NationMaster - Encyclopedia: 5th SS Panzer Division

The SS Division (motorised) Wiking was a German Waffen SS division recruited from foreign volunteers. During the course of the war, the division progressed from a motorised infantry formation to a fully-fledged Panzer division. It saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Waffen-SS recruitment poster: Volunteer for the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS (Weapon SS) was the combat arm of the Schutzstaffel. ... Motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. ... Panzer Division is the German term for armored division. ... The Eastern Front of World War II was the theatre of war covering the conflict in central and eastern European regions from June 1941 to May 1945. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II...

Formation and Training

After the success of the Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, SS-Verfügungstruppen-Division and the SS-Division Totenkopf during the early war campaigns in Poland and the West, it was decided to expand the number of Waffen SS divisions. Due to the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, a decision was made to form a volunteer division. The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (Lifeguard Standarte of the SS Adolf Hitler) was a Waffen SS guard and combat formation which saw action on both the Eastern and Western fronts during the Second World War. ... SS-Division VerfÃ¼gungstruppe SS-Division Deutschland SS-Division Reich SS-Division Das Reich 2. ... SS-Division Totenkopf Kampfgruppe Eicke 3. ... In World War II, Battle of France or Case Yellow (Fall Gelb in German) was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, executed 10 May 1940 which ended the Phony War. ... Waffen-SS recruitment poster: Volunteer for the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS (Weapon SS) was the combat arm of the Schutzstaffel. ...

This unit, originally called Nordische Division (Nr.5), was to be made up of Nordic volunteers mixed with ethnic German Waffen-SS veterans. To this end, the Germania motorised infantry regiment from the SS-Division Verfügungstruppe was removed from the division in late 1940. In December, Germania was dissolved and the troops were used as a basis for the formation of a new SS motorised formation, now to be designated SS-Division (mot.) Germania. During its formative period, the division's name was changed again, to SS-Division (mot.) Wiking in January 1941. Overview map of the region. ...

In February 1941, the Finnisches Freiwilligen-Bataillon der SS was formed from Finnish veterans of the Winter War. This formation was attached to Wiking, further bolstering its strength. The division was formed around three motorised infantry regiments: Germania, formed mostly from ethnic Germans; Westland, consisting mainly of Dutch and Flemish volunteers; and Nordland, comprised mostly of Danes, Swedes and Norwegians. Command of the newly formed division was given to SS-Brigadeführer Felix Steiner, the brilliant former commander of the Verfügungstruppe's Deutschland Regiment. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Finnish Waffen SS volunteers. ... Combatants Finland Soviet Union Commanders Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Kliment Voroshilov, later Semyon Timoshenko Strength 200,000 men, 32 tanks, 119 aircraft (In the beginning), 250,000 men, 30 tanks, 130 aircraft (At the end) 460,000 men, 1,500 tanks, 1,000 aircraft (In the beginning), 1,000,000... Flemings (Dutch: Vlamingen) are inhabitants of Flanders in the widest sense of the term, i. ... This article or section is missing needed references or citation of sources. ...

After its formation was complete, the division was sent to Heuberg, Germany for training. By April 1941, Wiking was deemed combat-ready. It was ordered east in June 1941, to take part in Army Group South's advance into Ukraine during Operation Barbarossa. Army Group South (Heeresgruppe SÃ¼d in German) was a German Army Group during World War II. Germany used two army groups to invade Poland in 1939: Army Group North and Army Group South. ... Combatants Axis Powers Soviet Union Commanders Supreme commander: Adolf Hitler Supreme commander: Josef Stalin Strength ~ 3. ...

Operation Barbarossa

The division was not ready for combat until 29 June 1941, seven days after the launch of the operation. During its first action, near Tarnopol in Galicia, Ukraine, the division acquitted itself well. In August, Wiking was ordered to establish a defensive perimeter around a bridgehead across the Dniepr river. Despite determined enemy attacks, the division held the line. Against stiffening resistance, the division continued its advance towards Rostov-on-Don. It took part in the heavy fighting for Rostov before being ordered back to the Mius River line in November. During 1941, the Heer officers in charge of the deployment of the Wiking were skeptical of its fighting abilities and so were hesitant to commit it to major actions. As the division proved itself again and again in combat, it began to earn the grudging respect of the Heer commanders. Ternopil (Тернопіль in Ukrainian, Tarnopol in Polish, Ternopol in Russian) is a city in Western Ukraine, located at the banks of the Seret river. ... Coat-of-arms of Galicia Galicia is an historical region currently split between Poland and Ukraine. ... The Dnieper River (Belarusian: Дняпро/Dnyapro; Russian: Днепр/Dnepr; Ukrainian: Днiпро/Dnipro; Polish: Dniepr; Latin: Borysthenes, Danaper) is a river (2290 km length) which flows from Russia through Belarus and then Ukraine. ... Central market and Church in Rostov. ... Mius (Russian: Миус) is a river in Eastern Europe that flows through Ukraine and Russia. ... Heer ( listen?) is the German word for army. ...

After successfully holding the line over the winter of 1941-42, Wiking was ordered to retake Rostov-on-Don and advance into the Caucasus, securing the region's vital oilfields. This attack was known as Operation Maus, and formed a part of Army Group South's offensive Case Blue, aimed at capturing Stalingrad and the Baku oilfields. Launched at the height of summer, the offensive was unexpectedly successful. Within six weeks, Rostov and the entire Don region had been recaptured, and Wiking was driving deep into the Caucasus. The Entholinguistic patchwork of the modern Caucasus - CIA map The Caucasus, a region bordering Asia Minor, is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which includes the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding lowlands. ... Drilling rig in a small oil field Near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 An oil field is an area with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum (oil) from below ground. ... Fall Blau (Case Blue in German) was the German code name for two WWII studies in future combat. ... Stalingrad is the former name of two cities: Volgograd, Russia Karviná-Nové Město, near Ostrava, Czech Republic Other uses: The Battle of Stalingrad (a major turning-point of World War II and arguably the bloodiest battle in human history) Stalingrad (German film set during the above battle) Stalingrad (metro station... Satellite view of Baku The Baku harbour on the south of Absheron peninsula The Maiden Tower in old town Baku Baku (Azerbaijani: BakÄ±), sometimes known as Baky or Baki, is the capital of Azerbaijan. ...

The Caucasus

By late September 1942, Wiking was in a position to launch an assault to capture the vital city of Grozny. Working in cooperation with General der Panzertruppen Traugott Herr's 13.Panzer-Division, a plan was arranged to capture the city. As they reached the Terek River, the Soviet defences solidified. Several obstacle belts had to be breached before the Georgian Road (along which American supplies were transported) could be reached. Realising the difficult situation, Steiner divided his division into four columns, each with separate objectives, but all aimed at breaching the Soviet defences and opening a road to the Caspian Sea. Grozny (Russian: ) is the capital of the Chechen Republic in Russia. ... 13th Infantry Division 13th Motorized Infantry Division 13th Panzer Division Panzer Division Feldherrnhalle 2 Created in 1934 or 1935 under the cover name Infanterieführer IV, then unveiled as the 13th Infantry Division when the creation of the Wehrmacht was announced. ... The Terek (Ð¢ÐµÌÑ€ÐµÐº) is a major river in the Northern Caucasus, flowing through Georgia and Russia into the Caspian Sea. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a LAKE MY HOMIE DOGG of Eurasia between Asia and Europe. ...

The Nordland regiment was to attack along the Kurp River to Malgobek. The Panzer battalion (Abteilung) Wiking, with elements of the Germania regiment, was to breach the main line of defence and establish a bridgehead. The Westland regiment was to capture the town of Sagopshin, and the division's engineer component, along with the rest of Germania was to advance along the Kurp. Image File history File links A Postcard depicting SS-GruppenfÃ¼hrer Felix Steiner commanding the SS-Division (mot) Wiking in the Caucasus, 1942. ... Image File history File links A Postcard depicting SS-GruppenfÃ¼hrer Felix Steiner commanding the SS-Division (mot) Wiking in the Caucasus, 1942. ... This article or section is missing needed references or citation of sources. ... Nordische Division (Nr. ... Abteilung (shortened Abt) is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations (although the German uses the term in a more civilian fashion, e. ...

The attack got underway on the night of 25-26 September 1942. Nordland's assault soon bogged down, as they realised that not only were they outnumbered by the enemy , but the enemy was also well entrenched in prepared positions. Within thirty minutes, almost half of the men of Nordland had fallen. Despite this, Nordland still captured the hill, and its commander Fritz von Scholz was awarded the Knight's Cross for his actions during the battle. The division finally captured Malgobek on 6 October, however the objective of seizing the capital and opening a road to the Caspian was unreachable. The closest point to Grozny, Hill 701, was captured by the Finnish volunteers (III (finn.) /SS-Infanterie-Regiment (mot) Nordland.) During this operation, Wiking had lost over 1,500 men. Several combat units were reduced to only dozens of men, and as a Wiking veteran later wrote, "Casualties weren't counted anymore, just men left alive." SS-GruppenfÃ¼hrer Fritz von Scholz, as commander of 11. ... The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz) is a military decoration of Germany which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813. ...

In the first week of November 1942, the division was transferred from the Terek bend to the Urukh-Alagir sector to participate in the renewed attack eastwards, which was attempted in the direction of Ordzhonikidze rather than via Grozny. It ended up arriving just in time to extricate 13th Panzer Division from encirclement at Gisel, after which it took up defensive positions behind the Fiagdon river. The encirclement of Friederich Paulus's 6.Armee at Stalingrad meant that the Caucasus was relegated to a secondary theatre, and when the attempt to relieve Stalingrad failed in the face of further Soviet advances, the entire Caucasian position itself began to come under threat. Wiking was one of the first formations to be withdrawn to bolster the retreating 4th Panzer Army, entraining from 24 December for transport to Remontnaya, arriving there on 31 December. The division fell back through Zimovniki, Proletarskaya (holding open the bridge over the Manych), Zelina and Yegorlykskaya towards Bataisk and Rostov, finally escaping through the Rostov gap on 4 February. Field Marshall Friedrich Paulus Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Paulus (September 23, 1890, Breitenau â€“ February 1, 1957, Dresden) was a German general, later promoted to field marshal, during World War II. Paulus was the son of a schoolteacher. ... The German Sixth Army (German: ) was a World War II field army and the protagonist of the tragic Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. ...

The notorious 'Angel of Death', Dr. Josef Mengele, served with the Wiking during its early campaigns. According to all accounts, he performed the normal duties of a combat medic, even being awarded the Iron Cross for saving two wounded men from a tank. After being wounded, Mengele was deemed unfit for combat and was absorbed into the SS KZ system, where he gained his infamy. Mengele was very proud of his Waffen-SS service and his front-line decorations. As the true horrors of the KZ system came to light, his former comrades attempted to have his name removed from the division's roll of veterans. Josef Mengele Dr. Josef Mengele (March 16, 1911 â€“ February 7, 1979) was a Nazi German SS officer and a physician in the concentration camp Aus chwitz. ... This article is about the title or occupation. ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the German Armed Forces The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz) is a military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813. ... See also the related List of German concentration camps Concentration camp in Nazi Germany. ...

Battles for Kharkov - Panzergrenadier Division

In late November 1942 the division was redesignated 5.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Wiking. By now, the division had gained a reputation as an elite formation. In early 1943, the division was ordered to fall back to the Ukraine south of Kharkov, recently abandoned by Paul Hausser's II.SS-Panzerkorps, and now the scene of fierce fighting for its recapture. Kharkov (rus: Ха́рьков) or Kharkiv (ukr: Ха́рків) is the second largest city in Ukraine, a center of Kharkivska oblast. It is situated in the northeast of the country and has a population of two million. ... Paul Papa Hausser (October 7, 1880 - December 21, 1972) was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of Lieutenant General in the inter-war Reichswehr, after retirement from regular Army he became the father (thus the nickname â€œPapaâ€) of the Waffen-SS and one of its most... The II.SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II. // Formation - Kharkov The II.SS-Panzerkorps was formed in July 1942 in Bergen in The Netherlands as SS-Panzer-Generalkommando. ...

Erich von Manstein, the new commander of Army Group South, threw Wiking and the 11.Panzer-Division into action against the Soviet Mobile Group Popov, now threatening to break through to the vital rail line. Wiking had great difficulty dealing with the armour-heavy Soviet formation. The Panzergrenadier regiments of the Wiking were exhausted and understrength from the fighting in the Caucasus, and the Panzer abteilung lacked sufficient armour to counter the Soviet force. Despite this, the division held off the Soviet assault, protecting the vital rail line and helping bring about the destruction of Mobile Group Popov. After the recapture of Kharkov, Wiking was pulled out of combat to be refitted as a Panzergrenadier division. Image File history File links Flammenwerfer 41 of the 5. ... Image File history File links Flammenwerfer 41 of the 5. ... Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein Erich von Manstein (November 24, 1887-June 10, 1973) was a lifelong professional soldier who rose to become one of the most prominent commanders of Nazi Germanys Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) during World War II; he attained the rank of Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall), although he was... The 11. ... Combatants Soviet Union Axis powers Commanders Filipp Golikov Nikolay Vatutin Erich von Manstein â€ Theodor Eicke Strength 300,000 men 160,000 men Casualties Voronezh Front: army of Popov: 3,000 KIA, 11,000 WIA, Southwestern Front: 20,000 KIA, 90,000 WIA, 9,000 POWs, finally battles: 25,000 KIA...

During mid-1943, the Wiking underwent a major transformation. Steiner, now an SS-Gruppenführer, was transferred to command of the III.(gemanische) SS-Panzerkorps, currently forming in Croatia. His replacement was Herbert Otto Gille, who was to prove himself Steiner's equal. The remnants of the veteran Nordland regiment, along with its commander Fritz von Scholz, was removed from the division and used as the nucleus of the new 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier Division Nordland. Also, the Finnisches Freiwilligen-Batallion der Waffen-SS was disbanded, as the agreed two years' service of the Finnish volunteers had expired. The III.(gemanische) SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II. The (gemanische) (lit. ... Herbert Otto Gille (March 8, 1897 in Gandersheim - December 27, 1966) was a German general, and the highest decorated member of the Waffen SS. Military Career He started his military career as a first lieutenant during the First World War . ... Kampfverband WarÃ¤ger Germanische-Freiwilligen-Division SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11 (Germanische) 11. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Finnish Waffen SS volunteers. ...

With the upgrade to Panzergrenadier status, the division received SdKfz 251 halftracks for the infantry and an increased Panzer strength. This article needs cleanup. ... Sd. ...

Thanks to Himmler's and Hausser's efforts, it had been decided that all Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier divisions were to have a regiment of Panzers, rather than only an abteilung (battalion). This meant that the SS-Panzergrenadier formations were full-sized Panzer divisions in all but name.

In an attempt to offset the loss of the Finns and the Nordland regiment, the newly formed Estonian volunteer formation Estnisches SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon Narwa was attached to the division. Estnische SS-Legion - estnisches SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon Narwa Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade 3. ...

Kursk - Battles on the Mius

While the division was refitting, it was involved in minor skirmishes with partisans. The reorganisation was completed by late June, and the division was moved to Izyum where it, along with the 23.Panzer-Division was to form the reserve force for Manstein's Army Group during the approaching Operation Citadel. While the operation was in effect, several Soviet formations attacked towards Orel and Kharkov simultaneously. The Wiking was engaged against the forces near Kharkov, with the Estonians acquitting themselves well, destroying around 100 Soviet tanks over several days. When Citadel was cancelled, the division was still involved in halting Soviet attacks. Look up partisan on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Izium (also spelled Izyum), is city in eastern Ukraine, in the Kharkiv oblast (province). ... Battle of Kursk Conflict World War II Date July 4, 1943 - July 22, 1943 Place Kursk, USSR Result Indecisive The Battle of Kursk was a significant battle on the Eastern Front of World War II. It remains the largest armored engagement of all time, and included the most costly single... Orel or Oryol (ÐžÑ€Ñ‘Ð») is a city in Russia, administrative center of the Oryol Oblast. ...

Further to the south, on the Mius-Front, a major Soviet offensive, Operation Rumyantsev, threatened to break the German lines. Wiking was joined by the 3.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf and 2.SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich and sent to the Mius-Bogodukhov sector to halt the Soviet attacks. In subsequent fighting, the SS divisions defeated two Soviet tank armies (totalling over 1,000 tanks) and destroyed over 800 tanks. At no time did the SS divisions have any more than 50 panzers in working order. In October, the division was again pulled back out of the line, this time to be restructured as a panzer division, the 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking. Mius-Front was a heavily fortified defensive line created by Germans by the Mius River during the World War II. Categories: | ... SS-Division Totenkopf Kampfgruppe Eicke 3. ... SS-Division VerfÃ¼gungstruppe SS-Division Deutschland SS-Division Reich SS-Division Das Reich 2. ... Bohodukhiv (Ukrainian: ; Russian: , Bogodukhov) is a city in Ukraine, with a population of 21,400, established in 1662. ...

Korsun Pocket

To bolster the strength of the division, the Walloon volunteer unit SS-Sturmbrigade Wallonien was attached to the division, and the fresh-faced Walloons with their demagogue leader Leon Degrelle were the subject of ridicule from many Wiking veterans until they proved their worth in the fighting for a forest near Teklino, at the head of a salient into the Soviet lines. A second panzer abteilung was also ordered to begin formation in Germany. The term Walloon may refer to either the Walloon language, or to the ethnic people of the same name. ... Corps Franc Wallonie Wallonische Legion 373. ... Léon Degrelle Léon Degrelle (June 15, 1906-April 1, 1994) was a founder of Belgian Rexism who joined the Waffen SS (becoming a leader of its Wallon contingent) and, after the war, became a prominent figure in the neo-fascist and Holocaust revisionist movements. ... In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. ...

While Wiking was engaged near Teklino, several Soviet tank formations had advanced along the side of the salient and succeeded in encircling the German forces of XLII and XI Army Corps near Korsun. Korsun - another name for ancient Greek colony Khersones. ...

During the battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket, Wiking defended against Soviet attacks on the eastern side of the pocket. While General der Artillerie Wilhelm Stemmerman, the overall commander for the trapped forces, moved his forces to the west of the pocket in readiness for a breakout attempt, Wiking, along with the Wallonien were ordered to act as a rearguard. After repulsing all Soviet attempts to break through near the town of Novaya-Buda, the Wiking rearguard split up and began withdrawing one platoon at a time, under cover of darkness. Advancing through Hell's Gate, the Wikingers came under heavy enemy fire with little or no cover. The division suffered heavy losses and lost almost all of its equipment during the carnage of the Korsun Pocket. Divisional commander, Gille, had proven his loyalty to his men, fighting alongside them and remaining in action until all survivors had escaped. He was one of the last to cross the raging Gniloy Tikich river to safety. After the end of this battle, the Wallonien brigade was withdrawn from the division. Image File history File links A Panther G and an SdKfz 251/1 of the 5. ... Image File history File links A Panther G and an SdKfz 251/1 of the 5. ... Combatants Germany Soviet Union Commanders Erich von Manstein , Wilhelm Stemmerman (Gruppe Stemmerman), Hermann Breith, III Panzerkorps Georgi Zhukov, Nikolai Vatutin (1st Ukrainian Front), Ivan Konev (2nd Ukrainian Front), Strength 56,000 tanks 200,000 2,500 tanks Casualties 18,500 KIA, 2,800 WIA, 1,000 captured ? tanks ? KIA, ?WIA...

Kovel Encirclement

After a brief period of rest and refit, the tattered Wiking was sent to assist in the defence of Kovel, currently threatened by strong Soviet forces. Gille led his men towards the town and began setting up a defensive perimeter. However, soon the soviets had completed the encirclement of the city. The II./5.SS-Panzer-Regiment Wiking, newly equipped with Panther tanks, along with the III./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment Germania, newly equipped and up to strength arrived at the front from Germany and immediately began forming a relief unit. Coat of Arms, circa 1993 Kovel (In Ukrainian and in Russian: Ковель, in Polish: Kowel) is a town now situated in western Ukraine in the Volyn oblast. ... The Panther ( ) was a tank of Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to end of the war in Europe in 1945. ...

The unit was formed under the command of SS-Obersturmfüher Karl Nicolussi-Leck, commander of 8.Kompanie/II.Abt./5.SS-Panzer-Regiment Wiking. Nicolussi-Leck immediately launched an attack with five Panthers. Soon after beginning the attack, he received a radio message from the besieged commander to halt his attack and withdraw. Nicolussi-Leck ordered his radio operator to ignore the call, and continued his attack. Risking court-martial, Nicolussi-Leck then proceeded to fight his way though the Soviet encirclement, destroying several Soviet tanks in the process. His Panther was the first vehicle to break the encirclement, and for his actions he received the Knight's Cross.

After the relief force established a corridor to the encircled force, the withdrawal began. Unlike the previous encirclement at Korsun, the trapped force managed to escape with most of its equipment intact, and the division was ready for action immediately.

Warsaw Battles

In late August 1944, the division was ordered back to Modlin on the Vistula River line near Warsaw where it was to join the newly formed Army Group Vistula. Fighting alongside the Luftwaffe's Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring, the division annihilated the Red Army's 3rd Tank Corps. The advent of the Warsaw Uprising brought the Soviet offensive to a halt, and relative peace fell on the frontline as in Warsaw Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer Erich von dem Bach Zelewski destroyed Warsaw with its civilians and partisans. The division remained in the Modlin area for the rest of the year, grouped with the Totenkopf as IV.SS-Panzerkorps. Gille was promoted to command of the new SS Panzerkorps, and after a brief period with SS-Oberführer Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer in command, SS-Standartenführer Rudolf Mühlenkamp, commander of the Wiking's panzer regiment, took command. Heavy defensive battles around Modlin followed for the rest of the year, and in October, Mühlenkamp was replaced by SS-Oberführer Karl Ullrich. Ullrich would lead the division for the rest of the war. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Vistula river basin Vistula (Polish Wisła), is the longest river in Poland. ... Warsaw (Polish: , (?), in full The Capital City of Warsaw, Polish: Miasto StoÅ‚eczne Warszawa) is the capital of Poland and its largest city. ... The Army Group Vistula (also known as Army Group Weischel) was formed in 1945 to protect Berlin from the advancing Soviet armies marching from the Vistula river. ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (German: Air Arm, IPA: [luftvafÉ™]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... Polizeiabteilung z. ... The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (in Russian: Ð Ð°Ð±Ð¾Ñ‡Ðµ-ÐšÑ€ÐµÑÑ‚ÑŒÑÐ½ÑÐºÐ°Ñ ÐšÑ€Ð°ÑÐ½Ð°Ñ ÐÑ€Ð¼Ð¸Ñ - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya), the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ... Combatants Poland Germany Commanders Tadeusz BÃ³r-Komorowski, Antoni ChruÅ›ciel, Tadeusz PeÅ‚czyÅ„ski Erich von dem Bach, Rainer Stahel, Heinz Reinefarth, Bronislav Kaminski Strength 50,000 troops 25,000 troops Casualties 18,000 killed, 12,000 wounded, 15,000 taken prisoner 250,000 civilians killed 10,000 killed... SS and Police Leaders were senior Nazi Party officials that commanded large units of the SS during and prior to the Second World War. ... Erich von dem Bach, born Erich von Zelewski and also known as Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski (March 1, 1899 - March 8, 1972), was a Nazi official and a member of the SS (in which he reached the rank of SS-ObergruppenfÃ¼hrer). ... The IV.SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans during World War II. The Panzerkorps was formed in August, 1943 in Poitiers, France. ... SS-StandartenfÃ¼hrer Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer as commander of SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 21 near Caen, July 1944. ...

In late December 1944, the Axis forces, including IX.SS-Gebirgskorps, defending Budapest were encircled and the IV.SS-Panzerkorps was ordered south to join Hermann Balck's 6.Armee (Army Group Balck), which was mustering for a relief effort. The efforts were to be codenamed Operation Konrad. Image File history File links Panzerknackers of the 5. ... Image File history File links Panzerknackers of the 5. ... IX.Waffen-Gebirgskorps der SS (kroatisches) IX.SS-Gebirgs-Korps The IX.Waffen-Gebirgskorps der SS (kroatisches) was a German Waffen-SS alpine corps which saw action on the Eastern Front during World War II. The Waffen in the title denoted the fact that the corps was a sub-standard... Flag Seal Nickname: Paris of the East, Pearl of the Danubeor Queen of the Danube Location Location of Budapest in Hungary Government Country County Hungary none Mayor GÃ¡bor Demszky (SZDSZ) Geographical characteristics Area - City 525,16 kmÂ² - Land n/a kmÂ² - Water n/a kmÂ² Population - City (2005... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The German Sixth Army (German: ) was a World War II field army and the protagonist of the tragic Battle of Stalingrad in 1942. ... Operation Konrad was the German-Hungarian efforts to releive the encircled garrison of Budapest in January, 1945. ...

Budapest Relief Efforts

As a part of Operation Konrad I, the Wiking was committed to action on 1 January 1945, fighting alongside the Totenkopf. Near Táta, the advance columns of Wiking slammed into the Soviet Fourth Guards Tank Army. A heavy battle ensued, with the Wiking and Totenkopf panzers destroying many Soviet tanks. In three days Wiking and Totenkopf's panzer spearheads had driven 45 kilometers over rugged terrain, over half the distance from the jump-off point to Budapest. The Soviets maneuvered forces to block Gille's advance, and they barely managed to halt the advance at Bicske, only 28 kilometers from Budapest. Bicske is a town in FejÃ©r county, Hungary. ...

Gille pulled the Wiking out of the line and moved it to the south of Esztergom, near the Danube bend. The second relief attempt, to be known as Operation Konrad II, got underway on 7 January. In atrocious conditions, the Wiking advanced southwards towards Budapest. By 12 January, the Westland Regiment had reached Pilszentkereszt, barely 20 kilometers from Buda. That morning the Wiking panzergrenadiers spotted the church spires and turrets of the distinctive Budapest skyline poking through the morning fog. Despite its success, the Wiking, overextended and vulnerable, was unable to exploit its breakthrough and was eventually ordered to pull back and regroup. Hitler was furious at the lack of progress, and called the operation 'utterly pointless'. Basilica in Esztergom Esztergom (German: Gran, Slovak: Ostrihom) is a small city in northern Hungary, about 60 km north-west of the capital Budapest. ... The Danube bend at VisegrÃ¡d is a popular destination of tourists The Danube (ancient Danuvius) is Europes second-longest river (after the Volga). ... Pilisszentkereszt is a village in Pilis Hills region of Hungary, some 20km from Buda. ... Buda (German: Ofen) is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the right bank of the Danube. ... Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945, standard German pronunciation in the IPA) was the Führer (leader) of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party) and of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. ...

A third attempt, Operation Konrad III, launched in cooperation with the veteran III.Panzerkorps took place 100 kilometers to the south. This attack resulted in a 15 mile gap being torn in the Soviet lines and the destruction of the 135th Rifle Corps. Only the quick redeployment of more troops by the Russians prevented a German breakthrough. By the end of January the Wiking and Totenkopf had suffered almost 8,000 casualties, including over 200 officers. III Armeekorps III Armeekorps (mot) III Panzerkorps Gruppe Breith III Panzerkorps III Corps was a corps level formation of the German Heer which saw action in World War II. III Armeekorps History The III Corps was formed in October 1934 as III. Armeekorps. ...

At the beginning of February, the besieged forces capitulated, and the Wiking was ordered west to Lake Balaton where SS-Obergruppenführer Sepp Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzerarmee was preparing for another offensive. Lake Balaton - Landsat satellite photo Lake Balaton (Hungarian Balaton; German Plattensee; Slovak BlatenskÃ© jazero, meaning approximately muddy lake, probable origin of the name), located in Hungary, is the largest lake of Central Europe with a surface area of 592 kmÂ². It lies approximately at co-ordinates 46Â°50â€²N 17... General Sepp Dietrich Josef Sepp Dietrich (May 28, 1892–April 21/22, 1966) was a German Waffen-SS general, an SS-Oberstgruppenführer, and one of the closest men to Hitler. ... Sixth SS Panzer Army The German Sixth SS Panzer Army, 6. ...

Final Battles

After the failure of Konrad III, the Wiking began defensive operations, falling back into Czechoslovakia. West of Budapest in more defensive operations, moving into the area of Czechoslovakia. Gille's corps was too depleted to take part in Operation Frühlingserwachen near Lake Balaton, and instead remained as a support to SS-Obergruppenführer 'Sepp' Dietrich's 6.SS-Panzerarmee during the beginning of the Operation. Combatants Germany Soviet Union Commanders Josef Dietrich (6. ... Lake Balaton - Landsat satellite photo Lake Balaton (Hungarian Balaton; German Plattensee; Slovak BlatenskÃ© jazero, meaning approximately muddy lake, probable origin of the name), located in Hungary, is the largest lake of Central Europe with a surface area of 592 kmÂ². It lies approximately at co-ordinates 46Â°50â€²N 17... Sixth SS Panzer Army The German Sixth SS Panzer Army, 6. ...

Wiking performed a holding operation on the left flank of the offensive, in the area between Velenczesee-Stuhlweissenberg. As Frühlingserwachen progressed, the division was heavily engaged preventing Soviet efforts to outflank the advancing German forces. SzÃ©kesfehÃ©rvÃ¡r (German: StuhlweiÃŸenburg, Latin: Alba Regia, colloquial Hungarian: FehÃ©rvÃ¡r) is a city in central Hungary, located around 65 km southwest of Budapest. ...

As the offensive stalled, the Soviets launched a major offensive, the Vienna Operation, on 15 March. Attacking the border between the Totenkopf, stationed to the north of Wiking, and the 2.(Hungarian)Panzer Division, contact was soon lost between these formations. Acting quickly, Balck recommended moving the I.SS-Panzerkorps north to plug the gap and prevent the encirclement of the IV.SS-Panzerkorps. Despite this quick thinking, a Führer Order authorising this move was slow in coming, and when the divisions finally began moving, it was too late. On 22 March, the Soviet encirclement of the Totenkopf and Wiking was almost complete. Desperate, Balck threw the veteran 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen into the area to hold open the small corridor. In the battle to hold open the Berhida Corridor, the Hohenstaufen bled itself white, but Gille's corps managed to escape. The official cuff title worn by men of 9. ...

On 24 March, another Soviet attack threw the exhausted IV.SS-Panzerkorps back towards Vienna, all contact was lost with the neighboring I.SS-Panzerkorps and any semblance of an organised line of defence was gone. The Wiking executed a fighting withdrawal into Czechoslovakia. By Early May, they were within reach of the American forces, to whom the division officially surrendered near Furstenfeld, Austria on 9 May. Vienna (German: Wien ; Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian: BeÄ, Czech: VÃdeÅˆ, Hungarian: BÃ©cs, Romanian: Viena, Romani: Bech or Vidnya, Russian: Ð’ÐµÐ½Ð°, Slovak: ViedeÅˆ, Slovenian: Dunaj) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ...

War Crimes

While the division's record is clear of official War Crimes convictions, it was a part of the Waffen-SS, which was found to be a criminal organization at the Nuremburg Trials. The Nuremberg Trials is the general name for two sets of trials of Nazis involved in World War II and the Holocaust. ...

It is alleged that elements of the Wiking took part in murder of Jews in Lvov area on 9 July 1941, although it has never been proven or verified. Lviv ( Львів in Ukrainian; Львов, Lvov in Russian; Lwów in Polish; Leopolis in Latin; Lemberg in German—see also cities alternative names) is a city in western Ukraine with 830,000 inhabitants (an additional 200,000 commute daily from suburbs). ...

According to some sources, members of the division's bakery column, led by SS-Obersturmführer Braunnagel and SS-Untersturmführer Kochalty, assisted Einstazgruppe A in rounding up Ukrainian Jews. Some witnesses report that the Jewish victims were forced to run a gauntlet formed by soldiers who would beat them as they passed, and when they reached the end of the gauntlet, Einsatzgruppen officers executed them and their bodies were pushed into a bomb crater. 1.Gebirgs-Division is also suspected of being implicated. According to those sources between 50 and 60 Jews were killed in this manner, as a part of the larger Einsatzgruppe operation which resulted in over 700 murders. While no official records of said accusations exist, the diaries of several members of the Finnish battalion support these allegations. Mountain Brigade 1. ...

In addition historian Eleonore Lappin from Institute for the History of Jews in Austria has documented several cases of murder committed by members of the Wiking division in her work The Death Marches of Hungarian Jews Through Austria in the Spring of 1945[1]. On March 28 1945 eighty Jews from evacuation column, though fit for the journey, had been shot by three members of the Waffen-SS “Wiking” division and five military policemen. On April 4, twenty members of another column that left Graz tried to escape near Eggenfeld, not far from Gratkorn. Soldiers from “Wiking” division that were temporarily stationed there apprehended them in the forest near Mt. Eggenfeld and then herded them in a gully, where they were shot. On April 7 and 11, 1945 members of the division executed another eighteen escaped prisoners.

Also, Dr Josef Mengele served with the division as a combat medic during the early stages of Barbarossa. He was awarded the Iron Cross second class for rescuing wounded comrades, before being discharged as unfit for combat duties in mid 1942. However, despite his record of heinous crimes while Chief Medical Officer at Auschwitz-Birkenau, there is no evidence that Mengele was involved in any questionable activities while with the division, and by all accounts fought well up to his discharge. Josef Mengele Dr. Josef Mengele (March 16, 1911 â€“ February 7, 1979) was a Nazi German SS officer and a physician in the concentration camp Aus chwitz. ... A stylized version of the Iron Cross, the emblem of the German Armed Forces The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz) is a military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ...

Commanders

This article or section is missing needed references or citation of sources. ... SS-StandartenfÃ¼hrer Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer as commander of SS-Panzergrenadierregiment 21 near Caen, July 1944. ...

Orders of Battle

SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking, February 1943

Kampfverband WarÃ¤ger Germanische-Freiwilligen-Division SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11 (Germanische) 11. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Finnish Waffen SS volunteers. ...

5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking, April 1944

Estnische SS-Legion - estnisches SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon Narwa Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade 3. ... Corps Franc Wallonie Wallonische Legion 373. ...

Contents

Formation and Training

Operation Barbarossa

The Caucasus

Battles for Kharkov - Panzergrenadier Division

Kursk - Battles on the Mius

Korsun Pocket

Kovel Encirclement

Warsaw Battles

Budapest Relief Efforts

Final Battles

War Crimes

Commanders

Orders of Battle

SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking, February 1943

5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking, April 1944

See also

References

Contents

Formation and Training GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Operation Barbarossa

The Caucasus

Battles for Kharkov - Panzergrenadier Division

Kursk - Battles on the Mius

Korsun Pocket

Kovel Encirclement

Warsaw Battles

Budapest Relief Efforts

Final Battles

War Crimes

Commanders

Orders of Battle

SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking, February 1943

5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking, April 1944

See also

References

Formation and Training