Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280
1943 - 1945Project Title: The Combat History of Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280 from 1943 – 1945
Desired Project Outcome: Large Publication (Hardback)
Current Status: Research
Correct as at: 20 May 2020
Planned year of release: TBA
This unit is mostly known for its actions during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. However over a period of three years it participated in a number of key battles on both the Eastern and Western Fronts. Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280 was formed in August 1943 and was quickly trained east to halt another impending crisis developing in November 1943. On the Eastern Front the unit was involved in the Kamianets-Podilskyi Pocket and the relief of Tarnopol before being withdrawn to Denmark for reconstitution. The unit was sent to Arnhem in September 1944 and assisted in the destruction of the Allied landings. It spent another two months in Holland fighting delaying actions in places such as Hoogerheide and the Moerdijk bridgehead. In November 1944 it was trained to south-west Germany where it was involved in heavy fighting in the Alsace Bridgehead. Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280 spent the remaining war months fighting a delaying action in south-west Germany before the unit disbanded in the area of Bopfingen at war’s end.
The book aims to outline the combat history of the unit supported by personal accounts from members of the unit. The author is fortunate enough to already have acquired an unofficial war diary (1943 – 1945) providing many daily accounts as well as over 60 unpublished photos. It is intended to include a number of combat maps, photographs and supporting documentation to produce a quality publication.
Latest Updates
Book publishing date
At this stage there is no firm date around when the book will be published. I have already had a well know publisher ask if they could publish the book but at this stage I am still just gathering information. What can be confirmed is that the book will be hard cover...
Award Winners of Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280
Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280 was created later in the war and as such the unit did not have many members that were bestowed some of Germany’s highest awards.