eae tert Lea The Waffen-SS (1) 1. to 5. Divisions er Te AMIIE War ocaea [erage NS oes Teabor in 1951 an eurety Register He spent sven Than hos pled » ‘echlnte Ho the author tie tor Oreo. 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 e 14 22 37‘ret Cans ny eyes OH id eon {oto om ‘mito. arcane mpm nt apap ee ‘NP evo nas rk i a Ba La, ‘min cng toa Pt =e | Seoc | 0 ‘Sota wok snovorenminn on Artist's Note Br Bite ona, Gngow 08 2UA, Senta 358-0094 1 Dansargrender Regiment Der Faber nthe potoaraph {shan te 1849 or arty 1044, 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 SSspices 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 inlicatedfl 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 battleReorganised 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-haupt40 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"