The route of the SS Der Führer............

[tigre]

Hello to all ; some time ago I prepared this short review of this unit of the Waffen SS...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

At Prague.

In May 1939 the Regiment SS DF moved towards the training ground of Gross Born in order to complete its instruction and then on June of that year, the regiment fully equipped and trained, arrived in Prague in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to fulfill functions as guardians of the Reich's Protector, Konstantin Freiherr v. Neurath

Changing the Guard - movement through Karlsbrücke.

Today
http://ferienunterkunft.wordpress.com/2 ... e-in-prag/

Fuente: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26

Saludos. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

At Prague.

Karlstor.






Now - picture sent to me by Paul (thanks)

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

At Prague.

Changing of the Guard................







Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

On the Western Front.

With the start of the campaign in Poland, the SS DF did not see action though and continued on its security functions until mid-September 1939, when the regiment was transferred towards the western front and assumed duties as a motorized reserve of the 7 AOK (General der Artillerie Friedrich Dollmann).

Later the SS DF was deployed in the southern sector of the Westwall, fulfilling duties limited to small incursions and night patrols.

Glottertal


Visit of importance, the General Commander.


View of Glottertal - Black Forest.
http://cgi.ebay.de/wq60993-Glottertal-x ... 0590510323

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

Reorganization.

At the beginning of October 1939, the SS DF moved again, this time at the training camp of Brdywald near Pilsen. There, with other regiments of the SS-Verfügunstruppe (SS-Germania and SS Deutschland), the regiment joined the SS-Verfügunsdivision, which was organized on October 19, 1939.


Our old Battalion Commander, the SS Hauptsturmführer Fritz v. Scholz.


With the rangefinder ..................

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

West Front.

In December 1939 the SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser was ordered to attach one of his regiments to the army and it was designated the SS-Der Führer. The regiment, reinforced by the artillery battalion of SS-Hustuf. Erpensmüller, a company of sappers and a supply fraction, moved to the area of Datteln and was attached to the 207 ID of Generalleutnant Karl v. Tiedemann. Shortly before the start of the campaign the SS-DF was displaced to Bocholt. The Regiment commanded by SS Oberführer Keppler had not combat experience yet .............

On the eve of the offensive the III./ SS DF (Wäckerle) was in Elten on the Dutch border. At night the regiment took its starting positions on the border. Meanwhile the II. / SS DF (v. Scholz) was attached to IR 368 and was deployed in Anholt.




Barricades on the road in Elten .................

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.
http://www.grebbeberg.nl/index.php?page ... --division

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

West Front.

On May 10, 1940. At 05:35 hours 9. / SS DF Harmel Hustuf crossed the border and progressed into Holland while 1. / SS Blt Pi (Hustuf Bedker zum Busch) blew up the T-iron barriers placed by the enemy and soon the 22 Battalion of Border Guards retreated towards Arnhem. At 07:20 hours the III. / SS DF reached the road and railway bridge at Westervoort on the Yssel finding that it had been blown already. Wäckerle's companies received the task of crossing the river of 150 meters wide at that place. The task force sent to take by surprise the bridge disguised as Dutch cyclists had been discovered and arrested in Didam and Pz zug No. 7 (Oberleutnant Köhler) followed by two military trains: Truppenzug 7a (I. / IR 374) and Truppenzug 7b (10. / IR 374) could not prevent the demolition.


The bridge combined rail-road bridge at Westervoort (3 kms east of Arnhem) was blown ...............

While the II. / SS DF (v. Scholz) as part of Gruppe v. Oesterreich (IR 368) underwent Doetinchem at 08:30 hours and 09:30 hours in Doesburg reached Ijssel but found the bridge destroyed. Around noon the battalion could cross the bridge north Ijssel.


On the Meuse (Doesburg?)..........................


Our first fallen comrade......................

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.
http://www.grebbeberg.nl/index.php?page ... --division

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Paulus II]

Hello Tigre,

I'm afraid you've gotten your bridges mixed up, we do have a lot of them here and it's esy to get confused .
The one you labeled as "On the Meuse (Doesburg?)......." is indeed a bridge over the river Meuse but it is located in the city of Roermond.
Doesburg is not on the Meuse river but on the river IJssel some 80 kilometers North of Roermond.
The bridge at Doesburg was a pontoonbridge (also known as a shipbridge or floating bridge), a type of bridge that was quite common in those days. To the North of Doesburg lies the city of Zutphen, also on the IJssel river, where the Leibstandarte and 227. Infanterie Division crossed the IJssel over another shipbridge.

Below is a picture of the Doesburg shipbridge

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/k ... directlink

Best regards,

Paul

Hmm, I wanted to show the picture itself and not a link but since Photobucket updated their site it doesn't work anymore so I tried Picasa that everyone seems to be ecstatic about but........it's not. If it aint broke....don't fix it!

[Die Blechtrommel]

Here:



I got it done by photobucket, the old version!?!

Regards
Juha-Pekka

[tigre]

Hello to all ; Paul thank you very much for shedding light on it.....and Juha thanks for that picture . As the pictures shows the road of the II. / SS DF (I guess), it seems that the picture at Roermond was taken later then.........by the way any idea when the SS DF crossed by Roermond?......... All the best. Raúl M .

[Paulus II]

Thanks for the picture Juha! I've tried switching back to the old version of Photobucket (there is a button on the new screen for that) but nothing happens then

Raul,
As far as I'm aware Der Führer was never in the vicinity of Roermond, the city lies well outside their area of operations during the attack on Holland and for them to have passed through there on their transfer to France would mean that they took a very long detour, there are shorter routes for that.
Roermond was taken by elements of 30. Infanterie-Division that was part of IX. Armeekorps/6. Armee while Der Führer operated in the area appointed to X. Armeekorps/18. Armee.

Best regards,

Paul

[tigre]

Thanks Paul . Maybe it was going back to Germany after the end of the campaign?......Regards. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

West Front.

While far away into the Reich, at 08:55 hours the Hustuf. Otto Kumm of 30 years was having the breakfast with his wife when he heard the news on the radio and realized the expected offensive was underway. Back to the front at 10:30 hours began the attack against the Yssel position, defended by the 4th Company, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment of Captain Heijnen. The company Harmel must cross 200 meters of open ground to reach the shore, there were casualties.


The fort of Westervoort neutralized by Kepplinger................

At 11:00 hours the first breach occurred in the defense and the Germans were able to cross the river; among the first was Hauptscharführer Ludwig Kepplinger, who with two comrades managed to neutralize the bunker and clear the way for the regiment. The opposition was very hard, but gradually the Dutch troops retreated towards Wageningen. Later the SS Hauptscharführer Kepplinger Ludwig received the Knight's Cross for this action.


Ludwig Kepplinger of the SS-"DF" received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in September 1940 due to his performance and ability during the crossing of the river IJssel in May of the same year.

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.
http://www.grebbeberg.nl/index.php?page ... --division

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

West Front.

Soon the 16. / SS DF and the 1. / SS Pi Btl began to organize the crossing of the river in rubber boats and rafts in order to cross vehicles and light support weapons. Here crossed first with a motorcycle with sidecar the leader of the 1. Platoon of the 1. / SS Pi Btl, Ustuf. Gustav Heinrichs but unfortunately the vehicle hit a mine and blew up, killing the officer and two soldiers, apparently this officer had rush to earn a medal and not properly assess the situation.


SS Sappers of the 1. / Pi Btl SS preparing some dinghies for the crossing ................

Meanwhile around 15:00 hours the 9. / SS DF (Hustuf. Harmel) reached Renkum and received machine gun fire from the edge of the forest from the troops of the 5. Hussar Squadron of Captain Nijhoff; these troops retreated at 18:00 hours.


Light armored vehicles M38 used by the Dutch...........

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.
http://www.grebbeberg.nl/index.php?page ... --division

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more follows...................

The route of the SS Der Fuhrer - From Prague to the Western front.

West Front.

Only at 18:30 hours the 9. / SS DF (Hustuf. Harmel) could move through the deserted streets of Wageningen, it is true that had suffered casualties, but not to the extent that he (the Coy Ldr) had expected. The SS Der Führer had successfully passed its baptism of fire and SS Oberführer Keppler could be proud of his men, mostly from Austria. Arnhem had been peacefully occupied by German troops and on the evening of May 10, 1940 Wageningen was also in German hands.


Soldiers of the DF SS marching by Wageningen ................

Sources: ebay auction. Lunes, 24 de Noviembre de 2008, 20:07:26
Sepp Lainer. Ases de Infantería. F. Kurowski.
SS-Das Reich. The Story of the Second SS Division 1941-45. Gregory L. Mattson.
http://www.grebbeberg.nl/index.php?page ... --division

Cheers. Raúl M .

Feliz Navidad - Feliz Natal - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noël - Merry Christmas - Wesołych Świąt!.