[Wolfkin]

I have been researching Operation Spring and have been trying to get a good idea of what Armoured units were involved on both sides. I have run into some contradictory information in some sources so I am trying to paint a good picture myself with the information that I do have available. Here is what I have so far:

Canadian units:

-First Hussars (6th Armoured Regiment): A Squadron supports the RHLI, B Squadron supports the Black Watch, C Squadron supports the RROC.

-Fort Garry Horse (10th Armoured Regiment): B Squadron supports the NNSH.

British units:

-1st Battalion Royal Tank Regiment: Advances along the Verrieres-Bourguebus ridge West of Verrieres.

-4th County Of London Yeomanry: Advances along the Verrieres-Bourguebus ridge West of Verrieres.

German units:

-I./SS Panzer Regiment 1 Leibstandarte of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte: Operating in the areas between Rocquancourt and Fontenay le Marmion. But this is unsure as of now.

-II./SS Panzer Regiment 1 Leibstandarte of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte: Holding the areas of Verrieres and Tilly la Campagne. Also operating in the areas between Rocquancourt and Fontenay le Marmion.

-SS Sturmgeschutze Abteilung 1 of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte: Operating in the areas of Verrieres, Tilly la Campagne, Rocquancourt and Fontenay le Marmion.

-sSSPzAbt 101 formerly of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte now an independent Abteilung: Operating near the Garcelles-Secqueville area as well as the areas of Rocquancourt and Fontenay le Marmion. But this is unsure as of now.

-Kampfgruppe Sterz of the 2nd Panzer Division: Operated with 272nd Infantry Division in the May-sur-Orne area. Consisted of a PzKpfw IV Zug, a Panther Company, a SPW Battalion and a Panzerjager Battalion under Major Sterz. The PzKpfw IV Zug was under Oberleutnant Peter Prien.

-Kampfgruppe Meyer of the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen: Operating in the area East of Fontenay-le-Marmion and advancing toward Point 88 and then moving to the area West of Fontenay-le-Marmion and advancing toward St. Martin-de-Fontenay and May-sur-Orne. Composed of SS Panzer Regiment 9, a Panzergrenadier battalion, an engineer company and a Flak battery.

-Kampfgruppe Zollhofer of the 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen: Operating in the area West of Fontenay-le-Marmion toward St. Martin-de-Fontenay and May-sur-Orne. Composed of a Panzergrenadier Regiment, a StuG Company and artillery support

But the problem is to this date that of the confirmation of the whereabouts of I./SS Panzer Regiment 1 Leibstandarte, the Panther Abteilung. I am wondering if anyone would have any information to help solve this mystery. According to The Leibstandarte Volume IV/1 by Lehmann and Tiemann and Jochen Peiper Commander Panzer Regiment Leibstandarte by Agte, the Panthers of I/SS Panzer Regiment 1 Leibstandarte counterattacked the Canadians during Operation Spring on July 25, 1944.

Yet Reynolds, in Steel Inferno, seems to doubt that the Panther Battalion was there and believes that it had moved to become a part of Kampfgruppe Wunsche by that time. Meyer in The History Of The 12th SS Panzer Division says that orders to form the Kampfgruppe were issued on July 23, says where the headquarters of the Kampfgruppe was from July 31 and on, but does not specify when exactly the Kampfgruppe was formed.

The actions of sSSPzAbt 101 during Operation Spring seem to not be mentioned that much. I have done some searching, at the same time as searching for information on the Panther Abteilung, and I have come up with some information on their actions in this area over a few days. The actions of I/SS Panzer Regiment 1 and sSSPzAbt 101 on this day may be similar.

Tigers of the 2nd Kompanie and 3rd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 were active on the Bourguebus-Verrieres Ridge from July 18 on through July 22. On July 18 they were in the Bourguebus-Hubert Folie-Soliers area. On July 19-22 they were in the Verrieres-Beauvoir-Torteval area. Then, apparently on July 24 sSSPzAbt 101 was assigned to KG Wunsche but I wonder about this in the same way as I wonder about I/SS Panzer Regiment 1.

There were Tigers of 3rd Kompanie sSSPzAbt 101 near Garcelles-Secqueville on July 24. This area is just South of Tilly-la-Campagne. Apparently the Canadians reported "Tiger and Panthers" around the Rocquancourt-Verrieres area on July 25. I am wondering if perhaps the I/SS Panzer Regiment 1 and the 3rd Kompanie of sSSPzAbt 101 were involved in the counterattack on July 25, the day of Operation Spring, together.

They were there, in the area, so it seems very possible in my opinion.

So, the question still remains. Was there Panthers of I/SS Panzer Regiment 1 Leibstandarte opposing the Canadians during Operation Spring on July 25, 1944? It would be very interesting to find out for sure. Perhaps there are some sources out there that can confirm what armour the Canadians faced during Operation Spring.

Thanks in advance to all that can help!

Wolfkin

AKA

Jon Fitzgerald
Calgary,AB,Canada