GERMAN ASSAULT GUN BATTERIES
IN FINLAND 1943 - 1944

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Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 741

Northern Finland 27.5. - 4.10.1943.

Full strength:
5 officers + 1 military official + 45 NCOs + 89 men (= 140 men)
10x StuG III Ausf. G
4x motorcycle, 3x motorcycle with side car, 3x Kübelwagen, 3x Kfz.17 personnel car,
2x light truck, 25x truck, Sd.Kfz.9 FAMO half-track with trailer

Commander
Hauptmann 
Hans Bauer

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Sturmgeschütz-Batterie 742

Northern Finland 27.5. - 4.10.1943.

Full strength:
(Similar to StuG.Batt.741.)

Commander
Oberleutnant 
Ernst Kleyboldt
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StuG.Batt.741 and 742 were formed from the volunteers of Geb.-AOK 20 with additional personnel from disbanded Panzerkampfwagen-Zug 217, 218 and 219. In the end of January 1943 OKH had already assigned the battery numbers. Personnel of both units had one month training at Jüterbog in spring 1943 and arrived back in Finland together with their new Sturmgeschütz III Ausf. G assault guns on 27 May.

Both batteries were subordinated to Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 82 (7.Geb.D / XVIII Geb.AK). After a rather inactive summer of 1943 both batteries were transferred back to Germany at the beginning of October 1943. StuG.Batt.741 was attached to 18. Artillerie-Division in Lithuania. StuG.Batt.742 was incorporated into a new Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 303 (later Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 303) which fought in South-Eastern Finland next summer!
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Painting and Markings

All StuGs were without Zimmerit paste coating and painted in plain dark yellow. Balkenkreutz was painted on both sides and on the left side or in the middle of the rear plate.

A neat unit emblem of StuG.Batt.742 was painted on the right side of rear and front plates. A unit emblem of StuG.Batt.741 was painted similarly together with StuG unit sign (on the left) but after leaving Finland.
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Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 1122

Bay of Vyborg, South-Eastern Finland, 30.6. - 2.8.1944.

Strength:
3 + 44 + 72 = 119 men
10x StuG IV
(other vehicles not known)

Commander
Hauptmann 
Siegfried Gutzeit
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StuG.Abt.1122 belonged to 122. Infanterie-Division and was actually a StuG battery formerly known as StuG.Abt.1329 (when belonged to 329.I.D). Abteilung was in Finland with Panzer-Werkstatt-Zug 918.

122.I.D arrived in Finland by the end of June 1944 and was transported by train to secure the important northern coast area along the Bay of Vyborg. StuG.Abt.1122 was exceptionally equipped with Sturmgeschütz IV assault guns and these new vehicles were introduced to Finnish officers at Säkkijärvi at the beginning of July. Unit was held in reserve of 122.I.D securing the main coast road. It is believed that StuG.Abt.1122 didn't participate in any battles in Finland although 122.I.D repelled several Soviet attacks using both infantry and artillery fire.
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Painting and Markings

All StuG IVs of StuG.Abt.1122 were equipped with Schtürzen protective side plates and painted in typical three colour camouflage with wide single colour areas (or wide stripes). Vehicles were coated with Zimmerit paste. Unit didn't use vehicle numbers. Basic Balkenkreutz was painted on both sides of the hull (partly behind the side plates). In photos rear plates are not visible but it is likely that third one was painted there as usually.
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Sources: KUUKA1, KÄKER2, WIKOL10
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© 2000 Harri Anttonen

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