Hello Folks:
I found mention of the above unit fighting in Alsace in December of 1944, and am not able to find any further information on it. I have tried Google, Lexikon-der-Wehrmacht, etc. with no luck. Was this a veteran unit or green? Who commanded it? It was by its name an escort unit for Himmler. Is anyone able to tell me more, or steer me in the right direction? Thank you.
SS. Bgl.Btl. Reichsführer
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SS. Bgl.Btl. Reichsführer
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My 2 cents,
During the battle in the French Vosges mountains and Munster Valley, called the Colmar pocket, fights were going on from 19 november 1944 till 9 february 1945".
On the 6 Decembre 1944, the Reichsführer Himmler took over the command of the German forces engaged there, the army group Oberrhein (Upper Rhine). Several sources mention that he followed that battle from the HQ of the 189 Infantry Division at Wintzenheim
The battle was extremley tough, long (16 December 1944-25 January 1945) the French and US troops engaged had to retreat several times, many positions were taken, abandonned, taken again. It took more than a month to overcome the German positions and the nearby Battle of the Bulges did not helped.
Himmler being in person in the front line for quite a while, I guess that his SS. Bgl.Btl. Reichsführer was with him. But I couldn't get any mention of them in all the French sources I checked, sorry.
http://ilwww.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/ ... s/aral.htm
lkirch-graffenstaden.ifrance.com/bataille_colmar_20janvier.htm
perso.calixo.net/~knarf/ guerre/poche/himmler/himmler.htm
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/air/ba ... istorique/
During the battle in the French Vosges mountains and Munster Valley, called the Colmar pocket, fights were going on from 19 november 1944 till 9 february 1945".
On the 6 Decembre 1944, the Reichsführer Himmler took over the command of the German forces engaged there, the army group Oberrhein (Upper Rhine). Several sources mention that he followed that battle from the HQ of the 189 Infantry Division at Wintzenheim
The battle was extremley tough, long (16 December 1944-25 January 1945) the French and US troops engaged had to retreat several times, many positions were taken, abandonned, taken again. It took more than a month to overcome the German positions and the nearby Battle of the Bulges did not helped.
Himmler being in person in the front line for quite a while, I guess that his SS. Bgl.Btl. Reichsführer was with him. But I couldn't get any mention of them in all the French sources I checked, sorry.
http://ilwww.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/ ... s/aral.htm
lkirch-graffenstaden.ifrance.com/bataille_colmar_20janvier.htm
perso.calixo.net/~knarf/ guerre/poche/himmler/himmler.htm
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/air/ba ... istorique/
Regards
Daniel Laurent
Daniel Laurent
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Thanks
Hello Laurent:
Thank you for your efforts; this unit is hard to find anything about, so I will continue my search. My father was involved in the fighting in Alsace at this time, as an infantryman in the US Army, so there is a good chance these guys were shooting at him!! I thought he might be interested in anything I could find. Please take care and thanks once again.
Thank you for your efforts; this unit is hard to find anything about, so I will continue my search. My father was involved in the fighting in Alsace at this time, as an infantryman in the US Army, so there is a good chance these guys were shooting at him!! I thought he might be interested in anything I could find. Please take care and thanks once again.
John W. Howard
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Some Data
John,
Here is some data I have on the unit.
Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS was originally formed within Himmler's Headquarters Staff [Kommandostab RFSS] on 15 May 1941 at the SS Barracks at Oranienburg.
In February 1943 Hitler ordered that this escort battaillon, having proved itself in battle, be upgraded to the status of an assault brigade or Sturmbrigade thus Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS was established. It was stationed on the island of Corsica in the summer of 1943.
On 2 October 1943 Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS was used to establish the 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS. Just prior to this in September 1943 the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS was reformed with 4 Companies and a separate Feldpostnummer.
Then in June 1944 it appears that the reformed Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS was exchanged with the II. Bataillon of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 35 of the 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS.
While the 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS continued to fight in Italy until February 1945 and then to Hunagry in February and March 1945 and then the Steiermark in April and May 1945 I can not determine where the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS went from my sources.
I also came across reference to a SS Begleit-Bataillon RFSS z.b.V. being established in 1945 also with a separate Feldpostnummer but no other information.
I used the following sources for the above information:
Tessin Vols 4, 5 and 16
Nafziger volume on Waffen SS and other Units
Bender Volume 4 Waffen SS
Hope this helps,
Best regards,
Ron Klages
Here is some data I have on the unit.
Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS was originally formed within Himmler's Headquarters Staff [Kommandostab RFSS] on 15 May 1941 at the SS Barracks at Oranienburg.
In February 1943 Hitler ordered that this escort battaillon, having proved itself in battle, be upgraded to the status of an assault brigade or Sturmbrigade thus Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS was established. It was stationed on the island of Corsica in the summer of 1943.
On 2 October 1943 Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS was used to establish the 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS. Just prior to this in September 1943 the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS was reformed with 4 Companies and a separate Feldpostnummer.
Then in June 1944 it appears that the reformed Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS was exchanged with the II. Bataillon of SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 35 of the 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS.
While the 16. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Reichsführer SS continued to fight in Italy until February 1945 and then to Hunagry in February and March 1945 and then the Steiermark in April and May 1945 I can not determine where the Begleit-Bataillon Reichsführer SS went from my sources.
I also came across reference to a SS Begleit-Bataillon RFSS z.b.V. being established in 1945 also with a separate Feldpostnummer but no other information.
I used the following sources for the above information:
Tessin Vols 4, 5 and 16
Nafziger volume on Waffen SS and other Units
Bender Volume 4 Waffen SS
Hope this helps,
Best regards,
Ron Klages
Ron Klages
Lynnwood, Washington USA
Lynnwood, Washington USA
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I came across a reference showing that the battalion was in February 1945 with Heeresgruppe Weichsel (OB: Heinrich Himmler), known as Begleit Battalion Groß, and was consequently encircled at Arnswalde. This might support Daniel's theory of the battalion (finally!!) performing its original task - escorting Himmler.
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Hmmmm...
Hello folks:
I would like to thank all of you for your efforts and apologize for not thanking you sooner. This is still a bit of a mystery to me, so I will continue to check my A.O.K 19 records for December 1944 and see if there are any new clues to help. Unfortunately my A.O.K 19 records are selective and not complete. Best wishes.
I would like to thank all of you for your efforts and apologize for not thanking you sooner. This is still a bit of a mystery to me, so I will continue to check my A.O.K 19 records for December 1944 and see if there are any new clues to help. Unfortunately my A.O.K 19 records are selective and not complete. Best wishes.
John W. Howard
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Hello
Begleit-Btl. Reichsführer SS when with the 19. Armee had aaprox the following OOB according to a report it filed:
Stab
-1. Schützenkompanie
-2. Schützenkompanie
-3. Schützenkompanie
- 4. schwere Kompanie (IG-Zug, Gw-Zug)
- Pz. Jg. Kompanie (Hetzer)
After Operation Habicht (12.-14.12.44) it had lost 50% of the Schützen-Kpn. 1 Hetzer written off, 1 Hetzer in long term repair, 3 Hetzers in short term repair, 3 Hetzers ready.
(Source: F.Bruns Unser Ende im Elsass, A, reprint of original report by Begleit Btl Reichsführer SS).
According to Zuführungsliste Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Truppen, a delivery of 10 Hetzers left HZA on the 2.2.45.
I doubt the Btl is identical with Begleit-Btl z.b.V. Reichsführer SS in Arnswalde. According to unconfirmed information, it was involved with 38. SS-Pz.Gren. Div "Nibelungen." Also, at least the Pz.Jg.Kp remained in the West, as it is listed among the units under OB West as per 1. April 1945, referenced: Panz.Jg.Kp. RF-SS Bgl. Btl (Kuscher).
OOB of the outfit in Arnswalde
Stab (Nachrichtenzug, Pionierzug)
-1. Schützenkompanie
-2. Schützenkompanie
-3. Schützenkompanie
- 4. schwere MG Kompanie
- 5. schwere Kompanie
(According to Fritz Mörke, Der Kampf um den Kreis Arnswalde)
Cheers
Hans
Begleit-Btl. Reichsführer SS when with the 19. Armee had aaprox the following OOB according to a report it filed:
Stab
-1. Schützenkompanie
-2. Schützenkompanie
-3. Schützenkompanie
- 4. schwere Kompanie (IG-Zug, Gw-Zug)
- Pz. Jg. Kompanie (Hetzer)
After Operation Habicht (12.-14.12.44) it had lost 50% of the Schützen-Kpn. 1 Hetzer written off, 1 Hetzer in long term repair, 3 Hetzers in short term repair, 3 Hetzers ready.
(Source: F.Bruns Unser Ende im Elsass, A, reprint of original report by Begleit Btl Reichsführer SS).
According to Zuführungsliste Gen.Insp.d.Pz.Truppen, a delivery of 10 Hetzers left HZA on the 2.2.45.
I doubt the Btl is identical with Begleit-Btl z.b.V. Reichsführer SS in Arnswalde. According to unconfirmed information, it was involved with 38. SS-Pz.Gren. Div "Nibelungen." Also, at least the Pz.Jg.Kp remained in the West, as it is listed among the units under OB West as per 1. April 1945, referenced: Panz.Jg.Kp. RF-SS Bgl. Btl (Kuscher).
OOB of the outfit in Arnswalde
Stab (Nachrichtenzug, Pionierzug)
-1. Schützenkompanie
-2. Schützenkompanie
-3. Schützenkompanie
- 4. schwere MG Kompanie
- 5. schwere Kompanie
(According to Fritz Mörke, Der Kampf um den Kreis Arnswalde)
Cheers
Hans
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Well , the reaason why I ask for specific info is because I want to dig out if this Btl. z.b.V. was part of the so called "Division Voigt" at the Oderfront . It is said that Voigt's Arnswalde-Kampfgruppe was later renamend to Division Voigt , but I still have some doubts which units were really part of this so-called Division .
Jan-Hendrik
Jan-Hendrik
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Thank You Hans!!
Hello Hans:
Thank you once again for your help!! I have been busy and not on Feldgrau for about a week, so my sincere thanks have been late in coming!!
Hello Jan:
Please let us know what you find out!! Best wishes to both of you!!
Thank you once again for your help!! I have been busy and not on Feldgrau for about a week, so my sincere thanks have been late in coming!!
Hello Jan:
Please let us know what you find out!! Best wishes to both of you!!
John W. Howard
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