So far google, msn, and yahoo, searches, have failed me, and I haven't found any topics here, nor anything on 3rd Reich Factbook or this site, so I am asking, does anyone have a brief history of the Infantry Lehr Regiment (Atleast while in Anzio) and it's insignia? (If any)
Thanks.
Infantry Lehr Regiment - History and Insignia?
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Debica Fusilier
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Infantry Lehr Regiment - History and Insignia?
Chris Handy
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Debica Fusilier
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sid guttridge
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Hi Debica Fusilier,
I have also been trying to find out more about it.
The Infantry Lehr Regiment was not a standing unit. It consisted of the demonstration battalions attached to the various infantry schools around Berlin in Wehrkreis III. Lehr units were only called out in emergencies such as at Anzio. The artillery demonstration units from Wehrkreis II also contributed a composite Artillerie Lehr Regiment of heavy guns for Anzio. At that time the Panzer Lehr Division was in formation in France and no armoured demonstration units took part at Anzio.
It should be emphasised that although the various Lehr units are usually portrayed as elite, they were in fact not from the Feldheer (Field Army) but from the Ersatzheer (Replacement Army). Their equivalent in the Anglo-American armies stayed in their schools in their home countries and never saw combat. Although well drilled in the theoretical application of battle tactics, most of their manpower came straight to them from recruit depots and had not seen combat. They were not "chocolate soldiers" but they were not a battle hardened elite either.
Cheers,
Sid.
I have also been trying to find out more about it.
The Infantry Lehr Regiment was not a standing unit. It consisted of the demonstration battalions attached to the various infantry schools around Berlin in Wehrkreis III. Lehr units were only called out in emergencies such as at Anzio. The artillery demonstration units from Wehrkreis II also contributed a composite Artillerie Lehr Regiment of heavy guns for Anzio. At that time the Panzer Lehr Division was in formation in France and no armoured demonstration units took part at Anzio.
It should be emphasised that although the various Lehr units are usually portrayed as elite, they were in fact not from the Feldheer (Field Army) but from the Ersatzheer (Replacement Army). Their equivalent in the Anglo-American armies stayed in their schools in their home countries and never saw combat. Although well drilled in the theoretical application of battle tactics, most of their manpower came straight to them from recruit depots and had not seen combat. They were not "chocolate soldiers" but they were not a battle hardened elite either.
Cheers,
Sid.
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Debica Fusilier
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sid guttridge
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Would the type of personnel apply to Pz Lehr Div in 1944?
Sid,
Would this be true of Panzer Lehr Division also? Most books claim that the division was made up of veteran troops detached to the replacement/training centers as demonstration troops. I'd always admired them for having the discipline to do that. I know that in the U.S. army combat units would have dumped their least desirable elements if tasked to provide veterans for such an assignment.
best regards,
Jeff
P.S. I'm not really a new member, just returned after a few years away.
Would this be true of Panzer Lehr Division also? Most books claim that the division was made up of veteran troops detached to the replacement/training centers as demonstration troops. I'd always admired them for having the discipline to do that. I know that in the U.S. army combat units would have dumped their least desirable elements if tasked to provide veterans for such an assignment.
best regards,
Jeff
P.S. I'm not really a new member, just returned after a few years away.
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sid guttridge
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Thanks Sid
I appreciate the info and I really tried to find the thread but
I couldn't get it down to less than 200 items none of which were titled "Panzer Lehr." I'd assume that most of the officers and NCOs of the Panzer Lehr would have combat experience even if most of their troops were right out of training. Would that be a reasonable assumption?
best regards,
Jeff
I couldn't get it down to less than 200 items none of which were titled "Panzer Lehr." I'd assume that most of the officers and NCOs of the Panzer Lehr would have combat experience even if most of their troops were right out of training. Would that be a reasonable assumption?
best regards,
Jeff
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sid guttridge
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Lehr motorized inf May '40?
Was there a Lehr motorized inf reg raised to participate in the French campaign in May '40? Waht about Poland '39?
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sid guttridge
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Hi JeffF,
From memory I can only give you the outline of the lehr units subordinate to the motorised command of the Ersatzheer.
In Poland there was a Panzer Lehr Abteilung and a Lehr reconnaissance abteilung attached to Guderian's XIX Corps and several Lehr anti-tank companies were sent to one of the later waves of infantry divisions to give them their divisional A/T companies. In Poland the Panzer Lehr Abteilung had more medium tanks than any individual panzer division.
The panzer lehr abteilung became the core of one of the new panzer divisions formed over the winter of 1939/40, so the reconnaissance abteilung was the only mechanised Lehr unit to serve in the French Campaign, where it was Guderian's corps reconnaissance unit.
Guderian's "Panzer Leader" has details of their operations in Poland and France.
I don't know anything about the activities of the infantry, artillery, engineer, signals lehr units in these campaigns. There may have been none.
Generally speaking, Guderian seems to have been the main advocate of fielding Lehr units. He used the above units in 1939-40 and created the Panzerlehr Division in 1944.
As it is from memory, all the above deserves checking, but I am confident that it is accurate in outline.
Cheers,
Sid.
From memory I can only give you the outline of the lehr units subordinate to the motorised command of the Ersatzheer.
In Poland there was a Panzer Lehr Abteilung and a Lehr reconnaissance abteilung attached to Guderian's XIX Corps and several Lehr anti-tank companies were sent to one of the later waves of infantry divisions to give them their divisional A/T companies. In Poland the Panzer Lehr Abteilung had more medium tanks than any individual panzer division.
The panzer lehr abteilung became the core of one of the new panzer divisions formed over the winter of 1939/40, so the reconnaissance abteilung was the only mechanised Lehr unit to serve in the French Campaign, where it was Guderian's corps reconnaissance unit.
Guderian's "Panzer Leader" has details of their operations in Poland and France.
I don't know anything about the activities of the infantry, artillery, engineer, signals lehr units in these campaigns. There may have been none.
Generally speaking, Guderian seems to have been the main advocate of fielding Lehr units. He used the above units in 1939-40 and created the Panzerlehr Division in 1944.
As it is from memory, all the above deserves checking, but I am confident that it is accurate in outline.
Cheers,
Sid.
Lehr
Thanks Si,
I have a print out of a very old feldgrau post that has the OB for France '40. I had a Lehr unit of unspecified size under XIX Pz Cps and also a motorized infantry brigade labelled only "SE" which I have been entirely unsuccessful at finding. I know it isn't the SS LAH, 11th Mot Bde nor the GD regiment because they are all listed. Any ideas?
best regards,
Jeff
I have a print out of a very old feldgrau post that has the OB for France '40. I had a Lehr unit of unspecified size under XIX Pz Cps and also a motorized infantry brigade labelled only "SE" which I have been entirely unsuccessful at finding. I know it isn't the SS LAH, 11th Mot Bde nor the GD regiment because they are all listed. Any ideas?
best regards,
Jeff
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sid guttridge
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Thanks Sid
I have Panzer Leader and Panzer Battles, I don't find Guderian nor Mellenthin mentioning it. The poster gives no source so I don't even know if its German or English abreviation.
Site w/ Lehr Reg. 900 prior to '40 Campaign
This site states that there was a Lehr Regiment 900 (mot) prior to the France 1940 campaign. In various OBs I have not seen any such Lehr motorized regiment mentioned. Sid has shown there was a recce battalion. Can anyone confirm or deny this info?
thanks
http://www.geocities.com/mdx.geo/kradschuetzen1c.html
thanks
http://www.geocities.com/mdx.geo/kradschuetzen1c.html