It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Brandenburger Regiment. (Discuss)

For other uses of the word Brandenburg see Brandenburg (disambiguation)

Cufftitle of Division Brandenburg.

Bataillon Ebbinghaus
Lehr und Bau Kompanie z.b.V. 800
Bataillon Brandenburg
Regiment Brandenburg
Division Brandenburg
Infanterie-Division Brandenburg (mot)
Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg
Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Brandenburger Regiment was a German commando unit during World War II. The unit was originally founded by Wilhelm Canaris of the Abwehr, and until 1944 was an OKW unit rather than a unit of the regular army (Heer, OKH). ... Brandenburg, when used by itself, can refer to: The state of Brandenburg, in Germany The town of Brandenburg, in the aforementioned state of Brandenburg, Germany Brandenburg, Kentucky, in the United States Brandenburg is also a part of the name of: Brandenburg v. ... Cufftitle of Brandenburg Division - 1944. ... Cufftitle of Brandenburg Division - 1944. ...

The Brandenburgers were members of the Brandenburg German commando unit during World War II. The unit was the brainchild of Hauptmann (captain) Theodor von Hippel who, after having his idea rejected by the traditionalist Reichswehr, approached Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, commander of the German Intelligence Service, the Abwehr. In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit or a raiding style of military operation. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... Hauptmann (Captain) Theodor von Hippel, was the German army and intelligence officer responsible for the formation and training of the Brandenburgers commando unit. ... Wilhelm Canaris Wilhelm Franz Canaris (January 1, 1887 – April 9, 1945) was a German admiral and head of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, from 1935 to 1944. ... The Abwehr was a German intelligence organization from 1921 to 1944. ...

Regiment Brandenburg (motto: Hie Gut Brandenburg Alle Wege) evolved out of the Abwehr’s 2nd Department, and was used as a commando unit during the first years of the war. Initially the unit consisted mainly of former German expatriates fluent in other languages. The unit steadily expanded until in 1944 it was reallocated to the Großdeutschland Panzer Korps to be used as a frontline combat unit. Wachregiment Berlin Kommando der Wachtruppe Wachtruppe Berlin Wach-Regiment Berlin Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland (mot) Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (mot) Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland Panzer-Korps Großdeutschland The Großdeutschland Division (lit. ...

Origins – the Abwehr

During the First World War, General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, Commander of the East African theatre, conducted a brilliant guerrilla war against the Allied colonial troops. At the same time in the Middle East, T.E. Lawrence was enjoying great success using Arab hit-and-run tactics against the Turks. Hauptmann Theodor von Hippel had served under Lettow-Vorbeck in Africa, and after the war became a strong advocate of the tactics pioneered by his former commander and the Britisher Lawrence. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... General Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck (March 20, 1870 - March 9, 1964) was the commander of the German East Africa campaign in World War I, the only campaign of that war where Germany remained undefeated. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... Look up guerrilla in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Thomas Edward Lawrence (August 16, 1888 – May 19, 1935), also known as Lawrence of Arabia, and (apparently, among his Arab allies) Aurens or El Aurens, became famous for his role as a British liaison officer during the Arab Revolt of 1916–1918. ...

Hippel’s vision is reminiscent of that of David Stirling, founder of the SAS. Hippel proposed that small, élite units, highly trained in sabotage and fluent in foreign languages, could operate behind enemy lines and wreak havoc with the enemy’s command, communication and logistical tails. When Hippel approached the Reichswehr, his idea was rebuffed. The traditionalist Prussian officers saw this clandestine form of warfare would be an affront to the rules of war, and claimed that men who fought that way would not deserve to be called soldiers. Undaunted, Hippel then took his idea to Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, commander of the German Intelligence service, the Abwehr. Hippel was employed in the Abwehr’s 2nd Department, and given the task of making his vision a reality. David Stirling in 1941 Colonel Sir David Stirling, OBE, DSO (November 15, 1915 - November 4, 1990) was a Scottish laird, keen mountaineer, officer in the British Army during World War II, and the founder of the Special Air Service. ... It has been suggested that SAS Troops be merged into this article or section. ... The Reichswehr (help· info) (literally National Defense or Imperial Defense) formed the military organization of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when the government rebranded it as the Wehrmacht (Defence Force). ... Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 Prussia (German: ; Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Lithuanian: ; Polish: ; Old Prussian: PrÅ«sa) was, most recently, a historic state originating in East Prussia, an area which for centuries had substantial influence on German and European history. ... Wilhelm Canaris Wilhelm Franz Canaris (January 1, 1887 – April 9, 1945) was a German admiral and head of the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, from 1935 to 1944. ... The Abwehr was a German intelligence organization from 1921 to 1944. ...

Bataillon Ebbinghaus – Poland

Men of Bataillon Ebbinghaus pose for a rare photo. Poland, September 1939

The original formation, designated Bataillon Ebbinghaus was formed mostly from Volksdeutsche who were fluent in Polish. The battalion was formed with support of the OKW, which had been arranged by Canaris, but meant that the unit fell under Wehrmacht command. During Fall Weiss, the battalion had a magnificent debut. The Ebbinghausers had created confusion in the Polish rear by capturing or destroying major road and rail junctions, as well as helping the advancing troops by securing vital bridges and other strategic targets and preventing their demolition. Despite the success of the Bataillon Ebbinghaus, it was disbanded immediately after the campaign. Men of Bataillon Ebbinghaus, Poland 1939. ... Men of Bataillon Ebbinghaus, Poland 1939. ... Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) is a historical term which arose in the early 20th century to apply for Germans living outside of the German Empire. ... Oberkommando der Wehrmacht OKW most notably stands for Oberkommando der Wehrmacht - the high Command of the Third Reich armed forces. ... Fall Weiss (german spelling Fall Weiß) translates as Case White following the German militarys naming convention. ...

Abwehr takes control – Brandenburgers

Canaris gave Hippel the go-ahead to create an Abwehr controlled unit along the lines of the Ebbinghaus Battalion. Basing the new formation on many of the former Ebbinghausers, Hippel formed Lehr und Bau Kompanie z.b.V. 800 (or Special Purpose Training and Construction Company No. 800) on 25 October 1939. October 25 is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Recruitment for the company was almost directly contrary to those of Heinrich Himmler’s SS. Rather than recruiting only those who embodied the Aryan ideal of the übermensch, Hippel scoured the Reich to find Slavs, Poles and other ethnics willing to fight for Germany. Every recruit had to be fluent in at least one foreign language. However, many recruits were fluent in several. The recruits were also schooled in the customs and traditions of their specific region. Knowing every habit and mannerism in their area of operations would enable the men to blend in and operate as effective saboteurs.   (October 7, 1900 – May 23, 1945) was the commander of the German Schutzstaffel (SS) and one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany. ... SS or ss or Ss may be: The Schutzstaffel, a Nazi paramilitary force Steamship (SS) (ship prefix) The United States Secret Service A submarine not powered by nuclear energy (SS) (United States Navy designator), see SSN A Soviet/Russian surface-to-surface missile, as listed by NATO reporting name Shortstop... Aryan () is an English language word derived from the Sanskrit and Iranian terms ari-, arya-, ārya-, and/or the extended form aryāna-. The Sanskrit and Old Persian languages both pronounced the word as arya- () and aryan. ...

The formation was barracked in Brandenburg, Berlin, and had training grounds nearby in Friedenthal (Oranienburg). The influx of new recruits meant that on 15 December 1939, less than three months after its founding, the company was expanded and redesignated Bataillon Brandenburg. The men of the Bataillon came to be known as the Brandenburgers. Brandenburg (Lower Sorbian: Bramborska; Upper Sorbian: Braniborska) is one of Germanys sixteen Bundesländer (federal states) and lies in the east of the country. ... Berlin is the capital city and a state of Germany. ...

The original battalion consisted of four companies; organised along ethnic 'Front' lines, as shown below. The battalion also included a Motorcycle platoon and a Fallschirm-platoon. A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ...

• 1. Kompanie – Baltic/Russian territories.
• 2. Kompanie – English-speaking territories and North Africa.
• 3. Kompanie – Sudeten German / Yugoslavia.
• 4. Kompanie – Volksdeutsche territories.

Map of the Sudetenland Gau. ... Ethnic Germans (usually simply called Germans, in German Volksdeutsche) are those who are considered, by themselves or others, to be ethnically German rather than anything else but who do not live within the Federal Republic of Germany nor hold its citizenship. ...

France and the Low Countries – Yugoslavia

The Brandenburgers saw extensive action in Fall Gelb. On 8 May, two nights before the opening of the offensive the Brandenburgers went into action. Donning the enemies' uniforms over their own German ones, small groups began to cross the border into the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. 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. ...

One of many actions from the opening days of the campaign was the seizure of the Meuse bridge in the Dutch town of Gennep. An 8 man team, led by Leutnant Wilhelm Walther, was tasked with capturing the bridge intact. At 2am on May 10, Walther’s team, now disguised as Dutch military police escorting German prisoners, made their assault. Two guard posts were destroyed, but three Brandenburgers were wounded and the team was pinned down. Dressed in a Dutch uniform, Walther advanced across the bridge. The confused defenders hesitated, allowing the rest of the team to take them out, seizing the bridge and disabling the detonators. Many more operations like this took place over the course of the campaign. However on another bridge, Brandenburgers were arrested by Dutch troops and shot as spies.These were risks the Brandenburgers were willing to make. Meuse near Grave The Meuse (Dutch Maas) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea. ... Gennep is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ... It has been suggested that Gendarmerie be merged into this article or section. ... A detonator is a device used to trigger bombs, shaped charges and other forms of explosive material and explosive devices. ...

Brandenburgers examine a disabled Dutch bunker, the Netherlands, May 1940

After the capitulation of France, the Brandenburgers (along with the elite Infantrie-Regiment Großdeutschland) were moved to northern France in preparation for Operation Seelöwe. After the invasion was called off, the Battalion moved to southern France and began training for another operation that was not to be, Operation Felix, the proposed assault on Gibraltar. Men of Bataillon Brandenburg examine a disabled Dutch bunker - Holland, May 1940 File links The following pages link to this file: Brandenburgers Categories: German public domain photographs ... Men of Bataillon Brandenburg examine a disabled Dutch bunker - Holland, May 1940 File links The following pages link to this file: Brandenburgers Categories: German public domain photographs ... Wachregiment Berlin Kommando der Wachtruppe Wachtruppe Berlin Wach-Regiment Berlin Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland (mot) Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (mot) Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland Panzer-Korps Großdeutschland The Großdeutschland Division (lit. ... Operation Sealion (Unternehmen (Undertaking) Seelöwe in German) was a World War II German plan to invade the United Kingdom. ... World War II, Felix was the proposed name for a German/Spanish seizure of Gibraltar. ...

During this time, the Battalion was again enlarged, and redesignated Regiment Brandenburg (see separate article) Along with the increase in size, the Regiment also received Coastal Raider and specialist Tropical components. The Brandenburger Regiment was a German commando unit during World War II. The unit was originally founded by Wilhelm Canaris of the Abwehr, and until 1944 was an OKW unit rather than a unit of the regular army (Heer, OKH). ...

After Mussolini’s botched invasion of Greece, Hitler was forced to postpone his invasion of the Soviet Union and invade Yugoslavia and Greece – a plan codenamed Operation Marita – and to be launched on 6 April 1941. Again, the Brandenburgers were to play a role, with a large 54 man team from III./Regiment Brandenburg (the Sudeten and Slavic battalion) seizing the vital dockyards at Orşova on the Danube a day before the opening of the campaign. Benito Mussolini created a fascist state through the use of propaganda, total control of the media and disassembly of the working democratic government. ... 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. ... During World War II, Operation Marita was the German invasion of Greece and Yugoslavia on 6 April 1941. ... OrÅŸova (Hungarian: Orsova, German: Orschowa) is a port town on the Danube river in southwestern Romanias Mehedinti county. ... The Danube bend at Visegrád is a popular destination of tourists The Danube (ancient Danuvius) is Europes second-longest river (after the Volga). ...

Training and Structure

Despite the increased size, the Brandenburgers were still highly skilled. The training was physically and mentally demanding, with focuses on foreign languages, small unit tactics, parachutist qualifications, demolitions, covert operations, use of vehicles and aircraft and familiarity with enemy weapons, including tanks. Some sub-units were specifically trained as pilots or trained in forgery, demolitions or camouflage. One company was formed from 127 expert cross country skiers, and was specially trained to fight in the frozen wastes of the northern Soviet Union. The company was also equipped with dog sleds. Skydiver about to land Parachuting, or skydiving, is an activity involving the breaking of a free-fall from a height using a parachute. ... A massive crane is used to demolish this tower block in northern England Demolition is the opposite of construction: the tearing-down of buildings and other structures. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with black ops. ... Anolis caroliensis showing blending camouflage and counter-shading. ... Cross-country skiing (aka XC skiing) is an adventure and fitness activity as well as a competitive winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields, primarily in Europe and Canada. ...

In action, a Brandenburger unit could consist of 2 or 200 men, depending on the mission requirements. At this stage in the war, virtually all Brandenburger operations took place behind enemy lines. The units operated along the lines of the SAS teams, but unlike their allied counterparts, the Brandenburgers were very particular about donning another nation's uniform. This chivalric code, while perhaps rather anachronistic, required that men always wore their German uniform beneath the enemy's, and before combat. The men would hold fire until they made their own uniforms visible. While this led credence to the claim that Brandenburgers were soldiers, not spies, it also led to the capture of several units who refused to break these orders and open fire before revealing their 'true colours'. It has been suggested that SAS Troops be merged into this article or section. ... Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ...

Despite these precautions to remain within the rules of war, all Brandenburgers carried a suicide pill when operating behind enemy lines. A suicide pill is a form of risk arbitrage used to thwart hostile takeover attempts. ...

North Africa

When the Afrika Korps shipped to Libya, Brandenburgers did also. The men, raised as four companies of special Tropical Units, were fluent in either English or Arabic and used captured British vehicles to operate behind enemy lines, mirroring the actions of the British LRDG. Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel at first disapproved of the Brandenburgers, but after he saw the damage being inflicted by the LRDG and Stirling’s SAS, he realised their value and accepted their unorthodox methods. The seal of Afrikakorps The German Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is... The Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) was a British Army unit during World War II. The unit was founded in Egypt following the Italian declaration of war (June 1940) by Major Ralph A. Bagnold with the assistance of Captains Clayton and Shaw, acting under the direction of General Wavell. ... | Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel ( ) (November 15, 1891 – October 14, 1944) was one of the most distinguished German field marshals of World War II. He was the commander of the Deutsches Afrika Korps and also became known by the nickname The Desert Fox (Wüstenfuchs,  ) for the skillful military campaigns he...

Operation Barbarossa - Ostfront

Main article: Operation Barbarossa

The first German units to cross the Soviet frontier in June 1941 were the men of the Brandenburg Regiment. On the first day, Brandenburgers seized road and rail junctions, secured river crossings and wreaked havoc with the already inadequate soviet communications and supply lines. Combatants Axis Powers Soviet Union Commanders Supreme commander: Adolf Hitler Supreme commander: Josef Stalin Strength ~ 3. ...

During the early days of Barbarossa, a Brandenburger unit seized the bridge over the Daugava in Dünaburg (in Latvia). This prevented a halt in the advance of Heeresgruppe Nord on Leningrad. River Daugava flowing through Riga city into the Baltic Sea The Daugava or Western Dvina (Latvian: Daugava, German Düna, Belarusan: Заходняя Дзьвіна, Russian: За́падная Двина́, Finnish Väinä) is a river rising in the Valdai Hills, flowing through Russia and Belarus, and then Latvia, draining into the Gulf of Riga, an arm of... Daugavpils (Belarusian Дзьвінск Dźvinsk, Russian Двинcк Dvinsk, Lithuanian Daugpilis, German Dünaburg, Polish Dzwinow or DźwiÅ„sk, Yiddish דענענבורג Denenburg), population 115,265 in 2000 census) is the second largest city in Latvia. ... Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord in German) was a high level command grouping of military units operating for Germany during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached army corps, reserve formations, and direct-reporting units. ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and...

Meanwhile, the "Küstenjäger-Abteilung" (or Coastal Raiders Battalion) performed many amphibious raids along the coasts of the Black Sea, The Baltic and the Sea of Azov. The word amphibious or amphibian, when used alone, has several possible meanings in the English language. ... Map of the Black Sea. ... Map of the Baltic Sea. ... The shallow Sea of Azov is clearly distinguished from the deeper Black Sea. ...

In Ukraine, the Brandenburgers operated in co-operation with the volunteer Ukrainian unit "Ukrainische Gruppe Nachtigall" in support of Heeresgruppe Mitte. The units enjoyed overwhelming success, despite the questionable actions of some of the Ukrainian units. Battalion Nachtigall was the first foreign legion of the Wehrmacht. ... Army Group Centre (Heeresgruppe Mitte in German) was created on 22 June 1941 when Army Group B was renamed Army Group Centre. ...

Brandenburgers, disguised as Russian troops, before setting out on a mission. Ukraine, August 1941

In early October 1942, a Brandenburger unit of 62 Baltic and Sudeten Germans led by Freiherr Adrian von Fölkersam penetrated farther into enemy territory than any other German unit. They had been ordered to seize and secure the vital Maikop oilfields. Disguised as dreaded NKVD men, and driving Soviet trucks, Fölkersam’s unit passed through the Soviet front lines and moved deep into hostile territory. The Brandenburgers ran into a large group of Red Army deserters fleeing from the front. Fölkersam saw an opportunity to use them to the unit’s advantage. By persuading them to return to the Soviet cause, he was able to join with them and move almost at will through the Russian lines. A very rare picture of Brandenburg men in Soviet uniforms, about to set out on a mission. ... A very rare picture of Brandenburg men in Soviet uniforms, about to set out on a mission. ... The Baltic Germans (Baltendeutsche, Balten, and Deutschbalten respectively), were the ethnically German inhabitants of that area on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea which forms today the countries of Latvia. ... Freiherr (German for Free Lord) is a title of lower nobility in Germany, the Baltic states and Austria-Hungary, considered equal to the title Baron. ... Maykop (Майко́п), capital of the Republic of Adygea, Russia. ... The NKVD (Narodnyi Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del )(Russian: НКВД, Народный комиссариат внутренних дел) or Peoples Commisariat for Internal Affairs was a government department which handled a number of the Soviet Unions affairs of state. ... The short forms Red Army and RKKA refer to the Workers and Peasants Red Army, (in Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия - Raboche-Krestyanskaya Krasnaya Armiya), the armed forces first organized by the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War in 1918. ...

Operating under false identity of NKVD Major Truchin based in Stalingrad, Fölkersam explained his role in recovering the deserters to the Soviet commander in charge of Maikop's defenses. The commander not only believed Fölkersam, but the next day gave him a personal tour of the city's defenses. By August 8, the German spearheads were only 12 miles away. The Brandenburgers made their move. Using grenades to simulate an artillery attack, they knocked out the military communications center for the city. Fölkersam then went to the Russian defenders and told them that a withdrawal was taking place. Having seen Fölkersam with their commander and lacking any communications to rebut or confirm his statement, the Soviets began to evacuate Maikop. The German spearhead entered the city without a fight on October 9, 1942. August 8 is the 220th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (221st in leap years), with 145 days remaining. ... October 9 is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

This is only one example of the hundreds of missions performed by the Brandenburgers during the advance into Russia.

By 1943, the most common mission assignement was long range reconnaissance. During the 1942 advance of Heeresgruppe Süd in Ukraine, the Brandenburgers revived their role from the early days of the campaign, forging ahead of the Panzer columns, seizing bridges, road and rail junctions, and attacking the Soviet command and control structure. Mostly, these missions were performed by units of 20-60 Brandenburgers, dressed as Soviets and driving captured Red Army vehicles. Army Group South (Heeresgruppe Süd 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. ... PzKpfw V-D, a Panther tank   Panzer? is German for armour. ...

Middle-East Asia - Operation Bajadere

Main article: Free India Legion

The Abwehr had actively sought out Hindu and Muslim recruits for a planned strike through the Caucasus into Iran, India and Afghanistan. The defeat at Stalingrad meant that no major offensive towards India would take place. However, the 100 man unit, derived from what came to be known as the the Free India Legion, was still to be put to use. In January 1942, in Operation Bajadere, the unit was parachuted into Persia and infiltrated India. They engaged in sabotage, attempted to create dissent and worked towards a popular revolt against British rule. Oberleutnant Witzel, the Abwehr attaché at Kabul reported several months later that the operations had been successful.^{[citation needed]} The Legion Freies Indien, or the Indische Freiwilligen-Legion Regiment 950 variously known as the Tiger Legion, the Free India Legion (in English), The Azad Hind Legion, or the I.R 950 (Indisches Infanterie Regiment 950) was an Indian armed unit raised in 1941 attached to the Wehrmacht, ostensibly according... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... 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. ... Combatants Germany Italy Romania Hungary Soviet Union Commanders Friedrich Paulus Erich von Manstein Hermann Hoth Georgiy Zhukov Vasiliy Chuikov Aleksandr Vasilyevskiy Strength German Sixth Army German Fourth Panzer Army Romanian Third Army Romanian Fourth Army Hungarian Second Army Italian Eighth Army 500,000 Germans Unknown number Reinforcements Unknown number Axis... The Legion Freies Indien, or the Indische Freiwilligen-Legion Regiment 950 variously known as the Tiger Legion, the Free India Legion (in English), The Azad Hind Legion, or the I.R 950 (Indisches Infanterie Regiment 950) was an Indian armed unit raised in 1941 attached to the Wehrmacht, ostensibly according... Motto: Persian: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ« (English: Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republic) Anthem(s): SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Persian Government Islamic Republic  - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Establishment 550 B.C.E Cyrus the... A view of the old city Kabul Kabul (, Kâbl, in Persian کابل) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan with a population variously estimated at 2 to 4 million. ...

Brandenburg Division - the Balkans

By late 1942, the majority of the Brandenburg regiment was being used in fire brigade duties, acting as elite infantry and plugging gaps in the German lines. In February 1943, the Brandenburgers were pulled out of the line and moved back to Germany. The Regiment was being expanded again, this time to become Division Brandenburg. The division's first commander was to be Generalmajor Alexander von Pfuhlstein. The division was to be formed by four regiments. One regiment was returned to the Eastern front, to resume duties as a fire brigade, One battalion was sent to Africa to continue harassing the Allies in the Mediterranean. The remainder of the division was sent to the Balkans, to engage in anti-Partisan operations. The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... The Rebellion The Yugoslav Partisans were the main resistance movement engaged in the fight against the Axis forces in the Balkans during World War II. // Origins The Yugoslav Partisans went under the official name of National Liberation Army and Partisan Detachments of Yugoslavia (Slovene: Narodnoosvobodilna vojska in partizanski odredi Jugoslavije...

On May 25, 1944, specialist members of the division, attached to SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500, took part in Operation Rösselsprung, an airborne operation to capture Yugoslav Partisan leader Tito at his headquarters near Drvar, thereby ending communist resistance in the Balkans. Tito escaped just before the SS-Fallschirmjäger reached the cave in which he made his headquarters and the SS-Fallschirmjäger were forced to withdraw to the town cemetery, where they dug in and endured a night of ferocious partisan assaults. German casualties were 213 killed, 881 wounded, and 51 missing, with a total of about 6000 on the Partisan side. SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 500 was all but wiped out, one of four times this happened to the unit and its successor, SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl 600, in the eighteen months from November 1943 to May 1945. May 25 is the 145th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (146th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Operation Rösselsprung (Knights Leap) was a World War II operation by the Germans in April and May 1944, whose goal was to capture Josip Broz Tito and disrupt the leadership of the communist Partisan movement in Yugoslavia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Drvar is a town and a municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, located on the road between Bosansko Grahovo and Bosanski Petrovac, also near Glamoč. It is administratively part of the West Bosnia Canton of the Federation. ...

Italy - Dodecanese Islands

main article Battle of Leros Combatants Great Britain Germany Commanders Brig. ...

In mid 1943, King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy ousted the Fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini and changed sides. Following this, many Brandenburger units were moved from the Balkans, and took part in actions to disarm Italian soldiers and secure regions vital to the German war effort. Victor Emmanuel III Victor Emmanuel III (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele III) (November 11, 1869 - December 28, 1947), nicknamed The Soldier, was the King of Italy (July 29, 1900 - May 9, 1946), and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia (1936 - 1943) and King of Albania (1939 - 1943). ... Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) was the Prime-Minister and dictator of Italy from 1922 until his overthrow in 1943. ...

One vital area was the island of Kos, in the Dodecanese island chain off the coast of Turkey. Kos had been secured by British troops in September 1943, and a large garrison of allied Italian troops was also present. The island had a vital airstrip, and had to be recaptured. Along with Luftwaffe Fallschirmjägers, men of the Küstenjäger-Abteilung along with the Fallschirm-Kompanie of the Brandenburg Division took part. The Brandenburgers, under command of Leutnant Langbein, landed at night on the southern coast of the island, and quickly subdued the beach defenses, controlled by Italian troops. The unit then advanced to the town encountering no resistance, and began clearing the town. After investigating several caves, the unit discovered a stash of alcohol. Many of the men indulged themselves with a few drinks. After nightfall, Langbein realised that the alcohol had made his men tired and dulled their alertness. He secured a stock of Pervitin, a stimulant, and administered it to his men. Mixed with the alcohol, Pervitin created a sense of controlled rage among the men, and when the British and Italians attacked later in the evening, the Brandenburgers repulsed them with ease and assaulted and captured the British and Italian positions, linking up with the Fallschirmjägers and securing the island. Port of Kos Archaeological site Tree of Hippocrates Roman amphitheater Kos town view Kos or Cos (, Greek Κως, Turkish Ä°stanköy, Italian Coo; formerly Stanchio in English) is a Greek island in the Dodecanese group of islands, in the Aegean Sea, which it separates from the Gulf of Cos. ... The Dodecanese (Greek: Δωδεκάνησα, Dodekánisa, meaning twelve islands; see also List of traditional Greek place names) are a group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, off the southwest coast of Turkey. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Fallschirmjäger photo taken from The Hague, Bezuidenhout during the invasion of the Low Countries, morning of May 10, 1940 , often rendered Fallschirmjager in English, is the German word for paratrooper. ... In chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group. ... Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant drug which induces a strong feeling of euphoria and is highly addictive. ... Fallschirmjäger photo taken from The Hague, Bezuidenhout during the invasion of the Low Countries, morning of May 10, 1940 , often rendered Fallschirmjager in English, is the German word for paratrooper. ...

Loss of Abwehr control - transfer to the Front

Since the beginning, Admiral Canaris and the Abwehr had been watched closely by Himmler's SS intelligence service, the SD, commanded by Walter Schellenberg. Sicherheitsdienst (SD) sleeve insignia. ... Correctly: Walther Schellenberg, full name Walther Friedrich Schellenberg (January 16, 1910 - March 31, 1952) was a German Nazi and second-in-command of the Gestapo. ...

The anti-Nazi views of the Abwehr came to a head in July 1944, when several high ranking Abwehr officials, including Canaris himself, were implicated in the bomb plot to kill Hitler. Control of the Brandenburg division was passed to the SD, but in September 1944 it was decided that special operations units were no longer necessary. The July 20 Plot was a failed coup détat which involved an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. ...

The Brandenburg Division became Infanterie-Division Brandenburg (mot), was equipped as a motorised infantry division and transferred to the Eastern front.

1,800 men (including Freiherr Adrian von Fölkersam) managed to obtain transfers to SS-Standartenführer Otto Skorzeny's SS-Jagdverbande and continue operating as special forces till the end of the war. Otto Skorzeny Otto Skorzeny (June 12, 1908 - July 5, 1975) was a Obersturmbannführer in the German Waffen-SS during World War II. He is best-known as the commando leader who rescued Benito Mussolini from imprisonment after his overthrow. ...

For the rest of the division, the return to conventional operations damaged morale, but despite this, the Brandenburgers were still considered élite, and so was assigned to the Großdeutschland Panzer Korps along with its old training partner from 1940-41, the Großdeutschland division. The Brandenburg fought well in the Eastern front, being involved in the fighting retreat through the Baltic States and into East Prussia. Morale is a term for the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal. ... Wachregiment Berlin Kommando der Wachtruppe Wachtruppe Berlin Wach-Regiment Berlin Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland (mot) Infanterie-Division Großdeutschland (mot) Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland Panzer-Korps Großdeutschland The Großdeutschland Division (lit. ... Baltic states and the Baltic Sea The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a term which nowadays refers to three countries in Northern Europe: Estonia Latvia Lithuania Prior to World War II, Finland was sometimes considered, particularly by the Soviet Union, a fourth Baltic state. ... East Prussia (German: Ostpreu en; Polish: Prusy Wschodnie; Russian: Восточная Пруссия — Vostochnaya Prussiya) was a province of Kingdom of Prussia, situated on the territory of former Ducal Prussia. ...

In late 1944, the division was equipped with a Panzer Regiment and redesignated Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg and returned to the front. The Brandenburgers were involved in heavy fighting near Memel, until their withdrawal, along with the Großdeutschland, via ferry to Pillau. The division was all but annihilated during the heavy fighting near Pillau, and while some survivors surrendered to the British in Schleswig-Holstein in May, many Brandenburgers, highly skilled in evading detection, simply disappeared. The Battle of Memel[1] was fought on the Eastern Front of World War II in late 1944 and early 1945. ... Baltiysk (Балтийск) – known prior to 1945 by its German name, Pillau (Polish PiÅ‚awa, Lithuanian Piliava)– is a Russian sea port in the strait between Vistula Bay and Gdansk Bay, called Strait of Baltiysk on the territory of Kaliningrad Oblast with about 20,000 inhabitants. ... Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the 16 Bundesländer in Germany. ...

Post War - Advisors

The Brandenburgers who escaped death or capture during the war were, like many special forces soldiers, not willing or able to lay down the sword and return to civilian life. Many ex-Brandenburgers were accepted into the British SAS, the fledgling American Special Forces or the French Foreign Legion. It is interesting to note that at Dien Bien Phu, the majority of the French Legionaires were Germans - ex Waffen-SS and Heer men, with several Brandenburgers among them. The Russians also almost certainly used ex-Brandenburgers as advisors and operatives in their security forces. It has been suggested that SAS Troops be merged into this article or section. ... The French Foreign Legion (French: Légion Étrangère) is a unique unit within the French Army established in 1831. ... Dien Bien Phu (Điện Biên Phủ) is a small town in northwestern Vietnam in the province of Điện Biên. ... Waffen-SS recruitment poster; Volunteer to the Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel. ... Wehrmacht troops of the Heer (military land forces) marching at a military parade in honour of the 50th birthday of Adolf Hitler, on April 20th, 1939. ...

Many other Brandenburgers travelled to Africa, South America or Asia to operate as mercenaries or advisors. The successive coup d'etats in the many newly formed African states provided work for ex-Brandenburgers. The head of Indonesian Security services during Sukarno's rule was a Brandenburg veteran. Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong was advised by an ex-Brandenburger, as was Congolese Separatist Moise Tshombe. Many Brandenburgers also found employment in the Egyptian forces of Muhammad Naguib, others fighting for the newly founded State of Israel. Sukarno (June 6, 1901 – June 21, 1970) was the first President of Indonesia. ... Communist Party of China flag The Communist Party of China (Simplified Chinese: 中国共产党; Traditional Chinese: 中國共産黨; pinyin: Zhōnggu ngchǎndǎng) is the ruling party of the Peoples Republic of China. ...   (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976) (also Mao Tse-Tung in Wade-Giles transliteration) was a Chinese Marxist military and political leader, who led the Chinese Communist Party to victory against the Kuomintang (KMT) in the Chinese Civil War, leading to the establishment of the People’s Republic of China... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Template:Infobox President Muhammad Naguib (محمد نجيب in Arabic; 20 February 1901 – 29 August 1984) was the first President of the Republic of Egypt. ...

Orders of battle

Bataillon Brandenburg - December 1939

• 1. Kompanie
• 2. Kompanie
• 3. Kompanie
• 4. Kompanie
• Kradschützen Zug
• Fallschirm-Zug

Division Brandenburg – February 1943 - March 1944

• Stab der Division
• Jäger Regiment - 1 Brandenburg
• Jäger Regiment - 2 Brandenburg
• Jäger Regiment - 3 Brandenburg
• Jäger Regiment - 4 Brandenburg
• Tropische Einheiten Brandenburg
• Küstenjäger-Abteilung Brandenburg
• Fallschirm-Battalion Brandenburg
• Nachrichten-Kompanie Brandenburg
• Independent Companies -
  • 14.Kompanie
  • 15.Fallschirm-Kompanie
• Auxiliary Units -
  • Lehrregiment Brandenburg z.b.v Nr.800 (Training Regiment)

Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg - 1944-1945.

• Stab der Division
• Panzer-Regiment Brandenburg
• Jäger(mot)-Regiment 1 Brandenburg
• Jäger(mot)-Regiment 2 Brandenburg
• Panzerjäger-Bataillon Brandenburg
• Artillerie-Regiment Brandenburg
• Heeres-Flak-Abteilung Brandenburg
• Auflärungs-Abteilung Brandenburg
• Pionier-Bataillon Brandenburg
• Nachrichten-Battalion Brandenburg
• Supply Train

Bibliography

• Spaeter, Helmut (c1990s). The History of the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland Vol I-III. Winnipeg, Canada: J.J. Fedorowicz. ISBN 0-921991-50-9.

• Westwell, Ian (2004). Brandenburgers: The Third Reich's Special Forces (Spearhead 13). USA: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-2979-2.

• Kurowski, Franz (c1990s). The Brandenburgers: Global Mission. ISBN 0-921991-38-X.

• Spaeter, Helmut (1984). Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland: Panzergrenadier-Division Grossdeutschland, Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg und seine Schwesterverbände, Führer-Gren ... Träger des Ritterkreuzes : Bilddokumentation. ISBN 3-7909-0214-4.

• Lefevre, Eric (1999). Brandenburg Division: Commandos of the Reich (Special Operations Series). ISBN 2-908182-73-4.