Tankový oddíl ke zvláštnímu použití 66 [1942-1944]

On 28 April 1942, Zossen-Wünsdorf, Military District III, was established in the Military Training Area Special Use Tank Company 66 for the upcoming invasion of Malta (Operation Hercules). Personnel for this unit were provided by Tank Replacement Detachment 1, 5, 10, 25 and the Putlos Rifle School. The selection of the company members took into account their suitability for deployment in tropical areas.
The prescribed armament included twelve of the latest Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G (tropicalised) and all available Soviet loot tanks - these received German radios and command turrets, among other modifications. The company commander was Knight's Cross Lieutenant Hans Bethke.
On 21 May 1942, the company was transferred from Wünsdorf to Neuruppin.


On 30 May, an order was then issued to expand the company to Special Use Tank Detachment 66, and Special Use Tank Company 66 was renamed 1st Company, Special Use Tank Detachment 66, retained its German machines and was rearmed with light tanks Pz.Kpfw. I Ausf. F and Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf. J.


The newly established 2nd Company took over all Soviet captured tanks. The detachment continued to prepare for the invasion of Malta, but in mid-June 1942 received new orders to move to the Eastern Front, where its companies were to reinforce the rear area security units of Army Group North and Army Group Centre.


The 1st Company of the Special Use Tank Detachment 66 was provided to Army Group North and was to reinforce the 12th Panzer Division from 25 July 1942. In early August it arrived at Lake Ilmen and was deployed in the front line, where its Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G proved excellent thanks to its reinforced armour.

Between 15 and 23 August 1942, the company supported the 18th Infantry Division in the IX Army Corps, after which it was assigned to the II. Army Corps and was deployed in the area between the village of Ramushevo and Lake Lovat during Operation Winkelried - an attempt to break the encirclement of German troops sealed in the Demjanska Pocket. However, due to preparations for Operation Nordlicht (the capture of Leningrad), Operation Winkelried was cancelled.

The company was subsequently provided to the 12th Panzer Division, with which it was to prevent the Soviet attempt to break through the German lines at Mga, which began on 27 August 1942. During the fierce fighting in the forested terrain of the Sinjavino heights, the company commander was severely wounded on 12 September and succumbed to his wounds two days later. Lieutenant Mitto took command.

Effective 30 October 1942, the 1st Company of the Special Use Tank Detachment 66 was transferred to Tank Regiment 29 and renamed its 8th Company.


On 14 August 1942, 2nd Company of Special Use Tank Detachment 66 reinforced the rear area security units of Army Group Centre under the Commanding General of the rear area security units and Army Group Centre's rear area command.


The company was deployed in the heaviest fighting in March 1943 with 267th Infantry Division at the town of Bolshaya-Kamenka west of Stalingrad, where it suffered heavy casualties.


On 18 March 1944 it was transferred to 1st Ski Brigade and renamed 4th Company, Heavy Ski Battalion 1.


In accordance with an order dated 22 August 1944, the staff and staff company were transferred to the School for Company and Detachment Commanders of Rapid Reaction Units at Versailles and disbanded there. From their personnel the staff of the instruction company was formed at the Champs-du-Mars barracks.

Georg Tessin: Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945
www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de
www.axishistory.com
www.okh.it

members Tank section for the specific use of the 66 prior to Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. G
forum.axishistory.com.