This Assault Gun force was subordinate to SS-Obersturmbannführer Spindler and was added to the blocking line on the 19th September 1944 which formed in the western suburbs of Arnhem, late on the 17th September 1944. The Assault Gun Brigade's vehicles were attached to each Kampfgruppe within Spindler's Sperrlinie. 3 SPs each were attached to Kampfgruppe Harder, Moeller and von Allworden. These Self Propelled Guns (SPs) were used in a direct fire support role for the infantry against the British strong points along their perimeter.
Initially the brigade was not effective due to insufficient regard for infantry protection. The SPs would move into exposed positions during the night forgoing liaison with their infantry colleagues,
to be only hit in the morning by British well placed camouflaged Anti-Tank guns.
However after some reorganisation on 21st September 1944, the Germans ensured that the SPs would not operate individually and that they had sufficient infantry protection at all times.
Due to the lack of manpower in the later years of the war, combined with the immediate threat of the enemy on German soil, units were most likely refitted with a mixture of combat inexperienced soldiers from the different armed services and were then immediately sent into battle. The opportunity for units to conduct the necessary cohesive unit training and tactics was often disregarded as reinforcements were required to plug ever present holes in the German front.
This was different for the Sturmgeschützbrigade 280. They had spent a number of months both refitting and training in Denmark and was considered an effective combat unit at this late stage of the war. By the 24th September 1944, Sturmgeschützbrigade 280 had 2 Sturmgeschütz III SPs destroyed. This equated to 20% loss of its original combat strength when it arrived only 5 days prior.
Also killed was Oberwachmeister d. Res Josef Mathes who was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions on the 19 Sep 1944.
text from
http://www.defendingarnhem.com/Sturmgeschutzbrigade280.htm
