Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

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Shane6969
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Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#1

Post by Shane6969 » 12 Jul 2015, 01:09

Hi All,

Does anyone know which Hungarian Army Unit surrendered to the US Army when the Thuringian village of Großschwabhausen fell in 1945?
I'm also curious as to which American unit took the village also.

The reason I ask is that my Dad lived there at the time (he was 12 years old) and distinctly remembers the Hungarian Army moving in to his village and then surrendering to the US Army the next day without putting up a fight (thankfully, as it probably saved many lives).
The Americans then stayed in his house and apparently treated him well. He remembers seeing the Shermans and Priests and also the Thunderbolts blowing the Locomotives.

Thanks in advance,

Rohan

Shane6969
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Location: Bendigo, Australia

Re: Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#2

Post by Shane6969 » 26 Dec 2017, 11:16

The US Army Unit was the 319th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division, 3rd Army.


Steve E
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Re: Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#3

Post by Steve E » 04 Jan 2018, 12:35

I am Rohan's dad and can recall the events quiet well.
The Hungarians arrived and dispersed very quickly into various farmbuildings and farmyards. They had no motor vehicles, only horsedrawn wagons as far as I could see. They kept out of sight because there were constandly fighter-bombers looking for targets to attack.
It was not a good idea to wander about the streets. I never spoke to any of the hungarian soldiers.
The next day the US troops rolled in and the Hungarians surrendered without any resistance.
I think they were happy the war was over for them.
It would be nice if someone (perhaps Leo Niehorster) could shed some light on the Hungarian Unit/ Units that were involved.
There were no German soldiers in the village as far as I know.
Regards
Steve.

GregSingh
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Re: Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#4

Post by GregSingh » 07 Jan 2018, 04:01

How did you know it was Hungarian Army?

Steve E
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Re: Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#5

Post by Steve E » 08 Jan 2018, 06:30

Hungarian Uniforms, people that sheltered them and naturally communicated with them.
Cheers Steve.

GregSingh
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Re: Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#6

Post by GregSingh » 08 Jan 2018, 07:22

I asked because some reports from US 319th IR mentioned SS units west of Jena.
I'm trying to establish if it was a unit of Hungarian Army or Waffen SS Hungarian volunteers.

As units of Hungarian 1st Army moved to Slovakia and eastern Bohemia, it was extremely unlikely any of these ventured to Thuringia over Ore Mountains, but some Waffen SS Hungarian volunteers were moved from Silesia over Thuringia to Austria.

Another possibility is that it was ad hoc unit formed from Hungarians who attended some German military school in the area, Weimar perhaps.
I think there was a topic on the Forum somewhere about Hungarians on courses in German schools in 1945.

I would try to get some detailed reports from 2nd Bn of US 319th IR, somebody on the internet offers this for a fee.
Summary report from 8-18 April 1945 "Drive from Gotha to Chemnitz" is available for free, but does not mention any action in Großschwabhausen. I assume you already saw this one.

Shane6969
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Re: Hungarian Unit in Großschwabhausen 1945

#7

Post by Shane6969 » 08 Jan 2018, 09:19

http://www.niehorster.org/015_hungary/4 ... units.html

Hi Greg,

I found this link on Dr. Niehorsters OOB site. It mentions some Hungarian units (wehrkreis IX) that were in Erfurt and Weimar on 25th March 1945, maybe this might shed some light on what Hungarian units were in the area around that time.

Cheers

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