Totenkopf in May 1940

[Elyncho]

Hi Guys,

New member hoping someone out there may be able to help.

I'm currently researching the fighting on the La Bassee canal in May 1940 and especially the battle around Robecq. TK were involved and I am seeking any surviving accounts of the battle and their actions between 20 and 28th May.

I know that the standard text is Vopersal's Soldaten, Kampfer, Kameraden Vol1 but can't find an affordable copy. Can anyone either give me an overview of events or point me in the right direction for a detailed account ?

Thanks

[Richard Hargreaves]

There are copies of Vopersal, Band 1 (which covers the French campaign) on Abebooks for £36 - I have to say it's a reasonable price to pay. Wish I could say the same about Band 5b which is impossible to find (and needed for a future project).

A few other places to try: the other divisional history (although not in the same league as Vopersal and more expensive) is Ullrich's Like A Cliff In The Ocean.
Charles Sydnor's Soldiers of the Death's Head Division is a good, if dated, overview of the division.
Vorwärts, voran!: Die SS-Totenkopf-Division im Frankreich-Feldzug is a photo history of the Totenkopf in France.
Charles Trang's Totenkopf (not seen it personally, but Charles is a member here so you might like to ask him directly).
On the Allied side, there might be something in Sebag-Montefiore's Dunkirk (my copy's 300 miles away ).
There are some German files at the IWM on the atrocities committed by the Totenkopf in France.

Personally, I'd bite the bullet and buy Vopersal. It is probably the very best divisional history of any unit, Heer or Waffen SS.

[Elyncho]

Thanks for that Richard, much appreciated.

Sounds like I might have to persuade the family that buying me Vopersal's history of the SS is a perfectly normal way of celebrating the season of goodwill to all - anything's better than more socks!

All the best

Tim

[Phil Nix]

Why not try the inter Library loan system
Phil Nix

[Elyncho]

You know, embarrassing as it is to admit it, I hadn't even thought of the Inter Library Loan service.

Thanks Phil.

[tigre]

Hello to all ; sailing in the Web I found these photos and to give them a frame… here goes a small history.................

SS Totenkopf in the west campaign - 1940.

The Division was finally formed on October 1939, after the Polish Campaign, including personnel coming from Heimwehr Danzig as well as regiments Oberbayern, Brandenburg and Thuringen.


CO of the Totenkopfverbande and SS-Totenkopf, SS-Obergruppenführer Theodor Eicke.

The Divisional's OoB was as follows:

CO: SS Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke.
Ia: SS Standartenführer Fhr Cassius von Montigny (Oper – Ops)
Ib: SS Obersturmbannführer Paul Geisler. (Log)
Ic: SS Hauptsturmführer Alfred Franke-Grieksch. (Int)
IIa: SS Hauptsturmführer Paul Hoppe. (Ay – Adj).


SS Totenkopf-IR 1: SS Standartenführer Max Simon.
I./ SS-IR 1: SS Sturmbannführer Helmuth Becker.
II./ SS-IR 1: SS Sturmbannführer Eduard Deisenhofer.
III./ SS-IR 1: SS Sturmbannführer Walter Bestmann.

SS Totenkopf-IR 2: SS Standartenführer Heinz Bertling.
I./ SS-IR 2: SS Sturmbannführer Willy Fortenbacher.
II./ SS-IR 2: SS Sturmbannführer Kurt Kummer.
III./ SS-IR 2: SS Sturmbannführer Hermann Schleifenbaum.

SS Totenkopf-IR 3: SS Standartenführer Hans-Friedemann Götze.
I./ SS-IR 2: SS Sturmbannführer Walter Belldwit.
II./ SS-IR 2: SS Sturmbannführer Otto Petersen.
III./ SS-IR 2: SS Sturmbannführer Willi Düsenschön.

SS Totenkopf Artillerie Regiment: SS Standartenführer Friedrich Allihn.
I./ SS-AR: SS Sturmbannführer Kurt Brasack.
II./ SS-AR: SS Sturmbannführer Hermann Priess.
III./ SS-AR: SS Sturmbannführer Hans Sander.
IV./ SS-AR: SS Sturmbannführer Dr. Adolf Katz.

SS Totenkopf Aufkl. Abt.: SS Sturmbannführer Heimo Hierthes.
SS Totenkopf Pz Jäg Abt: SS Sturmbannführer Karl Leiner.
SS Totenkopf Pi Btl: SS Sturmbannführer Heinz Lammerding.
SS Totenkopf Nachr. Abt: SS Sturmbannführer Richard Sansoni.

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the story follows.........

Fall Gelb – Mayo 1940.

During the first stages of “Fall Gelb” the Unit was held as a reserve force of Army Group A (under Generaloberst Gerd v. Rundstedt). On May 09 1940, in the evening, the SS-Totenkopf was ordered to be in full operational readiness.


A vehicle belonging to the supply train of one of the SS-Totenkopf's subunits (15. Kradsch. Kp - Motorcyclists Coy?) ready for the march; the fuel (jerry) cans were nearby..........

However, during the first week of the offensive in the west, the division just followed the campaign’s development. It was not till May 12 1940 at 20:00 hours when the SS-Totenkopf moved ahead leaving its staging area around Korbach.

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the story follows.........

Fall Gelb – Mayo 1940.


Elements of the SS-Totenkopf heading towards the Belgian border – May of 1940.

On May 17 1940, according to orders issued by 4 AOK (Generaloberst v. Kluge), the SS-Totenkopf should join to General Hoth’s XV AK (Mot) in order to secure the rear areas of the 5 Pz (General v. Hartlieb-Walsporn) and 7 Pz (General Rommel).

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53
Spellmount Western Front SS Secret Archives- Ian Baxter 2003.
SS-Totenkopf. Chris Mann.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[Nicole S.]

Hi,

I have found this order dated 19th may 1940.

Source: NARA T354R131

Horrido!

Nicole

[tigre]

Hello to all ; thanks Nicole great post . Now, the story follows.........

Fall Gelb – Mayo 1940.

On May 19 1940, the Eicke’s Units joined the 7 Pz, which was fighting around Le Cateau – Cambrai. This very day the SS-Totenkopf clashed with a Moroccan division east of Cambrai. According to an order issued by the XV AK (Mot), the Division detailed a reinforced regiment (SS Totenkopf-IR 1) towards Le Cateau and Cambrai to alleviate the pressure on the troops of Rommel.


Cyclists troops of the SS Totenkopf passing along one Sd Kfz 10 with an AA cannon on it.

The order stated that the reinforced regiment had to march with one reinforced battalion of Grandrieux by Hestrud - Solre le Château - Avesnes (North) - St. Hilaire - Dompierre - Taismeres beginning in the bifurcation to the east of Maroilles.

The mass of the regiment would advance of Sivry by Clairfayts - Felleries - Avesnes (South) - Marbaix - Gd. Fayt beginning in Favril.

Then the SS-T IR 1 would cross the Sambre by Landrecies in order to attack in the direction of Le Cateau. The Commander of the Regiment had to go ahead up to the CP of the 7 Pz located in the Bassèe Maroilles to the south of Maroilles.

In the fight that ensued, the Moroccans were compeled to retreat and the SS-troops could take around 1500 POWs. The Division’s baptism of fire came off very well indeed but suffered 16 KIA and 53 WIA in the process.


Moroccan troops taken as POWs...........

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53
Spellmount Western Front SS Secret Archives- Ian Baxter 2003.
SS-Totenkopf. Chris Mann.

Cheers. Raúl M 8).

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the story follows.........

Fall Gelb – Mayo 1940.

Towards noon on May 20 of 1940, the SS-Totenkopf already had cleared of enemy troops the area included to the east and north of Cambrai assuring the XV AK (Mot)’s freedom of maneuver.


A knocked out French tank abandoned into the ditch beside the road…..

At 16:30 hours of that very day the SS-Totenkopf had reached the locality of Mercatel where it halted awaiting new orders; they arrived one hour later, settling down that the division had to march to the northwest, to establish a blocking position and to collaborate on the following day with the encirclement of Arras (The SS-Totenkopf had to force the Scarpe river and then to advance due north against the highway that ran to the west of Arras).

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53
Spellmount Western Front SS Secret Archives- Ian Baxter 2003.
SS-Totenkopf. Chris Mann.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the story follows.........

Fall Gelb – Mayo 1940.

On May 21 1940, the Allied forces launched a strong counter-attack near Arras. The British assault began at 14:00 hours moving ahead in two columns approaching from Nueville and Vimy, at a distance of about 1 kilometre each other. The left column was led by tanks of the 4 RTR (Col James Fitzmaurice) with 37 Matildas I and 7 Matildas II and the right by tanks of the 7 RTR (Col Hector Heyland) with 23 Matildas I and 9 Matildas II.


Arras on May 21 of 1940.

The British tanks had rolled through the positions of Rommel’s forces and found themselves directly in front of the Totenkopf’s antitank guns. The Pak’s crew saw that the 37 mm shells from their guns were ineffective against the Matildas tanks and abandoned their equipment after brief firing. Late in the afternoon both British columns joined and started to drive back the German towards Mercatel and Route Nº 37. The men of the SS-T PzJäg Abt aided by men of the SS-T IR 3 went again after the British tanks but that action also failed after nearly one hour of desperate fight.

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53
Spellmount Western Front SS Secret Archives- Ian Baxter 2003.
SS-Totenkopf. Chris Mann.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the story follows.........

Fall Gelb – Mayo 1940.

Finally the situation turned in favour of the Germans thanks to the 88 mm guns of the Flak Btl 78. Besides, the PR 25 under Oberst Rothenburg carried out a counterattack on the right flank of the British effort coming from Agnez at 19:00 hours.

Also collaborated in stalling the tanks, the artillery of SS-Totenkopf by firing direct shots over open sights and the air strikes of the Stukas.


Messenger motorcyclists of the SS-Totenkopf in Arras.

In spite of the SS Totenkopf suffered considerable losses (39 KIA, 66 WIA and 2 MIA), it was evaluated later, that the unit performed better that the Rommel’s Division, because it managed to held its positions on the majority of the attacked sectors.

Sources: Wydawnictwo Militaria 290 - SS Totenkopf Division 1939-1943.
SS-Totenkopf. Historia Dywizji Waffen SS.
Militaria Hagridmerlino. Lunes, 15 de Diciembre de 2008, 23:11:53
Spellmount Western Front SS Secret Archives- Ian Baxter 2003.
SS-Totenkopf. Chris Mann.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[der Fleißige]

Finally the situation turned in favour of the Germans thanks to the 88 mm guns of the Flak Btl 78.

Is it not supposed to be the 8,8's from 23. FlaK Abt. and artillery from the III/SS-T and the II/78?

8,8 Flak, Fall Gelb, Flak-Abt.23 , Arras, (Waffen-Arsenal 027).JPG (23.52 KiB) Viewed 4963 times

[tigre]

Hello to all ; you've right my friend, indeed there were a battery of 88 from Flak 23, the 3./Le Flak Abt 59, Le Flak Abt 86, the AR 78 and the mass of the Pz Jäg Abt 42. Plus the SS-Totenkopf AR and the Stukas. Thanks pal. Cheers. Raúl M .