The
real feldgendarmerie Trupp 82
History
Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82 was part of the 2nd Panzer Division. The division was formed on the 15th of March 1938 in Kamenz. After the annexation of Austria, it was transferred to Vienna. The Feldgendarmerie Trupp was formed on the 19th of August 1938.
The Feldgendarmerie component of the 2nd Panzer Division Headquarters battalion from its inception was numbered 82 for most of its career. It was renumbered 38 for it's part in the Balkans campaign (March - May 1941), but returned to 82 for the remainder of the war. The official titles of the unit did change slightly:
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15.03.38 to March 41 - Feldgend. Tr. 82 (Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82)
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March 41 to May 41 - Feldgend. Tr. 38 (Feldgendarmerie Trupp 38)
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May 41 to Sept 42 - Feldgend. Tr. 82 (Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82)
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Sept 42 to Sept 43 - Feldgend. Tr. 82 u. Stab Ost Btl. 446 (Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82 and Staff, Eastern Battalion 446)
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Sept 43 to 22.11.44 - Feldgend. Tr. 82 (Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82)
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22.11.44 to 08.05.45 - Kdo.2 Pz.Div.,Begl.Kp.u.Feldgend.Tr.82 (Command 2nd Panzer Division, escort Company and Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82)
Feldpost number
The feldpost number of a unit was basically its postal address. All the sender had to do was put the recipients rank and name, along with the feldpost number. This would then be sent on to the army postal service who could then forward the mail on (very similar to a BFPO address today).
The feldpost numbers for Feldgendarmerie Trupp 82 were:
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15.03.38 to 22.11.44 - 33851
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22.11.44 to 08.05.45 - 64110
Strength
When the Trupp was originally formed in 1938, it was designated a type 'b' Trupp and was allocated the following manpower and equipment:
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3 officers
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58 non-commissioned officers
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3 other ranks
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43 rifles
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21 pistols
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7 machine pistols
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2 light machine guns
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16 motorcyles (4 with a sidecar)
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14 light cars
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1 medium truck
However, due to losses on the Eastern front, it was reassigned as a type 'a' on 12th December 1943. This reduced the manpower and equipment allocation to:
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2 officers
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30 non-commissioned officers
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2 other ranks
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17 rifles
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17 pistols
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4 machine pistols
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1 light machine guns
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8 motorcyles (2 with a sidecar)
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7 light cars
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1 medium truck
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6 bicycles