Führungsstab Nordküste

[JDKR]

I would be grateful for any information on this organization/HQ and how it fitted in with Heeresgruppe 'H' in April 1945. I understand that from 7 April it was commanded by Gen.Adm. Oskar Kummetz, but before that the commander had been Gen.Feldm. Busch and before him Himmler. Clearly an interesting organization! My thanks in advance for any help forthcoming.

JDKR

[genstab]

This one's pretty murky. I just found the following concerning the assignments of GFM Georg Busch - this from the Bundesarchiv so I'd think it's authoritative as it's from his Personalakte: https://www.bundesarchiv.de/oeffentlich ... 46.html.de

Axis Biographical Research doesn't list GenADM Kummetz as OB Führungstab Nordküste but as C-in-C Naval High Command Baltic Sea from March 1944 to July 1945. Lexikon der Wehrmacht says Marine-Oberkommando Ostsee for the same dates.

Would anyone have a definitive list of commanders and dates for this command? I have that it was Heeresgruppe H upgraded on 7 April 1945. But according to the Bundesarchiv's Personalakte for GFM Busch this is wrong and he assumed it from 14 March. Or was it raised to the status of a theater command later at the time of disbanding of Hgr. H?

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland

[JDKR]

Greetings Bill!

Many thanks for your help. My copy of Kurt Mehner's 'Die Deutsche Wehrmacht 1939 - 1945, Führung and Truppe' lists Kummetz as being the OB. Führungsstab Nordküste from 7 April and then lists under the Marine Oberkommandos his being OB Marine-Oberkommando Ostsee from 1 March with the bracketed comment that he was also OB Führungsstab Nordküste. So it looks as if he was dual-hatted.

While I think that clears up Kummetz, I'm still uncertain of Führungsstab Nordküste's responsibilities and how it fitted in with Heeresgruppe H/OB Nordwest.

Mehner lists Busch assuming command of OB Nordwest on 7 April and that Heeresgruppe H was renamed OB Nordwest on the same date....

You're right, it's murky!

all the best

John

[genstab]

Sorry, I I neglected to check Mehner. I don't have the Biblio series on the German admirals so don't know what it says in his biog- does anyone?

Was this a Wehrmacht command with major Army units under it though? Anyway it is definitely a separate entity from OB Nordwest.

[Dieter Zinke]

Heinrich Himmler, the OB Heeresgruppe Weichsel is
25.02.1945 - 14.03.1945 (with order from 20.02.1945) now simultaneous Oberbefehlshaber des Führungsstabs Nordküste
(his permanent deputy with the separated ”Führungsstab Ostseeküste” is 20.02.1945 - 14.03.1945
SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Maria Demelhuber)

GFM Busch is since
14.03.1945 OB Führungsstab Nordküste,
07.04.1945 OB Nordwest,
02.05.1945 OB Nord.

C'est tout

Dieter Z.

[genstab]

Thank you, Dieter. That corresponds with what I have now found. Unfortunately the 12 April 1945 Kgl. in "Die Geheimen Tagesberichte" doesn't show it but still Hgr. H with no Führungstab Nordküste appearing.

In the 25 April 1945 supplemental Kgl. (Die Geheimen Tagesberichte) it is apparently a separate command, not under OB Nordwest, containing only Marine Oberkommandos Nord and Ost.

Best regards,
Bill in Cleveland (mit Schnee)

[histan]

Generalleutnant Siegried Rasp was appointed Chef Gen Stab des Führungsstabs Nordküste on 25.09.1944 (Various HPA records)

It was under OB Nordwest from 6/7 April 1945 - for more details see FMS B-414 "Army Group H (OB NW) 10 March - 9 May 1945"

This also suggests that on 21.04.1945 the posts of OB Nordwest and Führungsstabs Nordküste were both held by Busch "in personalunion."

FMS B-414 is available on fold3 (you may have to pay for access) - there is both the German original and an English translation. Some key information is in the German annexes that are not in the English translation.

Regards

John

[JDKR]

Hmmm. Rasp later commanded Korps Ems, but I don't want to disappear down another burrow! Anyone know what units came under the command of the Führungsstab?

[histan]

I have misled you. The Annexes to FMS B-414 that contain some of the information you want is available to download for free (along with the English translation) at Sturmpanzer.com - Foreign Military Studies Downloads B Series.

Regards

John

[JDKR]

Many thanks John. I'll check it out.

[JDKR]

John - what a mine of fascinating information which I had not come across before. Sincere thanks. I have had a very quick look for Führungsstab Nordküste and there is certainly some useful material.

John