstab West” was under direct command of the Sturmartillerie School back in Germany.
3 Sep.1943..... Unit originally scheduled to report to Heeresgruppe B or F.
8 Oct.1943..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.278, still without its equipment, was transferred back to the Altengrabow Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III, where it finally received its Sturmgeschütz on 15 Oct.1943.
22 Oct.1943..... Finally, after being supplied with its equipment, the unit was transferred to the Eastern Front and arrived at Kirovograd on 28 Oct.1943. There it was assigned to Heeresgruppe Sud.
19 Dec.1943..... Attached to 257. Infanterie-Division, XXX. Armeekorps, 1. Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 278.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 279

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis VIII.
Date of Formation: 1 Aug.1943:
----- At Dieskau Barracks, Neisse Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis VIII, where it was trained by Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-u. Ausbildungs-Abteilung 300.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Gerhard Hoppe.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 300.
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 600.

UNIT HISTORY:
1 Aug.1943..... Unit transferred to Aufstellungsstab West (minus its assault guns) and stationed at Saumur, France for further training.
2 Sep.1943..... Unit originally scheduled to report to Heeresgruppe B or F.
1 Oct.1943.....  Stu.Gesch.Abt.279, again without its equipment, was transferred to the Altengrabow Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III.
1 Jan.1944..... Assigned to 17. Armee, Heeresgruppe A, serving in the Crimea.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 279.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 280

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis unknown at this time.
Date of Formation: 1 Aug.1943:
----- At Schweinfurt Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis XIII, with a cadre supplied from Stu.Gesch.Abt.191.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Kurt Kuhme (who took command 14 Oct.1943).
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 400.

UNIT HISTORY:
Mid Aug.1943..... Unit transferred to Aufstellungsstab West and stationed at “Camp du Richard”, Tours, France for final training, establishment, and preparation for combat.
5 Nov.1943..... Unit transferred to the Eastern Front and stationed southwest of Kiev, at Berdichev, Ukraine.
13 Nov.1943..... 3.Bttr./Stu.Gesch.Abt.280 attached to 8. Panzer-Division, XIII. Armeekorps, 4. Panzerarmee, Heeresgruppe Sud.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 280.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 281

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis XXI.
Date of Formation: 1 Oct.1943:
----- At Burg (bei Magdeburg) Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis XI.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Jonny.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 500.

UNIT HISTORY:
29 Sep.1943..... Unit personnel (less equipment) arrive at “Camp du Richard”, outside of Tours, France, and come under command of Aufstellungsstab West for its initial training.
1 Oct.1943..... Unit officially formed at Burg (bei Magdeburg), Wehrkreis XI.
4 Nov.1943..... Unit personnel transferred back to the Reich to complete their training at the Burg (bei Magdeburg) Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis XI.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 281.

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 286

Wehrkreis responsible for formation: Wehrkreis VIII.
Date of Formation: 1 Oct.1943:
----- At Neisse Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis VIII, by Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz-u. Ausbildungs-Abteilung 300.
First Commanding Officer: Hauptmann Korner.
Replacement Units or Replacement & Training Units:
----- Sturmgeschütz-Ersatz [und Ausbildungs]-Abteilung 300.

UNIT HISTORY:
21 Oct.1943..... Transferred to Aufstellungsstab West (minus its assault guns) and stationed at Azay-le-Rideau, France for further training.
05 Nov.1943..... Returned to Altengrabow Truppenübungsplatz, Wehrkreis III, to finally receive its vehicles and assault guns.
8 to 28 Nov.1943..... Transferred to “Camp du Richards” at Tours, France to complete its final combat training.
13 Dec.1943..... Stu.Gesch.Abt.286 transferred to the Kirovograd sector of the Eastern Front.
5 Jan.1944..... Attached to LII. Armeekorps, 8. Armee, Heeresgruppe Sud, at Kirovograd.
*14 Feb.1944..... Redesignated Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 286.