2nd Company Machine Gun Battalion 38

**Douglas** · 08-28-2023, 08:28 PM

2nd Company Machine Gun Battalion 38
Later Panzerabwher Abteilung 18 (Anti-Tank Division 18) of the 18th Infantry Division which became the 18th Panzer Grenadier Division

Buckle marked NOWA (Norddeutsches Nickel-und Silberwaren G.m.b.H., Hamburg, they were allocated the M4 number 68)

Tab marked:

NOWA
1937
HAMBURG 39

2./M.G.Btl 38 or 38 II (2nd Company, Machine Gun Battalion 38)
I don’t know what the II is.

Machine Gun Company shoulder board for Wehrmacht Feldwebel (Sergeant)

Deckungswinkelmesser (clinometer ) manufactured by dhq – Moller G.m.b.H., J.D., Wedel (Holst.)
Used for calculating heights or elevation of terrain or even distance of a target (with a known map feature height) and for adjusting fire.

History in comments.

History:

Machine gun battalion 38 was established in the autumn of 1937 in Sprottau.

In November 1938, the battalion was transferred to Liegnitz, also wehrkreis VIII, in the motorized march. There, the battalion was renamed Machine Gun Battalion 48.
In the spring of 1939, MG Battalion 48 took part in the occupation of Czechoslovakia.
On the night of 24 to 25 August 1939, the company reached the Polish border north of Czestochowa via Kreuzburg. The companies of the battalion were then individually made available as 3rd and 4th companies respectively to the anti-tank divisions of the troops of the military circles VIII and III.
The 2nd Company of Machine Gun Battalion 48 under Captain Hoellmigk formed the 4th Company of The Panzerabwher Abteilung 18 (Anti-Tank Division 18) of the 18th Infantry Division for the Wehrkreis VIII.
During mobilization, the 2./M.G. Bat. 48 was used as Subordinate to 4th Company, Panzerjäger Abteilung 18 (Anti-Tank Division 18), 18th Infantry Division (mot.)
10 May 1940, at 5.35 a.m., the detachment crossed the Dutch border, crossed Heerlen at 7.15 a.m. and was able to cross the Maas set. This cleared the way for the 18th Infantry Division across the Meuse.
On May 10 1940, at 5.35 a.m., the detachment crossed the Dutch border, crossed Heerlen at 7.15 a.m. and was able to cross the Maas set. This cleared the way for the 18th Infantry Division across the Meuse.

Panzerjäger Abteilung 18 service with the 18th Infantry Division (mot.)

1940
May thru July - France
1941
27 June thru August – Vilnius, Lithuania; Bialystok, Poland; Minsk, Belarus
22 August – Estonia
11 October thru December – Volkhov; Russia
1942
1 Jan – Tichwin, Russia
1943
1 Jan – Illmense, Germany
20 May – Illmense, Germany (in reserve)

In June 1943, the 18th Infantry Division was reorganized as the 18th Panzer Grenadier Division

1943
23 June – Illmensee, Germany
23 July – Jelnja, Russia
31 July – Smolensk, Russia
8 Aug. thru Sept. – Jelnja, Russia
7 Dec. – Newel, Germany; Orsha, Belarus
1944
January – Orsha, Belarus
February – Bobruisk, Belarus
22 June 1944 – The Division was destroyed by the Russian summer offensive against Army Group Mid.
July – Location unknown
After re-installation of the Division
Sept. – Selesia
Dec. – The 18th Panzer Grenadier Division was reformed in East Prussia.
1945
Jan. thru Feb. – Southeastern Prussia
March – The 18th Panzer Grenadier Division was destroyed again and disbanded in East Prussia.
After 2nd re-installation or remnants of the division which was defeated and taken captive by the Russians.