W-SS in Czechia

[Hannes]

Hello,

which SS divisions surrendered in Czechia?

Hannes

[Sbf.Koch]

Hi,

I don't really know the answer to your question, but 'Die Tschechoslowakei' is Czechoslovakia in English

[Glynwed]

4.SS-Rgt 2.SS PzD "Das Reich", 10.SS, 18.SS, 20.SS, 32.SS

[drachenheim]

The 20th Ss divison surrounded in Turnau-Hirschberg area near Prag. After capitalation Czech partisans murdered ca 1300 estonian soldiers.

[Abel Ravasz]

Add SS Kampfverband Wallenstein, that had fought in Prague until the very end. This unit was an ad hoc unit based on the nucleus of the 44. SS Panzer(grenadier) Division "Wallenstein", never formed because of the end of the war.

And it was the 31. SS Gren Div, not the 32. PzGren Div that surrendered on Czech soil.

Abel

[Glynwed]

Ups....my wrong . 32.SS was destroyed at April/May 1945 at halbe pocket near Berlin...it has to be 31.SS. Sorry once again .

[Glynwed]

Don´t know if soldiers of 20.SS were murdered by czechs or soviets. But not all of them were killed. I found that article:

Im Raum Hirschberg erlebte auch Harald Nugiseks - mittlerweile zum SS-Waffen-Oberscharführer (Feldwebel) befördert - seinen letzten Kampfeinsatz, wobei er zunächst tschechischen Partisanen in die Hände fiel und danach von ihnen den Russen übergeben wurde.

http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.d ... Harald.htm

[George Lepre]

Hi Everyone -

There MAY be other SS "units" that surrendered in Czechoslovakia. Several Waffen SS schools and training areas were located there, although I presume that most of the troops were assigned to ad-hoc Kampfgruppen as the Russians neared.

Hi Glynwed - I have a question. Do you live near Hradec Kralove (formerly Königgrätz)? I have heard about an incident that occurred there in 1945 and I'm attempting to find more information about it.

Best regards,

George Lepre

[Glynwed]

Hi Georg,

I´m living in Hradec Kralove, it´s my hometown. What incident do you mean? There weren´t some big battles in or around Hradec Kralove - only some small firefight around Hradec betwen Germans and partizans.

[George Lepre]

Hi Glynwed -

I've sent you a pm.

George

[drachenheim]

Don´t know if soldiers of 20.SS were murdered by czechs or soviets. But not all of them were killed. I found that article:

Im Raum Hirschberg erlebte auch Harald Nugiseks - mittlerweile zum SS-Waffen-Oberscharführer (Feldwebel) befördert - seinen letzten Kampfeinsatz, wobei er zunächst tschechischen Partisanen in die Hände fiel und danach von ihnen den Russen übergeben wurde.

http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.d ... Harald.htm

During the war against the eastern enemy in World War II, 14.600 men perished on the German and Finnish sides (of these 6 666 known by name). According to different data, 6000 - 12 000 Estonians fell in prison, of these 3000 - 4000 during the fights of the autumn battles in homeland (2749 men of the Estonian Division fell in Prison, of these 500 in Chechia). Probably by errative data, 1200 - 1500 men died in different prison camps. In addition, Check bandits killed 1300 Estonian prisoners of war before the arrival of the troops of the Red Army.

http://www.okupatsioon.ee/english/overviews/index.html

[drachenheim]

Don´t know if soldiers of 20.SS were murdered by czechs or soviets. But not all of them were killed. I found that article:

Im Raum Hirschberg erlebte auch Harald Nugiseks - mittlerweile zum SS-Waffen-Oberscharführer (Feldwebel) befördert - seinen letzten Kampfeinsatz, wobei er zunächst tschechischen Partisanen in die Hände fiel und danach von ihnen den Russen übergeben wurde.

http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-45.d ... Harald.htm

And at last Waffen-Sturmbannführer Paul Maitla (Führer Waffen-GrenRgt 45 der SS/Knight Cross holder) murded by czechs on 10.05.1945.

http://www.das-ritterkreuz.de/index_sea ... ord=maitla

[Glynwed]

Well, it’s very interested to read about Paul Maitla killed 10.5. 1945 near Kolin. My grandmother (still alive) was living in Krakovany (Krakowan) village near Kolin. There was located 1.Komp./238.Luftnachrichten Regiment. At 7.May 1945 the Czechs flags were hanged on some houses and was created group for negotiations with Germans for disarming. German commander reject this offer, but promised that if Czech will do nothing against Germans, they go-out without shooting. From former Czech officers and soldiers were created patrols for keep order. At 8.May 1945 were dispatched package of food and bandage to Prague. At night from 8.-9.May 1945 the major column of German soldiers leaves the village without any shot. The rest blow-up the radar station at the morning of 9.May and leave the village too. At afternoon the Czechs patrols obtain some 15 rifles and some pistols. By radio was declared the end of war. At 15:00 some 15 truck filled with German soldiers comes from forest to village. They were stopped by Czech firemen and call on to disarm. During negotiation the shot resound. Firefight was started. After some time the Germans hang on white flags – during the firefight one German soldier were killed and some were wounded, some 200 Germans, 150 rifles, 25 MP, 10 MG, 70 pistols, 100 grenades, and 75 Panzerfaust were captured. On Czech side, 1 man were killed, 1 heavy wounded (he lost his leg) and 1 light wounded, 1 building was damaged by Panzerfaust. After the fight, the prisoners were take away to Chlumec nad Cidlinou town. At some 21:00 the soviet troops entered the village. The death German soldier was buried at cemetery at 13.May 1945.

My grandfather was living at that time in Týnec nad Labem (Elbeteinitz) town, just next to Krakovany village. At 9.May 1945 he was armed with rifle and take actions in disarming the Germans soldier. The Germans prisoners were collected at town square. When Russians arrive, they start to search for tattoo – two German soldiers have that tattoo. Two Russians take them away to near vicarage, sound two shots, and Russians come back without German soldiers, but with new boots.

That way was going end of war for my grandparents.

[Jakub Tomek]

Paul Maitla did not kill nearby Kolín, but just one kilometer north of Nymburk, Central Bohemia, 30 kilometers out of Kolín. He was tortured together with 6 other soldiers, probably staff officers - one of them was in rank of SS-Obersturmführer or SS-Hauptsturmführer. A collection of 8 snapshots from this torture survived. I described circumstances of this torture in my last book, published in May 2005.

[Marc Rikmenspoel]

Very intersting Jakub, could you provide a link to information about your books (even in Czech). I have Tomas Jakl's book about May 1945 in the Czech lands, and it is nice to know that a lot of information is getting into print about these events, where little had been published previously (as far as I know).