schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 525 (Nashorn) in Italy

The Hornisse (hornet) was designed in 1942, to provide an adequate self-propelled mount for the 8.8cm PaK43. In October 1942, it was decided to have 100 Hornisse built by 12 May 1943, in time for the summer offensive. The initial order was for a series of 500, of which 494 were completed. The 8.8cm PaK43/1 was mounted on the same Pz Kpfw III/IV chassis as the Hummel.

The Pz Kpfw III/IV chassis used a lengthened Pz Kpfw IV hull as the basic design, but with the motor moved forward to a central position. It retained the basic suspension of the Pz Kpfw IV except for the spacing between components. The drive sprocket was of the type designed for the Pz Kpfw III. The open-topped fighting compartment was enclosed on all four sides by slanted armour plates bolted to the hull. The glacis plate was extended, and a small compartment for the driver was fitted to it on the left-hand side. It had a crew compartment for the driver and radio operator, extending across the full width of the hull. The 8.8cm PaK43 was mounted in the middle over the engine, and this gave the vehicle a very high silhouette.

Panzerabwehr-Abteilung (mot.) 525

Panzerjäger-Abteilung 525 (from 1 Apr 40)

schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 525 (Nashorn) (from 1 Jun 43 )

26 Aug 39 mobilized in WK IX

1 Sep 39 1st Army reserve, Army Group C

3 Nov 39 re-equipped with 8.8cm guns

10 May 40 II Corps, 4th Army, Army Group A with three companies (@ 4 x 8.8cm Pak) (Did not participate in the attack in the West.)

3 Dec 40 arrive in Bouillon area, France, assigned to 16th Army, Army Group A

5 Apr 41 XXXX Corps (mot.), 1st Panzer Group, 12th Army, the Balkans

22 Jun 41 XXXXIX Mountain Corps, Seventeenth Army, Army Group South (3.7cm guns)

15 Jul 41 LII Corps, 17th Army, Army Group South, less one company assigned to XXXXIX Mountain Corps

23 Jul 41 elements attached to 100. leichte Infanterie-Division, LII Corps, 17th Army, Army Group South

21 Aug 41 LII Corps, 17th Army, Army Group South

2 Sep 41 3./ attached to 100. leichte Infanterie-Division, LV Corps, 17th Army, Army Group South

15 Sep 41 LV Corps, 17th Army, Army Group South, less one company attached to LII Corps

31 Oct 41 17th Army, Army Group South

Nov 41 17th Army, Army Group South

1942 re-equipped with 7.62cm Marder II vehicles

1 Jan, 1 Feb 42 Corpo Spedizione in Russia, 1st Panzer Army, Army Group South

6 Mar 42 1st Panzer Army, Army Group South

12 May 42 less 2. and 3. assigned to XI Corps, 1st Panzer Army, Army Group South

[Niehorster: 28 Jun 42 1st Panzer Army reserves, Army Group South with one company of Bohler 47mm guns and two companies of Marder IIs]

3 Jul 42 III Corps (mot.), 1st Panzer Army, Army Group South

May 43 5 Nashorns issued

Jun 43 15 Nashorns issued

8 Jun 43 arrive at Coetquidan Training Area, 7th Army

Jul 43 25 Nashorns issued

29 Jul 43 rail-loading for southern France, Army Group Felber, completed

23 Aug 43 rail-loading for Italy completed

30 Aug 43 arrive in the La Spezia area

2 Dec 43 assigned to XI Fliegerkorps

3 Feb 44 I Parachute Corps, 14th Army, Anzio

May 44 5 Nashorns issued

9-13 May 44 transferred from Anzio front to 10th Army

Sep 44 20 Nashorns issued

Oct 44 10 Nashorns issued

Nov 44 10 Nashorns issued, Italy with only 2 companies (?)

late 1944 one company to have received Jagdpanthers, but never delivered

2 Feb 45 LXXIII Corps, 10th Army, Army Group Ligurien

Mar 45 LXXVI Corps, 10th Army, Army Group Ligurien