Hoch und Deutschmeister

[Christoph K]

I would like to know what exactly was the Hoch und Deutschmeister and where can I get some good info on the unit. Thanks

CK

[Roger Griffiths]

It was the 44ID ex 4 Austrian ID I think, but not sure. It carried the traditions of the Imperial and Royal (Austrian) 4th Infantry Regiment. It took part in the 1940 campaign, was in the East from April 1941 and was destroyed at Stalingrad. Raised again in the West from March 1943. Title changed from 44ID to 44. Reichsgrenadierdivision "Hoch und Deutschmeister" 1 June 1943. From August 1943 in Italy and in East from December 1944.

Roger

[Shadow]

Further to Roger's Post:
It was formed in Vienna in 1938, from former Austrian Army soldiers, as the German 44th Infanty Division. It's 131st Regt from the Austrian 3rd Regt/2nd Div - 134th Regt from the Austrian 4th Regt/2nd Div and 132nd Regt from the Austrian 6th Regt/3rd Div.
As Roger noted: the Austrian 4th Regiment carried the title "Hoch und Deutschmeister".
I believe there was a unit history written, in German, but I can't remember the it's name - sorry!

[Richard L. Kern]

Hi,

Here are the titles of some unit histories;

Die 44. Infanterie-Division. Tagebuch der Hoch- und Deutschmeister
Schimak/Lamprecht/Dettmer, Austria Press, 1969, 384 pages.

“Die 44. Infanterie-Division”, Reichs-Grenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister 1938- 1945; Friedrich Dettmer, Otto Jaus, Helmut Tolkmitt; Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GmbH, 6360 Friedberg-3, Markt 9. 1975. 160 Seiten

Die 44. Infanterie-Division / Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch und Deutschmeister 1938 - 1945 Bildband Dettmer/Jaus/Tolkmitt, Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, 1979, 174 pages.

Ergänzungen zur Divisionsgeschichte (der 44. Inf.Div.) Teil l: Gefechtsbericht Kesselschlacht um Kiew 20.9.1941 - 29.9.1941 Friedrich Dettmer? 43 pages.

Ergänzungen zur Divisionsgeschichte Teil 4: Stellenbesetzungen von Einheiten der 44. Inf.Div. / Reichsgrenadier-Division "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" 1939 - 1945 Friedrich Dettmer, ?, ?, 1987, 185 pages.

Ry the way, I don't have them, wish I did!

RLK

[Richard L. Kern]

Hi,

Here are the titles of some unit histories;

Die 44. Infanterie-Division. Tagebuch der Hoch- und Deutschmeister
Schimak/Lamprecht/Dettmer, Austria Press, 1969, 384 pages.

“Die 44. Infanterie-Division”, Reichs-Grenadier-Division Hoch- und Deutschmeister 1938- 1945; Friedrich Dettmer, Otto Jaus, Helmut Tolkmitt; Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GmbH, 6360 Friedberg-3, Markt 9. 1975. 160 Seiten

Die 44. Infanterie-Division / Reichsgrenadier-Division Hoch und Deutschmeister 1938 - 1945 Bildband Dettmer/Jaus/Tolkmitt, Podzun-Pallas-Verlag, 1979, 174 pages.

Ergänzungen zur Divisionsgeschichte (der 44. Inf.Div.) Teil l: Gefechtsbericht Kesselschlacht um Kiew 20.9.1941 - 29.9.1941 Friedrich Dettmer? 43 pages.

Ergänzungen zur Divisionsgeschichte Teil 4: Stellenbesetzungen von Einheiten der 44. Inf.Div. / Reichsgrenadier-Division "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" 1939 - 1945 Friedrich Dettmer, ?, ?, 1987, 185 pages.

Ry the way, I don't have them, wish I did!

RLK

[Christoph K]

Thanks for the infos Guys

CK

[David Constable]

Hope the followimg helps.

44.Inf.Div.
Commanded by:
Schubert(Albrecht)(Gen.Lt.) from 1939 to 1940.
Siebert(Friedrich)(Gen.Lt.) from 1941 to 1942.
Deboi(Heinrich)(Gen.Lt.) from 1942 to 1943.
Formed 1st April 1938 at Wein{Vienna}, personnel mainly Österreich.
Inf.Rgt.131
Inf.Rgt.132
Inf.Rgt.134
Art.Rgt.96
I./Art.Rgt.97 [attached]
Aufkl.Abt.44
Pz.Jg.Abt.46
Pi.Btl.80 [Kussin(Freidrich)(-)]
Nachr.Abt.64
August 1939 [26th]
Inf.Rgt.131
Inf.Rgt.132
Inf.Rgt.134
Art.Rgt.96
I and II.Abt
I.(sFH.)(mot.)/Art.Rgt.97 [attached]
Aufkl.Abt.(t.mot.) 44
Pz.Abw.Abt.(mot.) 46
Pi.Btl.(mot.) 80 [Kussin(Freidrich)(-)]
Inf.Div.Nachr.Abt.(t.mot.) 64
Felders.Btl.44
September 1939 [1st]
[H.Gr.Süd, 14.Armee, XVII.Armeekorps]
Heavy losses in Poland.
Pi.Btl.80 [Kussin(Freidrich)(-)]
May 1940 [10th]
[O.K.H. reserve]
Morale was not as high as other Österreich Welle-1 Divisions according to American intelligence.
At Hameln.
May 1940 [15th]
To 6.Armee.
June 1941 [22nd]
[Pz.Gruppe 1, III.Armeekorps (mot.)]
Gliederung:
Inf.Rgt.131 [Stab, I, II and III Btl]
Inf.Rgt.132 [Stab, I, II and III Btl]
Inf.Rgt.134 [Stab, I, II and III Btl]
Art.Rgt.96
I, II and III [10,5cm leFH]
I.(sFH.)(mot.)/Art.Rgt.97 [? four Battr each 4 sFH ?] [attached]
Aufkl.Abt.(t.mot.) 44
Pz.Jg.Abt.(mot.) 46
Pi.Btl.(t.mot.) 80
Inf.Div.Nachr.Abt.(t.mot.) 64
Felders.Btl.44
May 1942
[H.Gr.Süd, possibly XI.Armeekorps]
Summer 1942
[1.Pz.Armee, LI.Armeekorps]
Middle November 1942
Half dissolved 384.Inf.Div. added, remnants of Gren.Rgt.534, Gren.Rgt.535 and Gren.Rgt.536
Late 1942
To 6.Armee, XI.Armeekorps]
January 1943 [28/29th]
Destroyed at Stalingrad.
March 1943
Reformed near Antwerp.
Reinforced by men from Gren.Rgt.887 from WK.XIII which became Gren.Rgt.134 and Gren.Rgt.888 from WK.XVII which became Gren.Rgt.132.
Given honour title „Reichsgrenadierdivisionen Hoch-und Deutschmeister”, this was effective from June.
June 1943
Given honour title „Reichsgrenadierdivisionen Hoch-und Deutschmeister”, this had been given in May but was effective from June.
August 1943
[H.Gr.B]
To Italy.
October 1943
To Slovenija.
Late 1943
Gren.Rgt.131
Gren.Rgt.132
Gren.Rgt.134
Art.Rgt.96
Aufkl.Abt.44
Pz.Jg.Abt.46
Pi.Btl.80
Nachr.Abt.64
January to February 1944
Gren.Rgt.131 [three Btl]
Gren.Rgt.132 [three Btl]
Gren.Rgt.134 [three Btl]
Art.Rgt.96
Füs.Btl.(Aufkl.) 44
Pz.Jg.Abt.46
Pi.Btl.96
Nachr.Abt.64
Late 1944
Refitted in Venezia Giulia.
Late 1944
Gren.Rgt.131
Füs.Rgt.132
Gren.Rgt.134
Art.Rgt.96
Aufkl.Abt.44
Pz.Jg.Abt.44 [? Pz.Jg.Abt.46 ?]
Pi.Btl.44
September 1944
Launched a counter-attack that was described as “terrific” by the Americans. By all accounts it was an excellent fighting unit.
October 1944
Issued 14 Hetzer.
December 1944
Issued 4 Hetzer.
February 1945
To eastern front.
1945
Gren.Rgt.131
Füs.Gren.Rgt.132
Gren.Rgt.134
Art.Rgt.96 [? 95 ?]
Füs.Btl.(Aufkl.) 44
Pz.Jg.Abt.46
Pi.Btl.80
Nachr.Abt.64
May 1945
On eastern front at the end of the war.

Also have a gleidrung chart for 1941 but do not know how to post.

Regards David

[Christoph K]

Thanks David

[donwhite]

This is a little off topic, but the traditions of the 44th Hoch-und-Deutchmeister could in fact be traced back to a surviving branch of the Tuetonic Order in Austria and was thus avery rich vein indeed. After the loss of the Order's Baltic possesions a arm of the order retained in 'raison detre' in Austria where it contributed armed brethren to the defense of the Ostmark againts Turkish Incursions (Seige of Vienna 1683, Battle of Zenta 1697 etc.) around which time its revenue contributed to the maintainance of a permanent regiment. Originally its officers wre limited to 20 nobles. 12 brethren were hung in the aftermath of the July assasination plot against Hitler. (See 'Knights of Christ' Men-at-arms Series)

Cheers

[Jason Pipes]

A detailed listing of this divisions traditions can be found here:

44.Inf.Div

[JohnWilliam88]

Hi,

Could someone please tell me what Corps and Army the 44th Reichsgrenadier division was attached to in March 1945?

Thanks,

John.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a little complement.............

Generalmajor Friedrich Sieber in Poland - Sep 1939!

Siebert led the regiment (IR 55) in Poland, he was promoted to Generalmajor on 1.4.39 and then was appointed as commander of the 44.ID on Oct 01, 1939................

Source: on the picture.

Cheers. Raúl M .