Kommandeur :
    Major Willing : 07.43 - 21.10.43
    Major Lange : 11.43 - 01.45
    Hauptmann Heiligenstadt : 01.45 - 09.02.45
    Hauptmann von Römer : 02.45 - 04.45

  Schwere Panzer Abteilung 506 - s.Pz.Abt 506

 The 506th was formed in July 1943, primarily from personnel of III Abt./Pz. Rgt. 33 of 9th. Pz. Div.. In August,

 the battalion received forty-five new Tiger I tanks. The unit was engaged in the Dnieper battles in 1943. On New Year's

 Day, 1944, sPzAbt 506 went to the area south of Korovograd, and fought in Krivoi-Rog. In 1944, sPzAbt 506 was

 withdrawn to Germany for refitting and preparation for action in the West. Their Tiger Is were distributed as replacement

 vehicles to other units. sPzAbt 506 received new Tiger II Ausf Bs in August 1944. The full battalion establishment of 45

 tanks was retained. In late September, the battalion was sent to the area around Osterboek, west of Arnhem.

 It took part in the German defence against the combined Allied thrust to the Rhine during OPERATION

 MARKET GARDEN.

 The following month, sPzAbt 506 Took part in the defence of Aachen. In November 1944, the battalion was strengthened

 by the addition of a 4th company. This new company had been organized originally as a heavy assault support unit,

 used wherever necessary - a Feuerwehr (fire brigade). Its first commander was named Hummel, and this was the name

 given to the company. sPzKp. "Hummel" (now 4th company, sPzAbt 506) was equipped with Tiger Is.

 This new company was fully integrated by early December 1944.

 The only Heer Tiger battalion to take part in the Ardennes offensive was sPzAbt 506. It took part in the defense of

 Germany and finally surrendered to US forces in the Ruhr pocket on April of 1945.

  Schwere Panzer Kompanie Hummel

 The Allied drive out of Normandy decimated the units trapped in the 'Falaise Gap' and the remnants trying to cross

 the Seine river. With open space all the way to Berlin, the schwere Panzer Kompanie Einzats Dunkirchen was hastily

 formed by the schwere Panzer Erzats und Ausbildungs Abteilung 500 at the training grounds near Paderborn. This unit

 with 14 Tigers was sent west on 19 September to stop the British spearhead at Arnhem in Holland. It was renamed the

 next day, sPzKp Hummel and continued to fight on the Western Front after it was incorporated into sPzAbt.506 as the

 4.Kompanie on 8.December 1944.

 Training and research/development units had originally received a total of 49 Tiger Is for training and 10 Tiger Is for

 testing. As Germany's position continued to deteriorate, additional units were thrown together and given these worn out

 tigers in a last ditch effort. Amongst these units were: sPzKp.Paderborn with 15 Tigers on 21 October 1944,

 PzKp.Panther with three Tigers (30 January 1945), Erzats Brigade Grossdeutschland with two Tigers (31 January 1945),

 and PzAbt.500 Paderborn with 17 Tigers (both Is and IIs - 2 April 1945).

Abteilung 506 - Details

        8 May 43   Formed in WK XVII (St. Pölten) by reorganization and redesignation of III / Panzer-Regiment 33,

                         9. Panzer-Division.
  16-27 Aug 43   Delivery of 45 Tiger I's.
   9-12 Sep 43    Entrained for the Eastern Front.
  17-20 Sep 43   Arrival in Zaporozhe, assigned to XVII. Armeekorps
       20 Oct 43   7 of  36 Tigers operational.
      25 Dec 43   27 surviving Tigers railed to Kirovograd area
   29-30 Jan 44  12 Tigers delivered, 22 on strength
        4 Feb 44   After road march to the area west of Cherkassy the attempt to relieve the Cherkassy or Korsun Pocket 

                        begins
        9 Feb 44   5 Tigers delivered
      17 Feb 44   Relief attempt partially succeeds
        1 Mar 44   Abteilung transfers remaining Tigers of s.Pz.Abt 503 and is transferred to Lvov for rebuilding
         8 Apr 44   45 Tigers delivered
    2-10 Apr 44   Combat under 100. Jüger Division
      31 May 44   Army Group North Ukraine with 41 Tiger Is (39 operational)
   27-28 Jul 44    6 remaining Tigers transferred to s.Pz.Abt 507
      15 Aug 44    Ordered returned to Germany for re-equipment with Tiger IIs at Ohrdruf (WK IX)
      12 Sep 44    Equipped with 45 Tiger IIs
  22-24 Sep 44   Arrival in Arnhem, Netherlands area, subordinated to II. SS-Panzerkorps
      20 Oct 44    18 of 35 Tiger IIs operational
        2 Nov 44    2 Tiger IIs received from II. SS-Panzerkorps
       8 Dec 44    4./ formed from schwere Panzer-Kompanie Hummel with Tiger Is
   8-13 Dec 44   12 Tiger IIs delivered, 47 Tigers on hand, including 4./
      21 Dec 44    Committed in support of "Wacht Am Rhein" with 46 Tigers in the direction of Bastogne
     late Jan 45    Withdrawn for refitting with only 30 Tigers on strength
      16 Feb 45     4./ leaves the Abteilung with its 5 Tiger I's
      15 Mar 45     Army Group B with 15 Tiger IIs (2 operational)
      20 Mar 45     7 Tiger IIs arrive from s.SS-Pz.Abt. 501
        2 Apr 45     6 more Tigers received from s.SS-Pz.Abt. 501
      14 Apr 45     Abteilung disbanded by its commander in Iserlohn

   Europa: 1x 4-3-8 Pz II 506

   FitE/SE: Sep I 43
  Aug I 44: Withdraw
  SF: Jul I 43, Greater Germany, WK XVII: Forming; Sep I 43, Greater Germany, WK XVII: Full, withdraw to East;

  Aug I  44, West: Replacement Pool