Division Nr. 438

[K.Kocjancic]

Division Nr. 438



1. Einsatz und Unterstellung:

Die Division wurde am 1. November 1943 in Klagenfurt, Wehrkreis XVIII, aufgestellt. Die Division trat an die Stelle der nach Salzburg, ebenfalls Wehrkreis XVIII, verlegten Division Nr. 418.



2. Kommandeure:

unbekannt



3. Gliederung:

Dezember 1943:

Landesschützen-Regiment 18

Landesschützen-Regiment 184

Grenz-Wach-Abschnitt XVIII

Grenz-Wach-Unter-Abschnitt XVIII/E



4. Ersatz:

Seine Ersatzgestellung erhielt der Stab direkt vom Wehrkreis XVIII.

Division Nr. 438

Commanders
Generalleutnant Ferdinand Noeldechen (1 Nov 1943 - 8 May 1945)

Area of operations
Austria (Nov 1943 - May 1945)

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -

Does anyone have any other info on this unit? At least in September 1944 and May 1945 was Div. stationed in Slovenia (Untersteiermark). What was the correct name of unit: Division Nr. 438 or 438. Div. z.v.B.?

Regards,
Klemen

[K.Kocjancic]

Interesting is story of Landesschützen-Regiment 18 in May 1945.

Regiment was stationed in Hrastnik (Hrastnigg), when Partisan came in town. As this was Austrian unit they started on 2nd May negotiations with Partisans. On the same day Oberleutnant Karel Ecke signed in Zidani Most (Steinbrück) document in which was stated:
- Regiment will joined Partisan forces;
- Regiment will let Partisan to liberate Trbovlje, Hrastnik, Zidani Most, Zagorje and Litija (where was stationed);
- right after liberation of these settlements Partisans will formed Oper.Staff with 3 Offz. from Rgt.;
- Rgt. will disarmed, arrest and hand-over to Partisans all members of Werksschutz, Gestapo, Četniki, Domobranci, Gendarmerie, NSDAP;
- Rgt. will secure and turned over all public buildings, plants, mines,... (undamaged) to Partisans;
- Rgt. will fought beside Partisans until capitulation of all German forces;
- Rgt. members will have special Armband (left sleeve) with red mark of Rgt.;
- if partisan starts shooting on members of Rgt. with this special insignia, he will be arrested and turned-over to Oper.Staff
- after liberation of Slovenia Rgt. will be granted safe passage to Austria

But already on 3rd May the deal was off, because some Austrian Offz. didn't recognized the dokument (it wasn't signed by Rgt. CO), most of soldiers were also against this deal, plus strong German units came in contact.

On 4th May partisans wanted to attack them, but they started another round of talks. Some subunits recognized document and agreed to surrender on next day.

On 5th May some subunits surrendered, but majority of Rgt. didn't. They continued to defend the Railway station in Zagorje (under command of Maj. Grietzler), until they withdraw to Trbovlje. Next day (6th May) they counterattacked with support of 11 tanks, but after loss of 1 tank and 2 hours of fighting they retreated back to Trbovlje.

Regards,
Klemen

[Endzeit Jan]

http://diedeutschewehrmacht.de/DivNr%20438.htm

Jan

[K.Kocjancic]

http://diedeutschewehrmacht.de/DivNr%20438.htm

Jan

Thanks!

This link confirms above two pages.

Regards,
Klemen

[K.Kocjancic]

Some info on the 438. Division z.b.V. from the partisan report (26.09.1944):
- HQ in Klagenfurt, covering Landesschütz and Grenzwacht units in Slovenia:
-- 18. Landesschütz-Rgt. (HQ in Celje/Cilli; 611. Btl. guarding railway Celje-Dravograd, 649. guarding Celje - Zidani Most; 922. in Trbovlje and 128. in Mežica)
-- 184. Landesschütz-Rgt. (HQ in Kranj/Krainburg; 517. Btl. in Domžale/Domschale-Kamnik/Stein, 921. in Kranj, 927. in Bled/Veldes, 928. in Šentvid nad Ljubljano/St. Veith a. d. Save)
-- Grenzwachtabschnitt Villach:
--- Grenzwachtunderabschnitt D: HQ in Dravograd, Grenzwachtkompanie 16, 19 and 20
--- Grenzwachtunderabschnitt E: HQ in Ptuj, unknown companies
--- Grenzwachtunderabschnitt F: HQ in Zidani Most, Grenzwachtkompanie 14, 15, 21, Landschütz-Kmp. 2/937 and 1/802

- commanding staff:
- CO, Div.: Gen.Ltn. Nöldechen
- CO, 18. Lds-Rgt.: Oberst Palua Gall
- Deputy CO, 18. Lds-Rgt.: Major Ament
- CO, 184. Lds-Rgt.: Oberst Swiatko
- CO, 611. Btl.: Major Ament
- CO, 649. Btl.: ?
- CO, 922. Btl.: Major Winkler

Can someone confirm this info and/or add something more?

Regards,
Klemen

[K.Kocjancic]

Commanding personnel of the Div. (1944) [the document is quite badly written]

- CO, 438. Div. z.b.V.: Glt. Noldechen
-- CO, LDS-Rgt. 184: Oberst Svietio [can't really read it]
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 921: Maj. von Holff
---- 1. Kmp.: Olt. Moser
---- 2. Kmp.: Hptm. Nessing
---- 3. Kmp.: Lt. Rulka
---- 4. Kmp.: Hptm. Steinritz
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 517: Hptm. Gezer
---- 1. Kmp.: Olt. Schreiber
---- 2. Kmp.: Olt. Hoff
---- 3. Kmp.: Olt. Gnau
---- 4. Kmp.: Olt. Landgraf
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 927: Maj. Sutter
---- 1. Kmp.: Olt. Nagel
---- 2. Kmp.: Olt. Langbein
---- 3. Kmp.: Hptm. Sartori
---- 4. Kmp.: Hpt. ?ast
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 928: Hpt. Niese
---- 1. Kmp.: Hptm. von Chissal
---- 2. Kmp.: Hptm. Suchatzky
---- 3. Kmp.: Hptm. Sihler
---- 4. Kmp.: Hptm. Veolz?on
-- CO, LDS-Rgt. 18: Oberst Palua Gall
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 611: Maj. Ament
---- 1. Kmp.: ?
---- 2. Kmp.: Olt. Jackel
----- Zug-Führern: Lt. Neumann, Olt. Layfarth
---- 3. Kmp.: ?
---- 4. Kmp.: Hptm. Radatz
----- Zug-Führer: Olt. Sayfarth
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 649: ?
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 922: Maj. Winkler
---- 2. Kmp.: Hptm. Fruhwirt
----- Zug-Führer: Lt. Baumeister
---- other officers in Btl.: Olt. Lang, Hptm. Gerker [or Cerkar], Hpt. Wolf
--- CO, LDS-Btl. 128: ?

Regards,
Klemen

[K.Kocjancic]

A list of German units and its commanders, stationed in Oberkrain/Gorenjska region, compiled by the Intelligence Center of the 31st Partisan Division on 25 October 1944

Standertältester Krainburg - Krainburg - Oberst Swiatko
Standertältester Laak - Laak - Oberstltn. Szubr
Wehrbezirkskommando Krainburg - Krainburg - Obersty Wygnanki
Wehrmeldeamt Krainburg - Krainburg - Hptm. Konrad
Landschutz Rgt. 184 - Stab, Krainburg - Oberst Swiatko
1/921 - Kasarne, Krainburg - Maj. von Helff
1/921 - Wart Kino, Krainburg - Obrtltn. Moser
2/921 - Kasarne Prewald - Hptm. Noessing
3/921 - Zwieschenwäsern-Schule - Ltn. Hulka
4/921 - Krainburg-Kasarne Prewald - Hptm. Streinitr
1/517 - Radmannsdorf-Baracken - Hptm. Gazer
1/517 - Krainburg - Obrtltn. Schreiber
2/517 - Radmannsdorf-Baracken - Obrtltn. Hoff
3/517 - Scheraunitz - Obrtltn. Guan
4/517 - Assling - Obrtltn. Gandgraf
1/927 - Veldes - Maj. dr. Sutter
1/927 - Wocheiner Vellach - Obrtltn. Nagel
2/927 - Scheraunitz - Obrtltn. Langbein
3/927 - Assling - Hptm. Sarvtri
4/927 - Wocheiner Feistrich - Hptm. Wast
1/928 - St. Weit - Sawe - Hptm. Wiese
1/928 - Laase, Sawe - Hptm. Chissali
2/928 - Zwieschenwässern - Hptm. Luchatzky
3/928 - Stein - Hptm. Sichler
4/928 - Schwarzendorf - Hptm. Voelzken
Streckennschutz I. - St. Weit, Weichselsdorf - Obrtltn. Fiedler
Streckennschutz II. - Assling - Ltn. Sailer
Jagdkommando - Felsendorf - Ltn. Wildenauer
Granatwerferzug - Krainburg-Kasarne Prewald - Ltn. Heil
Lkr. Staffel - Krainburg-Kasarne Prewald - Ofiz. Pirma