On 9 April 1940, the Stab (staff) elements of 1. and 2. le.Pz.Kompanie of Pz.Abt. z.b.V. 40 moved into Denmark. The 3. Kompanie was transported directly to Norway. There were complications; the steamship "Urundi" ran aground with a number of Panzers aboard, and, while destined for Oslo, the ship "Antaris H" was sunk with 5 Panzers aboard. Shipped in the third transport company, the bulk of 3. Kompanie reached Oldenburg on 17 April.
A unique element attached to Pz.Abt. z.b.V. 40 was Panzerzug Horstmann (tank-platoon), named after its CO, Oberleutnant Horstmann, which was comprised of three Nbfz. multiple-turret tanks variously described as the Pz.Kpfw. V & VI, but which were actually prototypes. It was unloaded at Oslo on the morning of 19 April and paraded through the city before setting off in the direction of Konigsvinger and Elverum. Pz.Zug Horstmann was attached to advance elements of the 196. Infanterie-Division for the attack on Hamar on 20 April 1940.
A detailed strength report dated 24 April 1940 on Panzers employed in Norway reads as follows:
1. le.Pz.Kompanie, CO Hauptmann von Burstin, attached to Kampfgruppe Fischer (Inf.Rgt. 340) with 1 disabled Pz.Kpfw. IV, five Pz.Kpfw. II, twelve Pz.Kpfw. I, and two kl.Pz.Bef.Wg. (This latter being a Pz. I type "befehls" panzer, or command tank, which had extra radio equipment to direct cohesive unit deployment.)
Two Nbfz. (one disabled), three Pz. II, three Pz. I and one kl.Pz.Bef.Wg., attached to 196. Inf.Div. near Lillehammer - CO, Oberleutnant Preiss.
3. le.Pz.Kp. led by Hauptmann Niedrieck attached to 163. Inf.Div. with six Pz. II, five Pz. I, and one kl.Pz.Bef.Wg.
One zug (platoon) of the 2. le.Panzer-Kompanie, CO Oberleutnant Reibig with one Pz. II, and four Pz. I.
2. le.Pz.Kp. (minus one platoon), CO Hauptmann Toelke still in Oslo with three Pz. II and five Pz. I.
Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 40 total strength = 3 Nbfz., 18 Pz. II, 29 Pz. I, and 4 kl.Pz.Bef.Wg.
The deployment of armor in the mountainous terrain of Norway imposed a number of unique problems for the German Panzertruppe. Limitations engendered by difficult road, weather, and terrain features were exacerbated by clever and skillful blocking techniques undertaken by the Norwegian defense forces. Road blockades of felled timber and huge stone impediments slowed the German advance, and temporarily put the Panzers at a disadvantage, but were usually overcome by a combination of infantry and assault-engineer elements working in front and alongside of the advance units to neutralize such hazards. The forces arrayed against the Germans employed the Boys anti-tank rifle, as well as the French 25mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun, both of which were easily capable of penetrating the armor of the Neubaufahrzeug, as well as that of the lightly armored Pz. I & Pz. II types. Units employing the Pz. II found that the use of the 2 cm "sprenggranaten" (high-explosive) round fired from their 2 cm main-gun especially useful in clearing infantry held roadblocks. Under covering fire by the panzers, the infantry quickly circumvented the most strongly held barriers with minimal losses.
By the close of operations in Norway, the bulk of Panzer-Abteilung z.b.V. 40
was located in Oslo. On 16 May 1940 Pz.Abt. z.b.V. 40's strength was as follows:
1.Kompanie - 8 Pz. I; 7 Pz. II; 3 kl.Pz.Bef.Wg.
2.Kompanie - 8 Pz. I; 4 Pz. II
3.Kompanie - 5 Pz. I; 5 Pz. II; 1 kl.Pz.Bef.Wg.
Zug Walter - 4 Pz. I; 1 Pz. II
Zug Meier - 4 Pz. I; 1 Pz. II
Zug Putlos - 3 Nbfz.
After breaking down with mechanical difficulties in a swampy area, one Nbfz. was destroyed with explosives by German engineers. Only three of the five extant versions of the Nbfz. had been manufactured with hardened armor plate. The two replacement Nbfz. shipped to Norway had been built using soft steel plate. The total loss of Panzers in the campaign can be surmised by a May 1940 OKH report of one Nbfz., two Pz. II, and 8 Pz. I's as total writeoffs.
(On the 25th April 1940, Gruppe Pellangahr [made up of elements of the 196. Infantry Division and some of Pz.Abt. z.b.V. 40, ran into a British blocking position held by the 1st Battalion of King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry at the village of Kvam. The British had no heavy weapons only two 3" mortars and five 25mm Hotchkiss anti-tank guns. The lead element of the German advance included 3 panzers at least one of which was a Nbfz. The British held their fire until the enemy was at the range of 150 yards and then opened fire. The Panzers then attempted to maneuver into position, it was at this time that the Nbfz. VI was put out of action by one of the anti-tank guns. The Germans stopped to bring up their guns and call up the Luftwaffe, the British managed to hold on until the evening of the 26th before withdrawing. The remains of the Nbfz. (a section of the running gear) can still be seen in the small museum at Kvam and until the late 1980's the 25mm anti-tank gun was still to be seen in good condition, left in spot where it was left by its previous owners in April of 1940.) - [from Achtung Panzer site - George Parada]
Specifications of the Neubaufahrzeug (Panzerkampfwagon VI)
Type: Medium/Heavy tank
crew: 6
arm: One 7.5cm Kwk L/24 ; one 3.7cm Kwk L/45; two MG13 and one MG 34 (7.92mm)
5 prototypes built by Rheinmetall-Borsig (2 built in 1934; 3 built in 1935 - non-production series.)
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