The actions to support Kampfgruppe Peiper took a heavy toll of s. SS-Pz.Abt. 501. At least 12 Tigers had been knocked out or abandoned between Stavelot and La Gleize, and many more were unavailable due to mechanical failure. The battalion regrouped and moved into an assembly area east of Vielsalm to refit and reorganize. The 1. Kompanie handed its tanks over to the other companies and departed for Sennelager in Germany to receive new tanks. The remaining Tigers, approximately 15, were grouped into a kampfgruppe commanded by SS-Hauptsturmführer Möbius. This unit fought alongside Peiper’s remaining tanks as the 1. SS-Panzerdivision attacked south of Bastogne on 30-31 December in an attempt to cut the corridor that U.S. forces had opened to that beleaguered city. At least two more Königstigers were lost in those battles. The remainder withdrew with the rest of the division at the beginning of January to refit in the Köln area.
Some Tiger crewmen were rewarded for their efforts in the Ardennes Offensive. SS-Unterscharführer Fritz Belbe was the radio operator on SS-Obersturmführer Wessel's 1. Kompanie command tank. When Wessel's Tiger 105 crashed into the house in Stavelot and Wessel jumped to a different tank, he apparently took Belbe with him. After the battle Wessel listed the engagements that Belbe had fought in and recommended him to receive the Panzerkampfabzeichen (Tank Battle Badge) in Silver. SS-Obersturmbannführer von Westernhagen approved the award on 30 January 1945.
The document recording award of the Panzerkampfabzeichen to SS-Uscha. Fritz Belbe. (author's collection, do not reproduce without permission)
SS-Ostuf. Wessel listed the engagements which qualified Fritz Belbe to receive the Panzerkampfabzeichen. The dates in August and September 1944 were battles in Normandy in which the 1. Kompanie was engaged; the other dates are during the Ardennes Offensive. (author's collection, do not reproduce without permission)
The 501st SS Heavy Tank Battalion did not fight again as a unit. The bulk of the battalion accompanied the 1. SS-Panzerdivision to Hungary in late January and fought through Hungary and Austria to the end of the war. Part of the 1. Kompanie and other elements that had remained in Germany drew a few new tanks and continued to fight as the Americans approached Bielefeld. In early April the surviving crewmen were moved by train to Austria and united with the rest of the battalion. SS-Obersturmbannführer von Westernhagen had died on 20 March 1945 in Hungary. The remnants of his battalion surrendered to the Americans in Austria. The Tigers had roared their last.
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