German armor units in Yugoslavia, 1941-1945

German armor units in Yugoslavia

Independent platoons

Formed by Hoheres Kommando zur besonderen Verwendung LXV (65. High Command for special assignments) at beginning of July, 1941. Six platoons where formed each with 5 Reno FT-17 captured from Royal Yugoslav Army. They where used to guard vital objects and in combat.

12. Panzer Kompanie zur besonder Verwendung

In August 1941, German 65 corps forms 12. Panzer Kompanie zur besonder Verwendung (12th amour company for special assignments) - Pz.Kp.z.b.V.12 - with five platoons, one HQ platoon and four combat platoons with 5 tanks each, total of 25 PzKpfW 35R-731 (f) - Reno R-35. Unit headquarters was in Belgrade with operative group in Kragujevac and two platoons in Kraljevo.
Unit was used during heavy combat around Kraljevo and suffered heavy losses (70% of them were caused by brake downs). At lest one tank was captured by partisans and used against the previous owner.
On April 15th, 1944 used to form Panzer-Abt.z.b.V.12 expanded to three Kp. Ordered to be renamed II./Pz.Rgt. Brandenburg on 1 Feb 45.

At lest one Tiger tank was used during Belgrade fighting 1944.

Tanks used

Chart. 1.

Unit: Vehicle: Quantity:

12. Panzer Kompanie zur besonder Verwendung PzKpfW 35R-731 (f) 25

Independent platoons FT-17 30

Researched by Vladimir Trendafilovski and Ivan Bajlo