Vouume I “GHB WAFFEN-SS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE" JANUARY 1978 ISSUE NUMBER VI Editorial Notes & Asides Updates Crossed Swords Film and Book Reviews "A Belgian in SS-Totenkopt" “The British Free Corps’ SS-Totenkopf- standarten Final Segment Waffen-SS Photo Archive Page Afterwards Richard Landwehr Box 70, Mt. Reuben Ra., Glendale, OR 97442 USA Subs: 4 for $5 8 for $9.50 Singles: $1.50 Bimonthly + Two Specials Above: The Legend of the Leibstandar ‘3S-Oberst-Gruppenfuehrer Sepp Dietrich. (Photo courtesy of Military Photo Archives)STEGRUNEN #6 Dedication, Bai torial, Notes, Updates (2. SORUIUE MIEN I NO Em Kan OUI OHO Natt fen nae SUEIER OAK MM Wes ai Rinse Soto This one is dedicated to SS-Standartenfuehrer Jochen Peiper, hero of the Leibstandarte, bearer of the Knight's Cross with Swords and Oak- leaves and prominent victem of “victor's justice". A brilliant sold- ier and multi-lingual scholar, Peiper's wartime idealism turned dark- iy cynical after 13 years of imprisionment and torture. We'll let him speak for himself (from an interview with author Charles Whiting): "I'm sitting on a powder-keg, you know, Ellis, Kempner and Wiesenthal-—they have all tried to get me in the past. One day someone will come along with another “story" and the powder=keg will explode under me. Then it'll be all over at last. I'ma fatalist today. The world has branded me and my men as the scum of the earth. No one will ever be able to clear it up now, They see us as German gangsters--Al Capones, the lost of us--with a revolver under each armpit and @ tommy gun in our hands...Me, I've emigrated within myself, Let the so-called government do what it likes. Germany--don't make me laugh! lialmeay? Who lnows and who cares anymore? No one--no one--will ever sort out the mess now. Too many lies have been told these last twenty-five years." On 14.7.76, the powder— keg exploded, Peiper was murdered at his remote French country home by GIA tra- ined Israeli agents. The “Wiesenthal Gang" had claimed another victems Naturally no suspects were ever aprehended, nor was there anything tut the most cursory investigation, The culprits are well know, tut they're safe. Only a small band, calling itself the "Jochen Peiper Gruppe" has endeavored to strike back at the sordid agents of this murder. Incidentally, if SIEGRUNEN has any purpose at all, it will be to (am Peiper put it) to “clear it up now". ie may not succeed out we will certainly try. And someday others will pick up the story as well. SOA A JOE ARSE EIU I aE A El EDITORIAL: I've decided if there is going to be an editorial it ought to have some sort of message to it and again this seems like the appropriate spot to let the late Jochen Peiper speak. This comes from a letter Peiper wrote while in prison to the Waffen-SS veteran's organization. Peiper: "Don't forget that it was in the ranks of the SS that the first European died... The Buropean idea is the only political idea worth fighting for today. Never have we been closer to the realization of this ideal. Throttle the lie, strike slander in the face, help your neighbor and the war widow. Only if we can find our way back to the simple values...and make a virtue out of poverty can we get things moving again and erect those barriers necessary for the day when the deluge descends upon us. During the war our divisions were regarded as particularly stable in time of crisis. In the jails of the world we have proved how steadfast we are. Let us hope that oned day our children will say that even in our Diaspora we contrib- uted to the idea of reconciliation and the European movement. I greet all of you who have remained free in jail." (In preparation for SIEGRUNEN is a detailed article on the post-war "Dachau Tribunals" wherein many members of the W-SS, including Peiper, were exposed to a "democratic systen of justice". Personaily, the story of these trials shocked me. Odds are you have not read mich about them since the US government and the "atrocity" scholars regularly give them either the silent treatment or a whitewash. The facte are not pleasant and are often sordid enough to jolt the most jaded. This "blackout" must end someday.) ARN RANAH ADH NEHRU AHMAMAAK HMM HRRNR IR RAMRANN HHH nh Ro HHH TEAMS MME RRS H NOTES & ASIDES: I am delighted and most grateful for the continued helpfulness and Kind words from SIRGRUNEN.readers. Its gotten to the point where I cannot personally acknowledge every letter but be assured that your comments are heart- ily appreciated. Changes will continue to be instituted for SR. The first photos will appear in this issue & there will be more to come! (Anyone who wishes to contribute W-SS photos and/or sell them, please contact me.) With SR#7, @ new, clearer typeface should put in an appearance. I'm also investing in an’addreso printer so ‘© cut-down labor in that regard. Many new endeavors will be at- ‘tempted in the future. My publishing schedule has shifted once again, this time to bi-monthly with two "special" issues per year. This will allow for a greater balancing of time on my part (the "specials" will be prepared when I have the most time to work on SR), and also allow for some format experimentation with the “svecials". They could be devoted to one subject. contain mostly vhotos.ete:SIBGRUNEN #6 Notes,Updates, Crossed Swords G. [ESE 8 EE Special thanks this issue go Bill Ray for providing exactly the information neeé ed for the Totenkopf Standarte article, to Dr.Jerry Sawke for providing some in- teresting material and suggestions, to Gary Rath for hie kind comments in re; "Identifying SS Runic Collarpatches" by Ji Cunningham (Hope we can get some more contributions from you Jesse?) and Part I of the "BFC" article, to John Patrick for his comments on "Nordland in Berlin", to Kenneth Reguli for his comments on the "Parade of Rgt.Schill" and to everyone who renewed or extended their subscriptions, Very special thanks are in order for Jean-Louis Roba who has not only provided ne, mith sone valuable photographs but hae made possible the first publication of our headline article this issue: "A Belgian in the $8-Totenkopf Div.". Also thanks to Richard L. Jones for hie permission to re- print part of an excellant monograph that he wrote. Back Issues: #1--a limited supply left at 50¢ each, #2 & #3 have been reprinted and are aveilable at $1.50 each or the set for $2.75. Thanks to those whose advance orders made this ri printing possible. #4 is currently not available tut will be reprinted next Year. Purther details next ime. Updates: We mentioned the very fortunate: e cape of SS-Standartenfuehrer Herbert Kappler from the "war-crimes" prison in Gaeta, Italy in BR¥4. At the time he was thought to be near death from stomach At present he has regained the ability to walk and has shown signs of recovery. He lives in Cologne and hes been assigned police protection; the W. German govt. has refused to extradite him to Italy. The story again made the newspapers when the extraordinarily influential Israeli foreign minister brought the subject up at a dinner in his honor given by the W.German government. This individual roundly condemned his hosts for still "coddling" war criminals by refusing to extradite Kappler or at least take the guards off of him (no doubt so he could get the treatment accorded to Jochen Peiper). In SR#4,I also re~ viewed the Mollo book A Pictorial ory of ti and mentioned the photo of the massacred platoon of soldiers trom Witting? Dis mg" Div who had been dispatched to Dachau Camp after the regular guards had been fired upon by inmates and fled. The "Wiking" soldiers were given the task of restoring order and turning the facility over to the advancing Americans (hopefully with a guarantee that they would then be allowed to withdraw to the German lines). More information on this incident than Mollo provided has since emerged from inmates(!) of Dachau. (n 29.4.45, control of the camp fell to SS-Ustuf.Wickert who utilized the good offices of the International Red Cross (a delegate of which was at Dachau) to surrender the camp to the nearest US Army unit, The RC delegate was able to con- tact a Major Every who acceeded to the German plans, these being: 1) Guards would remain on duty to prevent the escape of disease carrying prisoners until the American arrival. 2)Upon US Army entrance the guards (from "Wiking" ). would essemble in good order and march unnolested to their own battle lines. Every- thing went well up until phase 2, then the General Commanding had second though- ts, At this point,according to independent testimony given ty a Father Lenz & Nerin E. Gun (both prisoners), the American troops went "berserk" and’ began killing all SS men in sight. They went so far as to open up the kennels and liguidate the dogs therein. There was no resistance and the death toll was high. 4n order given to bombard the defenseless town of Dachau for two hours was over- ridden at the last minute when it was discovered that other US elements had al- ready entered the town. There was (naturally!) no investigation of this inci- dent and of course, no “war crimes" trial for the perpetrators. RNR MM RII ENF ICU RR IK IC ER II ICI RI ‘ROSES SWORDS: ‘SIBGHUNEN needs a little controversy, this a criti- eiem from ay Iconoclestic comrade, W.C. Ray is always welcome. Since I've already given him my own views on the matter, I thought 1 would throw his comments to the floor, everyone is welcome to comment on ‘them, Mr-Ray: “And/or @ general criticism, it's illogical for both you and for that matter the Germans to be indignant about bloodthirsty partisans. Don't forget who invaded whom. The Nazie had no right to be where they were; no one should expect the occupied country to roll over and die quietly." Responses are hereby solicited! I will eventually comment too. RL.SIBGRUNEN #6 Film Review: "Der Hitler Jugend In Binsatc" heen SEITE EA a IDEIC SEI SEEM SJE Se Mi A i I I I < This film, also titled "Hitler Jugend Im Geschart" (same TLE neaning as above, i.e. "in action’), is available only from WUN Bnterprises,PO Box 1455, Greensboro, NC 27402 for $35 ppd. .Format: Super 8mm/275 Ft, B/W,Silent 15 minute length: This was originally a German newsreel that probably appeared in the late summer or early fall of 1944. It is the only film that I know of available to the general public that actually shows Waffen-SS units in combat. Firstly, this is a riveting, fas- ginating and extremely exciting film. It's as if the pages of Wenn Alle Bruder Gchweigen guddenly came to lite--—the vicarious experience of aeeing W-58 troops n motion far transcends the study of still photos and/or slanted prose works. The first segment of the film deals with 12.SS-Pz "Hitler Jugend" in Normandy. A splendid look at the uniforms, equipment and weaponry of the @ivision is pro- vided. While some of the shots may have been taken from training maneuvers (such as the scenes of div.armor going full flood across open fields), it is still extremely impressive. There is little feel of direct combat in this foot- age however, even though the heavy weapons are shown in action and the grena- diers ere shown advancing. Wuch emphasis is given to long lines of Allied pris- oners end knocked out enemy equipment. Of course, the propaganda content of such scenes is obviously the message. This segment ends with tanks and infantry of "HJ" advancing into the bombed-out rubble of Caen past scores of fleeing refugees--~a very candid and tense sequence. For those interested in the late war weaponry & vehicles of the Reich it is all on display here, although there ig far toomuch to catalog in this brief space. Another segment (the longest) covers the IV.SS-Pz Korps in battle east of Warsaw in the summer of 1944. This is not. made-to-order propaganda stuff, tut vivid and graphic men-at-war foot- age. Coverage starts with soldiers of SS "Wiking" preparing for an attack and then shifts to SSGruf.Gille in his command vehicle. Then the camera follows from beginning to end a combat assault by elements of SS "Totenkopf". Assault and anti-tank guns are shown plastering a Red Army armored unit entrenced in a village (with many hits!). Close-ups focus on officers (including Stubaf. Hub- ert-Erwin Meierdress, commander of "Totenkopf's" Sturngeschutze detachment) directing their batteries and troops preparing for the attack. There is obvious tension in their faces. Finally the infantry assault commences, cautiously at first as the grenadiers move past an incredible scene of carnage. The twisted metal of knocked-out tanks is all about. Flames and billowing smoke clouds burst forth from vehicles and buildings. Suddenly the grenadiors move with alacrity, and it seems that they have drawn small-arms fire. The camera follows the act— ion from the front ranks, although their are obvious lighting contrasts at this point, perhaps caused by the raging fires. When it is apparent that local hos. tilities have subsided, the soldiers take a refreshment break; a grenadier calm- ly reaches through the shell-hole of a smoldering T-34 to reignite a cigarette. Then the unit forms for redeployment via troop transports and the camera follows the movements from the vantage point of a troop carrier. This segment ends with another clip of anti~tank action, soldiers readying for action & prisoners be- ing brought in. The display and variety of different uniforms is utterly fan- tastic and the film clarity allows for easy identification of insignia and de- yices (slow-motion projection at 6 frames per second is very helpful here). Actually, I could write all day on this film and sill not convey-its tremendous enotive impact. You have to see it! And I hope every subscriber of SR will have that chance. In addition to the long W-S3 segments, there are parts of the film devoted to the Hitler Jugend and their fortification work in the east (very well filmed, both from the ground and air) and an almost science-fiction like look at the deployment of a one-man submarine, followed by a great scene of an award's ceremony in which both the Ritterkreuz and the Deutsches Kreuz are bestowed. What else can I say? It's marveloug.material from anyone's point of view. Get it if at all possible. Absolutely reccomended! RL sie ggonnione ion oL ou nHK ae em A RN RN I eH Aa crbite:” R44 mas dedlcnted'No” S-Stuba? Pent Tandwonr” (the oniy- soldier |i bearing that name to-win the Ritterkreuz). As of now, I know he comman~ ded II./14.3S-Polized Ret, KIA 27.2.45. Poethumous Awardt.17.3.45.SIEGRUNEN #6 Feature Artiale: abgigien in Totenkops" 3 5. ESREANUMHAMHANRAANARNMN ANH AH HR RNSRH HHH SN IN NOH RRA HMR K RANMA MMMM RH A BELGTAN IN THE “TOTENKOPF” DIVISION by. Jean-Louis Roba A BELGIAN IN THE “TOTENKOPEY DIVISION Pateeduction: (RL) The following article is precisely what I had hope. A io obtain win I firet conceleed of SIEGRUNEN. It contains the person a el reminiscences of an ethnic~Gernan/Belgian who served during the wer with 3-SS-Pz "Totenkopi" as told to Jean-Louis Roba. It is import ant to realize that this story was not related until more than 30 years after the war and that there may be some errors in dates and places. But it ie basically @ very sound piece. It is a fascinating story and Tam proud” that ite first publication will be in SIEGRUNEN. Dut to the fact that the vot- gran in question still lives in Belgium he will be referred to throughout the text as “A-M.". I have, with the author's permission, revised some of the sen- fences, thus any possible errors in interpretation are my responsibility and not those of the euthor, Jean-Louis Roba. JUHI SO IORI I BOEHON OF mi fem HE TOUR ILI UENA Ra OUI MUN IOEN MIEN nO PART ONE: Belgium is divided into three different language/ethnic area: North there are the Flemings who speak Dutch, and in the South t Walloons who speak French. But near the German border around Liege, there are people who speak German. That part of the land (the "cantons redimes") formes- ty was German, but after WWI it was taken from that country and linked to Belo giun as part of the "debt of war". It was not the same problem as the “Alsase- dorraine’ that the French wanted in 1918. Alsece and Lorraine were a part of France, that had been taken by the Germans in 1870-71. But the Bupen-iMalmedy area given to Belgium after WWI had never been Belgian before. The inhebitunte aid not notice any difference; they conserved their German language and sone of them already knew French. in 1940, the German Army invaded the West and Hitler wanted to widen the erea ef the Reich, The ex-‘cantons redimes" were returned to Germany, and becoming German, the inhabitants had to do their military duty in the Wehrmacht. Sone refused and joined ‘the underground forces; but they. were very few! The others were sent separately to different divisions that fought in Russia, Africa and fhe Balkans. Therein lies the problem of the "Malgre Bux",i.e. the men who were forcibly enlisted in the German Army. After the war, some were treated as"trai t= ors" fighting against the Allies of Belgium. Up until recently, the ex-soldiers (who were mostly peasants) sought to be recognized as "victems of the mo" sna thus obtain pensions for their years of service in the German Army. Dut they were not all "victems" in that area. As in all occupied-Buropé some men warved to fight on the side of the Germans and volunteered to do so> Zt is not surprising when you realize thet the young people‘of Bupen or Malmedy had fathers who had fought in 1914-18 in the ranks of the German army. So it was for the "hero" of this article, "A.li.". His mother came from Germany end he spoke, fluent Germen..In.1942, when Goebbel's propaganda began.in the occup- ied countries, he also wanted "to know the great adventures with the SS suncs on. the collar", .and he. enlisted inthe Waffen-SS. He was only 17-18 when he joined his assigned unit at the end of 1942. His Division, the 3.S8-Pz "Toten- Kopf" was stationed at the time in Northern France, at Mailly-le-camp (Cham= pagne). Finally coming back from the Demjansk Pocket on the Bastern front, it had been sent to France for rest.and refit. Mailly was (and always has been!) g garrison town with great military. barracks. At the end of 1943, other liaffen- SS elements would be sent there; notably the SS Pz Ret.12, the armores acetion of 12.SS-Pu-Div. "Hitler Jugend" under the command of SS-Obstubaf.liax iinsche, The great plains of Champagne were well suited for the training of tank eens, nieM" Wag not the only foreigner in his division. fo fill in the gape, many ploikedeutachen" (ethnic Germans) were included. But due to his knowledge of both French ané German "A.M." was chosen as a "Dolnetscher" (interpreter) by one .ck bis. officers. hen ‘the american forces landed in North Africa, (Cont.)SIBGRUNEN # Belgian in the SS-Totenkopf Div." (6, SHAMAN ARAN RMN OHNE EN NEHER SHS NA HRN ONS en RATER HR MERE NK (continued) the German troops invaded southern France. "Totenkopf" took part in that operation and "A.M." riding in a tanker-truck, followed the columns and helped supply them. It was a great trip in France. Via Albi, Montpellier, Narbonne,...the $8 sol: ‘tually reached ands of the Mediterran— ean Sea. They did not meet any resistance. They were garrisonned at St.Laurant je la Salendes where the men sypathized with the French civilians. ("A.M." told the author that, in 1975, he returned to that little town with his wife and after being recognized by some Frenchmen, they were invited to dine with many of the: It was winter, but the soldiers enjoyed their stay on the "Cote d° Azur". To spend time, they participated in exercises and built fortified pos- itions on the beach strands, On 1 February 1943 the holidays were over. At the station of Riveslades, the men were loaded on train cars which took them back to the Eastern Front. They arrived at Kiev on 8 Feb 1943 and suffered some casualties while disembarking on the platform of a railway station. Some partisans had taken them under fire and a young Belgian volunteer was killed. "Stupid to come from so far and die there", thought his comrades. It was the baptism of fire for "A.M.". At the front the division would have other things to do than to fight against the "Bandits". "A.M." was at the time in the SS-Rgt."Thule", which was a recon~ aisance formation. It was mainly composed of Schwimmwagens (amphibious jeeps) and motorcycles with side-cars (all being painted with the white death's head emblem of the Division). Prom Kiev, the men were rushed to Walki (around 150ka or 90 miles). Our Belgian volunteer slept on the back seats of Schwimmwage! He could sleep and have some rest before the trials to come. He could not drive ‘and did not want to learn, so his life was easy. At Walicl, there was a great repair center for disabled Panzers that came from the front. At the center of the village, the engineers had dug great latrines surrounded by wooden fences. One day, some Ilyushin 10's, the well-known "Stur- movik" came and tried to bomb the reparation plants. One of the bombs fell in the latrines...it is difficult to describe the situation, but the reader has only to know that the village was now covered by more than just snow! Soon the great battles for the conquest of Kharkov began. The men fought in ‘the snow and the SS-Rgt."Thule" which had no long range weapons had to go far from the German lines to engage the Russians. In the end, Kharkov fell to the Germans. When roving in the country, the German soldiers were surprised by the Kindness of the Russian peasants who welcomed them. Their houses were poor; their floors were only beaten earth, Bus the peasants invited them to eat toge- ther and offered them stones of sunflower. They ate the juicy portions and spat out the centers. They always said: "Russia is good; but communism is not good" in half-Russian, half-German slang. Another surprise for the inva: were the very agaressive lice. They were everywhere and from time-to-time the men were obliged to shave their heads to also made louse competitions. When one of these beasts was captured and before it was killed, points mere awarded according to its size. One may have been called "10 tons" or another "20 tone"...the soldier who accumlated the highest record won the contest! In July 1943, "Totenkopf" was deployed for the battle of Kursk and "A.M." was wounded on the 12th by @ mortar shell at Prokhorovka. He watched an officer sitting on the seat of a Plakvierling, shooting at the Sturmoviks that made low flying attacks. A bomb fell near the guns and the officer had one of his lega blown off, but he refused to be sent to the rear. He remained at his post and bled to death without stopping to do his duty. After Kursk, the withdraw- ing actions began. a 00 OOOH BOE EJ ION IR BORO D UDINE AO EEO BOI ODA OBI ABE DER ODA ROBIESIEGRUNEN #6 wh poieien in, the 33-1 tenkop ls SENEMAAEN ARENA HH EN ERE AR NMR ER RRMA R EMER RRR KANN THO in November 1943, "A.M." wos given a leave, It took him 14 days to reach home gt Malmedy via trucks and trains. When he returned to the front, he traveled for 21 days! The unit was then near Dolinskaia. On Christmas 1943, the men of qrotgnkopt™ were attacked by the Russians and had to fight in the Holy Night. fhe SS-Kgt."Tmule" had suffered such heavy losses that it had to be diebacded. thomsenscund Bimsel? temporarily without work! He was offered a chance to join fhe Panzer troops and agreed with entmeiasm. After a short training he way ready to climb into a Panzer IV. The retreating Division was now in the Ukrad: Sra he tanks took part in a lot of fighting. One day, near Mardarovka, "A.M." #2 IV and ite crew passed near a radio car of the Army bogged down in the mud. The soldiers asked for some help. The S$ men threw them a rope and tried te pull out the vehicle. But the tank itself skidded in the ma, and a few monents iater could not move anymore. The Russian mid was so dangerous that if one vehicle sunk into a little bit, 4¢ literally was glued to the ground and only great crane could pull out the vehicle. As they had no crane and as they did not want to leave their good workhorse in Russian hands, the SS men decided to Geetroy it. They put dynamite and munitions in the barrel of the gun and tur- ret. The first attempt did not succeed. On the second try, the Panzer IV ex. ploded with considerable noise. Now, on foot, the crew tried to rejoin the unit they had lost following that pisode. They went to Galati in Rumania where they were picked up ty the Feld- gendarmerie and sent back to the front in composite (ad hoc) units, which were Put together for the purpose of slowing the enemies’ advance. The ‘konmandeus of ‘the tank told them: "Boys, let's not fight in vain. Let's try and hurry end rejoin our division." So, t! evaded", and found "Totenkopf" at Bakau (to the south of Jassy). When they arrived, the first thing they had to do was to shave fheir heads. If they had escaped from the Soviets, they still could not escape from the lice! (To be Continued). (Jean-Louis Roba has advised me that any questions readers may have of "A.M." can be past on via SIBGRUNEN. Questions should be brief and not require a lengthy response. Any such questions/answers ‘that may develop will eventually be printed in SISIRUNEN). SAXAAANAAARSERRNN HHA RRNAARNKURNH NHR KARNEREANA ANTS EAA ROMAN RA HH AER RRO R THE SAGA AND ORDEAL OF THE BRITISH FREE CORPS (Part IT fart I conclude ‘the legion of St.George being up- graded to the status of @ W-SS combat unit, the BFC, and being given the appropriate uniforms & insignia. The time is January 1944). Part II: Somewhere around this point « schism seems to have taken place in the unit; the Waffen— SS contingent was reduced to a 30 man platoon (under Sets. Bartlet, Milton,Montgomery,Regan,Wood and Butcher). Other members were presumably released from duty, while still, nother group chose to remain in the W-SS tut not serve in’ the Free Corps; these men were sent to the reserve/replacement btl. of the SS-Totenkopf Div. sometime in early 1944. Nothing more was to be heard from them. Shortly there- after, members of the British Anti~Bolshevik League (the primary English prop= ganda group in Germany), met together to select a Corps commander from a list given to them. The field was narrowed to officers from the SS-Wiking Div.; the } first being SS-Stubaf.Carl Gotsche, who spoke fluent English and was a former | resident of the Netherlands Antilles, He had served 3 years at the front with | "Wilding", but he was not chosen for the BFO command. Several other prospective candidates were likewise passed over until the committee finally settles on the competent SS-Hpstuf.Joheannes Roggenfeld, who had lost an arm while command- ing 8 company of SS-Flak-abte: Diy. "Wiking". (Continued Next Pag. wanhaalennnnnnnkananttettnntnrhurnenanscsne aan seeee sree eee nee unsnn NOTE: The W-SS Knight's Cross book by Jost W. Schneider has been held up due | to a title change to THEIR HONOR WAS THEIR LOYALTY! @ expected on 15.12.77) Div."SIEGRUNEN #6 The Saga and Ordeal of the British Free Corps” 8 ‘ameneatabsraneenxnannntrannnanrssaiancasoeas se ett tases eacoeesouncawenn’ tenes i In February 1944, the NCO's of the BFC were dispatched on var- dous tours of Pow camps and frontline 3S units. Sgt. (now Schar~ fuehrer) Butcher spent time on the Russian front wearing an puau" uniform while in the company of several SS war reporters. During the last part of January, SS-Hstuf.Roggenfela paid his first visit to the Corp's billets at Pankow and he turned ina } Feport to Obergruppenfuehrer Berger (SS manpower development head) which was in turn sent to RF-SS Himmler. This causa Him- mler to issue a declaration concerning the BFC on 30 Jan. 1944, This document was in 3 parts: 1)All anti-Bolsheviks were to be sifted out of the mass of British POW's and united in a new 0 be used exclusively against the Russians and never against their own countrymen, 2)British volunteers were guaranteed all the post-war benefits siv- en to their German-counterparts, 3)Obgruf.Berger was assigned the task of 4. suing monthly progress reports én the Free Corps. On 10 Feb. 1944, the Free Corps was transferred from Pankow to the LAH barracks gt lichterfield in south Berlin where they were reunited with Scharfuehres Butcher ‘and other members who had been at the Russian front as observors. Prob- ems ensued.’ Two Free Corpsmen promptly deserted at turned themselves in at a FOW camp, and the observors from the Russian front were too demoralized te Yolunteer favorable comment, (a total of 6 Pree Corpamen had been in ‘tussia). At this time the BFC was given over to ‘tranch D-1 of the SS-Hauptampt, other= wise known as ithe Germanic Central Administration. The commander of Dil in yamery-February 1944: was Standartenfuehrer Speer who had managed to get an Englishnan, Vivian Stranders, commissioned a Sturmbannfuehrer (Major) with the popes that he might-be-made titular head of the BFC. For this reason Hauptsturm- fuehrer Roggenfeld was merely designated as “temporary officer commandine". However, Stranders remained’ purely a civilian propaganda figure, who had so real Wish to associate with’ the BFC, Later in February 1944, it was decided by D-l fojship the Free Corps to the "Germanic House” in Hannover which was part of gylarae ex-monastic complex: that serviced the political needs of 3S personel rom various European nations, It was hoped that the stay at the "Germano House" would: help build a little more cohiseveness into the BFC. On arrival at the Hildesham railroad station in Hannover, Hpstuf.Roggenfela met his troops and §avg them a spirited address in English, indicating that gnee the Corps obtained enough new members ‘they would be sént on direstly to the foreign volunteer training facility at Sennheim, Alsace for combat iveteu- ctione, It was at the Germanic House that the official actions pertainine to enlistments took place and such oddments as new belt buckles, ties ana jack- boots were distributed to the troops. Upon registration, each Briton was seo quired to sign the following form for his files: syubeing @ British subject, consider it my duty to. offer my ser- Tees ea Be, Common European struggle against Communien, and hearby apply to enlist in’ the British Free Corps," The required form was printed in English and not German,’ and’ served the purpose for the usual "oath" to Adolph Hitler, which the Britons’ were excused tron, Ad the ‘same time paybooks were issued, and the perennial chaperon of the BFC, Withelm Reisner, applied for transfer’from the Wehrmacht to the Waffen 3S eo’ as fe sexve with the Corps. Recruiting was. to remain a primary occupation for Free Corp's NOO's who made regular tours around 40 POW camps. On some of the drips en American Army Air Force officer, a Lt.yndall from Texas, accompanied fhe Britons. Tyndall eventually applied for combat duty and was sent to % front-line SS unit from which he was declared missing in Maron 1945. At least he was never apprehended by the Americans. (To Be Contimed Next Iosue). BAMAAN ANH HARRAH NNN RANA HENAN RN LEK RAN AN MRM RENEE em aKSS-Totenkopfatandarten Part IV" 6 " BinntakSwnwxnnnnnnltaceeeneoReeiandarten Pert ty" SS-TOTENKOPFSTANDARTEN: The Rar’ ar ed me with the missing p: 8 to the i.e; the commanders, troop strengths and duty nformation comes from documents in SS-Oberst ten Wie Anger Auch, which I had bypassed on xperts™ as Stein, Reit atest all of whom rand his literary works. I have since ioned “experts out worth their 3 This listing of the TK-Standarten will list postings and commanders as of 5.5.40(1) and 2 -7-40(2), and these Gates will be referred to by (1) and (2) in the text. Ali unit strengths are shese compiled as of (2). Unfortunately there is not room to list sit the btl. sotnancers, but when @ btl. was posted separately from the ret. this wits be Tee dire oP strengths will be listed as follows: Officers/NCO's/Total Strength wae, iirgt3,Stendarten being attached to the "Totenkop!™ Div. are excluacn oe SAARADRANEAENINAHSENN HOH EN ORR EKNN HEM UNH HH RRENH REE HAKERENRI ORE E ERE Eee eee gy A SSct Standarte: Stationed (1) at Prague and (2) in Den athe Netherlands. ‘onmander was SS-Standartenfuehrer Otto Reich. Strength: 6: '374/2500. renee SSP rere retit ater eee eset eatericass SS-2 Stangarte: Stationed (1) at Oranienburgwith II/at Stettin ana (2) entire tigsens seoeeet enburg. Commander: SS-Brigadefuehrer Breithaupt. Strengths 23/294/1561. Pinte Ratan et ttititttetr est ttereeertitensertereettttete § SS-2 Standarte: Stationed (1) Norway and (2) Sandefjord, Norway, ommander: erfuehrer Voss. Strength: 47/502/2407~ eerie) 33520199 t st tenesn ss ease a teonssacdeee seed 14%r+. SS-2 Standerte: Stationed (1) Norway and (2) Dranmen, Norway. Sreeeeireeeaee ere Richard Hermann(1) and SS-Staf.Scheider(2). Strength: 45/343/2363. Beh Seemneete Raitt ttite tosis test treeetettbet eset reressray tees rey Soeszt Stanterte: Stationed (1) at Krakow, Foland and (2) at Radon’ Polena’ rommander: S~Oberfuehrer von Jena and (2) SS-Staf.Scherner and SS-Oberf. Claasen. Strength: 48/391/2360, ee aa Et tiitettrstattreteeebtrertersertesteteseserseeey. Soot pisndertes Stationed (1) at Bruenn, Commander: SS-StafsPaul Nogtdte. ‘Strength: (/1862. eri Hi ttitertertati cer remeest ied necieetis dil hiey. Terspe Simmterte: Stationed (1) et Danzig with I/at Bromberg and 111) st cote ne etd (2) ell elements at Krakow, Poland. Commander: (1) $S- Qbersturmbannfuehrer Demme and (2) SS-Standartenfuehrer Demme (he got promoted). Strength: 41/254/2458. RR RIP either tteetietesirsesiteeredessisiees SS-T Standarte: Stationed (1) at Radom, Poland with I/in Warsaw and I1I/in tisha eee entire element at Zandvoort, the Netherlands. Commander: S3-otor- sturmbannfuehrer Diebitsch. Strength: 55/367/2563. etter treet eeressstesesies rabiesdies Somentperenterte: Stationed (1) at Posen-Zreskau with Il/at litemarnerady, Commander: SS-Obersturnbannfuehrer Sacks. Strength: 46/244/2360. ee Hitter rererresiteretesieriettertttisiiien i$ SS? Standarte: Stationed at (1) Denmark and (2) Copenhagen, Dennark. 0% ert ‘tubaf.Martin. Strength: 40/392/2187, TORT Histnaiet Se tttttetttrrtterterrreeressttiteeettesterrtisetie (Continued Next Page; due to my technical error, 13 S8-? stendente appears out of sequence on the following page.RL).SIBGRUNEN #6 "SS-Totenkopfstandarten Part Iv" (lo. RT IE IO IO a ae CR MH a Cho ton nee 2} SS-0 Standarte: Stationed (1) Vienna with III/at Linz. jommander: SS=Standartenfuehrer Klingemann. Strength: 29/315/1709. FEET HEHEHE Eee tre ettreieteeenre ree 32 S8-2 Standarte: Stationed (1) at Plock, Sudost Prussia with IlI/at Allenburg. Reeectgr teeter atetarttnrer ontare Strength: 30/165/1484. PEO HEHEHE HEHEHE HEHEHE ee eee eee 35 SS Standarte: Stationed (1) at Prague. Commander: SS-Staf.Karl Hermann, ‘Strength: 33730472009. srttaetieeteeivers tebiptes ae strstr re SS-2 Standarte "K": Stationed (1) at Kirkenes, Norway. Commander: S3—Obstubat. Z. Strength: 24/77/913. TEETH HEHEHE HEHEHE Teeter eetieaetete 1 SS-P Reiterstandarte: Stationed (1) at Warsaw, with squadrons detached throu, ut the vicinity. Commander: SS-Staf.Hermann Fegelein. Strength: 54/190/1829, ptittittetttetetttereeetttEHitteter tte ttitrtetitetetbestteeeeeetarsteteretens 2 SS-I Reiterstandarte: Stationed (2) at Iublin, Poland, Commander: SS-Stubar. Magill. Strength: 31/14/1511. OHH HEE Bere HEE eet tr ttettter tet eteeded terete eee tet Sonder-Btl./SS-T Standarten "Prag": Stationed (2) at Prague. Commander: S3-Hp- eget. Strength: 5/867. TEER TEETER HHO HEHEHE EEE eee eee SS-T Standarten Inspektorate: Stationed (1,2) Oranienburg,Zerlin. Inepekteur: ‘Ss-Oberfuehrer Schwedlers Strength: 18/69/169. EHEEEE EEE EE HEHEHE HEE EEE HEE EEE EERE ee eee The total strength of the SS~Totenkopfstandarten as of 28,7.40, including re- Placement, training end inspection staffs, stood at 34,325 all ranks. This wraps up.the series on the S3-I Standarten. At some later date coverage will be de~ Yoted to. the 3.SS'"fotenkopf" Div. Any articles dealing with this subject and/or including what we may have missed in this series, are more than welcome! RL JERE OOH HORONUHUI JEOOEUN OU IOUS RH LEOUEE HR NAAN RIK Deer sea atm Massacre at Malmedy. Charles Whiting, (London: Leo Cooper) Totis/beaplte the = @larming title and a blood-curdli ay Bunks dust-jacket, this is definitely not your standard SS/At- rocity tome. It is the story of “Kampfgruppe Peiper", the 5,000 man combat group from the “LAH” chosen to spearhead the drive to the Meuse River in Dec. 1944. Whiting tells the story well (if not always with total accuracy), giving excellant background material and first- rate coverage of the advance and retreat of the Kampfgruppe. Most importantly he do. not neglect to cover,indepth, the truly sickening post-war "Malmedy Tr- dials" in which Oberst-Gruppenfuehrer Dietrich, Gruf.Preiss, Staf.Peiper and 70 other W-SS soldiers were taken before one of the most literal “kangaroo courts" in the history of jurisprudence. Fortunately the author, Whiting, is a "func- tional" professor, involved in ching English-German translating, rather than the "intellectual" professors like Stein, Weingartner, et al. It is inter ting to note how that le: than fastiduous group has completely neglected the “Mal. medy Trials", becau: frankly, it would have screwed up their own bigoted theses Whiting has been responsible for a number of in-of=the-mill WW2 books, but this one is ily his it. Unlike most academic "atrocity" writers, Whiting went to the direct source for mech of his story; i. Jochen Peiper and some of the veterans involved. The book is beth honest and exciting, but beyond that it is a bitter indictment of the post-war “justice” meted out to so-called "war erim- inal: Granted Whiting examines in depth the shooting of American prisoners at the crossroads to Malmedy, but he does so from different angles and in fact, putt the matter in its correct perspective. While he does not give much credence to the German viewpoint that the hooting did not begin until a number of the pris- oners had attempted a mass ‘ape, he do. point out t various mitigating fac- tors that may have led to the incident. His viewpoint is at least objective and balanced. Again to his it, Whiting delves deeply into the unbelievable (cont JERE EI SO EEA EIR EIEIO OR HRS RR ERSTBGRUNEN #6 awaalaffen-SS Photo Archives Page qn, Te ack oe FLAK GREW OF 1.SS-P2-DIV.. "LEIBSTANDARTE SS. ADOLF) HITLER Photos are from 2 April 1944, during the homecoming par- ade of the SS-Sturmbrigade, "Wallonien" at Charelroi, Bel~ gium. The weapon is a 37mm gun, emplaced at the "Plaine de Manueveours"(Don't. kmow.if.I got. that: right) in Charleroi. Top shows the crew (possibly Volksdeutsche) in typical late war uniforms. Bottom photo shows the» seme crew’ + one (a Rex- ist militiaman from the Garde. Wallonne on'the left) deploying their weapon for, the camera. Photos courtesy of Jean-Louis Roba.SIBGRUNEN #6 WSS Books (Continued), afterward 12, STEPPINGSTONES PUBLICATIONS #ogDrana of the Buropean Jews by vr. Paul Rassinier, LeT pages, Jed edision. $3.00 plus 50¢ postage & handling whe firet systematic study of the hoax of the legendary ix Million Jews. Send for free book list ) of over 130 different titles on politics, history, genetics,and social movements. Plus a special 4 Page pamphlet written as an answer to Alex Haley's "Roots" and an interview with Prof. Hans Sysenck. drite: Steppingstones Publications, Box 612, Dept 1-5, son erz Silver Spring, . SANE crmino,ManTLano 2001 MAE RH HO A I na W=SS BUCKS (cont.from p.10)...horror story of the post-war “Walmedy Trials" and what victor to the vanquished. The SS trials at Dachau and the criminality with which they were conducted by certain "Americans" (if we can call them that), will be the subject of a detailed article in a forthcoming SIBGRUNEN. Although the bulk of the book deals primarily with tne courageous and desperate battlefield actions of "Kampfgruppe Peiper”, it ulae publishes mich vital material that has been deliberately neglected in the past. This volume constitutes essential reading for anyone interested in the iiaffens SS and has my solid endorsement. RL. Propaganda; The Art of Persuasion: iit ty Anthony Rhodes (NY: Chelsea House) 5 Tshed at 930.00/Remaindered at $14.95. I'm including this because it is an extraordinary book. It is a lavish, oversized art book-format, heavily illustrated in color. This contains beaxt» iful repros of some! of the greatest posters from the period including many per- feining to the Waffen-SS. You will find herein the fanous Waffen-SS poster by Anton, perfectly reproduced, full page in color as well as extraordinary ones for the Italian SS Legion, Dutch SS volunteers, ete. I would say the W-3S mat- erial is well worth the price alone, but there is mich more---most of it rare and striking. No matter what area is covered, the book is a graphic and visual delight and anyone should find it continually absorbing. The text is also bere ter than usual for thie type of things If thie meen knock you out of your ghair nothing will. Available from Publishers Central Bureau, Marboro Books and those type places. (SR will feature a list of dealer's addresses sometine in the future and would very much appreciate recommendations from our readers! ). An ARERR ARE RAN HN IRENE RARER MON NRHN ERT eee eoieae Afterward: As usual there is just not enough room in this issue for what has een promised (inc.Richard L. Jones" essay, for which I apologize), tut what has been left out will appear in the near future. I hope the photos aré appreciated (2 don’t know yet how the repro will turn out); we will try and run sone in each isoue from here on out. For SIBGRUNEN specials, I have in mind things like an issue devoted entirely to insignia or to one unit of the W-SS and if possitie {hese would be heavy on the photos. I have had a request that SR be prepared so as to make it feasible to fit into a 3-ring binder tices more margin on the left) Z,think this is @ good idea, any comments? My own preference ig to put iscues os SR into binders (like the plastic clear ones) that don't require punch-holes but use fastening devices like sliding bars,ete. Anyone receiving SR on a compli- nentary basis, please let me hear from you if you wish to keep gettin it, No- body will be denied a sub to SR because of luck of funds if they ure intereuted & show it. Upcoming articles: Chronology of W-SS units & movements ut I'aln: Argentan, Preiwilligen Legion Niederlande, Judgment at Dachau and much mon Lastly we earnestly solicit your comments & contributions.Froehlich Weihnachten! Je a HIE SEIDEN SOU SOE ID JESDO ODO NN 0 Ie SEER ES I