"ΑΓΝΩΣΤΕΣ" ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙΚΕΣ ΜΟΝΑΔΕΣ ΤΟΥ Β! Π.Π.

Divisioni SS numerate ma di breve esistenza [modifica]
Era già prevista la formazione di altre sette divisioni ed i loro nomi erano già stati assegnati ma a seguito della disfatta e della capitolazione della Germania durarono poco, solo sulla carta.
39. SS-Gebirgsdivision "Andreas Hofer"^[23]
Su questa unità si hanno poche notizie, ma sappiamo che il suo impiego bellico avvenne nei territori carsici, tra il Tirolo austriaco, la Slovenia e il Carso. L'organico era costituito da quattro reggimenti (Suedtirol, in seguito ridenominato Bozen, Brixen, Schlanders e Alpenvorland) formati da tirolesi, italiani e sloveni, che ebbero occasione di scontrarsi con formazioni partigiane, soprattutto quelli jugoslavi di Tito, lungo il vecchio confine italo-jugoslavo e, in modo particolare, nel mese di marzo, nella provincia di Gorizia.
L'origine di questo reparto deriva, almeno in parte, dalla "Gebirgsbrigade Alpenvorland", la quale traeva il suo nominativo dalla denominazione assegnata ai territori del Trentino-Alto Adige dopo l'annessione al Reich tedesco avvenuta nel tardo 1943, i cui elementi a loro volta provenivano dalle scuole militari Gebirgsjägerschule der Waffen-SS (Neustift/ Tirol) e SS-Gebirgs-Kampfschule (Predazzo/ Dolomiten).
41. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS "Kalevala"^[23][24]
Questa unità programmata si sarebbe dovuta costituire, verso la fine della seconda guerra mondiale, usando persone di stirpe ugro-finnica o appartenenti ai Schutzmannschaft (battaglioni di polizia ausiliaria) estoni e livoni.
Il nome "Kalevala" fu scelto prendendo spunto da un poema epico di Elias Lönnrot scritto nella metà dell'Ottocento.
42. SS-Division "Niedersachsen"
43. SS-Division "Reichsmarschall"
44. SS-Division "Wallenstein"
45. SS-Division "Waräger"

Altre divisioni SS [modifica]

Mentre, a seguito della disfatta e della capitolazione della Germania, ci furono altre divisioni che furono attivate ma non ebbero assegnate un numero:

• SS-Division z.V.
• SS-Grenadier Division "Neu-Turkistan": rimasta sulla carta, al suo posto venne creato l'Osttürkischer Waffen-Verband der SS.
• SS-Kavallerie Division "Kosakken nr. 1"
• SS-Kavallerie Division "Kosakken nr. 2"
• SS-Waffen-Grenadier Division "Rumanische": rimasta sulla carta per la decisione di costituire prima i reggimenti. Vedere volontari rumeni nelle Waffen-SS.
• Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS (bulgarische Nr 1): rimasta sulla carta. Avrebbe dovuto essere costituita a partire dal Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS (bulgarisches Nr 1).

========================================================================

SS-Jagdverband

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"SS-Jagdverband"
Simbolo delle SS: due Sieg Rune affiancate della "SS-Jagdverband"
Descrizione generale
Attiva	1941-8 maggio 1945
Nazione	Germania
Alleanza	Potenze dell'Asse
Servizio	Waffen SS
Tipo	reparto varie specialità
Dimensione	Corpo volontario militare
Battaglie/guerre	Battaglie sul Fronte Occidentale, sul Fronte Orientale e nei Balcani (1941-1945)
Comandanti
Comandanti degni di nota	* SS-Standartenführer Otto Skorzeny
[senza fonte]
Voci di unità militari presenti su Wikipedia

Le SS-Jagdverband erano speciali unità di cacciatori di SS, create tra il settembre e il novembre 1944 sotto il comando di Otto Skorzeny.

Ne furono create ben 5 unità:

1. SS-Jagdverband Mitte;
2. SS-Jagdverband Nordwest;
3. SS-Jagdverband Ost;
4. SS-Jagdverband Sudost;
5. SS-Jagdverband Sudwest.

Indice  [nascondi]  1 SS-Jagdverband Mitte 2 SS-Jagdverband Nordwest 3 SS-Jagdverband Ost 4 SS-Jagdverband Sudost 5 SS-Jagdverband Sudwest 6 Bibliografia 7 Voci correlate

SS-Jagdverband Mitte [modifica]

Questa unità fu formata il 10 novembre 1944 e prese parte all'offensiva delle Ardenne sul fronte occidentale.
Poi verranno inviati sul fronte orientale, sul fiume Oder, contro l'Armata Rossa sovietica.
Nell'aprile del 1945 si ritirava in Austria.
Comandanti furono:

• Otto Skorzeny
• Karl Fucker

Il Reparto era strutturato nel seguente modo:

• 3 compagnie di fucilieri;
• una compagnia di armi d'accompagnamento;
• 4 compagnie di volontari stranieri.

SS-Jagdverband Nordwest [modifica]

Questa unità fu formata nel settembre del 1944 dalla preesistente unità di commando della Brandenburg nota come Jaeger-Battaillon Nordwest.
Nel gennaio 1945 veniva inviata sul fronte orientale, sul fiume Oder, rimanendovi fino al marzo 1945 quando venne fatta ripiegare.
I suoi comandanti furono:

• SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Hoyer, dal 1944 al marzo 1945;
• SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Dethier, dal marzo 1945 al maggio 1945.

Il reparto era strutturato nel seguente modo:

• 4 compagnie di fucilieri;
• 4 compagnie di volontari stranieri.

SS-Jagdverband Ost [modifica]

Questa unità fu formata nel settembre 1944 da una preesistente unità di commando della Brandenburg nota come Jaeger-Battaillon Ost.
Prese parte all'Operazione Brauner Bar, d'appoggio ai guerriglieri ucraini del movimento di bandera contro l'Armata Rossa.
In località Hohensalza vicino a Posen l'unità verrà completamente distrutta, anche se qualche scampato riparerà sui monti al confine tra la Cecoslovacchia e la Polonia.
Suoi comandanti furono:

• SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Adrian Baron von Foelkersam, dal 1944 al 21 gennaio 1945;
• SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Heinze, dal gennaio 1945 al marzo 1945;
• SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Alexander Auch, dal marzo 1945 al maggio 1945.

Il reparto era strutturato nel seguente modo:

1. SS-Jagdeinsatz Ostland;
2. SS-Jagdeinsatz Russland;
3. SS-Jagdeinsatz Polen.

SS-Jagdverband Sudost [modifica]

Questa unità fu formata nel settembre 1944 da una preesistente unità di commando della Brandenburg nota come Streifkorps Karpaten.
Opererà soprattutto nei Carpazi, in Ungheria, in Jugoslavia e in Austria.
Suoi comandanti furono:

• SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Benesch;
• SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Alexander Auch.

Il reparto era strutturato nel seguente modo:

1. SS-Jagdeinsatz Slowakei;
2. SS-Jagdeinsatz Serbien-Kroatien;
3. SS-Jagdeinsatz Rumanien;
4. SS-Jagdeinsatz Ungarn, con una sotto-unità denominata Jagd-kommando Donau;
5. SS-Jagdeinsatz Bulgarien;
6. SS-Jagdeinsatz Albanien.

SS-Jagdverband Sudwest [modifica]

Questa unità fu formata nel settembre 1944 da una preesistente unità di commando della Brandenburg nota come Streifkorps Sudfrankreich.
Opererà soprattutto contro i partigiani italo-francesi fino al gennaio 1945, quando si ritirerà in Austria per arrendersi agli statunitensi.
Suo comandante fu l'SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Gerlach.
Il reparto era strutturato nel seguente modo:

1. SS-Jagdeinsatz Italien;
2. SS-Jagdeinsatz Nordfrankreich;
3. SS-Jagdeinsatz Sudfrankreich.

Bibliografia [modifica]

1. Glenn B. Infield, "Skorzeny: Hitler's Commandos Military"- Heritage Press, New York 1981 (trad. franc., "Skorzeny, chef des commandos de Hitler", tradut. Claude Bernanose, Editions Pygmalion, Paris, 1984, ISBN 2857041675.

1. Michael Schadewitz,"Zwischen Ritterkreuz und Galgen. Skorzenys Geheimunternehmen Greif in Hitlers Ardennenoffensive 1944/45", Helios-Verlag, Aachen 2007, ISBN 978-3-938208-48-9

Voci correlate [modifica]

• Waffen SS
• Werwolf

===========================================================================

Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias

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"Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias"
Simbolo del Corpo di militari volontari greci della "Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias"
Descrizione generale
Attiva	settembre 1943-8 maggio 1945
Nazione	Germania
Alleanza	Potenze dell'Asse
Servizio	Waffen SS
Tipo	reparto speciale di sicurezza di militari greci
Dimensione	Corpo volontario militare di sicurezza
Guarnigione/QG	di 5.725 uomini, di cui 532 erano ufficiali e 656 sottufficiali.
Battaglie/guerre	Battaglie sul Fronte Balcanico (1943-1945)
Comandanti
Comandante corrente	maggior-generale Basileios Dertiles
Comandanti degni di nota	* SS-Gruppenführer Walter Shimana
Simboli
Bandiera greca dal 1941 al 1945
[senza fonte]
Voci di unità militari presenti su Wikipedia

Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias era un reparto di sicurezza, composto da volontari greci, istituito nel settembre 1943 dal SS-Gruppenführer Walter Shimana che era anche "Hohere SS und Polizeifuhrer in Grecia".

Indice  [nascondi]  1 Struttura 2 Forza del reparto 3 Bibliografia 4 Voci correlate

Struttura [modifica]

Conosciuti inizialmente come Evzoni ben presto passerà da 4 battaglioni a 9, e il suo compito sarà quello di controbattere i partigiani greci e funzionerà anche come forza di polizia ausiliaria.

Forza del reparto [modifica]

Avrà una forza di 5.725 uomini, di cui 532 erano ufficiali e 656 sottufficiali.
I 9 battaglioni saranno raggruppati in 3 reggimenti , costituiti ognuno da 3 battaglioni.

Nome	aggregazione	luogo
1° reggimento Evzonis	al LXVIII Corpo tedesco	ad Atene;
2° reggimento Evzonis	al LXVIII Corpo tedesco	a Tripolis;
3° reggimento Evzonis	al XXII Gebirgs Korps tedesco	a Ioannina;

data nomina comandante	grado prima del nuovo comando	nome	promozione a nuovo grado per il comando
25 novembre 1943	colonnello	Basileios Dertiles	maggior generale

Bibliografia [modifica]

• Nikolas D. Christodoulou, "Pro-Axis Security Battallions in Southern Greece; 1943-1944"
• Antonio J. Muñoz, "Herakles and the Swastika: Greek Volunteers in the German Army, Police and SS", Axis Europa Books 2001
• Mavrokordatis Hanno, "Le Fascism en Grece pendant la guerre (1941-1944)"

Voci correlate [modifica]

==================================================================================================

Ethelontiki Chorophylaki

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Vai a: navigazione, cerca

"Ethelontiki Chorophylaki"
Simbolo del Corpo di militari volontari greci della "Ethelontiki Chorophylaki"
Descrizione generale
Attiva	settembre 1943-8 maggio 1945
Nazione	Germania
Alleanza	Potenze dell'Asse
Servizio	Waffen SS
Tipo	reparto speciale di sicurezza di militari greci (Gendarmeria)
Dimensione	Corpo volontario militare di sicurezza
Guarnigione/QG	tra i 250 e i 450 uomini suddivisi in 4 compagnie
Battaglie/guerre	Battaglie sul Fronte Balcanico (1943-1945)
Comandanti
Comandanti degni di nota	* SS-Gruppenführer Walter Shimana
Simboli
Bandiera greca dal 1941 al 1945
[senza fonte]
Voci di unità militari presenti su Wikipedia

L'Ethelontiki Chorophylaki era un reparto di Gendarmeria greca durante l'occupazione tedesca nella seconda guerra mondiale; era composta da volontari greci sotto il diretto comando dell'Ordnungspolizei locale tedesca.^[1] Una di queste unità era denominata Poulos Verband ed era comandata da George Poulos.^[1]
La base dell'unità era di stanza a Kali Vrissi, vicino Salonicco.^[1]
Nel novembre del 1944 fu trasferita a Lubiana in Slovenia e nel marzo del 1945 si ritirava a Kitzbulh in Austria.^[1]
Durante la guerra civile greca tra il 1946 e il 1949 il reparto combatté contro i guerriglieri comunisti greci.^[1]

Indice  [nascondi]  1 Struttura e forza del reparto 2 Note 3 Bibliografia 4 Voci correlate 5 Collegamenti esterni

Struttura e forza del reparto [modifica]

Il reparto era strutturato in:

• HQ. Compagnia
• 1ª Compagnia
• 2ª Compagnia
• 3ª Compagnia

per una forza totale compresa tra i 250 e i 400 uomini

Note [modifica]

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Collaboration and Far Right Parties da axishistory.com

Bibliografia [modifica]

• Nikolas D. Christodoulou, Pro-Axis Security Battallions in Southern Greece; 1943-1944
• Antonio J. Muñoz, Herakles and the Swastika: Greek Volunteers in the German Army, Police and SS, Axis Europa Books 2001
• Mavrokordatis Hanno, Le Fascism en Grece pendant la guerre (1941-1944)

Voci correlate [modifica]

• Ellinika Tagmata Asphaleias

Collegamenti esterni [modifica]

• (EN) Collaboration and Far Right Parties da axishistory.com

Portale Nazismo: accedi alle voci di Wikipedia che trattano di nazismo ====================================================================== SD's Russian Brigade.

Following the disbandment of the Experimental Formation Center (the self-proclaimed Russian Nationalist National Army) at the beginning of 1943, the chief proponent of creating an autonomous Russian unit within the Wehrmacht, S. Ivanov, offered his services to the Reich Security Main Office (Reichssicherheitshauptamt - RSHA) firmly believing that RSHA's VI (SD Foreign Intelligence) Department (SD was an abbreviation for Sicherheitsdienst or Security Service in English; for a general description of SD see below) wielded greater influence and presented more opportunities than the German Heer (Army). The SD responded by placing him in command of a brigade of Russian turncoats who were under SD's jurisdiction. Ivanov was assigned the task of furnishing this SD brigade with its own Russian commanders, and eventually developing it into the very first unit of the Russkaya Osvoboditelnaya Armiya (Russian Liberation Army) better known simply as ROA. In order to materialize SD's (and his own) aims, Ivanov attracted to the brigade some former RNNA commanders like Kromiadi, Saharov, and Lamsdorff. Ivanov also consulted the renegade General Vlasov, who gave his backing for the project provided that Zhilenkov (for information on Ivanov, Zhilenkov, and the others see the page on RNNA) will assume the command of the brigade. Ivanov agreed to Vlasov's request. The SD brigade was garrisoned near Pskov (north-western Russia), and its Russian personnel referred to their unit as Druzhina (Russian for "Detachment"). The brigade's commander was a former officer on the Soviet General Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Radionov, also known by his alias of "Gil". This brigade was the sole significant Russian unit ever created by the SD. Originally the SD was NSDAP's security and intelligence service (its beginnings can be traced from 1931 to NSDAP's press and information service); nevertheless, already before the war its scope of activities had grown to include gathering of intelligence both at home and abroad. In fact it even began to compete in these fields with the Abwehr (German Military Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence), which it eventually absorbed in 1944. Following the invasion of Soviet Union, SD created a special sub-organization called Operation Zeppelin. Its aim was to infiltrate German agents into Soviet-held territory. The above-mentioned SD's brigade of Russian renegades was designed as a sort of "strategic reserve" of menpower for the Operation Zeppelin. The brigade's participation in anti-partisan operations was to serve as a valuable training exercise and as a test of the Russians' loyalty to the Germans. The brigade's origins can be traced to the so called "Russian National Union", which was established by renegade Russian POWs at the Suwalki POW camp in north-eastern Poland during the winter of 1941-1942. The chief purpose of the "Russian National Union" was to promote the Russians' struggle against Bolshevism alongside their German "allies". The total membership of the union was equivalent in size to a German battalion. In early 1942 the union was de facto dissolved and its entire membership came under SD's jurisdiction. In the summer of 1942 these Russian traitors were ordered to move to Stary Bykow. Early in its existence the group was led by many prominent former Soviet commanders, including Major General Bogdanov (a former commander of the 47-th Rifle Division), the above-mentioned Lieutenant Colonel Radionov (alias "Gil"), Lieutenant Colonel Orlov, Major Yuhnov, and Major Andrusenko. The unit's super hypocritical motto was "For Russia". A similar second unit was founded on 11 December, 1942, when 135 turncoats were recruited in Stalag 319A by Major Blazhevicz with the help of two camp leaders named Alelekov and Makarenko. This second unit was dispatched to Gajdow in vicinity of Lublin in south-eastern Poland. In March of 1943 both units were moved to the Glubokoye area in Belarus, where they were combined into a single larger unit that became known as the "SS Druzhina Brigade" (a somewhat mis-leading designation as this was a purely SD formation with no association with the SS proper). It is worth noting that in February of 1943 the Germans selected a group of 50 of these Russian renegades and send them on a trip to Germany. This trip proved to be counter-productive as the Russians learned from their fellow countrymen held at the Oranienburg Concentration Camp (north of Berlin), as well as from Russian slave workers, of the brutal treatment they endured at the hands of the Germans. As a result of what they learrned during the trip, many of the 50 Russians began to question the very logic of collaborating with the Germans. These doubts about the genuine intentions of the Germans helped give rise to a patriotic anti-Nazi cell within the SD brigade. This cell was led by Gil-Radionov and Blazhevicz; the latter managed to establish secret contacts with the Soviet intelligence during several journeys to Latvia. During May of 1943 the SD brigade participated alongside German units in a major anti-partisan operation. There were no problems with the fighting abilities of the brigade, and not a single defection was reported. The Germans began to intensively indoctrinate the Russian SD-men with "Russian Nationalism" and with the idea that they form a nucleus of a future "Russian liberation army". After being reinforced with some additional Russian volunteers, the brigade increased in strength to 3 000 men. Since Gil-Radionov concluded that Zhilenkov is an unrepentant Vlasovite and Nazi collaborator, he removed him from the position of brigade commander and made him a commander of a 300-strong training unit. The local SD headquarters decided that this training unit be assigned to the Northern High Command of Operation Zeppelin in Pskov, under the command of SS Major Otto Kraus. Kraus decided to transform this training unit into a regular military detachment, what he proceeded to do. As a result of his decisions, the First Guard Brigade of ROA was created; it was as a matter of fact the very first real ROA unit, and as such it was also the very first Russian military collaborationist formation to maintain regular contacts with Vlasov. The First Guard Brigade of ROA was garrisoned in the small town of Stremutka, about nine miles from Pskov. On 22 June, 1943, the Germans celebrated the second anniversary of their invasion of the Soviet Union. To mark this occasion a military parade was organized in Pskov. To the shock and disbelief of the Russian on-lookers, the German military parade was opened by a company of the First Guard Brigade of ROA. Among the Russian on-lookers present at the parade were also honorary guests like Zhilenkov, Kromiadi, and Boyarski. The Russian traitors were celebrating the invasion and rape of their own country! By August, 1943, Gil-Radionov was so fed up with all the German atrocities committed on his fellow compatriots that he arranged a meeting between his representative Major General Bogdanov (and his chief of intelligence) and the Zhelezniak Partisan Brigade. The Soviet partisans conducted the negotiations with the permission of the Soviet government. No agreement was reached however, as Bogdanov was too timid to desert, and requested only an "armstice" that would extend to the Germans as well! Afterwards the partisans promised Gil-Radionov that no retribution will be undertaken against all those Russian SD-men who decide to join them, provided that they will go over with all their weapons, join in the struggle against the Germans, and hand-over Bogdanov and a certain emigre captain named Count Mirski. Gil-Radionov decided to agree to these terms. On 13 August, 1943, the mis-named "SS Druzhina Brigade" was encircled by the partisans. Gil-Radionov and other members of the patriotic cell proceeded to persuade their Russian comrades to join the partisans, but unfortunetly many of the brigade's officers, aided by the German SD liaison team that was permanently assigned to the brigade, attempted to kill the patriots. In the ensuing struggle the entire SD liaison team, along with many hard-core Russian collaborators, was wiped-out. Subsequently, much of the brigade joined the partisans and proceeded to occupy the Krulevshczina Railway Station; thus, the important railway line connecting Pskov with Polotsk was severed. Glubokoye was also attacked, but this assault was repelled. The freedom fighters decided to abondone the siege and retreated into the forests. Only about 30 Russian SD officers and 500 enlisted men remained in the German service following this incident. The defectors were transformed into the Soviet First Anti-Fascist Brigade, and Gil-Radionov was awarded by Stalin the Order of the Red Star. The brigade went on to fight numerous engagements against the Axis, some of which involved fighting what remained of the "SS Druzhina Brigade"; both units suffered heavy casualties in the process. During the winter of 1943-1944 a group of 300 defectors (including Gil) was encircled and destroyed by Germans and Vlasovites in vicinity of the Zyabki Railway Station. Following the mass defection of most of the brigade's personnel, it became clear that SD lacked sufficient resources and desire to establish a large "Russian liberation army". The promises made earlier were simply made to attract high-quality personnel for the Operation Zeppelin. Kraus was no longer so willing to ressurect the whole project, while Zhilenkov and his closest associates were relieved of their duties in the brigade and went back to Berlin. Only Lamsdorff remained on the First Guard Brigade of the ROA which continued to be used, albeit only to a limited degree.
========================================================================
R.N.N.A.

The very first significant unit of the Wehrmacht to be made up of renegade Soviet prisoners-of-war as well as deserters, and to be led by (equally renegade) Russian officers, was to be formed at the so-called Experimental Formation Center (EFC). This formation of Russian traitors was to specialize in infiltrating the Soviet lines, and wreaking havoc behind them. The very concept of establishing such a unit and facility was an idea of a "White" Russian emigre named S. N. Ivanov. During late 1941 and early 1942 he managed to obtain the support of Admiral Canaris of the Abwehr (German Military Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence), who arranged for him a meeting in Smolensk with Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Werner Gotting-Seeburg (the head of Intelligence Service Command 203). As a result of the meeting Ivanov succeeded in gaining Gotting-Seeburg's backing for his plan.
Afterwards Ivanov returned to Berlin, where he met a couple of additional emigres interested in joining his not-yet-existing unit; a thirty-year-old I. Saharov, a much decorated (in the Spanish Civil War) son of a Czarish general, and a former Polkovnik (Regimental Commander) of the Czarish army named K. G. Kromiadi. The two agreed to become officers in Ivanov's future formation. This formation did not came into existence until March of 1942. Ivanov was rewarded for his efforts by being appointed the new unit's political leader, in additon to also becoming its liaison officer with the Germans. Saharov became Ivanov's representative. Kromiadi, under the alias of "Sanin", as the camp commandant became the de facto military leader of the new formation. The unit was officially designated as "Russian Battalion for Special Duty". The military camp where the unit was garrisoned (the so-called EFC) was located at Ossintorf, near the Orsha-Smolensk rail line. The surrounding area was very forested and shwampy, while the camp consisted of a large complex of barracks that were sufficient to house 10 000 men. The "Battalion" was organized along Russian lines, it was equipped entirely with captured Soviet arms, and its personnel wore Red Army uniforms to which shoulder straps had been attached alongside with the white-blue-red cockades (in the Czarish style). The unit's Russian members wrongly assumed that they formed a nucleus of a future great Russian "liberation" army; therefore, they decided (without prior German approval) to name their embryonic formation as the Russkaya Natsionalnaya Narodnaya Armiya (Russian Nationalist National Army) or RNNA in abbreviation. By July of 1942 the "army" grew to 3 000 personnel, and by the end of 1942 it had some 7 000 Russians within its ranks. At the beginning it included four infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, and an engineer battalion. Every battalion had an NCO's training school, while the "army's" central staff had an officers school. A library, along with an officers club, was also constructed. Even a special newspaper was printed for the formation, which promoted "Russian nationalism" and it was called Rodina ("The Homeland"). Soldiers and officers for the self-proclaimed RNNA were selected at POW camps, and presumably there was no shortage of volunteers. Most volunteers joined to escape starvation at the brutal German POW camps. Some additional emigres also decided to join RNNA; they included Lieutenant V. Ressler, Lieutenant Count G. Lamsdorff, and Lieutenant Count S. von der Pahlen. Nevertheless, virtually the whole unit consisted of former Red Army troops; among them were seven colonels and regimental commanders. A former Soviet General Staff Major named Ril was appointed RNNA's chief of staff; Colonel Gorski, commander of the artillery battalion; Colonel Kobtsov along with Majors Ivanov (some other Ivanov), Golovinkin, and Nikolayev, became commanders of the infantry battalions; Major Bocharov became the chief of intelligence. The formation's first major engagement took place in May of 1942, in the Yelnia area (east of Smolensk). Some 300 RNNA-men under Bocharov's leadership were assigned the task of probing the encircled Soviet corps under General Bielov. This encircled pocket consisted of elements of the Soviet 33-rd Army, as well as of the 1-st Guards Cavalry Corps, and the 4-th Airborne Assault Corps, and it posed a serious threat to the rear area of the German 4-th Panzer Army; thus, jeopardizing its drive on Moscow. Bielov's troops fought a successful diversion operation for a period of six months before their pocket was liquidated. A portion of the encircled Soviet troops (including Bielov) succeeded in piercing the encirclement ring in the north-west and escaped to the Soviet lines of the 4-th Assault Army that was stationed in the Vielizh area. Others escaped to the south where they joined the partisans. General Bielov went on to command the Soviet 61-st Army until the war's end. During this engagement Bocharov's men clashed with the elements of that corps, and Major Bocharov was temporarily captured. Later he was recaptured and the operation was successfully concluded, albeit it was only a partial success. Additional victories were won by RNNA's other units led by Lamsdorff, Ril, and Grachov. One battalion was also moved to Shklov, for security duties in that district. The administrative responsibilities were also transferred to Russian personnel. The Chief of Staff of the Army Group "Center", General Wohler, paid an official visit to the unit in June of 1942. Because of a personal conflict between General Wohler and Gotting-Seeburg, the latter was relieved as the formation's German commander and was replaced by the much less Russophile Colonel Hotzel. The new commander was not very friendly towards his Russian subordinates, and they did not like him either. In August of 1942, the German High Command ordered all the Russian emigres to leave all the occupied areas of Soviet Union, and this also meant that the very popular Colonel Kromiadi, along with the few other emigre officers, had to leave as well. The "army's" emigre commanders were replaced by G. N. Zhilenkov and V. Boyarski. Prior to WWII Zhilenkov was a prominent Communist Party secretary of a district of Moscow. In 1941 he was made a political commissar of a brigade of the 32-nd Army. After being captured near Smolensk, he did not reveal his background to the Germans and volunteered to become a Hiwi (Wehrmacht Auxiliary). Later however he acknowledged his priviliged background in order to escape execution. From that point on, Zhilenkov's collaboration with the Germans achieved even greater dimensions. Boyarski was, prior to his capture by the Germans, a colonel who served on the Soviet General Staff, and later became commander of the 41-st Guards Division. Both traitors became close friends of General Vlasov early in their captivity. Zhilenkov assumed RNNA's leadership on 26 August, 1942. After proving their fighting abilities during the operation against General Bielov's Corps and in other "commando" and security actions, RNNA was attached to the German Army Group "Center" under the official designation of "Experimental Formation Center". By December of 1942 the EFC/RNNA was approximately the size of a German brigade, and it was sufficiently trained to enter front-line duty. When on 16 December the Germans were in a great need of reinforcements, Colonel von Tresckow (an operations officer on the staff of the German Army Group "Center" and a supporter of the so called Russian "liberation" movement) asked Field Marshal von Kluge to allow EFC to enter front-line combat. Soon von Kluge personally inspected the EFC, and was impressed by what he saw. Nevertheless, he issued an order which stipulated that the formation be disbanded into individual battalions that would be assigned to separate German units. The Russian uniforms were also to be replaced by German ones. These actions were in line with Hitler's order to keep all the units of Soviet turncoats no bigger than of a battalion size, however, they were unthinkable to the members of EFC (or RNNA as they unofficially called their formation). In fact the EFC/RNNA almost mutinated in protest, since they saw themselves as an embryo of a future huge Russian army of liberation from Stalinism, while the breaking-up of EFC would most likely put an end to any such hopes. If dispersed among the German troops, the EFC/RNNA would have been relegated to nothing more than the already existing and numerous Hiwi units that were devoid of any real political and policy-making power and influence. A very uneasy compromise was reached when it was decided that Zhilenkov and Boyarski would be, instead of being court-martialled for insubordination and mutiny, sent to Berlin to work as "propagandists". Consequently, Major Ril was promoted to colonel and became the commander, while Major Besrodny became the chief of staff. The EFC was not broken-up and neither it was sent to the front-line. Nevertheless, some permanent damage was inflicted as 300 RNNA-men fled to the partisans during a single night alone. The Russian personnel that remained no longer trusted the Germans. Following the whole incident, what was left of EFC/RNNA was transferred to the Bobruisk-Mogilev area for security and anti-partisan duties. Eventually von Kluge's disbandment order for EFC was carried-out, and the formation was broken-up into four battalions. Later they were visited by the renegade General Vlasov. The commander of the "Volga" Battalion was some colonel named A. Doschkevitz.
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SS Brigade Westfalen

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The SS Brigade Westfalen was an adhoc unit composed of the men of the military training commands of the Paderborn area and the 507 Heavy Tank Battalion. The unit was committed into battle in March 1945 in an unsuccessful attempt to stop American troops from encircling Army Group B in the Ruhr Pocket.
Assigned to lead the Brigade was Obersturmbannführer, Hans Stern, who had won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1941 while leading SS Panzer Battalion 11, 11th SS Panzergrenadier Division
The Brigade consisted of two regiments that were named after their commanders. Regiment "Meyer" consisted of three battalions: SS Panzer Reconnaissance Training and Replacement Battalion 1, SS Panzer Reconnaissance Training and Replacement Battalion 2, and an SS Panzer Reconnaissance NCO Training Battalion.
Regiment "Holzer" was named after its commander Obersturmführer, Friedrich Holzer and consisted of the SS Panzer Training and Replacement Regiment in Augustdorf, which consisted of five battalions.^[1]
SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Kloskowski was killed by US forces 23 April 1945 after he was captured at Okerin the Harz mountains. According to some sources the killing was in revenge of the death of US 3rd Armored Division commander General Maurice Rose a few weeks earlier at the hands of 507th (Heavy) Panzer Battalion.^[2]

[edit] Order of battle

• SS-Panzer-Aufklärer Regiment Meyer
• SS-Panzer-Ausb.u.Ers.Rgt Holzer
• Schwere Panzer Abteilung 507 ^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ "axishistory". http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=509.
2. ^ "axishistory". http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=509.
3. ^ "axishistory". http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=509.

[hide] v t e — Waffen-SS Brigades — Panzer SS Panzer Brigade Gross SS Brigade Westfalen SS Panzer Brigade 150 Panzergrenadier SS Brigade Schuldt 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Nederland SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 Sturmbrigade 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien 6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Langemarck Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS 8th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade France SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger S.S. Sturmbrigade R.O.N.A. Cavalry SS Cavalry Brigade Infantry 1 SS Infantry Brigade 2 SS Infantry Brigade 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade SS Volunteer Grenadier Brigade Landstorm Nederland Waffen Grenadier Brigade of SS (Italian No. 1) Waffen Grenadier Brigade of SS Charlemagne (French No 1) Police Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling ====================================================================== SS-Panzerbrigade Westfalen Da Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera. Vai a: navigazione, cerca SS-Panzerbrigade Westfalen Descrizione generale Attiva marzo 1945 Nazione Germania Alleanza Potenze dell'Asse Servizio Waffen SS Tipo brigata corazzata Battaglie/guerre Fronte occidentale Comandanti Comandanti degni di nota Obersturmbannführer Hans Stern [senza fonte] Voci di unità militari presenti su Wikipedia La SS-Panzerbrigade Westfalen era una brigata corazzata delle Waffen-SS. Venne costituita presso Paderborn nel marzo 1945, utilizzando uomini provenienti da una serie di unità da addestramento e della riserva. Vi fu aggregata anche un'unità di carri armati dello Heer, lo Schwere Panzer Abteilung 507. L'unità risultava quindi formata da due reggimenti, che presero il nome dai rispettivi comandanti, e dal battaglione carri prima citato. Utilizzata praticamente subito sul fronte occidentale per cercare di contrastare le truppe statunitensi, venne completamente distrutta presso la selva di Teutoburgo. Ordine di battaglia [modifica] SS-Panzer-Aufklärer Regiment Meyer (reggimento corazzato da ricognizione ed addestramento), comandato dall'SS-Sturmbannführer Meyer, su tre battaglioni. SS-Panzer-Ausb.u.Ers.Rgt Holzer, comandato dall'Obersturmführer Friedrich Holzer, su cinque battaglioni. Schwere Panzer Abteilung 507 Comandanti [modifica] Obersturmbannführer Hans Stern Collegamenti esterni [modifica] (EN) SS-Panzerbrigade Westfalen ================================================================================================ SS Panzer Brigade Gross From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search SS Panzer Brigade Gross Active 1944 Country Nazi Germany Allegiance Adolf Hitler Branch Waffen SS Type Panzer Size Brigade Engagements World War II Commanders Notable commanders Martin Gross SS Panzer Brigade Gross was a formation of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was formed in 1944, from the SS Training and Reserve Regiments based in Latvia, to keep the road to Riga open and to counter the Red Armys summer offensive, which had captured Mitau and Tukums and putting the whole of Courland in danger. The Brigade was disbanded in November 1944, and the survivors assigned to the SS Panzer Division's.[1] Contents  [hide]  1 Formation 2 Counterattack 3 Disbandment 4 Commander 5 Order of battle August 1944 6 References [edit] Formation The SS Panzer Brigade Gross was formed from the SS Panzer Training and Replacement Regiment based in Dundaga, Latvia and the SS Panzer Troop Training Regiment Seelager based at the training grounds at Ventspils together with the SS Reconnaissance Training Battalion formed the Brigade.[1][2] The Brigade began forming on 8 August 1944, under the command of Sturmbannführer Martin Gross. The eventual Brigade consisted of two infantry battalions, a panzer battalion of two companies with Panzer III and Panzer IV, a reconnaissance battalion, a StuG battalion, a pioneer company and a Flak company.[1][2] [edit] Counterattack The Brigade was immediately sent into action, launching a counterattack towards Libau in Latvia and was involved in some heavy fighting with a Red Army Cavalry Corps and the attempt to recapture Tukums failed.[1] The Brigade was reinforced on the 15 August, when a Tiger tank company was attached from the 103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion and two batteries of artillery from the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of SS (2nd Latvian) and by the 19 August the Brigade strength stood at 2,500 men.[1] The Brigade was also assigned to the Panzer Division Strachwitz and on the 20 August attacked the Soviet 51st Army and recaptured Mitau and Reval, now that the Baltic coast was cleared of the Red Army the evacuation of the German forces continued across the Baltic sea.[1] On 28 August the Brigade was moved to Estonia and remained in the area of Lake Peipus until early September By 12 September the Brigade's panzer battalion now counted eight Panzer III, one Panzer IV, one Panzer IV, three Panther tanks, one StuG and 17 Sd.Kfz. 251. It no longer had the SS Infantry Battalion 2 and its Reconnaissance Battalion had only eight Panzerspähwagen.[1] They were dispatched back to Durbe in Latvia in mid-September and were in constant contact with the Soviet forces.[1] The Brigade had reported strength on the 20 September of only 300 men, two StuG, one T-34, three Panzer III, two Panzer IV and four Sd.Kfz. 251.[1] [edit] Disbandment Forced back to Lithuania the Brigade became a part of the 3rd Panzer Army.[3] It reached Memel in October and were ordered to pull out due to their heavy losses on 16 November.[1] The survivors were sent to the training area at Windau in Prussia and then onto Sennelager. The Brigade was dismantled and its men sent as replacements to the 1 SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen and the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, which were all part of the 6th SS Panzer Army.[1] The disbanding of the Brigade was disguised as the forming of a new panzer regiment, SS Panzer Regiment 26 Reichsmarschall.[1] [edit] Commander Obersturmbannführer Martin Gross [edit] Order of battle August 1944 Brigade Staff SS Infantry Battalion 1 4 x Companies SS Infantry Battalion 2 4 x Companies SS Panzer Battalion Gross 3 x Companies 1 x Heavy Company SS Sturmgeschütz Battalion 1 2 x Batteries SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion Gross' Motorcycle Company Panzer Reconnaissnce Company Kettenrad Company SS Flak Company 4 x platoons SS Pionier Company Pionier platoon (motorised) Nebelwerfer platoon Feldgendarmerie Troop Repair Company [1] [edit] References ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "SS Panzer Brigade Gross by Miha Grcar". http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=508. Retrieved 2009-02-28. ^ a b German Order of Battle, Volume 3 By Samuel W. Mitcham, p182 ^ The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45, By Samuel W. Mitcham,p150 Mitchum Samuel, German Order of Battle, Volume 3,Stackpole Books, 2007, ISBN 0-8117-3438-2 Mitchum Samuel, The German Defeat in the East, 1944-45, Stackpole Books, 2007, ISBN 0-8117-3371-8