I./PzRg 26 - XXXXVII. PzKorps - Korsun '44

[Turner]

What about this batallion? It's in the OOB but listed as ***Not Present*** ???

"The first units of the batallion arrived on the 14th jan to Pomosjnaja in Ukraine and the BatCO Major Glässgen contacted div. Grossdeutschland which the bat was assigned to join. During the two weeks the batallion was assigned to Grossdeutchland it never saw combat, though 2. Kompanie was tasked to defend a front line position. As previously mentioned the batallion recieved transfer orders to XXXXVII. PzKorps on the 27th january 1117 hrs and as early as 1230 hrs the 67 combat-ready tanks started to move. Travel distance was not very far, only 75 km, nevertheless some losses occurred during the march. One Panther caught fire (engine), just outside Malaja Vyski and was a total writeoff. One tow vehicle also caught fire but it could be put out in time to save the vehicle. It was a serious blow to the batallion that one of it's two towing vehicles was put out of working order. In the coming days many vehicles would have to be towed. One Panther crashed through a bridge and with some difficulties it could be salvaged. Four other Panthers developed technical problems and had to be repaired, but during the night the rest of the batallion arrived to the Slatopol (Zlatopol) area." [During the night to 28th january that is]

This batallion participated in a counterattack aimed at re-establishing contact with Kampfguppe von Brese, which was holding out positioned on a hill 2-3 km NE of Kapitanovka. Also, a few Panthers of PzRg 15 /11. PzDiv. held out on a hill just E of Kapitanovka under command of Major Walter von Sievers.
The south end of Tisjkovka (Tishkova) was held by german infantry which also held positions S of Pisarivka (Pisarevka) while Pisarivka itself was held by soviet troops.

This is all from the book 'Tjerkassy 44' by Niklas Zetterling and Anders Frankson ISBN 978-91-7263-857-0. In the book is a detailed description of the batallion's part in the assault of jan 28th. It was a unit fresh from France originally intended for 26. PzDiv. in Italy, with no combat experience, and they performed poorly. Almost all officers (bn CO and 3 of 4 coy COs) were lost early in the assault adding to the difficulties, and poor leadership displayed by Büsing who took command of the batallion and led it from a command post some distance behind the action. All this added to the crews inexperience and the assault did not meet it's goals during that day and was forced to continue in darkness, which all contributed to the high losses.

So... the I./PzRg 26, a substantial force with it's 61 Panthers ready for action on the morning of 28th jan, should be available around Zlatopol on the morning of the 28th. Historically this force was squandered away by inefficient use (no supporting infantry), inexperienced crews and poor leadership. Used properly it should be a significant threat to the south flank of Konev's 2. Ukrainian Front.

So I guess my question is, why was this force left out? I've never looked at OOB files nevermind edit them, but would be happy to if I knew how to. Was surprised to see no scenario of this battle of 28th jan, as it was a decisive fight which the germans lost.