‘VOLUME ‘THE WAFFEN-SS IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE NUMBER 2° Q MaY 1978 ISSUE CONTENTS s Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" SS Schwere Panzer Abteilung 102 British Free Corps Editorial Book Reviews News Notes Photo Archives es Page : a> ae! at ie” eee ABOVE: SS-Obergruppenfuenrer Sepp Dietrich addressing crowi during homecoming cele- bration of SS Scurmbrigade "Wallonien" on 2 April 1944 in Charleroi, Belgium. Trans- lating is SS-Obersturmfuehrer Vermeire. Siegrunen ix published and distributed by Rich Ere eon (Partial issue only; pages Gtendaie, OF S944 USA 10,13 and 14-no longer available) 4, Iesues 85 6 Issues $9.50 BimonthlySTEGRUNEN #8 Dedication & Editorial 2. snk aNda ae axnna mien bate ataaanentnsaaeeeteeia eta eeAnauuedeeexnamnseensetionn A) This issue is respectfully dedicated to the late Waffen-Unterschar- fuehrer and Knight's Cross Holder, Alfreds Riekstins, a Latvian vol- unteer with the 19th SS Div. (lett.Nr.2). Riekstins was killed in action in the year 1959 by Soviet troops, while fighting for the freedom of his country. He was a member of one of the many Baltic partisan groups known collectively as the "Brothers of the Woods". They fought courag— eousiy against the Communists (with no help from the West) for many years af- ter Wi2. For.the most part the story of their ordeal is still surpressed in the United States. Anong their ranks were nunbered many Waffen-SS mens SAGAN RAR AREA RR OEE IO I I tS I EDITORIAL: The time has come to ley,outa,brief exposition of SIEGRUNEN's ob- jectives and purpose. We are of course dealing with the Waffen-SS; an elite body of soldiery composed of nationals from 32 different nations that went extinct a full generation ago. SISGRUNEK's.fundamentalpurpose is to portray the members of the Waffen-SS.as human beings--not as criminal monsters-~and to tell their-story (stories) as truthfully us possible. After a dozen years of studying and writing about the subject I))veme to the conclusion: that. the Waffen-SS would never te treated in a fair-minded, constructive manner by the najor publishing concerns and media outlets in this country. You cannot fight a system that is interested only in propagating a viewpoint based on some facts coupled with large samplings of half-truths, slanders and out-and-out lies. Therefore I decided to simply ignore the "establishment" media and in~ stead offer ay own small contribution to truth and justice with SIScRUNEN. I do not claim to have any superior expertise about the subject and when some— one comes forth to do a better, more professional job than SR, I will gladly step aside and offer my support. My own interest in the Waffen-SS developed slowly. I read all the old-hat “atrocity" books by Stein, Reitlinger,etc. and for a long while totally accep- ted their propagandizing.'It was only when I was able to more deeply explore the subject and see just what really was involved that I began to pexceive deliberate distortions that are being spoon-fed to us by certain media ele- nents. The Waffen-SS was a perfect scapegoat after the war--as a direct link 30 the German National Socialist regime anything could be ming on ize should ers with absolute impunity. This despit ‘act that no members of the Waf- fen-SS did anything worse than could be honestly attributed to any other mil- itary body, contemporary or otherwise. But since SS soldiers were among the most exposed troops during the war anything they did do could be blown com- letely out of proportion. In other words, Waffen-SS troopers could be depict- ed as "Nazi" monsters incarnate; in captivity they could be treated savagely and no one would dare protest, and in fact any "handy" atrocity could be Dlamed on them. What made it more sweet to the victors, was that by discred- iting the Waffen-SS via mass media manipulation, they Could therefore alter history to fit whatever scenario they saw fit to create. The hundreds of thou- sands ‘of foreign voluntéers-—who were freedom fighters in the same sense as that of the American Continental Army in 1776--were subjected to the most vil forms of slander imaginable. And those who weren't executed on absurd pretenses were forced to stay silent and cower meekly if they wished to live normal liv It is a sorry story: And unfortunately you're only going to hear one highly prejudiced version of Waffen-SS history from the major publishing houses in The US. Thus the purpose of SISRUNEN, Af no others ie to, Sneak thempadiere of the Waffen-SS with honesty and respect anc try and place them in their proper historical niche. Continued next page. Sine EAU IOE ESE ei IUCN IE ROE A CE EE For thousands of black & white and color photographs of military topics at reasonable prices contact: MILITARY PHOTO ARCHIVES, 218 Beech St., Bennington, Vermont 05201 USA. $2.00 gets a year's mailings of catalogs. Recommended!STDGRUNEN #6 Edi torial,Notes, Books G. SOI I EIEIO IS EIA IE HE EM EDITORIAL: (Continued) The Waffen-SS was a phenomena from any viewpoint; decades _ Shead of any other armed force in training and military development; totally unique in its mlti-national composition and broader political objective: The fact that it originated in "Nazi" Germany and was considered an enemy e: enent several decades ugo, mist not be allowed to obscure its brilliant achiev- ments and extraordinary sacrifices. RL JOOROUNIONIOEIOLOUER RIO ER IESE A ASG I KAU IES AEA JE ER OCI OEIC Many new subscribers may have noticed that SR is an 4 Notes expensive publication. As it stands, the current -. price tag guarantees SIEGRUNEN's publication and al- so helps dissuade potential trouble-makers who are not seriously interested in the subject. Certain individuals in the latter group have even objected to permitting me to advertise SR in more "establish- met" type publication::. So far they have been totally unsuccessful. BACK IS— SUNS: only #4 and #6 remain at $1.50 euch & they ure in small quantities! Eve- ry\hing else has been cleuned out--perhaps Ly Summer we cun start reprinting them. On the topic of letters; I have received a lot of them, mostly highly favorable plus one sniper or two, and when I got the space and time in SR, ex- tracts will be run from them. In the meantime my grateful thanks to everyone who hes written © line, sent in a subscription or bought a book! We have ob- tained alot more photographs (many of them real kmackouts), that you will be seeing in the months\ehead, SIEGRUNEN is however, always in’the market for photos, particularly those of foreign volunteers, and if you can help in any— way drop us a line! Next issue, to follow shortly after this one, will cons— titute our Spring Special and will feature a goodly quantity of pics. In ad- Gition to SR, I am also working on a Waffen-SS book or two, which has been slow going so far due to-time limitations. Hopefully it will pick up steam shortly. RECEIVED: From Dr.Jerry Sawka, copies of two réviews of the Bender/Tay- lor W-53 History Vol.4. One deals with the chapter on the 15th SS (lett.Nr.1) from the viewpoint of an emigre Latvian, and while endorsing the coverage he Goes so with reticence---the image stigma is still hard to shake (i.e, the Waffen-SS was a criminal organization). The other review by Dr.Sawka himself, appeared in the "Ukrainian Quarterly", This deals strictly with the 14th SS (Ukrainian Div.), and is a very perceptive and intelligent treatment. Nore im- portantly the reviewer has noted factors that were overlookea in the book, particularly the beneficial effects that the formation of a Ukrainian volunteer Givision gave to German-Ukrainian relations. : For: book news Iwill start with ‘this bone chilling note ks from reader John A. Shine: "Soldiers of Destruction: The ni. SS Death's Head Div. 1933-45 by Uhafles W. Syanor Jr. de ccut at BPEsECs iis hay vee phicets, BD anid od pushing it. There are a few photos of indifferent quality and it’s about 300pp as I romember." If you have read back issues of SR, you know,what I think of Sydnor (one of the worst of the current atrocity-propaganda)* and I have it on the inside track that he took the time in this tome to criticize others of his ilk (Weingertner in particular) of being “soft” on Waffen-SS criminality. From the very title, this book is almost too horrible to contemplate-—another good reason for SIEGRUNEN to be in existence. Another good reason: The History of the SS by G.S. Graber just published-—this is Keitlinger rewriitens—h very Vlatant piece of vicious agitprop material that is highly inaccurate. This is pure hate literature being pushed by a major book club and retailing for $12.95 from the publisher, David McKay Co. I would suggest you read this thin, and then let the book Club and publisher know what you think of it. If anyone can say anything good about this turkey I would be most surprised! (Gontirued) “Line 7 SS Books should read (one of the worst of the current atrocity- propaganda writers).SISGRUNEN #8 Book eviews (4. JER OBE BOUL AEOE RUE EE ENTE EEE RIOD. A HEEOELE KL UOOEEEEEE NA IE tis: Publishers. 80pp. Hostly photos with many color plates. $7.95 Softbound. This is a nice graphic, visual book with a less than adequate, mediocre text that’is often inaccurate. It is flawed but still a good publication due strictly to the good photo repro» Berlin im Todeskampf 1945 by Jean Mabire, Schiitze Verlag, 400pp., 100 photos, aces meee an eathstruggle in Berlin 1945) This is a very handsome book, covering specifically the last stand of the French SS volunteers in the battle of Berlin. But there is also considerable coverage of other actions of the “Charlemagne” Div. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of it all (minor mistakes abound) but it's worth it's weight in gold for the photos alone. The photo sections generally cover the. development of the French volunteer formations and are excellant, Virtually all the main characters from The Captive Dreamer for instance are shown and this book makes an indispensible Gompanion tO0 Captive Dreamer. The maps,. following movements of the French SS units are ‘excellant. Wabire contends that betnoen 300-50 Frenchmen fron fine ‘companies of between 65-70 men each were, caught ‘up in the battle and only 30 came out alive. Whether this is true or not, I still don't know. He also has Knight's Crosses awarded to French volunteers Apollot and fernet, even though these were “provisional” awards froma divisional. commander and were not confirmed from bigher up (higher up having-ceesed to exist). Anyway this is/e handsome and valuable book with a fine dustjacket and a front cover with a silver em- bossed head of the Emperor Charlemagne. Recommended. Costs about $20 U.S. RECEIVED: Die Leibstandarte I, 1933-41 by former Standartenfuehrer Rudolf Lehman. litnin-Verlag. 504pp/117 photos and dozens of maps. Another very hand- Some production that will probably be the ultimate documentation on the _ SS Leibstandarte. Like Berlin im Todeskampf it is German text and runs for about $25 US. Sos year we can only hope that these beautiful books yall nave English language editions and see American publication! Book Review by Dave Noordhoff: Tiger, Die Geschichte einer legeniaren iafi'e mag, I received this book dz a bivthiay wreaent oat aave ee ae ee to glance through it. It does not concentrate on the W-SS of course, but their story is a part of the Tiger legend. The book is 325 pages, includes a two: page bibliography, and is heavily illustrated. Its large format (3" by 103") does these illustrations justice. There is relatively little on the vehicle it- self (I found this a relief, as almost everything has been said); most of the book deals with the schwere PZ ABT using the vehicles, their histories, and the performance of the units and vehicles. For instance, did you know how many Tigers were used on the southern flank in the Kursk battle? Well, we read that there were 45 in sPzAbt 503, 14 in PaGr Div Grossdeutschlani, 13 in LSSAH 14 in SS-DR and 15 in SS-TK on the eve of the battle. After reading Martin Caidin's The Tigers are Bu: I visualized several hundred! The Tigers made up the 138m Konsante of TSG Seng, Theis commenter prior to Kursk was Heupsturmfuenrer Kling, and they were at Merefa, forward of Kharkov, at the end of Jamary 1943. We are then civen a description of the Kharkov battles with the emphasis on the performance of the Tiger Kompagnie. Then we get a report on the Kursk fight. Wittman's gunner, Woll, was credited with the first ‘ill made by LSSAH in that battle; a Soviet AT gun. In the first day, ilittman and his crew mocked out 8 Soviet tanks and 7 AT guns! I'll not continue, but I think you may get the flavour of the book. I've been collecting data on Wittman for several years now, and I was delighted to see several new pictures of him, his tank, and crew. (Editor's Note: I have obtained a formal portrait of Obersturmfuehrer Wittman and will run it in a future SIDGAUNN! Wittman was the foremost "tank kil: in wwe). JEOBOBODODBBOGOOE EOEHONnENUEOSUEDEE EI IEONGB IBOOOLIOEOEGEDN OEM ta ms ¥HE a aU EARN COLLEGE DEGREES, all levels on the basis of your private gtudies-history, geo-politics, genetics,etc. Details: Franklin University, Box 21567, West Park, Philadelphia, PA 19131. B of NEW ARRIVALS: SS Armor by Robert C. Stern, Squadron/SignalSTZGRUNEN #8 Sturmbrigade Wallonien G. ANC ARAN AM AANANAHAAMAMAMKAKRAMAH RRR RRR KRONOS RIS EMM KHIM AH KWAN IOI ROGET THE FIRST MONTHS OF THE STURMBRIGADE WALLONIEN by Jean- Louis Roba. Part Ones A Short History ‘After the end of the war, all the members of the ex-"Leg~ ion Wellonie" were tried’ by Belgian courts. Many were missing but some of them had enough souvenirs of the war. Being together in the Belgian prisons, they wrote a short book (hand-written) with the diaries and reminiscenc: of the officers. Naturally the book is not 100% perfect! The dates and some details were forgotten. But that 1it- tle book is interesting because it was written by sold- ers for soldiers. After the war, the ex-Kommandeur De- grelle wrote a great book, “Front de 1'Est" (Eastern Front); but it was mostly political. Degrelle wanted to Prove that he chose the right side and that he was the best of all belgian politicians. He certainly was an excellant front-line sol- dicr, but one mst not forget his political face. "Front de l'Est" is inter esting but it is not the Bible! An ex-non commissioned officer of the "Sturm brigade Wallonien" lent me the hand-written little copy-book mentioned aboves He never meets again with hie ex-comrades and he refuses to take part in pol- iticel meetings, but he is always proud of his actions in the war, When I talked with him, I was surprised to hear that the Walloon volun- teer unit was not liked by the Germans. I heard that fact from other sources (not in the Degrelle book!) but I did not believe it. It should be said how ever that the frontline soldier was very happy to see the Walloons who came fo help them. The high officers respected that "Peuerwehr Division" (Wallonien) and always tried to promote the men to higher ranks. But in the rear, the Soldiers of the regular army always tried to bother the volunteers. the "good division" became the "Scheisse Wallonien” (Ed.note: I'll let you translate the first word!) in the rear areas! I do not kmow why they nad such a repu- tation. Perhaps because the "Legion" became a "Sturmbrigade" only in 19437 Perhaps because they were foreigners who spoke French? Perhaps #180 becau.e some members were not well-educated (there were many workers in the ranks of the unit)? The reader mist read thet document as a history. It can give very go0d indications about the life of the unit and will certainly help future historians. I think thet 95% of the things written in it are excellant. How- ever, the other 54... 1 naturally translated for 5R only the second part of the book: the period of the transformation into a Waffen-SS unit, The three hard campaigns of 1942 gave a good reputation to the Belgian Volunteers of the Wehrmacht. Stalingrad was 2 heavy. shock to the OKW and Hinmler, as chieZ of the Ss, wanted to have more men for his Waffen-SS. In March 1943, the “Legion Wallonie" came back from the Caucasus, (they fought there with Gebirgsjaeger and had won the right to wear the Edelweiss insigni left Khereon and returned to the training camp of Pieske, only Sim from ie vitz on 2nd April. At Meseritz was the training battalion Nr.477 with new re- eruits from Belgium. The effective force was: 1,600 men + 400 new recruits (mostly ex-soldiers and POW's). So, two bataillons could be built. On 16 and 24 June, Reichsfuehrer-SS Himmler came and visited them. In consequence the Legion became a Sturmbrigade in the Waffen-SS. The Kommandeur, Lippert, was promoted to the rank of Obersturmbannfuehrer (1¢.Col). On 27th June the new SS men were transferred to the Wildflecken (Ithoen) camp. From July to October, Hac unit contimed exercises anc training. | SHERRI IOLIORIO I SEI nt SIO ES AOE AIOE A eR no Note to Subscribers: Please check your envelopes for the word EXPIRED. If that is on there, your subscription has run out! To insure getting SR without mis sing an iss renew promptly! Thank you. RL SidaSISGRUNEN #8 Sturmbrigede Wullonien, (6. Gor SE AE UI Ear EE A A IDOE RO IE SEI ar SE EO ER ‘The composition of the Sturmbrigade was as follows: 1 Battalion of 4 (transported) infantry companies 1, Platoon of motorcyclists 7 1 Llatoon of engineers (Pionnieren) eee AS 5 Platoons of heavy weapons personel rosa" ID sign. i Unit of motorized vehicles Other administrative services The officer-candidates were sent to the Junkerschttle (officer's shool) at Bad TW1z. Non-commissionned officers were sent to the NCO facility at Posen— freskau. The infantry troops remained at Wilflecken. The PAK (Anti-tank) sec- tion was placed at Arys and the I.G. (infantry guns) section was at Breslau- Lissa. The engineers were sent to the SS Pionere school at Dresden and t Nachrichtentruppen (signals) were at Nurnberg. At the end of October 1943, ‘the heavy weapons sections rejoined the infantry companies at Wildflecken for joint training. In November, the German Army tried to stop tne Russian advance’ on the lower Dneiper..A large Soviet Army was in the Kiev area, It was in the Titonir— Bielaye-Tserkom. sector and nearly encircled the German forces in the Ukraine. More to the east, the enemy captured a bridgehead at Kremetchoe (west of Tcher- kassy). The 5.SS-Div, "Wiking" tried to contain the Russian infiltrations in the marshy forests of the Olschanka-Smela front. As reinforcements were needed, 6 trains brought the Walloon Sturmbrigade from Wildflecken to the Ukraine, where it arrived on 11 November. On the night of the 19th/20th November, via Lemberg-Jassy-Kitchinev, the Walloons disembarked at the Korsun station some 55km from Tcherkassy. The unit was given to the commander of “Wiking", SS—Gruppen- Mallornie fuehrer Gille. On the 26th, the unit was on the Olschanka. Its front was 20km wide. The 2nd.Company was sent for a short time to Smela, where it remained until 6 December 1943. The effective force now was: 27 officers/2,000 enlisted. 250 motorized veh- icles, 20 medium vehicles, 96 light vehicles, 46 artillary pieces and 18 mor— tars. NEXT: Sturmbrigade ‘Wallonien" in battle! Thea en sin fr ro Ee Eo EE a IE The veterans of 6.SS-Gebirgsjaeger Div. “Nord" and the 70th US Infantry Div., celebrated a harmonious { reunion in France and Germany last September. This a PR year they plan on meeting together in St.Louis. My thanks to Hugh Page Taylor who supplied me with a copy of BERKENKRUIS (Birch Cross), the very handsome magazine published by Flemish veterans of the Waffen-SS andthe Bastern Front. The title is derived from the grave markers commonly utilized by W-SS troops on the northern sector of the Hussian front. Mr.Taylor is still hard at work on Volume 5 in his W-SS series and has had the full coopers tion of various Latvian and Estonian veteran groups. SUE A SOURS Rr RSX EOI EO IE EE a FREE: "Walter Reder, The Last German Soldier in the Prison of Gaeta", a l2pp, illustrated pamphlet will be sent free to any SIEGRUNEN reader who sends me. _ a long, stamped envelope. The parts of this pamphlet that deal strictly with Sturmbannfuehrer Reder are well done, but unfortunately the author felt com- pelled to throw in some unrelated polemics so I cannot endorse this fully but you should find this interesting. Incidently, Walter Reder reads English rather well and he can be written to directly at the following address Major Walter Reder, Reclusorio Militare, I-04024 Gaeta (Latina) Italy. Due tothe fact that his photo in SR#7 turned out poorly, I am including a sepa— rate one with this issue. Remember the pamphlet is yours free for an SASE. RLSIEGRUNEN #8 SSR OUOU RR ARa aR ORONO NAO Oi iin al SS _SCHWERE PANZER ABTEILUNG 102 by Larry L. Swanson Part One: Thies particular Waffen-SS formation was a korps- ‘truppen unit scheduled to be attached to the II.SS-Panzer Korps, and it was officially authorized on October 22, 1943. Bach of the newly established SS schwere Panzer Abteilungen (heavy tank battalions) would be equipped with the Panzerkampfwagen VI 4ufe. E (popularly known as Tiger I's). Sturmbannfuehrer Hans 5 4 Weiss, former chief of SS Panzer Aufklaerung Abt. "Das Reich" and a Knight's Cross recipient, was appointed as the first commander of the new battalion, and it became his responsibility to organize and train its per- onel. Many members of the battalion had formerly served with the Eighth Kon— parie of 2.Panzer Ret. "Das Reich", which had been one of the first SS units to receive the Tiger. As the Panzer Rgt.'s schwere kompanie its members had fought in many tank battles on the Eastern Front, and their experience would aid the new com- mander. Two companies~-1/102 under Obersturmfuehrer Alois Kalls, and 3/102 under Obersturmfuehrer Siebenlist were organized in early 1944, but neither company had been declared operational when the II.SS-Panzer Korps was ordered to the Eastern Front in March 1944. Instead they remained at their training ground in north-east Holland, and later both companies were declared fit for combat in May. In the meantime e third company, 2/102, had commenced its training under the temporary command of Untersturmfuehrer Schroif on May 15, 1944. Most of the men assigned to this company were Volksdeutsche recruits from Rumania, and these men had been diverted from their original assignment Which was to have seen them sent to SS schwere Panzer Abt. 103. Oberkommando West was predicting an Allied landing in France at any time, and it became paramount to reinforce the Panzer units then stationed in. the Westy Haupsturmfuehrer Endemann, 2/102's permanent commander, arrived at the battalion HQ in Wezep, Hollend, on the same day that the Allies landed on the Normandy beaches (June 6th), and within hours the entire Abteilung wee alerted for redeployment. All 36 Tigers (twelve per company) were loaded onto trains, and Om] by their crews, were sent to St.Pol, ea small town near Calais. Oberkommando Wehrmacht remained convinced that the Allied lana ings in Normandy were merely a ruse, and consequently wanted to maintain ad= equate reserves in northern France near the channel: ports, where it expected the major amphibious assault to be made. However on June 23) the battalion again boarded trains as new orders directed it to Versailles, It arrived hére on the 15th, and met the Panzer Divisions from the 1l.SS-Panzer Korps now returning from Poland, where they had been serving as a Panzer reserve for the Bastern Front. It did not join the Korps, which continued to move forward toward the Invasion Sector, instead it stayed at Versailles awaiting addit- ional orders. Finally on July 1, the battalion was notified to prepare for movement into Normandy. Since the French rail system had almost been de: jtroyed by the Allied Air Force in the preceeding weeks, the Abteilung would have to Grive to the battlefield over the roads. Daytime travel was forbidden, because the Allied fighter-bombers attack- ea and destroyed any moving vehicle rash enough to attempt to travel during ‘the daylight hours. So the Abteilung moved at night spending its days hidden in forests or orchards and always heavily camouflaged. Rapid progress was impossi' since none of the Tiger's motors had been broken in yet. After driving ten or fifteen km. the crews hud to stop to prevent the motors from Overheating. Also, the roads were rough and the tracks were subject to ex— cessive wear and tear in addition to making adjustments on the suspenvion systens, which were affected ty torn road surfaces. (Continued next page). ||SIEGRUNEN #8 SS Panzer Abt. 102 Contimed (8. SNE I EE EHEC JEIO SOO ICE Me Despite all the inspections and precautions several tanks caught afire and blew up when their crews failed to extinguish blazing engines before the flames spread to the ammunition racks, Other tanks were immobilized tempor— arily after the crews stopped the fires, but had to wait while the engine: were repaired or replaced. Still most of the Abteilung's Tigers reached Cau- ville on July 4. Here the battalion would serve as Panzer reserve until ordered to move to Vacogne on the 6th, and establish its advance command post. Now it was in position to assist and support the 11.SS-Panzer Korps which was engaged in a bitterly contested battle for the possession of Hill 112 and the other heights dominating the Orne and Odon River valleys southwest of Caen. These hills be- came fortified strongpoints, which greatly hampered the British efforts to sweep around the defenders of Caen and envelop the town from the rear. Caen was a vital road junction controlling the highways into Normandy, and whoever possessed this city also held the key to Normandy. Stubaf.Weiss ordered two of his companies into foreward positions on the night of July 9-10, as German intelligence anticipated another British attack against Hill 112. 1/102 (four Tigers) moved into an orchard near Mal- tot, while 2/102 drove into St.Martin, losing one of its eight remaining tanks on the night approach march. At 05:00 on the 10th English artillery conmen— ced firing on Hill 112, This was Supported by air strikes by Typhoons to hit all other suspicious areas capable of hiding German reserves. Several crew members of 1/102 were killed or injured by rockets from Typhoons hitting near their camouflaged bivouac. Both companies received authorization to counter- attack the British infantry and tank units which had successfully recaptured Hill 112 during their morning offensive, 2/102 deployed its Tigers in a broad wedge as it approached the hill, while 1/102 screened the right flank. Four marauding Shermans attacked 1/102, and in a brief duel the Tigers shot-up three of the raiders (two were claimed by tank #134 commanded by Unterscharfuehrer Willy Fey). In the meantime 2/102 experienced heavy fire from tanks and anti-tank guns on Hill 112, One Mger wae hit by an anti-tank round and began burning, but two other Tigers man- aged to destroy four tanks and an anti-tank gun’ (Ustuf.Schroif's Tiger #212 claimed three tanks and the anti-tank gun). Hstuf.Endemann's tank #221 drove over a hill crest and was never seen again. He was declared missing-in-action. The SS grenadiers accompanying the tanks suffered extensive casualties from shrapnel and accurate small arms fire, and recall orders were transmitted to all survivors still on the Hill at 11:00, Back at a rear area near St.Martin, the tank crews hid their Tigers and then refueled and replenished their exhausted ammunition stocks as they com- pleted preparations for a night assault on Hill 112, The attack was scheduled to begin at 22:00, and grenadiers from the 9th SS-Panzer Div. "Hohenstauffen" would accompany the Tigers. The deadly tank-infantry teams succeeded in elim- inating all British points of stance on Hill 112, and the Tigers des- troyed three tanks and an enti-tank gun in addition to smashing numerous machine gun nests and mortar emplacements located atop the hill. After driving the English from their defe: the grenadiers began to dig in and reoccupy old abandoned German trenches, but the British divisional commander launched his own counter-attack, which was supported by concentrated artillery bar- rages. Once again, in the face of the huge volume of artillery fire, the gren- adiers were forced to relinquish their hard won victory. Early in the morning another German counter-attack spearheaded by 2/102 hit the English lines, and again the Germans drove the British off the hill. (Continued next page) JEBEL OBE IIR DODO IDO 1A TERA IIIT ISIBGRUNEN #8 SS Panzer Abt. 102 Contimed (a. preter ee eerie eet t rite er irri Tier irr rererer ttt terre Ustuf.Schroif shot three tanks during this battle, while other Tigers claimed the destruction of eight anti-tank guns, and fifteen half-tracks/armored car Although the Germans had recaptured the hill, they were unable to hold it as Britieh artillery rained shell after shell upon thelr positions. The Royal Artillery Regiments fired over 26,000 rounds during the day, and with their infantry support being decimated ty the shells the Tigers were unable to retain pot jion of the hill by themselves. Only one tank was lost by 1/102, and as they retreated they shot-up several pursuing Churchills. The battle continued to rage for Hill 112 during the next several days, but most of the Tigers were withdrawn to the rear to undergo repairs. Some tanks remained in the vicinity of Hill 112 and they served as armored oberva- tion posts or foreward outposts. Allied air strikes harassed the tanks on the 14th, after they hed returned to St.Martin, and many retired to Amaye. They returned on the 15th, and again were hit by air raids, but they stayed and supported a German attack scheduled to begin at 17:00, losing one Tiger to arillery. The timely appearance of the Tigers together with determined resistance by the battered grenadiers had defeated the latest British attempt to retake the hill, But the British were resolved to recapturing Hill 112 and began to escalate their efforts. Enormous concentrations of smoke sells together with high explosive rounds were expended, and the hill's landscape resembled a scene from Hell. It was entirely obscured by clouds of dist and smoke; air became so thick that the survivors still on the hill had to don their gas masks in order to breathe, as did the tank crews. New British attacks hit adjoining sectors too, when 1/102 was ordered to Maltot at 02:00. Here it aided the defenders in repulsing an infantry assault led by flame throwing Churchills (Crocodiles). By morning both sides were locked in a bitter unrelenting struggle, and neither side asked for quarter nor gave any, since the British “fommies* and the SS grenadiers held little regard for one another. Still, despite the generel ill feelings, an umsual event occurred. Ober- scharfuehrer Rodinger's Tiger was acting as a foreward observation post, and it was approached by a German speaking English officer who wished to parley. He delivered a twenty mimite harangue to this crew in which he repeatedly asked them to surrender and to advise other crews hiding nearby to do the same. The Tiger crew gave a brusque refusal, tut allowed him to return to the Brit- ish lines. By now all the operational Tigers were committed to manning positions along the HKL on Hill 112, thus serving as mobile forts and allowing the Germ ans to retain their positions against the British attacks. A new British of- ensive commenced on the evening of the 16th, but its impetus was directed at the left flank of Hill 112 rather than the hill itself. Partiel quiet had descended over the hill, but the English contimed to patrol end probe. Dawn on the 17th saw one Tiger still on the hill, as the remainder retired to ‘St. Martin or Feuguerolles for supplies and repairs. The Tiger left on the hill served as an outpost; its responsibility was to recall the other ‘Tigers in case of an impending British attack. To be continued... reer ree rL iret errr eres rier eter eereret tr sti t tte reir er eet ee rer eet Tey If you enjoyed this segment there is a good deal more to come. Next: Operation Goodwood and more of the incredible close infighting between the tanks of the Waffen-SS and those of the British and Canadians. Still later will be the story of Unterscharfuehrer Fey's "sitting duck" Mger and the unbelievable havoc that it wrought while being crippled and totally surrounded by the enemy. Stay with us! RL | occ rnraamaskamcreamens saneH aOR KAUAI ICH II RRM IUI A KIO KIC a IC OE WANTED: Waffen-SS cuff titles, camouflage items, documents and collar tabs. | Steve Kinney, 9817 Brookford, Potomac, MD 20854SIEGRUNEN #8 British Free Corps 1943-1945 (Part IV) HANKNNNH AN RAKHI KK KIO KOA RO RO HARM TA RR GREE Sa aM HHH TR THE SAGA AND ORDEAL OF THE BRITISH FREE CoaP: mnt of the BFC from a purely propaganda unit to that of @ legitimate military formation engaged in serious train- ing. The time is now NOV.1944 at the "Wild Mann" barracks in Dresden. The Corps had just received a new 00 in ti person of the disabled Obersturmfuehrer Dr.Kumcarre. Further problems beset the Free Corps in November, when a nervous British volunteer serving as sentry at the Dres- den Camp gates was accidently surprised and wildly discharged his rifle sev- eral times, wounding a German SS man while he was at it. However it was cided not to reprimend the Corpsman for the incident. Perhaps a more serious incident took place at the same time when a local Dresden girl reported to Obersturmbannfuehrer Eisenmann (Camp CO) that she had been impregnated by a member of the BFC and thus sought redress. After substantiating the charge, Eisenmann ordered the first SS marriage ceremony for a British volunteer. On 15 DEC 1944, Ostuf.Kumearre “temporarily halted treining activities in order to make another recruiting effort, which would again require BFC members to make the rounds of the POW camps. There were always several hundred "pros- pects" on hand but few had the courage to commit themselves fully. A special emphasis was placed on & group of South Africans who had been captured at Arnhem; this effort netted about three more volunteers. A major coup seemed to be in the making when two BFC men got eight New Zealanders to sign on. There was one slight hitch: these were all Maori natives who disliked the white New Zealand government. Ironically objections to the Maoris did not come from the SS itself (which would have accepted them), but from a majority of the Free Corpsmen who felt it would not be racially proper to integrate them into the unit. It was facetiously noted at the time that had Himmler not been so busy he could have probably set up a successful Maori Legion! By Jamary 1945, things had returned to ‘notmal arid the cittation for the Free Corps was one of persistent stagnation-—prompting six members to des- ert with the idea of reaching the Soviet lines and passing themselves off as escaped POW's. They were picked up in the Sudetenland where four of them (ere dismissed fromthe Corps; one was sentenced to hard labor, and one wus rein- stated into his unit. The BFC training period was pronounted finished on 13 FEB 1945 by Ostuf.Kumcarre, and all thét remained now was to incorporate the Britons into a fighting SS unit. There was a slight interruption however, this being “the Allied fire bombing ‘of Dresden. Although the SS barracks was not harmed, the city was devastated. So mush’anger was felt at this atrocity, that members of the Free Corps were denounced by local citizens who thought that they may have been feeding information "to the RAF. On the basis of these accusations, Obstubaf.Eisenmann handed the BFC over to the control of SS-Obergruppenfuehrer von Greifhausen, Waffen-SS District Commander for Wehrkreis IV, who ordered the Free Corps in- carcerated until the situation could be clarified. Ostuf.Kumcarre quickly came to the aid of his troops and was able to deliver documents to the SS Main Office that cleared the Britons of any wrongdoing. However it was clear that the Dresdeners were no longer amenable’to the Englishmen no matter what uniform they wore. ‘Subsequently the Corps was ordered out of the city at the end of February, tut not before they staged a full-dress parade for Obstubaf, Eisenmann. The Corps was transferred back to Berlin where a final disposition of its status was to be made. In the meantime, a most fortuitous acquisition had been made. The liaison office of the BFC in Berlin had obtained the services of a former British Commando ‘Lieutenant, ‘one’ ‘Archibeld Le Tortevel’ Webster. (Continued Next-Page). |SIEGRUNEN’ #€ British Free Corps (Part IV) 2s, 125, aR NAN Hn Ra REBAR RAMAN TAMA MRR MRR AN RRS MN Ro A RI A RR RR HK MICK Webster hed been lured to the Corps after witnessing the results of indiscrin— inate Allied bombing operations, one of which involved the blitzing of his FO\/ camp and the killing of several of his friends. For the first time there was a chance that the BFC could have a capable British officer in command, When the Corps arrived in Berlin it was greeted by Webster who gave it a stir- ring address about the importance of the fighting on the Eastern Front. And just_in case the message didn't sink in, on 8 March 1945, Ostuf.Kumcarre gave the Britons their choice of serving at the front or being placed in a disci- plinary camp. None opted for the latter selection. The final decision had been made. Obergruppenfuehrer Berger (Waffen-SS Recruitment and Main Office chief), gave the go-ahead to use the Corps in combat, and on ‘the same-day, 8 March, the Corpsmen drew their weapons~--the latest pattern 44am automatic rifles. They spent the remainder of the day on the rifle range with their new arms and the group as a whole achieved high narkings. At this time -the Corps split/into two sections with one portion (including the BPO leadership office under Stubaf,Stranders and:Epstuf.Webster) transferring to a temporary operational HQ in Bremen while en.11.man team under Scharfuehrer Montgomery was sent toa. training field.30.miles.northnest of Berlin for anti-tank practice. At the same time Ostuf.Kumoerre suffered a recurrance of war wound related problems and he was sent toan SS hospital in Denmark, Another German, SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Anton Dornfeld) was named "act- ing commander" of the BFC. On 15 March, 10 Britons under Scharfuenrer “Hodge finished theif anti- tank training ani reported to the HQ of the II1.SS-Panzer Korps (Germanisch at Stettin. liere they ‘were billetted in deserted, bombed-out civilian apart— nents until she higher-ups could figure out what to do with them. On 22 Merch, Scharfuehrer Hodge and his men were finally posted to the Panzerdufkisrun s (Reconnaisance) Btl. of 11.S8-Preiwilligen Div. "Nordland", coming under the Soumand of Sturmbannfuehrer Rudolf Saalbach (a Knight's Cross holder, , who sent the Britons to a company stationed in the village of Schlneberg. Here they were given the odious task of digging trenches but they were allowed to supplement their rations by hunting deer in the nearby woods. Shortly after they had settled in at Schineberg, the British volunteers found themselves ina short tut fierce pitched battle with a small Red Army spearhead element. Faxt of the company was briefly overrun and the Russians..fell. back with some prisoners, aiong them SS-Mann Edward Jordan. Jordan had not been trying to derert as has been alleged, but was a gemine captive. The Soviets repatriated hin to a British court after the war. The rest of. the Free Corps (some30 troopers in all) gathered together at Bréimen and traveled to Steinhofel where the III.SS-Panzer Korps HQ had reloc- ated. The Britons arrived there on 6 April 1945 under the leadership of Hpstuf. Wester, who had been appointed full commander. Webster reported directly to Obergruf.Felix Steiner, the Korps CO, who, in a state of amazement, inspected the .BFC. on parade. Ih a private conversation Webster made mich of the loy- alty and motivation of the BFC in the fizht against international Bolshevism, wut Steiner remained skeptical. Nonetheless the Englishmen were dispatched to various companies of the Panzer Aufkldrungs ltl., with the exception of Hpstuf. Webster and Obershcharfuehrer Thomas Halle Cooper, who remained with Korps HQ. Scharfuehrer Montgomery with eight Britons under his command joined the 3rd. Kon./Pzr-Aufil .Bet.11/"Nordland" under SS-Obersturmfuehrer Goesta Pehrson, a Swede who had served for several years on the itussian Front with both the iking" and "Nordland" Divisions. Most of this company-was composed of Scandanavian volunteers. The Englishmen got ulong well with their European comrades and moral hi Serer ere ee