Martin Kohlroser

[phactr]

Martin Kohlroser was undoubtedly one of the most "itinerant" officers of the whole W-SS ! He seldom stayed more than a few months in the same unit. Does someone know why ? Was it because he an incompetent officer (I guess not, otherwise he should have been sent to the Führerreserve) or because the relations with his superiors were not too good ?

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

I have not investigated the matter, but I suspect that he was one of those guys like Karl-Maria Demelhuber who was a much better at organizing a unit and getting it trained than he was at actually leading it in combat. So after the 1940 Western Campaign, most of Kohlroser's assignments involved organization and training, rather than combat leadership.

[Peter]

I am looking at his Militarischer Werdegang dated 1 Aug 1944 when he was SS-SF.

1.10.1933 promoted Stubaf & made Btl. Kdr LSSAH
8.4.1941 Transferred as Regimental kdr SS-IR.14 (mot)
8.7.1941 Transferred as Regtl kdr SS-IR.7 (mot) promoted SS-SF 9.11.1941
Okt 1942 Transferred as Regtl kdr to "Das Reich"
Jan 1943 Transferred as Regtl kdr to "Frundsberg"
Mar 1944 Transferred as Regtl kdr to "Wiking"
May 1944 Transferred as Regtl kdr to "Landstorm Ndl"

[Peter]

His awards do not show any lack of confidence or ability

Blutorden 9 Nov 33
EK2 18 Sep 39
EK1 26 Sep 39
Finn Frieh.Krz.II Kl Nov 41
DK/Gold 2 Apr 42


Apparently recommended for Regimental Command by Lothar Debes, he was recommended for the DK/Gold by Demelhuber and latterly promoted SS-OF on 9 Nov 44

[phactr]

I asked this question because it is interesting to note that none of LAH former battalion commanders of the beginning of the war (von Oberkamp, Schützeck and Kohlroser) went on to head a regiment in the LAH when the latter became a division. Instead, the command of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.1 & 2 were given to Wish (who was just a company commander in 1939 and during the campaign in the West) and to Witt (who came from the SS-VT in 1940). Of course, Schützeck had been badly injured and von Oberkamp was disliked by Dietrich. But why Kohlroser was moved away from the LAH if he had performed that well ? SS divisions had tended to keep their best officers within their ranks and used to discard their unwanted men when the SS-FHA asked them to provide CO and NCO for the formation of new units. The great exception to that habit was the formation of the 12.SS-PD "HJ" when LAH did effectively transfer some of their best officers to the new division.

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

Keep in mind that Witt was an original LAH member from 1933. He had been transferred in 1938 when LAH and the VT exchanged some officers in order to bring up the standard of training in LAH. And von Oberkamp had a falling out with Himmler, which retarded his career, it took several years to get it back on track and he had to serve with the less glamorous 1. SS-Infanterie Brigade and its successor 18. SS-FPGD HW.

What Kohlroser's record shows is that he had a good relationship with Demelhuber, who recommended him for the DKiG, and later found a position for him under his command in the Netherlands (where Demelhuber was Befehlshaber der Waffen-SS).

[9.Gebirgsdivision]

Here is a nice portrait of Martin Kohlroser...

[coburg22]

Hello,

Great photo. I have never seen a close up of Martin Kohlroser before.

Best,

James

[Charles Trang]

In February 1944, Karl von Treuenfeld and Paul Hausser wrote to the Reichsführungs-SS that Martin Kohlroser was not up to the task of leading a Panzergrenadier-Regiment due to his deficiencies in the way orders are given and due to his personality. You may have a look at his personal file (in Berlin-Lichterfelde or in College Park or in the John P. Moore "Führerliste") for more details.

[coburg22]

Hello Charles,

Thanks for the information regarding Kohlroser. Considering Himmler received this letter from two senior W-SS Commanders, I wonder why Kohlroser was eventually promoted to SS-Oberfuhrer and received the German Cross in Gold and not given a administrative post instead?

Best,

James

[Charles Trang]

Remember that he won the coveted German Cross in Gold during his time with the SS-Division "Nord". This was before his move to the Frundsberg Division which earned him so many critics ! Concerning his promotion to SS-Oberführer, it came on 9 November 1944 which is three years after his promotion to SS-Standartenführer. By SS standards, this is quite a long time ! After being rejected from the Frundsberg Division, he was transfered in March 1944 to the Wiking Division as Regiments-Kommandeur (Westland ?). He did not stayed there very long as he was transfered again and was by 20 April 1944 in the staff of the HöSSuPF "Italien". He then took the reins of Landstorm Nederland on 11 may 1944.

[John P. Moore]

I'd say that Kohlroser is an example of the politics of the SS that go back to the early 1930s. While he may have been a good combat commander, he must have stepped on the wrong people's toes somewhere along the way. This was not an uncommon situation in the SS and is not unlike being part of any large organization, whether business or government.

[Charles Trang]

It is difficult to know what really happened. He was in very good terms with Sepp Dietrich who selected him to seat next to Hitler when the latter came in the LSSAH barracks for the 1939 Christmas celebrations. But he was transfered to SS-IR 14 in April 1941 which meant that he was leaving the most prestigious WSS unit for a former SS-Totenkopf-Standarte. It is interesting to note that the LSSAH battalion commanders who began the campaign in France in May 1940 (Kohlroser, Schützeck and Trabandt) were all gone by 1941.

[Charles Trang]

I would like to add that Kohlroser's difficult time in the Frundsberg Division was not an unique situation. Karl von Treuenfeld had also been unfairly harsh with Franz Kleffner after the Buczacz battle.

[pim]

I know this is going off topic but can you (Charles) elaborate on von Treuenfeld and Kleffner. Kleffner was a good officer but he was prone to drink too much - was that a reason?