SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506/6. SS-GebDiv Nord

[Michi]

Let's research the OOB, T/O&E, CO's and the fate of a largly unknown unit of the SS.

SS-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon 506
of the 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division „Nord“
former SS-Schützen-Bataillon (mot) 6 of the 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division „Nord“



Formation:

It was formed from the Schützen-Bataillon (mot) 6 of the 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division „Nord“.



CO's of the SS-SchBtl (mot) 6 & SS-PzGrenBtl 506:

August 1944:
A SS-Sturmbannführer Ernst Rädeke was CO of the SS-SchBtl (mot) 6.
November 1944:
SS-Hauptsturmführer Gottlieb Renz was CO of the SS-SchBtl (mot) 6.
April/May 1945:
SS-Hauptsturmführer Werner Ottmann was CO of the SS-PzGrenBtl 506.



Awards within the SS-SchBtl (mot) 6 & SS-PzGrenBtl 506:

07/08/1944:
GCg: SS-Hauptschrführer Ernst Flegler 2./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

12/08/1944:
KC: SS-Hauptsturmführer Gottlieb Renz CO SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

15/08/1944:
HC: SS-Hauptscharführer Maximilian Bucher 3./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

17/08/1944:
HC: SS-Hauptscharführer Paul Schuhmann 3./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

30/12/1944:
GCg: SS-Hauptschrführer Maximilian Bucher 3./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6
GCg: SS-Obersturmführer Werner Ottmann CO 1./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

05/04/1945:
KC: SS-Obersturmführer Hans Bauer CO 3./SS-PzGrenBtl 506

??/??/????:
CCCg: SS-Hauptscharführer Maximilian Bucher ?./????Btl ???



OOB??
T/O&E??
Fate??



MfG Michi

[Timo]

Stellenbesetzungsliste 1945

Kommandeur
- Hstuf. Karl von Zydowitz (Osterath, 18.03.1917 - Gef. Losheim, 16.03.1945 / SS-Nr. 361 266)
- Hstuf. Werner Ottmann (Neustadt a.d.Weinstr., 15.01.1919 - Aachen, 24.02.1990 / SS-Nr. 289 636)

Nachrichtenoff.
- Ostuf. Alois Goldgruber (Radmer/Steiermark, 13.01.1921 - Gef. Bitsch, 01.1945 / SS-Nr. 317 110)

2. Kompanie
- Ostuf. August Walther Helmlingen, 01.11.1918 - 16.11.1983 / SS-Nr. 343 888)

3. Kompanie
- Ostuf. Hans Bauer (Hamburg, 12.03.1919 - Hamburg, 30.03.1983 / SS-Nr. 420 797)

5. Kompanie
- Ostuf. Karl Derflinger (Altmünster/OD., 19.10.1920 - Altmünster, 20.06.1999 / SS-Nr. 324 428)

[Timo]

Karl von Zydowitz ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Perl-Besch (Bundesrepublik Deutschland).
Endgrablage: Reihe 14 Grab 1175

[Michi]

Because of the area of the KIA

Perl-Besch
Losheim
Bitsch

we can say the SS-PzGrenBtl 506 was also (with the 6. SS-GebDiv) removed from Norway to Germany.


Do you have any infos about its equipment?
Was it a real mechanized infantry battlion??


MfG Michi

[K.Kocjancic]

You can find some info on Btl. in "Seven Days in January" by Wolf T. Zoepf; ISBN 0-9666389-5-6 (casebound).

Regards,
Kocjo

[Michi]

Thanks for the hint with the Operation Nordwind book!!


But my question arises again:

Does anybody have any infos about its equipment?
Was it a real mechanized infantry battlion??
(or was it a PzGrenBtl only on the paper?)



MfG Michi

[Bjørn from Norway]

"we can say the SS-PzGrenBtl 506 was also (with the 6. SS-GebDiv) removed from Norway to Germany. "

Yes - and no. It was not called "506" while in Norway, according to Schreiber.
The Division was ordered to Germany, but first to Denmark by sea transport. JR 12 was the first unit to arrive in Kolding, and the div.staff + some more arrived Jylland on the 21st Dec 44. It was ordered to form a battle group of the elements arriving in Denmark shortly after, and move to Pfalz. This does not include "506".

The SS Schtz.Btl was actually not a part of 6.Div 24 Dec 44 - 1 Jan 45, During this period, it got the "506" designation. The btl.staff, 1st and 2nd Coy, incl. parts of 3rd arrived in Annweiler in in the first week of Jan 45, and moved (mechanized) Stürzelbronn - Melch - Egelshart. 4th and 5th, and the rest of 3. arrived "Trossplatz" Egelshardt 3 Jan 45.

B

[Michi]

Hello Bjørn,

moved (mechanized)

So it was not a 'paper'-PzGrenBtl.
Or could mechanized also mean on lorries/trucks??



MfG Michi


PS:
Bjørn, do you remember our first postings on the subject SS-PzGrenBtl 506 on the Norway during WWII-Forum???
Almost 4 years ago!!

[Timo]

Why the discussion about this being a "paper battalion"? Was Hstuf. Von Zydowitz killed commanding a "paper battalion"? Same with Ostuf. Goldgruber. Was he Nachrichtenoffizier in a papieren bataillon?

[Timo]

Stubaf. Gottlieb Renz (Pfullingen/Reutlingen, 12.09.1911 - Gef. Bitsch, 03.01.1945 / SS-Nr. 60 784) is not listed in the Volksbund database.

[Bjørn from Norway]

Michi - yes I remember very well! I thought you were out of business, since you have not appeared much lately

As for "mechanized", yes, the words "Im mot.marsch" indicates so indeed.

Timo: I am quite sure Michi did not believe it was a "paper batallion", but I believe he is questioning the vechicle part. In short: did they have vechicles? My sources do not say very much about the TO&E, unfortunately.

"506" was quickly decimated, and between 21-25 March 45, the survivors were in the area Heidelberg. Hstuf Ottman was appointed new commander, a position he held until the capitulation. A "new" 506 was formed, from 350 men from SS Pz-Gren-A u.E btl 5 Ellwangen, and 150 NCOs from "Unterführerschule Radolfzell". It was then allocated to 416 ID, which were in Rohrbrunn (east of Würzburg). They arrived 28/3-45.
Now the Btl. had 4 companies. They took positions at the hills south of Hobbach. The americans attacked on the 31/3-45, and the Btl finally moved to Waldzell. Low of men, the Btl arrived Neustadt am Main, and were incorporated in a bridge head defence under Oberst von Kalinowsky.

In the end, the Btl was divided in two groups, Kp "Walther", and Kp "Seifert". On the 28th April, the remaining parts of 506 (only 2 "Zügen), now in Neufahrn, were ordered to join Div "Niebelungen".
On the 3/5-45 they were in Traunstein, and on the 7/5 in Oberwössen.
The btl gathered in Ennfelden, and went to Reit im Winkel to be disarmed.

B

[Michi]

@Timo:

Why the discussion about this being a "paper battalion"? Was Hstuf. Von Zydowitz killed commanding a "paper battalion"? Same with Ostuf. Goldgruber. Was he Nachrichtenoffizier in a papieren bataillon?

If the SS-PzGrenBtl 506 isn't equipped with SPW, it's a paper-PzGren-battalion.
(it exists as a PzGren unit only on paper)
So the term PzGren could lead someone astray.
'Paper battalion' should not misled to a third-line-front unit.

And I did ask before:

Was it a real mechanized infantry battlion??
(or was it a PzGrenBtl only on the paper?)

But no answer.


@Bjørn:

Michi - yes I remember very well! I thought you were out of business, since you have not appeared much lately

I zoomed or better said focused my area of research on three main topics:
a.) Obscure units (e.g.: Compagnia AutoCarrata „Tedesca“)
b.) Battle-groups @Chir-River & @Kalmyck-Steppe & Don-River/Don-Bend
c.) Naval forces on Inland waters (River- & Lake-Flotillas)

But looking deep into the archives of the forums & message boards I will try to solve my unanswered/undissolved postings.



MfG Michi

[Timo]

Aha, now I get it. I misunderstood. For me a "paper batallion" is a unit that only exists on paper.

[Bjørn from Norway]

Hello!
Timo: "Aha, now I get it. I misunderstood. For me a "paper batallion" is a unit that only exists on paper."

Same for me...

And Michi: I have found that they indeed were fully motorized. Almost all vechcles was lost as they were overrrun by US tanks in an incident.
Unfortunately, it does not say if it were SPWs.

B

[K.Kocjancic]

15/08/1944:
HC: SS-Hauptscharführer Maximilian Bucher 3./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

17/08/1944:
HC: SS-Hauptscharführer Paul Schuhmann 3./SS-SchBtl (mot) 6

For what HC stands for?

Regards,
Klemen