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The Waffen-SS (1)
1. to 5. Divisions
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CONTENTS
‘THE WAFFEN-SS STRUCTURE
«+ Historical background
‘Ranks and insignia
THE DIVISIONS:
1. SS-PANZER DIVISION
LEIBSTANDARTE SS ADOLF HITLER
«= Designations
= Commanders
«Principal elements
= Campaigns
* Special insignia collar patch ~ shoulder straps
ccuffoand — helmet insignia
2. SS-PANZER DIVISION DAS REICH
+ Designations
= Commanders
«Principal elements
= Campaigns
« Special insignia
3. SS-PANZER DIVISION TOTENKOPF
+ Designations
Commanders
+ Principal elements
+ Campaigns
« Special insignia
4, SS-POLIZEI PANZERGRENADIER DIVISION
* Designations
Commanders
Principal elements
Campaigns
* Special insignia
5. SS-PANZER DIVISION WIKING
* Designations
+ Campaigns
+ Special insignia
‘THE PLATES
INDEX
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Artist's Note
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THE WAFFEN-SS (1)
1.to 5. Divisions
THE WAFFEN-SS STRUCTURE
ER 80 SAC thee pages or even a implied summary of
“Titec tn itt the Garman SDAP Satna
Sexi) movement i the 1980 an 1980s, Forte prose of
ths exec eu ya he combat un which had Crerged
by te outbreak of World Wa Il fom the everal 8 pele sey
trgniiton. (he. Sut Safftn or “provecdon squads) weed thet
rips to he ery 1900 when sal Dard ui for ae ier
at ered wii te Nod Payment unllreed ongniton, ie SA
(Stomach in 180th moe SS manbered te
than300 men by 1288s igre had increased vo some 80000. Under
the natal command of Heinrich ‘Wimmer the SS, ith tree
tntelions of aned gendarmerie, provided the kay pewonnl forthe
intemal coup again the SA Teaderthip ered ont on 30 June 190,
“Thereafter dhe goth n te en invence ofthe SS in most
acca of German pubic life wae asi, complicate, and viral
Anctalenged, Newrthele athe obrek of marin 1999 the armed
ini of what vere mony then termed he Slepengrape neve sl
{and lay ingen They wore epee yt tad ces
sae psc pln gerne who ec toy
tie ttl Ear combat experience che Wes and para
in de fs eur of the Rusia Campa, changed tha ferecpion,
Ieadang toa nui of diferent cycles of expansion of what so the
WiflrS By late 18 ths baleproven organisation war ding
aero! eunpi noer wel cca tare. Wa eo
rool bry Geared sane Fou oraanet
aon beam ie esd spear of Cerys ai on
tn Eanes Ertan ceed ontevey ober ajo fat cacoe Norh
‘Afi. Between cary 113 andsping 145 the ontenbe order of bate
of te WatlerSS gre fom eg to totes than 3 dvons'on paper
theugh many ofthe higher numbered ney rego) formation
Ger low he fears et by the erly sion, A tuner of cone
level formations, and ees one or wo hominal ‘S ami comaiing
toh Sand Army uni would se action in 193-4
‘The WatlenSs ara whole eared a dual epuato: for remarkable
aggresion ad stamina in combat and for enuderous atrocity agaist,
Glians abd prtoners. This sres of MenstArs es wil concem
tel ely wth bref rgansation and campaigns ot the
sepaate dion, and the eohing uniforms isgnia and personal
tuipment of thelrlfcers and men
1 Ran Pe ST Rr Soom A IE he Apa SSspices of the
Rank structure
The rank structize annd rank tiles of the Waffen-SS were
directly adapted from those of the political Allgemeine-S.
Aithough the AllgemeineSS method of displaying’ rank
banding by single straps on the right shoulder only was
eventually replaced by matched pairs of suaps in the Army
fashion; the old AllgemeineSS syle of lefchand collar
patches showing specifi rank was reained, with only
‘minor changes, anil May 1945
As well asthe adoption of Army-yle shoulder straps, a
further move to emphasise the “military” rather than ‘political
nature of the Wallen-SS was marked when the original
SS ranks equivalent to Army generals were given a suffi
indicating the equivalent general's rank of the Waffen-SS, Thus,
the original rank of SS BrigadetGher became in the Waffen-SS
‘SS-Brigadefier und Generedmajor der Waffen SS.
‘Generally speaking, in the Army and Waffen-SS sinilar positions
were held by soldiers with equivalent ranks. Thus a Haupuna
(Captain) commanding a companysized unit in the Army would have
as his equivalent in a Waffen-SS unit an officer with the rank of SS-
Hauptsturmfiihrer; and an Oberst (colonel) in the Army
commanding a regiment, would have as his equivalent an SS.
Standartenfihrer, The original SS ranks indicated precisely the ize ofthe
unit thatthe soldier would command, sufficed by the term Fuhrer or
leader: thus Scharrer, Sturnaber, Seurmbanrdhrer,Sanderienthrer,
Gruppeatier, etc
xy a US
BEDE E
ray
Ito rom eto it)
‘An exremely unusual and
Intretngprotaraph showing
“dering tring ate Ary
tommissloned ranks op fet
(Second ror} Obrturmbann ee
toner Standen seo
Dtertiver Brgedstwer 1942. J Se Stier
‘Sraruppentnrrt 1982
{Wort ron) Overyinpenthrer
Oberstoreppentier 1042-48;
(Second vow) Schrtbes,
{9c238 ott row)
wae
Where regulation Waffen-SS
insignia were replaced ot aug:
mented by insignia unique to a
particular unit or formation, these
are reflected in the text that follows:
but in general, the rank structure
the panel below
common throughout the Waffen SS.
Ik should also be noted that within
the later nom-Nordic’ vol
tunteer formations, the rank prefix
‘SS! was replaced by “Waffen”, This
a French SS voluntecr with the
equivalent rank to captain should
technically have been referred to not
as an SS$Hauptsturmfirer but as =
Waffn-Flaupeturmfiho In the case of the sarious foreign volunteer
national Legions, the prefix “Legions thus Legions
Hanpisturmfahrec Most ofthis nonsensical and necessary complication
was duc to Himmler’ bizare racial belief and the insistence that those
SS volunteers who were not considered racially Anjan’ should not be
permitted to use the "SS" prefix, It was also primarily for this reason that
many foreign volunteer units were forced to adopt special unit collar
patches in place of the SS runes. German cadee staff in these units were
‘entitled to wear the runes on the left breast pocket to indicate thet
satus as true members of the SS,
listed on was
raised
Rank insignia
Junior NOO ranks, up to SSRottenfahrer, wore on the upper Tefe sleeve
‘chesrons manufactired sith aluminium or subdued grey silk braid
Tse) on a black woot tiangular base. The
sleeve rank pip for SS-Oberschitze
white metal collar patel pips) was
‘embroidered in silvergrey thread on a black wool
sireular patel,
The basic runic collar patch worn on the right
side consisted of a shomboidshaped piece of
bbuckram covered with black flt or badgetoth, on
unlike the
which the runes were either machineembroidered
s i sinergrey sik thread oF hand-embroidered in
wor aluminium wire. ka the latter part of the war collar
arsuasown | patches were machinewoven in black artifical silk
ime Although the aluminiuin machine-woven and
Usemratcitra| handembroidered forms are generally referred to
oom 2s officer grade, they were infact also worn by non
i ore ‘The usual indication of officer ranks was
aseratosren| ayised silver cord piping edging the patches:
arn however, officers were occasionally known to wear
patches without cord edging, so the only absolute
Indication of officer rank is the grade inlicatedfl
2
&) (8) fs fe Piped be aperopmiie Wigiafnte (ieanch of
YI RSV fog | estate Sore ap oni
tbs braid inner ging = inal sana wes
j Pa}) te itr in ade grey sik: Anu
CY ts Pe || indicted specie NCOs .
| j | Notice anitaee (elined rake who had
euired the rank of SojunkerSoStandatem
hunter or SSStudanetobequnker, and wore
the shoulder straps of $SUmterschafuhrer
SSScharfier and SSHaupacharrer espe
thet; wth the adion of ose of amin
tral for the is tw, The appropriate NCO rank
Collar patches ere al wor =n the case of SS
Stundanenoberunker, hose of SSHaupeschar
= . Fier but wth oer
‘Shoulder straps Top rom ltt
{fo ght) Schotee/Oberschtae,
‘Unterehartver,Seartaner,
‘Oberchartaher Hauptechar
(Secund om) Untersturmtore,
{Shree turban
‘berstambanntuner mele,
Stondrtnttrer/OberOher
(Botiom ro) brguaeten,
Gruppen
Stergrnpentoeer,
‘berstaruppentahrer
‘he 88 nations em Te,
et 0 righ) Machne-woton cap
ead: hnd-embrosere ballon
Siceve emi; machine woven
‘Sorina doors come,
(Borin One pace supe and
oie: mechine woven rayon
‘seovecapl.
‘on the lefthand pateh, Collar patches for general
D ranks were usually executed on black velvet
ms base material
Waffen SS shoulder straps followed the same
+iii¢| basic form as those of the Army: For lower ranks
= they were faced in bleck badgecloth with either
black or field grey undersurfaces, The edge was
been earmarked for future officer training)
silver nist cord edging
NCO candidates wore the shoulder straps of a
private with a single aluminium braid side
Officers’ straps were made with the same matt grey stright or
interwoven braid as their Army equivalents. Unlike Army straps, which
were Set on an underlay in the appropriate Waffenfarbe, all Walfen-SS
straps were on a black underlay, the Watffenfirbe being displayed as an
intermediate piping between the braid and the black underlay: Rank pipe
were originally bronze or git, but aluminium examples were also used
Walfen SS generals’ shoulder straps were made fom the same interwoven
silver/gold braid as those of the Army but set on pale grey rather than
bright red underay
THE WAFFEN-SS DIVISIONS:
1. SS-PANZER DIVISION
LEIBSTANDARTE SS ADOLF HITLER
Designations
17 March 1983 SSStabswache Berlin
8 May
0 May
8 July
September Adolf Hitler Standarte
R Newember ——Urihatandarte Adalf Hitler
IS April 1934 ——_Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hider
12 June 1989 Infamterie Regiment (mot.)
Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hiller
15 July 1942 s8Division (mot)
Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hier
2 November 1942 $S-Pancergrenadier Division
Leibstandacte SS Adolf Hitler
22 October 19431, SSPanzer Division
Leibstandarte 8 Adolf Hitler
Commanders
March 1933-Juy 1943 SSGruppentihrer Joset ‘Sepp’ Diewieh: Jub
19/3-Aug 19H SSBrigadetihrer Theodor Wisch; Aug I944-Fb 1945 SS-
Brigadefihrer Wilhelm Mohnke; Fé-May 19/5 SSBrigidefthrer Oto
Kumm
Principal elements (1944)
SSPanzergrenadier Regiment 1; S&Panzergrenadier Regiment 2:
SSPanzer Regiment 1; SS-Anillerie Regiment 1; SSPanzerjiger
Abteilung 1; SSFlak Abteilung 1; SSSuurmgeschitz Abteilung 1
'SSPanzeraufklirangs Abteihing 1; SSPanzer Pionier Bataillon 1
‘The Leibandane traced it origins w the bodyguard known as the
SSStabmiciche Berlin, formed in March 1933 10 proteet Hitler. Its official
designation was changed several times before, in November 1933,
becoming the Lebstandarte Adolf Hider (Adolf Hider Lifeguard
Regiment). Unlike most other unit, which recruited in a specific home
region, the regiment took ils personnel from throughout Germany; only
the best physical candidates were accepted for this high-profile unit,
Special insignia ~ the $5 runes collar patch rather than the unit number
wom by Allgemeine'SS unis, the dissnctive cuffband bearing Hidr's sig-
‘nature, and white leather dress belts and aecoutrements worn on parade
= set the Labandare apart from all others. The unit provided honour
guards on many state occasions, as well a providing sentres for Hider's
new Reichskanziei in Berlin, Their home was the former Imperial Pruséan
cadet barracks at BerlinLichterfelde. Their impeccable appearance and
precision drill earned them the somewhat derogatory nickname of the
‘Asphalt Soldiers ~ good for parades, but unproven on the field of battleReorganised into a motorised regiment in
late 1984, the Laistandarte took part in the £
‘occupation of the Rhineland, she Anechhaws with
Austria, and the occupation of the Sudetenland
and Grechoslovakia. In September 1930 the
“Lribstandarte was put wo the ultimate test when i
went into bate for the first time during the
imasion of Poland, for which it was attached 10
the Army's Panzerdivsion Kempf. In action at
Lodz, Warsaw and Modlin, the regiment fought
well, but sustained over 400 casualties fending off
determined attacks by Polish cavalry and infant,
which sometimes came to hand-4o-hand combat.
The West and Greece, 1940-81
Jn March 1940 an artery battalion was added in
the first of many moves to inerease the strength
and military effectiveness of Hitler's own
personal’ regiment, a unit of which he was
intensely proud. During the campaign in the West
the Laibtandarte acquitted itself well. It crossed
the Yssel river near Zutphen, covering over
46 miles (73km) in a single day, and performing
with a level of enthusasm for battle that was to
become its tademark. The LSSAH took part in
the encirclement and seizure of Amstesdam, the unit's satisfaetion over
this successful action being somewhat dimpened when Luftwaffe
General Kurt Student was shot
and wounded by Leibtandarte soldiers
‘who mistook him for one of the enems: (Troops ofthe division are also
believed to have murdered some 80 British prisoners at Wormhout on
mn ofits performance the LSSAH was given the
honour of having the “Fahesstandarte, Hitler's personal banser, 38 its
regimental flag,
Tn April 1941 the Leidstandant excelled itself in the imasion of
Greece, a high point being the daring eaprure of the Klii and Klissura
passes by Kurt Meyer reconnaissance tops. In dificult terain,
Meyer's troops had become pinned down; he used the simple expedient
fof throwing hand grenades atthe fect of his own men, giving them no
‘option but to leap out from their cover and storm forwards,
Russia, 1941-42
Iwas, however, with the invasion of the Soviet Union in July 1941 that
the Leisiandare was to be put to its greatest test; now a brigade
just under 11,000 strong, it formed part of Hecresgruppe Sid
After advancing through Cherson it captured Taganrog, and in
November, Restos, where it took over 10,000 prisoners. Here
S$Hauptsturmfibbrer Heinrich Springer eamed the Knight's Cross of
the Iron Cross for his daring seizure of the vital bridge over the River
Don. As the end of the year drew near, however, the impetus of the
advance faltered and Soviet resistance grew. Counterattacks put the
Lribtandarte in danger, but Hitler refused to countenance a general
‘withdrawal, Nevertheles, the SS was forced back out of Rostor and into
a number of grim winter defensive engagements
in the area of the Donetz Hasin as the Soviets
The Laiiandarte had greatly enhanced its
reputation as a firtclass combat unit, drawing
praise from Army generals who had formerly
regarded the Walfen'SS with some disdain, The
commander of HI Panzerkorps is recorded 8
saving of the LSSAM, “This truly isan elite unit.
This reputation war not achieved without cos,
however: more than 5,200 of the brigade's
soldiers had become casualties.
In June 1942 the Leibstandarte was pulled from
its defensive positions along the Mius river and
rioved to France, where it was greatly reinforced.
and reformed as a mechanised of Panzer
igrenadier division, The new division spent some
‘months forming up and training before moving
to accupation duties in the southern (Vich) part
fof France ~ occupied by Germany in retaliation
for the surrender of the French Army in North
Africa to the Anglo-American landings in
November. During this period the Lastandarte
was given its own detachment of the new PzKpfiw
VI Tiger heavy tanks
Kharkov and Kursk, 1943
In early 1948 the Ledwandartewas rashed back to
the Eastern Front as Stalingrad fell and the whole
military situation deteriorated. t formed part of I SSPanzerkorps under
Paul Hausser, tasked with preventing the city of Kharkov from falling to
the Red Army, Outnumbered seven to one, Hausser refused to sacrifice
nis new corps just to satisfy another of Hitlers “nosvithdraveal” orders,
and on 15 February the city was abandoned. The eapture of Kharkov
had left the enemy exhausted, however, while the Germans began t0
regroup. The German counterattack was launched om 23 Fe
atter three weeks of bitter fighting the Soviets were once agin thrown
tout of the cig; over 20,000 enemy woops were kiled or wounded and
‘over 600 Soviet tanks destroyed. The ferocity of the fighting had cost the
LSSAH about 4500 killed: the former Red Square in the centre of
‘Kharkov was renamed ‘Platz der Leibstandarte' in honour ofthe division,
Battlefield eassalis had to be made up by a draft of former Lufralfe
soldiers, much to the imitation of the divisional commander, ‘Sepp!
Diedrich. fust as many of his best officers and NCOs were being rans.
ferred to form the cadre for the new 12.SPanzer Division Hitlrugend,
Dietrich was preparing to hand over command to Theodor “Teddi
Wisch, as he himself took over from Heuser as corps commander:
Shortly thereafter the Laitandartetook part in the summer offensive
at Kursk, where it formed the spearpoint of 4. Panzerarmee. The
tission fielded 100 tanks, 12 of which were the impressive new Tigers,
Launching it attack on 5 July the LSSAH made good initial progress
reaching the second line of enemy defences by the carly evening of the
‘ranair Regiment 2 i
eight’ Crews winner S8-haupt40
Shoulder aap cypher Athough
hes antfatrman he waar
ack piping, borrowed ron 8
Porta photograph such cape
‘were pte purchase ome, On
first day. The $8 troops were involved in bitter
Ihand-tohand fighting as they cleared the enemy
trenches. By 11 July the division had reached the
River Peel, the lat major obstacle before Kursk
itself On the 12th the tanks ofthe SS formations
clashed with Soviet armour in a maj
near Prokhorovka. It was the first of several
engagements around this little Russian 10%
which buile up over a number of days into the
biggest armoured battle in history, Over 300
German and 400 Soviet tanks were destroyed
without either side gaining any decisive
advantage; the battle for the Kursk salient ws sill
inthe balance
However, news ofthe Allied landings in Sicily
caused Hitler to cancel the offensive. The
Lritstandarte wis one of the units sent westwards
to counter the Allied threat to Ia, handing over
all ts tanks to the remaining 8S divisions before
departing for warmer climes, twas. brief change
of scene: following the overthrov of Mussolini
and Taly's armistice with the Allies the
Leidwandarte were involved in disarming Tian
troops, but by October 1943 the division was
heading east once again, by way ofthe Balkans
iy the end ofthe year the division was in fierce
combat around Zhitomir, so furious was the
defensive fighting thar by the end of February the
Lribstandarte had just three operational tanks remaining on strength
The LSSAH narrowly escaped annihilation after being surrounded in
the KamenetsPodolsk Pocket, but the remnants were rescued by the
timely intervention of the 9, and 10. SSP
Hohenstaufonaind Frundaberg. The Labstandartewas in a woeful condition,
and in April 1944 yas withdrawn to France for est and refiting
sizer Divisions, the
Normandy and the Ardennes, 1944
Thousinds of new troops had refreshed the worn-out shell of this
premier division by june 1944, and as the Allied invasion troops began
landing in Normandy it was virtually at full strength once again,
However, Hitler's insistence that the Normandy landings were only a
Feint resulted in the Lribtanderte being held in reserve for fully 28 days
after D-Day, 6 June. Although some elements went into action earlier,
the division asa whole was not committed to battle until 6 July
Inserted into the frontlines around Caen, the LSSA/ fought in many
desperate defensive battles against overwhelming odes, in conditions of
complete enemy dominance of the ait, and often within reach of
devastating Allied naval gunfire suppor. It took part in the attempted
counterolfensive on Aeranches, but was repulsed, losing large numbers
aks w Bridsh Typhoon aircraft. By the end of August it hal just
managed to escape encirclement in the Falsise Pocket, but had los
all its tanks and artillery and suffered over 5,000 casualties. The division
was then withdrawn 1 Germany for refitting: onee again, the
replacements received were no longer of the
‘ality of the troops with whieh it hogan the war
The following months were spent ina frenzy of
activi: Ty December TMH the division was
Separated into. Kampfgeuppen (temporary battle
groups). Kempjenappe Peper bid the heavy (King,
Tiger) tank battalion, a mixed bataion of Poke
IVs and Pekpfw V Panthers, with one battalion
of Panengrenadiery and artillery support
Kampjeruppe Sandig had the rest of S$Panzer
grenadier Regiment 2 Kampjeruppe Hansen
consisted of SSPanzergrenadier Regiment 1 plus
antiank and artillery support: and. Kampjeruppe
Knitel had the reconnaissance battalion with
srillery and pioneer support. Their mission was to
play a leading pare in the Atdennes counter
Advancing on 1G December as the speathead
fon the route designated “Rollbahn D', SS-
Standartenfihrer Joachim Peiper's command
almost immediately ran into problems, The terrain
through which they were tavelling was toxaly
lunsuitable for the enormous King ‘Tiger tanks,
farrom, snow-bound rods hampered. progres,
and Peiper’s column found itself ensnaried in
tlic jams. Severe fuel shortages were temporarily
alleviated by the capnure of the US fuel dump
at Billingen on 17 December, and Peiper’s
Kampgruppe made real progress through Lignewille and Staelot
however, that afternoon troops assigned to guard them shot &3 US
prisoners atthe Baugnes crossroads near Malmédy. The spearhead of the
column ran into trouble again on 18 December when two of three bridges
over the Ambléve at Tris Ponts were blown just as the SS troops arrived
1 bridge at
Chenu; but clearing ofthe heayy cloud cover brought Allied air attacks
Joined nov: by Kampfgruppe Knittl, Piper's advance began to falter
once more; each time a potential route was identified and the Germans
raced for a bridge to take them out of the Ambléve valley, US resistance
‘would stiffen. On the Ihh Peiper capeired Stoumont after bitter
Fighting, but attempe to push beyond the town were unsuccessful
Stavelot, in the German rear, was retaken by the Americans; now the
Germans were forced to defend Stoumont and Cheneux against US
counterattacks, at heaty cost to both sides. By 24 December Peiper was
bst out of fuel and ammunition; he had no hope of advancing and
‘was in great danger af being cutoff, Leaving a rearguard to hold off the
fenemy, he destroyed his heavy equipment and began to withdrav
reaching the Salm river and the main body of ISPanzerkorps the next
day, On 29 December the various Leitstandarte Kampigruppen were
‘ordered to move from the northera flank of the Ardennes front to the
southern, The fresh assault by the remains of LSSAM made lle
progress, however, and on | January 1945 the division was withdrawn (0
prepare for the next planned counter-ffensive
Peiper was forced to divert via La Gleize anid used an i
Served foro pari a on 88
‘aetnt on Wor sft sr
[Miceraining schoo! # Ba
star Hore he wos te ley
Sesame he epi uniform
‘corti eo warn by
Panzergrenadier Hs M1843
{etd cp he epi mitre
‘insignia woven ary ele
‘both grades of the on Gress
IntatyAasau Badge ahd
{he Wound Badge in sive.
1"2
Uainetandarte wears a on
fate woot in seer eagle
Icy te aan rom te
Hungary and Austria, 1945
In February 1945 the division moved to Hungary
tw ake part in Operation “Friklngursnchsen’
whose objectives were both to recapture Budapest
and retake the vital Hungarian oilfields, Here
the Leistendarte would operate as part of 6th
SSPanzer Army under its old. divisional
‘commander, ‘Sepp Dietrich,
The spring thaw had qumed the roads east of
Lake Balaton into a sea of mud, and offroad the
many terrain was even worse. A preliminary
arillery bombardment followed by delay in
lunching the advance only served to forewarn the
enemy: On the morning of the atack, 6 March, 0
artillery bombareiment was provided and in vain
attempt to maintain an element of surprise, some
troops were dropped off as much as 11 miles
(18km) from the tart point of their attack, leaving
them already exhausted by the time they got there
Leibtandartes tanks began w bog down almost
immediately, some sinking as deep as the turret
ring. Despite all these difficulties the men of the
division attacked with their customary aggression,
tbat progress was painfully slow; only two miles
(Skm) were covered on the first day. By 11 March
the SS had taken the towns of Simontornya and
Arora and were holding off determined counter-
attacks. Although exhausted, they pressed on and
crowed the Sio Canal; and despite the slow
movement of most of the German force, the
LSSAH reconnaissance battalion under Joachim Peiper actually pene-
‘uated 45 miles (72m) into enemy territory, almost two-thirds of the way
to Budapest
Any hope that the bulk of the German force could fight its way
forward tw support him was dashed by a massive Soviet counterattack
although the Germans held fast, their Hungarian allies disintegrated om.
their flank. The SS woops were pulled back to regroup around
Stuhweissenburg on the main route to Vienna, Fortunately for the
Leibsandaste, the same appalling conditions that had hampered the
German advance now slowed the Red Army, allowing the remnants of
the division to make a relatively orderly retreat covered by successful
rearguard actions,
The failure of the offensive, and false rumours from senior Army
‘commanders that the SS oops had showed a lack of determinatio
‘enraged Hitler. Accusing the Waffen-SS oops of cowardice, he ordered
them to remove ther distinctive unit cuffbands as a punishment. Despite
apocryphal ales of Dietrich and his officers sending back their culTbands
to Hitler in a chamber pot, the truth is that Dietich simply refused 10
pass on the order. (Though such an order would have been taken a a
{great insult, these units had infact already been ordered to remove thet
fclfbands asa security measure to prevent Soviet intelligence klentilying
the unis opposing them.)
During late March 1945 isolated Kampfgruppen from the division
vere stl fighting determined rearguard aedions while slowly retreating
towards Wiener Neustadt. By the beginning of April the Laidstandarte
had been reduced 10 evo small combat groups holding the line berseen
that city and Vienna, where they successfully held off several powerful
attacks belore disengaging. By now the entire division numbered less
than 1,600 officers and men and just 16 tanks ~ less than ten per cent of
its normal strengeh. Gradually forced back through Austria in the
closing weeks of the war, by mid-April its remnants were in the area
sround Mariazell, When the war ended on 8 May, those who had
survived immediately headed west to surrender to US forces and avoid
the fate of less forninate Watfen-SS troops who were captured by the
cengeful Red Army
The Lributandarte had evolved from parade troops treated with some
scorn by the armed forces, to one of the most highly regarded combat
formations Germany possessed, Given its reputation for holding fst in
even the most dire straits, it was sid of i that “Every unit wants to have
the Leitstandatey ts side, Is selédiscipline, eagerness and enthusiasm,
lunshakable calm in crisis stations and sheer tonighness are examples
to us all’ Despite the tarnishing of the reputations of many Watfen-SS
tunits by atrocities, there can be no doubs that in terms of sheer combat
tlfectiveness the Labwandart SS AdlfHierwas one of the best German
formations of the war, A total of 52 soldiers from this division were dec
‘rated with the Knight’s Cross
special insion
Cor ptch
Sues 1995-45, The ESF was the int it to wear the rine sone,
wah no unit unl or ther dona insignia,
Shoup
1285-90, lange, long, cued menogra of intervie ete LAH
1s8049, ale, anglar version ofthe above
The opie were machincembroderd no he a
dln freed ranks amped nt mec fr
tenon NCO ra and ng or beonzed mes for
ccc. Fiom 181, offecn were to mea wie
metal yes for NCOs From Nay 194, ened
ski wore epraeemorale ch side on
tor thoes sey cole iin te gar ;
form of ophen The embroidered cypher on Col}
cenliged straps may be found in sivergrey or in the
.ppropriate colour to match the Waffenfarbe
piping.
Cuffand
This bore the tide “Adolf Hitler” in two forms: (1)
Gothic (Frakeur) serie. Firs pattern, worn only for
a few months in 1953-34. (2) Siterlin scrip.
Inwoduced shor after the fist patern and worn
sunt 1945,
Numerous syles of manufacture are known for
the ‘Adolf Hitler" cuffband, the most important
being: (1) A woven ‘R2M syle” rayon band with
Imacineambretere ana Bevo
aye ee
81“
sevenstrand metalic thread edging, the inscription
rmuchineembroidered in silvergrey thread for
enlisted ranks, and handembroidered in
aluminium wire for officers; the thickness of the
aluminium wire varied considerably. (2) A
‘machinewoven band with the inscription woven
in aluminium thread integrally with the band,
‘generally referred 10 a8 the “Hlatwire’ type. (3)
From 1943, the tite was machinewoven in pal
Brey artificial silk on a black rayon band for all
ranks, bythe firm of BeVo of Wuppertal
References 10 machine-embroidered tides
being for enlisted ranks and handembroidered
or flatsrire woxen examples being for officers are
an oversimplification. It was far from uncommon
for NCOs or even junior tankers to wear wire-
embroidered titles and for officers to wear
machineembroidered versions, especially in the
field. The divisional commander, ‘Sepp’ Dietich,
Wore a special version of the culfband with the
lewering executed in gold wire. Infact this was a standard base band
With gold wire sewn over the top ofthe original aluminium wie edging
Helmet insignia
In late 1983 helmets worn by the Leiltondartehacl decals added. On the
right side was a black shield with white edging and white runes, and on
the lef. a ticolour shield with black/white red bands. These were worn
"until early 1985, when black runes on a silver shield replaced the orginal
version. In August 1985 the LSSAHadopted the standard combination of
black runes om a sver shield combined with a red shield bearing a white
ise witha black swastika, as worn throughout the SS.
2. SS-PANZER DIVISION DAS REICH
Designations
10 September 1939 Panzerverband Oxppreussen
10 October 1999 SSVerfigungs Division (mot)
1 April 1940 ‘SSDivision Deutchland
21 December 1940 SSDivision (mot ) eich
May 1942 SSDivision (mot) Das Reich
November 1942 §$Panzergrenadier Division Das Reich
2 October 1943 S&Panzer Division Das Reich
Commanders
Oct 1939-0et 1941 SSObergeuppenfirer Paul Hausser: Ort-Dee 1941
SSObergrippenfihrer Wilhelm Bittrich; Dee 1941-Apy 1942 SSOber
gruppenfithrer Matthias Kleinheisterkamp; Apr 1942-fxb 1943,
SSObergruppenfiihrer Geong Keppler; FebMarch. 1943 SS-Brigade-
fihrer HerbertEmst Vahl; Merch 1943 SS-Oberfilhrer Kurt Brassck;
MarchOet 1943 SS-Obergruppentahrer Walter Kriiger; Oct 1243-fuy
1914 8S Oberfihrer Heinz Lammerding: July 1944 SSStandartentihrer
Christian Tyachen; Ju-On 1944 SSBrigadefuhrer Otto Baum; Oct
1944-Jan 1945 SSObertahter Heinz Lammerding: Jan 1945 SS-
Standartenfhrer Karl Kreutz; Jon-Manh 1945 SSGruppentihret
Werner Ostendorff; March—Apr 1945 SSStandartentihrer Rudolf
Lehmann; Apr-May 1945 SS-Siandartenfiurer Kart Kreutz
Principal elements (1944)
SSPanzergrenaier Regiment 8 Deutschland SS-Panvergrenadier
Regiment 4 Der Fidher; SSPanzer Regiment 2 SSPanveriiger
Abteilung 2 SSSturmgeschiitz Abteilung 2; SSPanzer Arillene
Regiment 2 SSFlak Abteilung 2: SS-Panzer Aufkkirungs
Abteilung 2: SSPanzer Pionier Bataillon 2
Campaigns
This division originated from the combining of the existing
SSVT Regiments Deutichland, Genmania‘and Der Filer with the
sappers and signalless of the SSPionierstarmbann and the |
‘SSNachrichtensturmbann. The SSVT or SS-orfigungiruppe
was created in March 1935 from previous tnits of SSPolitisehe
Bereitsehalten, and the fist ofthe SS-VT regiments (designated
Standarten at that time), Dewselland, was formed in Munich in
September of that year One year later a second regiment,
Germania was founded in Hamburg; and following the Anschiuss
with Austria a third, Dey Flier, was ereated in Viena,
The various SS-VT units, with the exception of Der Bihir, which was
sll forming, served during the Polish campaign under Army command,
The Deuischtand regiment was atached 10 the Army's Panzer Division
Kempf, part of Heeresgruppe A striking south into Poland from East
Prussia, whilst Germania was allocated to Heetesgruppe Bin the south
Deutschland acquitted itself well during attacks on the Polish defensive
‘a cary pre-war photograph
postions ofthe Mla Line, in particular the seizure of Hohe 192, which ‘ting cote and
Fequired attacks uphill agains ercely defended enemy postions, The ‘es ae andthe ram
regiment alo took part in the defeat of the Polish fortreses on the presi patch pote Cnet)
Modlin Line, the soldiers of Drutscand receiving glowing praise from
General Kempf for their performance in bate
Unlike its sister regiment, Garmania was not used asa cohesive unit but
split up and attached piecemeal as separate detachments to support
various Army units. The decision not to group the various SS units that
‘took partin the Polish campaign into a single force was deliberate: Hitler
wished to appease senior elements of the Wehrmacht who opposed any
growth in the power and influence of the armed SS in parallel with the
traditional armed services, However, given the performance of these
units in the field, in October 1999 Hitler ordered the formation of the
SSVerfigugs Division under SSObergruppentihrer Paul Hauser, a
highly experienced former professional Army officer. The new division
would include, in addition tw regiments Deutschland, Germania
and Der Fihver, the SS-Antllerie Regiment, S$Pioniersturmbann,
‘SSNachrichtensturmbann, reconnaissance and antitank detachments,
The West and Yugoslavia, 1940-44
The new formation attacked through Holland to link up with para
troopers who had dropped at Rotterdam. Although the various SVT.
units had been formed into a division, during this intial stage of the
18