Losses SS-Sdr.Rgt. Dirlewanger 2715 KIA x 100 : 865 initial Kampfstärke = 313,87%. The losses were calculated by the outstanding Russian authors Kovtun & Zhukov in "Okhotniki za partizanami".
865 = 100%
2715 = x
I understood that a place (Luftwaffenuebungsplatz ) was prepared for Dirlewanger with the intention of raising the state to 6,000 soldiers, but he did not have that many soldiers. These were the plans to develop the regiment into a brigade.
None summer 1944 OdB Dirlewanger's unit also does not include men assigned to the the Signal Platoon, and the schw. Mörser Batterie / Pz.Jäg.Kompanie (from the old Postschutz Kompanie - as I have discussed, they were part of the exterminator units and later security cordons, because they were too old to fight on the first front line) only support PAK Batterie (3x75 mm + 1x37mm).
This were:
Radom-Piastow was more extensive [now Aeroklub Radomski Lotnisko Piastów, Jedlińsk, near Wsola], but it had a weaker infrastructure. Nevertheless, the facilities and the barracks area allowed for the base, until August 1944, of numerous squadrons and German Gruppen. Their withdrawal from there took place due to the proximity of the front lines. In October, only the headquarters of the [operational] airbase (Fliegerhorstkommandanturen) - Fl.H.Kdtr. E (v) 268 / III. Radom-Sadkow was smaller [Radom Sadkpw, now Warsaw-Radom Airport Heroes of Radom June 1976 and the 42nd Air Training Base of PAF]. Before the war, the airport of the Pilot School Squadron / Reserve Pilot School with barracks, three hangars, a shooting range and a parachute. The Luftwaffe expanded the infrastructure, but did not use the airport intensively during the war. Probably a Platzkommando, subordinate to Fl.H.Kdtr, operated there. E (v) 268 / III. Presumably, this is where Dirlewanger's subordinates ended up shortly before their dislocation to Slovakia
Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
The 881 (you have to include the 16 officers) was not the initial Kampfstärke - that was the Kampfstärke that Kampfgruppe Dirlewanger reported on the evening of 8 August, 3 days after KGr. Meyer and 1 day after KGr. Steinhauer were first committed to battle. That number (881) includes the first "shipment" of Ersatztruppen from the Wehrmacht prisons, the survivors of KGr. Meyer (40 men) and Steinhauer (80 men)* and the remaining foot soldiers of the Sonderregiment who caught up with Kampfgruppe Dirlewanger after being delayed in their movement from East Prussia. (*Rolf Michaelis stated that the combined remaining strength of KGr. Meyer and Steinhauer on 8 August was 120 men).
I have learned to be skeptical of any loss figures calculated by Russian authors, no matter how "outstanding" they are - unless they can cite where they obtained their figures. So unless and until I know their sources, their accounts are merely biased opinions. According to one survivor of the regiment, as described in the Ludwigsburg documents, once KGr Dirlewanger was committed to the fight, casualties were so heavy that the regiment simply stopped reporting casualties (except for officers and SS members), and reported only the regiment's daily Kampfstärke. Dirlewanger evidently did not care a whit about the deaths of Wehrmacht B-Schützen, regarding them simply as cannon fodder. How any accurate tally of unit casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) could have been carried out at the time in such chaotic conditions must have been simply impossible.
I would have to say that the number of casualties suffered was somewhere in the range between 2,316 to 2,733 men killed, wounded, and declared missing. But the figure that you quote of 2,715 KILLED IN ACTION to me is simply speculation. I think that the only way this would be possible, could only be so if almost every single replacement sent to the regiment between 5 August and 25 September was KIA. And we know that this is not what happened, given that 1,500 SS and Polizei B-Schützen arrived on or about 25 September, after most of the heavy fighting was over. For 2,715 to be true, would mean that nearly all of these 1,500 men would have to have been KIA between 25 September and 2 October, but obviously this is not so.
I think that most of these 1,500 men were used to form the new III. Btl. and probably part of the new IV. Btl. As such, they did not become casualties and were not included in the daily Kampfstärke reports simply because they were in units in the process of formation and hence in an "administrative" status - therefore not considered combat-ready. I say this because when the Sonderregiment began arriving in Slovakia after 10 October, it already had these two new battalions established.
What obscures what really happened is the missing Kriegstagebuch of the Sonderregiment. It would have maintained one, even in the chaos of the fighting in Warsaw. The same goes for the KTB of KGr. Reinefarth. I can only assume that they were destroyed when the truck convoy leaving Sasmuk Castle carrying the bulk of the SS historical archive was put to the torch to prevent them from falling into Allied hands. None of the surviving leaders of the Sonderregiment were interviewed after the war, even though we know Meyer lived until 1956. A lot of these details we will never really know with any precision, so we have to be satisfied with estimates, unfortunately.
SO - that gets us back to the original question - does anyone know the real name of the author of Michaelis' Dirlewanger memoir?
I have learned to be skeptical of any loss figures calculated by Russian authors, no matter how "outstanding" they are - unless they can cite where they obtained their figures. So unless and until I know their sources, their accounts are merely biased opinions. According to one survivor of the regiment, as described in the Ludwigsburg documents, once KGr Dirlewanger was committed to the fight, casualties were so heavy that the regiment simply stopped reporting casualties (except for officers and SS members), and reported only the regiment's daily Kampfstärke. Dirlewanger evidently did not care a whit about the deaths of Wehrmacht B-Schützen, regarding them simply as cannon fodder. How any accurate tally of unit casualties (killed, wounded, and missing) could have been carried out at the time in such chaotic conditions must have been simply impossible.
I would have to say that the number of casualties suffered was somewhere in the range between 2,316 to 2,733 men killed, wounded, and declared missing. But the figure that you quote of 2,715 KILLED IN ACTION to me is simply speculation. I think that the only way this would be possible, could only be so if almost every single replacement sent to the regiment between 5 August and 25 September was KIA. And we know that this is not what happened, given that 1,500 SS and Polizei B-Schützen arrived on or about 25 September, after most of the heavy fighting was over. For 2,715 to be true, would mean that nearly all of these 1,500 men would have to have been KIA between 25 September and 2 October, but obviously this is not so.
I think that most of these 1,500 men were used to form the new III. Btl. and probably part of the new IV. Btl. As such, they did not become casualties and were not included in the daily Kampfstärke reports simply because they were in units in the process of formation and hence in an "administrative" status - therefore not considered combat-ready. I say this because when the Sonderregiment began arriving in Slovakia after 10 October, it already had these two new battalions established.
What obscures what really happened is the missing Kriegstagebuch of the Sonderregiment. It would have maintained one, even in the chaos of the fighting in Warsaw. The same goes for the KTB of KGr. Reinefarth. I can only assume that they were destroyed when the truck convoy leaving Sasmuk Castle carrying the bulk of the SS historical archive was put to the torch to prevent them from falling into Allied hands. None of the surviving leaders of the Sonderregiment were interviewed after the war, even though we know Meyer lived until 1956. A lot of these details we will never really know with any precision, so we have to be satisfied with estimates, unfortunately.
SO - that gets us back to the original question - does anyone know the real name of the author of Michaelis' Dirlewanger memoir?
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
I was discussing the subject - it was not me who started shifting numbers!
The way you signal a return to the original subject of discussion is very rude!
You have just revealed your attitude towards people in Eastern Europe - full of contempt and dislike. You can write with sympathy about veterans of the SS-Pz.Div. 5 "Wiking" - but those from Eastern Europe are a worse kind of man ("Russian authors, no matter how «outstanding»" - this sarcasm is not needed at all - looks like we are Untermenschen for you, but Michaelis is a credible historian).
Of course, I do not like Russian propagandists and I do not maintain contacts with them, but I maintain contacts with Russian historians, which I consider to be noteworthy because they are able to confront Soviet and German documents. This is what Kovtun & Zhukov - or another eminent specialist regarding battle of Kursk, Zamulin - do in their books.
Mocking someone because he lives elsewhere upon Moskva River, in Prokhorovka or upon Vistula, but not upon Potomac, only testifies to you.
I would like to remind you that you did not confront the German documents with the Soviet ones in your trilogy (just like you did not mention the crimes of IV-SS-Pz.K during the operations near Warsaw - unfortunately you do not know the Polish language and as most of the forums do not recognize communist institutions like a The Main Commission for the Investigation of Hitlerite Crimes in Poland - so you victimize the victims and won't know about warcrime of the 5th SS-Pz.Div. Wiking in Legionowo between August 17 and September 12, 1944 or shooting of Polish civilians on August 2nd, 1944 in Henrykow and Pelcowizna by soldiers Fs.Pz.Div. HG.). you probably will not do it error in book about Ipolysag. In any case, think about a second edition of your trilogy using Soviet documents.
After such a discussion, was not a discussion, but a revealed truth of the sole master. Because only Mr. Nash Sr. - and his estimates are OK, while others' estimates are wrong - you knows the best, although he doesn't know any Eastern European language (Russian, Polish or Slovak). And remember documents for Ipolysag (Šaha) is not only in Bratislava.
Just like not everything that the Germans said after the war was truth, including the testimony of v.d. Bach before the Polish prosecutor. And he wasn't talking about Sasmuk Castle, just another place. After all, Gehlen did not save from deportation to the Soviets for his beautiful eyes - the same can be with the Ober-butcher (Ch.d.BVK).
When I have it, I will check my version - because I have an idea for finding Anonymus. I just use numerous tips that Michaelis gave (if we can believe the neo-Nazi - Western publishers have no problem with this, and publish his books - in your opinion he is a more trustworthy historian than the Russians). I need to scrupulously review German documents - I assure you I will. Someday I will answer that question in this above question.
The way you signal a return to the original subject of discussion is very rude!
You have just revealed your attitude towards people in Eastern Europe - full of contempt and dislike. You can write with sympathy about veterans of the SS-Pz.Div. 5 "Wiking" - but those from Eastern Europe are a worse kind of man ("Russian authors, no matter how «outstanding»" - this sarcasm is not needed at all - looks like we are Untermenschen for you, but Michaelis is a credible historian).
Of course, I do not like Russian propagandists and I do not maintain contacts with them, but I maintain contacts with Russian historians, which I consider to be noteworthy because they are able to confront Soviet and German documents. This is what Kovtun & Zhukov - or another eminent specialist regarding battle of Kursk, Zamulin - do in their books.
Mocking someone because he lives elsewhere upon Moskva River, in Prokhorovka or upon Vistula, but not upon Potomac, only testifies to you.
I would like to remind you that you did not confront the German documents with the Soviet ones in your trilogy (just like you did not mention the crimes of IV-SS-Pz.K during the operations near Warsaw - unfortunately you do not know the Polish language and as most of the forums do not recognize communist institutions like a The Main Commission for the Investigation of Hitlerite Crimes in Poland - so you victimize the victims and won't know about warcrime of the 5th SS-Pz.Div. Wiking in Legionowo between August 17 and September 12, 1944 or shooting of Polish civilians on August 2nd, 1944 in Henrykow and Pelcowizna by soldiers Fs.Pz.Div. HG.). you probably will not do it error in book about Ipolysag. In any case, think about a second edition of your trilogy using Soviet documents.
After such a discussion, was not a discussion, but a revealed truth of the sole master. Because only Mr. Nash Sr. - and his estimates are OK, while others' estimates are wrong - you knows the best, although he doesn't know any Eastern European language (Russian, Polish or Slovak). And remember documents for Ipolysag (Šaha) is not only in Bratislava.
Just like not everything that the Germans said after the war was truth, including the testimony of v.d. Bach before the Polish prosecutor. And he wasn't talking about Sasmuk Castle, just another place. After all, Gehlen did not save from deportation to the Soviets for his beautiful eyes - the same can be with the Ober-butcher (Ch.d.BVK).
When I have it, I will check my version - because I have an idea for finding Anonymus. I just use numerous tips that Michaelis gave (if we can believe the neo-Nazi - Western publishers have no problem with this, and publish his books - in your opinion he is a more trustworthy historian than the Russians). I need to scrupulously review German documents - I assure you I will. Someday I will answer that question in this above question.
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
I eagerly await the publication of the English translation of your book should any published decide to do so - rest assured that if that occurs, I will write a fair and balanced scholarly review of it for The Journal of Military History. It is the very least I can do for such a highly regarded and greatly esteemed military historian as yourself!
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Dear Mr. Nash Sr.
My answer is to deviate from the topic of the post again
Unfortunately, you can't even hide your sarcasm or jeer or taunt in the answer above. How can you say that I am a highly regarded and greatly esteemed military historian when in fact I am a "no-name"? I have no book / books on my account, no prizes. There is hard work behind me and the 23 archives I visited while working on my PhD. I never exalt myself and I lost my desire to publish in Western publishing houses - after their refusals and factual disseminations. As "no-name" I am not even attractive to my native publishers because of the size of over 1000-page dissertation. Besides, I do not have the strength to translate my dissertation into English, so if you read it, you will have to catch up with the level of this "primitive" part of Europe, i.e. learn Slavic languages.
Besides, I understood that in your review I could only count on the causticity, harshness and argumentum ad personam - after what you presented in our discussions and earlier correspondence, because those from Eastern Europe are worse a priori.
Please remember - "sine ira et studio"!
===
PS: Now I am calling for a return to the proper topic, although there are not too many people who research the history of SS-Sdr.Kdo. Dirlewanger. Earlier I had only three weeks in BA-MA Freiburg, so I didn't have time to research accurately RS 3-36 to clarify the identity of the anonymous.
My answer is to deviate from the topic of the post again
Unfortunately, you can't even hide your sarcasm or jeer or taunt in the answer above. How can you say that I am a highly regarded and greatly esteemed military historian when in fact I am a "no-name"? I have no book / books on my account, no prizes. There is hard work behind me and the 23 archives I visited while working on my PhD. I never exalt myself and I lost my desire to publish in Western publishing houses - after their refusals and factual disseminations. As "no-name" I am not even attractive to my native publishers because of the size of over 1000-page dissertation. Besides, I do not have the strength to translate my dissertation into English, so if you read it, you will have to catch up with the level of this "primitive" part of Europe, i.e. learn Slavic languages.
Besides, I understood that in your review I could only count on the causticity, harshness and argumentum ad personam - after what you presented in our discussions and earlier correspondence, because those from Eastern Europe are worse a priori.
Please remember - "sine ira et studio"!
===
PS: Now I am calling for a return to the proper topic, although there are not too many people who research the history of SS-Sdr.Kdo. Dirlewanger. Earlier I had only three weeks in BA-MA Freiburg, so I didn't have time to research accurately RS 3-36 to clarify the identity of the anonymous.
Last edited by Orlov on 28 Jun 2022, 20:09, edited 2 times in total.
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David Thompson
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Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Let's get back to the forum rules on posts -- on topic and civil.
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
That's a great idea! Roger willco! So I suppose that the topic of this thread must go unanswered, at least for now. New information is always coming to light - pace Forrest Gump, the BA-MA is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to find!
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Did anyone have a look in BA-MA file RS 3/36? Anything on its structure and CO's in 1944/45?
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Sorry, the correct spelling is not RS 3/36, but RS 3-36. How many folders are there?
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
I downloaded the entire RS 3-36 file from the BA-MA Invenio page three months ago. It is chock-full of information, and despite going through each and every page, I could not narrow down the author any more than I already have. I still suspect that it might have been Friedrich Walter, SS-Unterscharführer, born on May 17, 1921 in Neuburgweier. He died almost 2 decades ago, so he is not available for interviews. Of course, since that is only an educated guess, I cannot use his name as the author of the memoir. I am surprised that no one else has ever asked this question regarding one of the most important primary eyewitness accounts of someone who served in the Sondereinheit from its inception until its demise.
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Here's the list of the remaining original poachers from June/July 1940 who were still serving within the Dirlewanger Einheit as of October 1944. Our mystery author (or composite author) is most likely one of these men:
1. Gustav Brusberg, Uscha. *19.01.1907 Budwethen (Memel?) 4/44 (3. Kp.)
2. Drabeck, Rttf. Austrian. (St.Kp.), seit 01.07.1944 b. Einheit, lt. Meld. v. 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert
3. Peter Erretkamps, Rttf. *13.03.1912 Fhr. l.MG-Gruppe (1. Kp.), (sp. SS-Uscha.)
4. Jakob Freimoser, Uscha. Gr.W.-Gruppe, *18.12.1908 aus Grassau/Oberbayern, sp. SS-Uscha
5. Robert Göhmann, Rttf. *14.06.1909 Duesseldorf (or Flensburg/Rendsburg?) died 17.05.1957 Flensburg
6. Peter Gossens, SS-Rttf. *01/05/1908 Kevelaer 7/44 (4. R.-Kp.)
7. Hermann Graminski, Rttf. St.Kp. (seit 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.08.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
8. Gerhard Hellkamp, Uscha. *05.08.1920 Örlingshausen St.Kp., V.-Staffel I. u. II. (18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
9. Franz Hunke, Uscha. (1. Kp.) *01.08.1911 Laer, Niedersachsen (Judenburg?)
10. Kaltenbronner, executed Feb. 1945 near Gubin for desertion
11. Hugo Kannegießer, Oscha. *05.02.1909 Ottenhausen died 20.08.1954 Stadtroda
12. Georg Kraus, Uscha. Fhr. Gr.W.-Gr., *09.10.1916 Deuchartz/Bamberg (18.06.1944 rehabilit.)
13. Heinrich Kraus, Oscha. *16.02.1908 Teuchatz in Oberfranken; St.Kp., Kradschtz.Zug (01.07.1940 b. Einh., 18.06.1944 rehabilitiert)
14. Maas, Uscha. St.Kp. (s. 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
15. Alfred Mammitsch, Oscha. St.Kp., *04.02.1910 Zehren (18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
16. Rau, Josef Uscha. *14.06.1907 Dahlem K. u. I.-Staffel (s. 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
17. Adolf Simoner, Rttf. St.Kp. (s. 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
18. Erich Sterzl, Uscha. (3. Kp.) *22.8.19 Turn/Teplitz-Schönau EK1 August 1944 Warsaw
19. Gustav Strumpf, Hascha. *23.08.1905 Meisdorf St.Kp. (seit 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, lt. Meld. 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert
20. Karl (Willi?) Vieregge, Uscha. *20.02.1910 Plettenberg (4. Kp.), Stabsscharf. 1. Kp.
21. Friedrich Walter. Uscha. *17.05.1921 Neuburgweier St.Kp. (seit 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
22. Franz Wegscheider - Uscha. born February 10, 1917 in Innsbruck, Austria.
1. Gustav Brusberg, Uscha. *19.01.1907 Budwethen (Memel?) 4/44 (3. Kp.)
2. Drabeck, Rttf. Austrian. (St.Kp.), seit 01.07.1944 b. Einheit, lt. Meld. v. 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert
3. Peter Erretkamps, Rttf. *13.03.1912 Fhr. l.MG-Gruppe (1. Kp.), (sp. SS-Uscha.)
4. Jakob Freimoser, Uscha. Gr.W.-Gruppe, *18.12.1908 aus Grassau/Oberbayern, sp. SS-Uscha
5. Robert Göhmann, Rttf. *14.06.1909 Duesseldorf (or Flensburg/Rendsburg?) died 17.05.1957 Flensburg
6. Peter Gossens, SS-Rttf. *01/05/1908 Kevelaer 7/44 (4. R.-Kp.)
7. Hermann Graminski, Rttf. St.Kp. (seit 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.08.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
8. Gerhard Hellkamp, Uscha. *05.08.1920 Örlingshausen St.Kp., V.-Staffel I. u. II. (18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
9. Franz Hunke, Uscha. (1. Kp.) *01.08.1911 Laer, Niedersachsen (Judenburg?)
10. Kaltenbronner, executed Feb. 1945 near Gubin for desertion
11. Hugo Kannegießer, Oscha. *05.02.1909 Ottenhausen died 20.08.1954 Stadtroda
12. Georg Kraus, Uscha. Fhr. Gr.W.-Gr., *09.10.1916 Deuchartz/Bamberg (18.06.1944 rehabilit.)
13. Heinrich Kraus, Oscha. *16.02.1908 Teuchatz in Oberfranken; St.Kp., Kradschtz.Zug (01.07.1940 b. Einh., 18.06.1944 rehabilitiert)
14. Maas, Uscha. St.Kp. (s. 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
15. Alfred Mammitsch, Oscha. St.Kp., *04.02.1910 Zehren (18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
16. Rau, Josef Uscha. *14.06.1907 Dahlem K. u. I.-Staffel (s. 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
17. Adolf Simoner, Rttf. St.Kp. (s. 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
18. Erich Sterzl, Uscha. (3. Kp.) *22.8.19 Turn/Teplitz-Schönau EK1 August 1944 Warsaw
19. Gustav Strumpf, Hascha. *23.08.1905 Meisdorf St.Kp. (seit 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, lt. Meld. 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert
20. Karl (Willi?) Vieregge, Uscha. *20.02.1910 Plettenberg (4. Kp.), Stabsscharf. 1. Kp.
21. Friedrich Walter. Uscha. *17.05.1921 Neuburgweier St.Kp. (seit 01.07.1940 b. Einheit, 18.06.1944 voll rehabilitiert)
22. Franz Wegscheider - Uscha. born February 10, 1917 in Innsbruck, Austria.
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Hello，Dr.Nash 
，I‘m from China，I'm working on a Chinese version of the 36th Waffen Grenadier Division。I have a question：There's no documentation of Dirlewanger’s character at this time? I'd love to know if he's mentally ill or if it's just his nature.
This is a piece of English edited by machine software and I'm sorry because I don't speak English
，I‘m from China，I'm working on a Chinese version of the 36th Waffen Grenadier Division。I have a question：There's no documentation of Dirlewanger’s character at this time? I'd love to know if he's mentally ill or if it's just his nature.This is a piece of English edited by machine software and I'm sorry because I don't speak English
DougENash wrote: ↑22 Jun 2022, 18:18Yes, I downloaded that entire file. It is so much better to read them in full color and clarity, compared to the grainy and out-of-focus versions of them on NARA Microfilm. A book has yet to be written incorporating the vast amount of (incriminating) information contained in those pages. French MacLean touched upon them, Christian Ingrao referred to them, as did Hans-Peter Klausch (may he rest in peace), but the history of those operations continue to languish in obscurity, but beg to be told.
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
HelloM0d1e9l45 wrote: ↑23 Dec 2023, 15:24Hello，Dr.Nash
This is a piece of English edited by machine software and I'm sorry because I don't speak EnglishDougENash wrote: ↑22 Jun 2022, 18:18Yes, I downloaded that entire file. It is so much better to read them in full color and clarity, compared to the grainy and out-of-focus versions of them on NARA Microfilm. A book has yet to be written incorporating the vast amount of (incriminating) information contained in those pages. French MacLean touched upon them, Christian Ingrao referred to them, as did Hans-Peter Klausch (may he rest in peace), but the history of those operations continue to languish in obscurity, but beg to be told.
You can take a look at Oskar Dirlewanger SSO which contain a lot of info regarding him as a person. The amount of times he got wounded is incredible, Without checking I think it was 19 times, and one of that was a strike with a sable.
He served in WWI, Spanish civili war and then WWII.
If you dont have access to his SSO I will soon publish part of it under the thread SS-Generals
Best regards
Georg
"Information not shared, is lost"
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Personal Blog - http://wennallebruderschweigen.blogspot.com/
Support AHF - app.php/support
My Project - www.führerliste.com
Contact: [email protected]
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
Soldiers who knew him well described him as a fair, although strict commander. Adalbert Daschner testified that Dirlewanger "was very strict." He also said that he had to act this way if he wanted to maintain discipline.
Walter Escher confirmed that, mentioning that Dirlewanger often emphasized that a soldier should not steal.
Dirlewanger was surprisingly rarely described as a "sadist."
Soldiers who stayed in the unit for a short time usually conscripted only at the end of 1943 or later, spoke negatively about him.
Heinz Feiertag transferred to the SS-Sonderkommando "Dirlewanger" from the "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler" and in 1941 was appointed, among others, as an instructor - said about Dirlewanger's subordinates:
"During my career, I trained many soldiers, including volunteers, from among the Dutch and Belgians, at the school in Sennheim, but the people who are in the Dirlewanger Kommando cannot be dealt with in a military manner.
I had to adapt and treat these men as tough as possible. At the same time, I noticed that the more severely I treated these men, the better the mood and soldier's attitude were."
In 1960, Feiertag said that conditions were no worse in the Dirlewanger unit than in the others.
Dirlewanger was distinguished by his ability to maintain strict discipline. Feiertag recalls that back in Lublin, Dirlewanger often punished all his subordinates. When five cases of theft among subordinates were reported, the entire unit had to lie on their stomachs in the yard for so long that several people died. But the theft did not happen again.
Oskar Dirlewanger by Soraya Kuklińska
Re: Author of Dirlewanger Memoir
There is documentation of his character in his SS officer's personnel file. I do not believe he was mentally ill - it was his nature to be indifferent to suffering and casual about death - after serving in World War 1 as a front-line infantry officer, and having suffered at least 8 wounds in that conflict, how could he be otherwise? He was also a cruel man, probably more sadistic than a normal person, but again, that is not an indication of mental illness. He also had a taste for young women or adolescent girls, which was (and still is) not uncommon and considered statutory rape in most countries but not an indication of mental illness.
His one great character flaw, greater than the flaws mentioned above, was his abuse of alcohol. When sober, he was mentally sharp, focused, and mission-oriented. When drunk, his flaws mentioned above came to the forefront. He was aided and abetted by a small group of senior SS non-commissioned officers, especially Heinz Feiertag, and when the ultimate SS sadists and brutal officer Kurt Weisse became his second in command, there was no one to check the worst of his evil tendencies. Feiertag and Weisse were some of the cruelest, most hateful, and brutal men to ever serve in the Waffen-SS and many of the the excesses of the Dirlewanger Brigade, in my opinion, stemmed from their influence on Dirlewanger, who needed no urging towards the same excesses.
That's my two cents. I can send you his personnel file if you would like it. It is very large.
PS: Everyone wants to say that Dirlewanger was mentally ill, but that's the lazy man's way to characterize him. That gives him an "alibi" which is unfair to history as well as unfair to Dirlewanger. He was just an evil person, it is as simple as that, but a product of his times.
PSS: The English language edition of the biography of Dirlewanger by Soraya Kuklinska is being prepared now for publication in the UK - it is very well researched and informative. Keep an eye out for it next year!
His one great character flaw, greater than the flaws mentioned above, was his abuse of alcohol. When sober, he was mentally sharp, focused, and mission-oriented. When drunk, his flaws mentioned above came to the forefront. He was aided and abetted by a small group of senior SS non-commissioned officers, especially Heinz Feiertag, and when the ultimate SS sadists and brutal officer Kurt Weisse became his second in command, there was no one to check the worst of his evil tendencies. Feiertag and Weisse were some of the cruelest, most hateful, and brutal men to ever serve in the Waffen-SS and many of the the excesses of the Dirlewanger Brigade, in my opinion, stemmed from their influence on Dirlewanger, who needed no urging towards the same excesses.
That's my two cents. I can send you his personnel file if you would like it. It is very large.
PS: Everyone wants to say that Dirlewanger was mentally ill, but that's the lazy man's way to characterize him. That gives him an "alibi" which is unfair to history as well as unfair to Dirlewanger. He was just an evil person, it is as simple as that, but a product of his times.
PSS: The English language edition of the biography of Dirlewanger by Soraya Kuklinska is being prepared now for publication in the UK - it is very well researched and informative. Keep an eye out for it next year!