Post
by Marko » Thu Apr 17, 2003 11:40 am
This was an ad hoc unit formed during the battles in the Oder bridgehead at Schwedt, it had a strength of over 10,000 men.
On 31 January 1945 Skorzeny's men occupied positions in the Schwedt bridgehead, this was a regimental size unit and was composed from:
- Jagdverband Mitte (Hstuf. Fuccker),
- SS-Falschirmjäger Btl. 600 (Hstuf. Milius),
- 1 sturmkompanie (Ostuf. Schwerdt),
- 1 scharfschutzenkompanie (Ostuf. Wiescher).
Skorzeny's Stab remained in Schwedt, while a forward command post was established in the bridgehead itself with a code name »Solar«. This Stab »Solar« was in command of all SS-units in the bridgehead (all above mentioned units) and was later renamed in SS-Regiment Solar. The remains of it (apparently only SS-FJB 600), were later sent to defend another bridgehead and were then in April together with SS-Feldersatzbrigade 103 (Ostubaf. Lang) and remnants of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.7 (Ostubaf. Prager - KC holder) absorbed into SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.103 »Solar« also known as SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.7 »Solar«.
Back to the Schwerdt bridgehead, Skorzeny gradually received the next reinforcements:
- Ersatzbtl. des Husarenrgt. Schwedt (Nr.9),
- 2 Flak Abt. (105mm),
- 1 Luftwaffen Rgt. sent by Göring,
- Volkssturmbtl. Königsberg,
- Volkssturmbtl. Hamburg,
- 1 Rgt. from Rumanian Volksdeutscher,
- 1 White Russian btl.,
- 12 stugs,
- 8-10 paks (75mm),
- 3 8,8 Flak (sfl.).
Luckily for Skorzeny the Russians didn't attack immediately, so he had time to prepare defenses and train his mostly inexperienced reinforcements. When the Russians attacked he lead an aggressive defense with numerous counterattacks and caused them heavy casualties. The fighting lasted till the end of February and this so-called Schwedt division suffered heavy losses but held the bridgehead against superior enemy forces (up to 15 times stronger) and destroyed a lot of tanks (mostly in close combat).
As a result of these actions Skorzeny received the Oak Leaves as the 826th German soldier.
- @#% - when you try to write this word.