136th Special Employment Division Staff June '44

[JeffF]

in the book Hitler's Legions this division staff is mentioned as controlling Ost troops in Brittany at the time of the invasion but it is not listed under 7th Army. Did this division come under OB West? What units did it control?

thanks,

Jeff

[MadDog]

At least by early Sept, the 136 zbV was in Antwerp controlling a few misc units. I dont know for sure where it was earlier, but I had thought it was in the Antwerp area for a while.

Mad Dog

[AHK]

I show it as part of 74.Armeekorps, 7.Armee, HG D in Northern France in May, 1944.
AHK

[AHK]

Forgot to post the following units under its control: Einheiten(M) I/136 and (M) II/136.
AHK

[JeffF]

AHK,

Thanks for the information. Wouldn't the Army Group it was under be 'B' instead of 'D?'

What type of formations are Einheiten? Are I/136 and II/136 battalions? What does the (M) designation mean?

Someone else informed me that the 136 Div.Stab. z.b.V was dissolved in May 1944 upon the arrival of 91st Luftlande Division and that the 136's command function over Ostruppen was taken over by Gren.Regt.z.b.V.752 (not to be confused with the 752nd Gren Reg of the 326th Infantry Division which was an entirely different unit). Gren.Regt.z.b.V.752 may also have been known as Brigade Bouriatchenko even though its commander was Oberst Kessler.

thanks,

Jeff

[MadDog]

Well, I will probably screw this up, but as I understand, HeeresGroup D was really another name for OB West, the superior HQ for HrsGp B.

The 136th, while in Antwerp, controlled the 136th (M) regiment, where (M) stands for "Magenkranken", or men who had stomach ailments.

In early September (4th ?) 1944, the British overran the paltry defenses in Antwerp, and pushed out any remaining forces of the 136th that were there. Elements of the 136th Regiment show up in some notes for a while after the 4th.

Mad Dog

[AHK]

Wow, thanks for clearing this up.
AHK