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An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
A nice map of the Berlin Defence Sector
Modern Berlin
NSDAP Berlin
Modern Berlin
NSDAP Berlin
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Reichsgau Oberdonau was one of the war zones where peace reigned the longest given the breaking fronts in West and East.
As of November 1942, the Gaue became Reich Defense Districts, and was entrusted with the entire civil defense of the Reich Gauleiter
and Reichsstatthalter to the Reich Defense Commissioner. They had the authority to issue instructions to all civil authorities in their district
regarding the defense of the Reich. Especially in the final phase of the war, in view of the impending defeat, the office of Reich Defense Commissioner contributed significantly to the expansion of power of the Gauleiters and the NSDAP over the state authorities through
its involvement in total war for the maximum mobilization of all resources (Volkssturm).
Volkssturm
Towards the end of the war, those born between 1925 and 1929 in the HJ were called on more and more for immediate military service as the
III Volkssturm squad. According to the Führer Decree of September 25, 1944, the Volkssturm, formed by all “men aged 16 to 60 capable of
bearing arms” who had not yet fought, was to reinforce the German Wehrmacht. It was organized at the Gau level by the Gau leaders as Reich Defense Commissars. In September 1944, in Oberdonau, those born in 1928 were called up as the “last blood reserve”, and at the end of February 1945, boys born in 1929 began to be used in the rearmost line of defence. GauleiterOn February 10, 1945, Eigruber ordered in a broadcast to all district leaders and district administrators that every populated town, every village, every market, every town, every traffic junction was to be
put into a state of defense by the Volkssturm, involving the HJ. In Schärding, for example, two Hitler Youth died while defending the city against American troops. In the last days and weeks of the Nazi regime, members of the Hitler Youth were also involved in executions, for example as
part of the Mühlviertel rabbit hunt or in the shooting of eight members of the anti-fascist Freistadt resistance group on May 1 in Treffling by
16 to 17 -year-old HJ boys, among whom was Eigruber's 16-year-old son.
Of the 1,200,000 Austrians who were drafted into the German Wehrmacht during the entire Second World War (born between 1897 and 1927),
Upper Austria accounted for more than 200,000 men.
From 1942 there were bottlenecks in the recruitment of replacement units and chaotic conditions in the area of supplying the front-line troops
in military district XVII. The armaments companies had to find more and more replacements for the specialist work they had to do for military service. The formation of Volkssturm battalions from September 1944 made the precarious labor situation even worse.
Membership card Deutscher Volkssturm, squad II of the local group Laakirchen. The II squad included men from 25 to 50 years of age who
practiced a profession that was considered important for the war effort. The deployment was only for a short time and in the immediate
vicinity of home.
Wartberg 1945 and the Mühlviertel manhunt
The most intensive search in the Mühlviertel for the escaped concentration camp prisoners lasted only a day and a half, by which time 300
had already been apprehended or murdered.
Wartberg contemporary witnesses report of many murdered people in our community. For example, 17 corpses were reported at the Gaisbach train station and four corpses on the southern edge of Wartberg (near today's rest area), which were "collected" there for transport to the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Press report on proceedings before the Linz People's Court:
"Immediately after the capture of a concentration camp inmate, Volkssturmmann S[...] received the order from the SS man to shoot the
prisoner.
When S[...] refuses, the SS man commissioned B[...] with the murder. With the words "I can do that," B[...] agreed to do the deed [...] and shot
the man in the back with his shot. Some Volkssturm men, who surrounded the fallen concentration camp inmate, claimed that the man was still alive. The Volkssturm commander K[...] then climbed onto the chest of the Kzler and then kicked him three times in the temple with his iron-reinforced boot. "
2/10/1945
In a broadcast to all district leaders and district administrators, Gauleiter Eigruber ordered that every populated town, every village, every
market, every town, every traffic junction was to be put into a state of defense by the Volkssturm, involving the HJ.
4/26/1945
While a new Austrian government was being formed in Vienna, the Volkssturm was still practicing with the Panzerfaust in Pregarten. A man dies
in the process.
In September 1944, the theaters in the German Reich and thus also the Linz State Theater were closed as part of the total war effort . The
remaining employees and artists were drafted into the Wehrmacht or the Volkssturm or seconded to the armaments industry. Some came to the Waffen-SS and had to do guard duty in the Mauthausen concentration camp and the satellite camps.
In Upper Austria, only Division No. 487 under the German General Paul Wagner, a few disorientated units of Lothar Rendulic's Army Group Ostmark,
a severely weakened Oberdonau Flak Brigade, a Waffen-SS task force with SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Otto Skorzeny and units of the Volkssturm
were left to defend themselves to disposal. Eigruber and Rendulic tried to maintain perseverance and discipline through sharp threats.
In Eigruber's circular no. 64 it says:
" I am now determined to take brutal action against fleeing political leaders, heads of state departments and higher military authorities and
officers who behave arrogantly, carry out confiscations themselves or even have a destructive effect. I authorize the district leaders and district administrators, with the help of the gendarmerie and the German Volkssturm, to intervene independently in all these cases. These are either to be handed over immediately to the court-martial or, in special cases, to be shot immediately. "
Rendulic issued the directive:
" From midday on April 15, all soldiers of all branches of the Wehrmacht who are found apart from their unit on streets, in towns, in hawsers or
civilian trains, at dressing stations without being wounded are to be summarily shot. "
https://www.ooegeschichte.at/datenbanke ... 42b415af17
As of November 1942, the Gaue became Reich Defense Districts, and was entrusted with the entire civil defense of the Reich Gauleiter
and Reichsstatthalter to the Reich Defense Commissioner. They had the authority to issue instructions to all civil authorities in their district
regarding the defense of the Reich. Especially in the final phase of the war, in view of the impending defeat, the office of Reich Defense Commissioner contributed significantly to the expansion of power of the Gauleiters and the NSDAP over the state authorities through
its involvement in total war for the maximum mobilization of all resources (Volkssturm).
Volkssturm
Towards the end of the war, those born between 1925 and 1929 in the HJ were called on more and more for immediate military service as the
III Volkssturm squad. According to the Führer Decree of September 25, 1944, the Volkssturm, formed by all “men aged 16 to 60 capable of
bearing arms” who had not yet fought, was to reinforce the German Wehrmacht. It was organized at the Gau level by the Gau leaders as Reich Defense Commissars. In September 1944, in Oberdonau, those born in 1928 were called up as the “last blood reserve”, and at the end of February 1945, boys born in 1929 began to be used in the rearmost line of defence. GauleiterOn February 10, 1945, Eigruber ordered in a broadcast to all district leaders and district administrators that every populated town, every village, every market, every town, every traffic junction was to be
put into a state of defense by the Volkssturm, involving the HJ. In Schärding, for example, two Hitler Youth died while defending the city against American troops. In the last days and weeks of the Nazi regime, members of the Hitler Youth were also involved in executions, for example as
part of the Mühlviertel rabbit hunt or in the shooting of eight members of the anti-fascist Freistadt resistance group on May 1 in Treffling by
16 to 17 -year-old HJ boys, among whom was Eigruber's 16-year-old son.
Of the 1,200,000 Austrians who were drafted into the German Wehrmacht during the entire Second World War (born between 1897 and 1927),
Upper Austria accounted for more than 200,000 men.
From 1942 there were bottlenecks in the recruitment of replacement units and chaotic conditions in the area of supplying the front-line troops
in military district XVII. The armaments companies had to find more and more replacements for the specialist work they had to do for military service. The formation of Volkssturm battalions from September 1944 made the precarious labor situation even worse.
Membership card Deutscher Volkssturm, squad II of the local group Laakirchen. The II squad included men from 25 to 50 years of age who
practiced a profession that was considered important for the war effort. The deployment was only for a short time and in the immediate
vicinity of home.
Wartberg 1945 and the Mühlviertel manhunt
The most intensive search in the Mühlviertel for the escaped concentration camp prisoners lasted only a day and a half, by which time 300
had already been apprehended or murdered.
Wartberg contemporary witnesses report of many murdered people in our community. For example, 17 corpses were reported at the Gaisbach train station and four corpses on the southern edge of Wartberg (near today's rest area), which were "collected" there for transport to the Mauthausen concentration camp.
Press report on proceedings before the Linz People's Court:
"Immediately after the capture of a concentration camp inmate, Volkssturmmann S[...] received the order from the SS man to shoot the
prisoner.
When S[...] refuses, the SS man commissioned B[...] with the murder. With the words "I can do that," B[...] agreed to do the deed [...] and shot
the man in the back with his shot. Some Volkssturm men, who surrounded the fallen concentration camp inmate, claimed that the man was still alive. The Volkssturm commander K[...] then climbed onto the chest of the Kzler and then kicked him three times in the temple with his iron-reinforced boot. "
2/10/1945
In a broadcast to all district leaders and district administrators, Gauleiter Eigruber ordered that every populated town, every village, every
market, every town, every traffic junction was to be put into a state of defense by the Volkssturm, involving the HJ.
4/26/1945
While a new Austrian government was being formed in Vienna, the Volkssturm was still practicing with the Panzerfaust in Pregarten. A man dies
in the process.
In September 1944, the theaters in the German Reich and thus also the Linz State Theater were closed as part of the total war effort . The
remaining employees and artists were drafted into the Wehrmacht or the Volkssturm or seconded to the armaments industry. Some came to the Waffen-SS and had to do guard duty in the Mauthausen concentration camp and the satellite camps.
In Upper Austria, only Division No. 487 under the German General Paul Wagner, a few disorientated units of Lothar Rendulic's Army Group Ostmark,
a severely weakened Oberdonau Flak Brigade, a Waffen-SS task force with SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Otto Skorzeny and units of the Volkssturm
were left to defend themselves to disposal. Eigruber and Rendulic tried to maintain perseverance and discipline through sharp threats.
In Eigruber's circular no. 64 it says:
" I am now determined to take brutal action against fleeing political leaders, heads of state departments and higher military authorities and
officers who behave arrogantly, carry out confiscations themselves or even have a destructive effect. I authorize the district leaders and district administrators, with the help of the gendarmerie and the German Volkssturm, to intervene independently in all these cases. These are either to be handed over immediately to the court-martial or, in special cases, to be shot immediately. "
Rendulic issued the directive:
" From midday on April 15, all soldiers of all branches of the Wehrmacht who are found apart from their unit on streets, in towns, in hawsers or
civilian trains, at dressing stations without being wounded are to be summarily shot. "
https://www.ooegeschichte.at/datenbanke ... 42b415af17
-
Germanicus
- Member
- Posts: 2184
- Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 14:26
- Location: Shell Cove NSW Australia
Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
The highest ranked Officers to die fighting in or involved with the Volkssturm
Gen-Ltnt Ernst Günther BAADE 20.08.1897 Falkenhagen 08.05.1945 Laz. Bad Segeberg Führerres., Insp. v. Volkssturm
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2017/vl-d ... llene.html
Ernst-Günther Baade died on the day of the total surrender of the Wehrmacht in a military hospital in Bad Segeberg, after he had been
seriously wounded in a low-flying attack two weeks earlier.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst-G%C3%BCnther_Baade
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/151 ... Cnther.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gen-Major Wolfgang RÜTER 08.10.1892 Halberstadt 24.04.1945 Strehla a.E. Volkssturm [11.01.45 v. Reichskr court sentenced to 3 years in
prison and loss of rank]
On January 11, 1945, he was sentenced by the Reichskriegsgericht to a total of 3 years in prison and loss of rank for "reckless withdrawal of
another from military service, for continued disobedience and unauthorized hunting, and for negligent disobedience." On 24 April 1945 he
died as Volkssturmmann near Strehla on the Elbe.
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Pe ... lfgang.htm
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... FGANG.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Konter-dmirale a.D. Walter ISENDAHL 1872 1945 Berlin O.K.M. Sonderverw., Volkssturm
Isendahl died at the end of the war in Berlin in 1945 under unexplained circumstances. The officially determined date of death is April 30, 1945. When and by whom this determination was made is still unknown (as of 2019).
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Isendahl_(Admiral)
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... ALTER.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vizeadmirale Heinrich HANKE
Killed-in-Action (as a Volunteer in the Volkssturm) Died: 23 Apr 1945 near Klein-Kienitz über Zossen
viewtopic.php?t=172270
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... NRICH.html
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Pe ... VAdM-R.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vizeadmirale z.V. Erhard MAERTENS 05.05.1945 Berlin Kdt Marine-Werft Kiel, d. Volkssturm
Vice Admiral Erhard Maertens retired from service on 28 February 1945 and was killed in 5. May 1945 during the Battle of Berlin, three days
before the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erhard_Maertens
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... RHARD.html
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2017/vl-d ... sicht.html
Gen-Ltnt Ernst Günther BAADE 20.08.1897 Falkenhagen 08.05.1945 Laz. Bad Segeberg Führerres., Insp. v. Volkssturm
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2017/vl-d ... llene.html
Ernst-Günther Baade died on the day of the total surrender of the Wehrmacht in a military hospital in Bad Segeberg, after he had been
seriously wounded in a low-flying attack two weeks earlier.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst-G%C3%BCnther_Baade
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/151 ... Cnther.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gen-Major Wolfgang RÜTER 08.10.1892 Halberstadt 24.04.1945 Strehla a.E. Volkssturm [11.01.45 v. Reichskr court sentenced to 3 years in
prison and loss of rank]
On January 11, 1945, he was sentenced by the Reichskriegsgericht to a total of 3 years in prison and loss of rank for "reckless withdrawal of
another from military service, for continued disobedience and unauthorized hunting, and for negligent disobedience." On 24 April 1945 he
died as Volkssturmmann near Strehla on the Elbe.
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Pe ... lfgang.htm
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... FGANG.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Konter-dmirale a.D. Walter ISENDAHL 1872 1945 Berlin O.K.M. Sonderverw., Volkssturm
Isendahl died at the end of the war in Berlin in 1945 under unexplained circumstances. The officially determined date of death is April 30, 1945. When and by whom this determination was made is still unknown (as of 2019).
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Isendahl_(Admiral)
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... ALTER.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vizeadmirale Heinrich HANKE
Killed-in-Action (as a Volunteer in the Volkssturm) Died: 23 Apr 1945 near Klein-Kienitz über Zossen
viewtopic.php?t=172270
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... NRICH.html
https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Pe ... VAdM-R.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vizeadmirale z.V. Erhard MAERTENS 05.05.1945 Berlin Kdt Marine-Werft Kiel, d. Volkssturm
Vice Admiral Erhard Maertens retired from service on 28 February 1945 and was killed in 5. May 1945 during the Battle of Berlin, three days
before the unconditional surrender of the Wehrmacht.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erhard_Maertens
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... RHARD.html
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2017/vl-d ... sicht.html
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Halfdan S.
- Member
- Posts: 2706
- Joined: 08 Oct 2007, 03:02
- Location: Copenhagen
Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
A few additions that might have fought in the Battle of Berlin:
Vizeadmiral a.D. Kurt von dem Borne (24.11.1885-1946); arrested by the SMERSH in Berlin on 16.10.1945 - if he was picked up at home and if he was at "home" during the Battle of Berlin, would this 59-year old retired Vizeadmiral have fought in the Volkssturm like Hanke and Maertens?
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Udo Franssen (19.9.1984-18.4.1959); arrested in Berlin on May 25th, 1945 - same question as above?
Generalmajor a.D. Paul Genée (23. or 25.3.1878-1948); arrested in Berlin on May 5th, same question as above?
HAMEL, Ernst. (DOB: 15.06.77 in Wessin/Kreis Parchim). 01.04.98 entered the Heer. 18.08.99 promo to Lt. 18.06.08 promo to Oblt. without patent. 17.09.09 patent granted. 01.10.13 promo to Hptm. WWI served in the Infanterie and Pioniertruppen. 02.08.16 WIA, recovering until 25.04.17. 11.06.18 WIA, recovering until 02.10.18. 01.11.19 joined the Polizei. 31.03.20 promo to acting Maj. then furloughed. 10.07.35 designated an Erg.-Offizier (Luftwaffe) with a rank of Polizei-Maj. Industriebeauftragter (industry commissioner) for Rostock and Wismar/RLM. 01.11.35 promo to Maj. (RDA 01.02.26). 01.03.37 promo to Obstlt. 01.10.37 Leiter der Wehrwirtschaftsstelle I, Bezirk Dessau der Wehrwirtschafts-Inspektion VII. 01.10.39 promo to Oberst and Leiter Wehrwirtschaftstelle Dessau. 13.11.39 appt Leiter der Wehrwirtschaftsstelle Liegnitz der Wehrwirtsschafts-Inspektion. VII. 15.03.40 appt Inspizient der Lw.-Bautruppen/RLM. 01.09.41 activated. 12.09.41 appt Chef der Lw.-Bauinspektion (L.In.17)/RLM. 01.12.42 appt Inspizient der Lw.-Inspektion/RLM. 01.04.43 promo to Gen.Maj. 01.05.43 assigned to Führerreserve OKL. 30.09.43 retired. 01.01.45 available, promo to Gen.Lt. and then employed with the Volksturm. 05.45 into Soviet captivity. 1945 released. †28.03.69 in Berlin.
Generalmajor a.D. Emil Just (18.6.1885-21.1.1947); arrested in Berlin on 9.7.1945, same question as above?
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Ernst Krüger (3.1.1891-25.3.1953); arrested in Berlin in May 1945, same question as above?
Generalleutnant a.D. Hermann Moll (30.3.1890-8.7.1959); arrested in Berlin on 26.4.1945 according to Bezborodova - did he fight?
MOLL, Hermann Julius Hellmuth. (DOB: 30.03.90 in Schlettstadt/Elsass). 01.04.08 entered the Marine. 1909-10 attended Marineschule Kiel. 27.09.11 promo to Lt.z.S. WWI served with the Marineflieger. 01.04.14 began flight training with the Marine-Flieger-Abt. 01.08.14 trf to Marine-Flieger-Abt. as an observer. 01.09.14 trf to the Reichsmarineamt, in the Abt. Luftfahrwesen. 19.09.14 promo to Oblt.z.S. 01.11.14 appt Adj. of II. Seeflieger-Abt./Station Wilhelmshaven. 01.12.14 trf to Seefliegerstation Zebrugge as an observer. 09.15 appt Adj. of the Kommandeurs des Luftfahrwesens des Marinekorps Flandern. 01.05.16 appt Leiter of Seefliegerstation Holtenau. 09.16 appt councillor in the Abt. Luftfahrwesen in the Reichsmarineamt bzw. Admiralität (to 31.01.20). 28.04.18 promo to Kapitänleutnant. 1920-22 with the Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen G.mb.H. 1922-25 with the Dinoswerft Warnemünde. 1925-1929 Vorstand Caspar-Flugzeugwerke Travemünde. 09.33 Freg.Kapt. und Leiter der Flugzeug-E-Stelle Travemünde. 01.10.33 designated as an Erg.-Offizier (Luftwaffe) with a rank of Fregattenkapitän and appt Leiter der Erprobungstelle d.Lw. Travemünde. 01.03.35 promo to Obstlt. (RDA 01.10.33). 01.05.36 Obstlt.(E) Kdr. Luftzeugamt (See) Pötenitz near Travemünde. 01.07.36 appt Kdr. des Luftzeugamt Travemünde. 01.09.36 ordered to Vorkommando (advance detachment) and appt Vertretung (acting) Kdr. of Luftzeuggruppe VII, Braunschweig. 01.07.37 ordered to Luftkreis-Kdo. VI (See), Kiel. 22.08.37 appt acting Kdr. Luftzeuggruppe VI (See). 01.10.37 activated; promo to Oberst; appt Kdr. der Luftzeuggruppe 6 (See), Kiel. 01.04.40 promo to Gen.Maj. 01.01.41 appt Inspekteur des Seeflugwesens Insp. 8/RLM. 01.04.42 promo to Gen.Lt. 1942 Inspizient beim Gen.d.Lw. b. Ob.d.M. 04.10.44 assigned to Führerreserve OKL. 31.01.45 retired. 26.04.45 became Soviet POW and still being held in 1951. †08.07.59 in Braunlage/Harz.
Generalmajor a.D. Georg Moritz (5.11.1881-1956); arrested in Berlin on 5.5.1945, samt question as above?
And probably a few more. So the question is, did these Gentlemen live in Berlin and if what did these retired Generals/Admirals do during the battle? Did they go and fight with their local Volkssturm?
Often when the Soviets said Berlin, it also covered f.ex. Halbe or as your above mentioned Vizeadmiral z.V. Heinrich Hanke that fell in Klein-Kienitz. A German source is Folttmann: Opfergang der Generale (roughly translated: Sacrifice of the Generals), that comes in several editions. I have the 1959 edition and it has f.ex. Admirals Hanke, Isendahl, Maertens and Prentzell (suicide) as dead on "Kriegsschauplatz" (Battlefield) Berlin.
Also a few "old-timers" died during the Battle; f.ex. Generalleutnant a.D. Arthur Kobus (born 1879, apparently died April 1945 in Berlin), Char. Generalleutnant Georg Franz Johow (born 1862, died with his wife in Berlin on 26.4.1945) etc.
Answers are not easy to come by.
Regards
Halfdan S.
Vizeadmiral a.D. Kurt von dem Borne (24.11.1885-1946); arrested by the SMERSH in Berlin on 16.10.1945 - if he was picked up at home and if he was at "home" during the Battle of Berlin, would this 59-year old retired Vizeadmiral have fought in the Volkssturm like Hanke and Maertens?
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Udo Franssen (19.9.1984-18.4.1959); arrested in Berlin on May 25th, 1945 - same question as above?
Generalmajor a.D. Paul Genée (23. or 25.3.1878-1948); arrested in Berlin on May 5th, same question as above?
HAMEL, Ernst. (DOB: 15.06.77 in Wessin/Kreis Parchim). 01.04.98 entered the Heer. 18.08.99 promo to Lt. 18.06.08 promo to Oblt. without patent. 17.09.09 patent granted. 01.10.13 promo to Hptm. WWI served in the Infanterie and Pioniertruppen. 02.08.16 WIA, recovering until 25.04.17. 11.06.18 WIA, recovering until 02.10.18. 01.11.19 joined the Polizei. 31.03.20 promo to acting Maj. then furloughed. 10.07.35 designated an Erg.-Offizier (Luftwaffe) with a rank of Polizei-Maj. Industriebeauftragter (industry commissioner) for Rostock and Wismar/RLM. 01.11.35 promo to Maj. (RDA 01.02.26). 01.03.37 promo to Obstlt. 01.10.37 Leiter der Wehrwirtschaftsstelle I, Bezirk Dessau der Wehrwirtschafts-Inspektion VII. 01.10.39 promo to Oberst and Leiter Wehrwirtschaftstelle Dessau. 13.11.39 appt Leiter der Wehrwirtschaftsstelle Liegnitz der Wehrwirtsschafts-Inspektion. VII. 15.03.40 appt Inspizient der Lw.-Bautruppen/RLM. 01.09.41 activated. 12.09.41 appt Chef der Lw.-Bauinspektion (L.In.17)/RLM. 01.12.42 appt Inspizient der Lw.-Inspektion/RLM. 01.04.43 promo to Gen.Maj. 01.05.43 assigned to Führerreserve OKL. 30.09.43 retired. 01.01.45 available, promo to Gen.Lt. and then employed with the Volksturm. 05.45 into Soviet captivity. 1945 released. †28.03.69 in Berlin.
Generalmajor a.D. Emil Just (18.6.1885-21.1.1947); arrested in Berlin on 9.7.1945, same question as above?
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Ernst Krüger (3.1.1891-25.3.1953); arrested in Berlin in May 1945, same question as above?
Generalleutnant a.D. Hermann Moll (30.3.1890-8.7.1959); arrested in Berlin on 26.4.1945 according to Bezborodova - did he fight?
MOLL, Hermann Julius Hellmuth. (DOB: 30.03.90 in Schlettstadt/Elsass). 01.04.08 entered the Marine. 1909-10 attended Marineschule Kiel. 27.09.11 promo to Lt.z.S. WWI served with the Marineflieger. 01.04.14 began flight training with the Marine-Flieger-Abt. 01.08.14 trf to Marine-Flieger-Abt. as an observer. 01.09.14 trf to the Reichsmarineamt, in the Abt. Luftfahrwesen. 19.09.14 promo to Oblt.z.S. 01.11.14 appt Adj. of II. Seeflieger-Abt./Station Wilhelmshaven. 01.12.14 trf to Seefliegerstation Zebrugge as an observer. 09.15 appt Adj. of the Kommandeurs des Luftfahrwesens des Marinekorps Flandern. 01.05.16 appt Leiter of Seefliegerstation Holtenau. 09.16 appt councillor in the Abt. Luftfahrwesen in the Reichsmarineamt bzw. Admiralität (to 31.01.20). 28.04.18 promo to Kapitänleutnant. 1920-22 with the Flugzeugbau Friedrichshafen G.mb.H. 1922-25 with the Dinoswerft Warnemünde. 1925-1929 Vorstand Caspar-Flugzeugwerke Travemünde. 09.33 Freg.Kapt. und Leiter der Flugzeug-E-Stelle Travemünde. 01.10.33 designated as an Erg.-Offizier (Luftwaffe) with a rank of Fregattenkapitän and appt Leiter der Erprobungstelle d.Lw. Travemünde. 01.03.35 promo to Obstlt. (RDA 01.10.33). 01.05.36 Obstlt.(E) Kdr. Luftzeugamt (See) Pötenitz near Travemünde. 01.07.36 appt Kdr. des Luftzeugamt Travemünde. 01.09.36 ordered to Vorkommando (advance detachment) and appt Vertretung (acting) Kdr. of Luftzeuggruppe VII, Braunschweig. 01.07.37 ordered to Luftkreis-Kdo. VI (See), Kiel. 22.08.37 appt acting Kdr. Luftzeuggruppe VI (See). 01.10.37 activated; promo to Oberst; appt Kdr. der Luftzeuggruppe 6 (See), Kiel. 01.04.40 promo to Gen.Maj. 01.01.41 appt Inspekteur des Seeflugwesens Insp. 8/RLM. 01.04.42 promo to Gen.Lt. 1942 Inspizient beim Gen.d.Lw. b. Ob.d.M. 04.10.44 assigned to Führerreserve OKL. 31.01.45 retired. 26.04.45 became Soviet POW and still being held in 1951. †08.07.59 in Braunlage/Harz.
Generalmajor a.D. Georg Moritz (5.11.1881-1956); arrested in Berlin on 5.5.1945, samt question as above?
And probably a few more. So the question is, did these Gentlemen live in Berlin and if what did these retired Generals/Admirals do during the battle? Did they go and fight with their local Volkssturm?
Often when the Soviets said Berlin, it also covered f.ex. Halbe or as your above mentioned Vizeadmiral z.V. Heinrich Hanke that fell in Klein-Kienitz. A German source is Folttmann: Opfergang der Generale (roughly translated: Sacrifice of the Generals), that comes in several editions. I have the 1959 edition and it has f.ex. Admirals Hanke, Isendahl, Maertens and Prentzell (suicide) as dead on "Kriegsschauplatz" (Battlefield) Berlin.
Also a few "old-timers" died during the Battle; f.ex. Generalleutnant a.D. Arthur Kobus (born 1879, apparently died April 1945 in Berlin), Char. Generalleutnant Georg Franz Johow (born 1862, died with his wife in Berlin on 26.4.1945) etc.
Answers are not easy to come by.
Regards
Halfdan S.
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Hello Halfdan S
Thank you for your post.
The topic of the post was 'The highest ranked Officers to DIE fighting in or involved with the Volkssturm'.
These Officers of high rank that you have presented above I will look into.
I hope I find additional information through these named Officers if they relate to the Volkssturm.
Apart from Gen-Ltnt Ernst Günther BAADE, the other Generals I wrote of fought as part of the Volkssturm and died.
Most respectfully
Germanicus
Thank you for your post.
The topic of the post was 'The highest ranked Officers to DIE fighting in or involved with the Volkssturm'.
These Officers of high rank that you have presented above I will look into.
I hope I find additional information through these named Officers if they relate to the Volkssturm.
Apart from Gen-Ltnt Ernst Günther BAADE, the other Generals I wrote of fought as part of the Volkssturm and died.
Most respectfully
Germanicus
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Dear Halfdan S
Vizeadmiral a.D. Kurt von dem Borne ; [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMA ... N_DEM.html
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Udo Franssen ; [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... N_UDO.html
Generalmajor a.D. Paul Genée ; [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... _PAUL.html
Generalleutnant Ernst HAMEL [Yes used in the Volkssturm , as a Generalleutnant]
https://ww2gravestone.com/people/hamel-ernst/
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... ERNST.html
Generalmajor a.D. Emil Just; arrested in Berlin on 9.7.1945. [ABDUCTED] [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... _EMIL.html
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Ernst Krüger [Not in the Volkssturm]
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... ERNST.html
Generalleutnant a.D. Hermann Moll [Not in the Volkssturm]
Generalmajor a.D. Georg Moritz; [Not in the Volkssturm]
viewtopic.php?t=208748
Also a few "old-timers" died during the Battle; f.ex.
Generalleutnant a.D. Arthur Kobus [In April 1945, General Kobus committed suicide in Berlin, rather than surrender to the Red Army.]
[Not in the Volkssturm]
The following is from : -
The Nazis' Flight from Justice: How Hitler's Followers Attempted to Vanish Without Trace - Richard Dargie, Julian Flanders
https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-off ... hur-kobus/
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... RTHUR.html
Generalleutnant Georg Franz Johow [age at death 83] [Not in the Volkssturm]
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Johow
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2014/zehl ... erlin.html
As you stated : -
And probably a few more. So the question is, did these Gentlemen live in Berlin and if what did these retired Generals/Admirals do
during the battle? Did they go and fight with their local Volkssturm?
I will look further and see what I can find
Most respectfully
Germanicus
Vizeadmiral a.D. Kurt von dem Borne ; [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMA ... N_DEM.html
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Udo Franssen ; [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... N_UDO.html
Generalmajor a.D. Paul Genée ; [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... _PAUL.html
Generalleutnant Ernst HAMEL [Yes used in the Volkssturm , as a Generalleutnant]
https://ww2gravestone.com/people/hamel-ernst/
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... ERNST.html
Generalmajor a.D. Emil Just; arrested in Berlin on 9.7.1945. [ABDUCTED] [Not in the Volkssturm]
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... _EMIL.html
Generalleutnant a.D. (Lw.) Ernst Krüger [Not in the Volkssturm]
https://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRM ... ERNST.html
Generalleutnant a.D. Hermann Moll [Not in the Volkssturm]
Generalmajor a.D. Georg Moritz; [Not in the Volkssturm]
viewtopic.php?t=208748
Also a few "old-timers" died during the Battle; f.ex.
Generalleutnant a.D. Arthur Kobus [In April 1945, General Kobus committed suicide in Berlin, rather than surrender to the Red Army.]
[Not in the Volkssturm]
The following is from : -
The Nazis' Flight from Justice: How Hitler's Followers Attempted to Vanish Without Trace - Richard Dargie, Julian Flanders
https://www.feldgrau.com/ww2-german-off ... hur-kobus/
http://www.geocities.ws/orion47.geo/WEH ... RTHUR.html
Generalleutnant Georg Franz Johow [age at death 83] [Not in the Volkssturm]
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Johow
http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2014/zehl ... erlin.html
As you stated : -
And probably a few more. So the question is, did these Gentlemen live in Berlin and if what did these retired Generals/Admirals do
during the battle? Did they go and fight with their local Volkssturm?
I will look further and see what I can find
Most respectfully
Germanicus
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Dear Halfdan S
The most commonly known death of someone who was deemed a Volkssturm General is the following: -
Volkssturm General Kurt Walter Donicke (July 27, 1899 - April 19, 1945) lies dead in the Neu Rathaus (New City Hall) in Leipzig.
Donicke joined the Nazi Party in 1925 and quit his job as a carpenter to become the Nazi Party Manager in 1928. He was one of the Nazi party
members elected to the Reichstag (German Parliament) in 1932. He was elected as National Socialist District Leader in 1933, retaining that post
until 1937, when he became Mayor of Leipzig by appointment. On October 10, 1938, he was removed from office due to incompetence and
removed from all Nazi Party functions. Donicke joined the Volkssturm in October 1944 and commanded the paramilitary units in the defense of Leipzig.
On April 14, 1945, he attended a meeting at the Neu Rathaus with General Hans von Poncet, Mayor Alfred Freyberg, and General Wilhelm von Grolman. Von Grolman refused to blow Lepizig's bridges and Donicke and von Poncet demanded a defense to the last man.
Volkssturm units made their last stand at the Volkerschlachtdenkmal, (Battle of Nations Monument to 1813 defeat of Napoleon built by
Kaiser Wilhelm with private donations) south of the city.
Volkerschlachtdenkmal - Then [NO THIS IS NOT FROM A MOVIE SET]
Volkerschlachtdenkmal - Now
They were stopped by concentrated artillery fire from the 69th Infantry Division, effectively ending resistance. American tanks were able to
reduce the last stronghold around the Rathaus, the City Hall, where Donicke committed suicide. Four of the Volkssturmers were found shot
dead, after heavy drinking. The picture was probably vandalized by American troops who liberated the Rathaus.
https://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1004
The most commonly known death of someone who was deemed a Volkssturm General is the following: -
Volkssturm General Kurt Walter Donicke (July 27, 1899 - April 19, 1945) lies dead in the Neu Rathaus (New City Hall) in Leipzig.
- 4859339.jpg (59.73 KiB) Viewed 731 times
Donicke joined the Nazi Party in 1925 and quit his job as a carpenter to become the Nazi Party Manager in 1928. He was one of the Nazi party
members elected to the Reichstag (German Parliament) in 1932. He was elected as National Socialist District Leader in 1933, retaining that post
until 1937, when he became Mayor of Leipzig by appointment. On October 10, 1938, he was removed from office due to incompetence and
removed from all Nazi Party functions. Donicke joined the Volkssturm in October 1944 and commanded the paramilitary units in the defense of Leipzig.
On April 14, 1945, he attended a meeting at the Neu Rathaus with General Hans von Poncet, Mayor Alfred Freyberg, and General Wilhelm von Grolman. Von Grolman refused to blow Lepizig's bridges and Donicke and von Poncet demanded a defense to the last man.
Volkssturm units made their last stand at the Volkerschlachtdenkmal, (Battle of Nations Monument to 1813 defeat of Napoleon built by
Kaiser Wilhelm with private donations) south of the city.
Volkerschlachtdenkmal - Then [NO THIS IS NOT FROM A MOVIE SET]
- Leipzig14.jpg (118.59 KiB) Viewed 731 times
Volkerschlachtdenkmal - Now
They were stopped by concentrated artillery fire from the 69th Infantry Division, effectively ending resistance. American tanks were able to
reduce the last stronghold around the Rathaus, the City Hall, where Donicke committed suicide. Four of the Volkssturmers were found shot
dead, after heavy drinking. The picture was probably vandalized by American troops who liberated the Rathaus.
https://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1004
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
The following HJ-Einheits are identified in the book :-
Die verlorene Generation: Gespräche mit den letzten Kindersoldaten des Zweiten Weltkriegs Christian Hardinghaus
Die verlorene Generation: Gespräche mit den letzten Kindersoldaten des Zweiten Weltkriegs Christian Hardinghaus
- Konigs.JPG (28.86 KiB) Viewed 696 times
- Mus.JPG (27.35 KiB) Viewed 696 times
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
World War II in Numbers Peter Doyle
- MIA.JPG (41.45 KiB) Viewed 693 times
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Schirachs Wiener Hitler-Jugend – „Treu bis zum Ende“ - Autor: Markus Reisner [Part A] [Translations follow]
Schirach's Vienna Hitler Youth - "Loyal to the End"
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Schirach's Vienna Hitler Youth - "Loyal to the End"
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Last edited by Germanicus on 23 Apr 2022, 09:01, edited 3 times in total.
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Schirachs Wiener Hitler-Jugend – „Treu bis zum Ende“ - Autor: Markus Reisner [Part B]
zurückgeworfene, Luftwaffenalarmeinheiten und drei Selbstfahrlafetten der Panzer-JägerErsatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 17 unterstützt.
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
zurückgeworfene, Luftwaffenalarmeinheiten und drei Selbstfahrlafetten der Panzer-JägerErsatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 17 unterstützt.
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Last edited by Germanicus on 23 Apr 2022, 06:02, edited 2 times in total.
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Schirachs Wiener Hitler-Jugend – „Treu bis zum Ende“ - Autor: Markus Reisner
Introduction
When the soldiers of the Red Army at the beginning of April 1945 with the capture of the city, on the side of the German troops, it was replaced
by a new adversary. Teenagers aged 15 to 16, some even younger, threw themselves dozens of death-contemptuous and often only lightly armed,
attacking Soviet Tanks. What confronted the Russian soldiers here were formations of the Vienna Hitler Youth (HJ), which in a final, senseless struggle by the hundreds for the German Reich should be sacrificed.
HJ units were deployed throughout the German Reich. In the field of the former Ostmark, today's Austria, this was mainly in the greater area and
in the City of Vienna itself. In the fierce battles with the troops of the superior Red Army suffered these HJ-Volkssturm units high losses. This last deployment of the HJ in Vienna has hardly been researched to this day. The present work now wants to investigate how it is possible the deployment of these young people could come, where they were deployed and what losses were suffered by them. Many of these "child soldiers"
left in the fight for Vienna voluntarily, in peer pressure or involuntarily their lives.
The alarm of the Vienna Hitler Youth in March 1945
As the Russian troops approached the border of the Reich more and more threateningly, it came to alert the Volksturm. As the "last contingent"
of 16 to 60-year-olds, the Volksturm dubious combat value. First and foremost, it was intended to protect the Reich and hand them over to the declining army units of Army Group South. However, this failed completely when the first Volkssturm and Alarm Battalions almost simultaneously
arrived with the attacking Russian units in the Reich protection position and thereby were worn out. On 30 March 1945 the right to stand was proclaimed in Vienna and on 31 March 1945 the right to stand was proclaimed. The Volkssturm Battalions 41/1 to 41/5 and the HJ-Volkssturm-Battalion 41/6 and the Viennese Volkssturm was sworn in in a ceremony on 1 April 1945 at Rathausplatz.
The first Vienna HJ battalion was largely built up on Schirach's direct orders. the Viennese HJ members of the year 1928 of the WEL, which was currently running in March 1945 Judenburg, Eichgraben, Plankenberg and Halbthurn. Each camp assembled HJ members in the strength of a
company (about 100 men) and sent them to Vienna. These units were equipped in Vienna, additionally reinforced and thus combined to form the HJVolkssturmbataillone 41/6. The reinforcement consisted mainly of soldiers of the army and the Waffen-SS with front experience, who were collected in Vienna and now took the leadership positions. The first Viennese HJ battalion was immediately after the formation in HJ battalion "Werewolf" renamed and under the Leadership of Oberstammführer Prantz sent to Pressburg. There it should be in the fortress Pressburg,
together with the German units deployed here, the attacking Soviet troops.
The second Vienna HJ battalion was formed directly in Vienna. The Viennese HJBannen had also been ordered to set up one company each.
These Companies, in turn, were to each have two to three, about 50 men strong, tank hunting commandos. A total of seven HJ Volkssturm
companies were set up, which in turn a total of 16 tank hunting commandos were formed. Responsible for the installation was SS
Hauptsturmführer Otto Hauck, who due to a war injury in Vienna to the Recovery and was therefore called upon to do so. The command post
of the second Wiener HJ-Bataillons was built in the Lange Gasse, in the 9th district of Vienna (Alsergrund) furnished. These HJ-Volkssturm
companies remained in Vienna and became one of the Appropriate training at the Panzerfaust, a melee to combat Tanks at short range,
subjected. Some of this training took place in the middle of Vienna's Heldenplatz. While preparing for the mission in Vienna, the HJ members
of Area 28 (Niederdonau), already in action before Vienna.
The deployment of the Wiener HJ-Volkssturmbataillone [Vienna HJ Volkssturm battalions] in April 1945
First use Pressburg
Already since January 1945 the HJ members of the two Viennese HJ battalions went into combat. The HJ-Bataillon „Werwolf“ grew after its
arrival in Pressburg to about 800 men. The Festungskommandant [Fortress Commander] of Pressburg Colonel von Ohlen also wanted to convert
the battalion into individual Panzerjagdkommandos. However, this was due to Prantz's intervention in Schirach prevented. Thus, the HJ battalion "Werewolf" was deployed as a whole. On 1.In April 1945, the first tank tips of the Russian 7th Guards Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front on the
outskirts of Pressburg. In a first battle, three Russian tanks were destroyed. In the next few days there were fierce fights, which finally led to
The German defenders had to leave the city on 4 April. Among them is the HJ-Bataillon „Werwolf“, which is now ordered back to Vienna
became. In Pressburg, however, it had already suffered its first losses.
Alarmeinsatz im Westen Wiens
In the morning hours of April 6, 1945, the Russian units began in the West and South with their advance on the outskirts of Vienna. The Panzerjagdkommandos of the second Vienna HJ battalion were now located directly on the outskirts of Vienna were used. The first enemy
contact of an HJ unit therefore took place on 5 April near Purkersdorf Instead of. The 5th HJ Volkssturm Company under the leadership of
Sergeant Fischer shot a Russian tank of the type M4 "Sherman". Now the battle for the Anti-aircraft fortresses defied the onslaught of the
Russians. Without exception, they were overrun. This also led to severe failures among the deployed Luftwaffenhelfern. In the Central
Cemetery, the Panzerjagdkommandos of another HJ-Volkssturm-Kompanie opposed the onslaught of the Russians there. Here, too, the
Soviet Troops are only briefly stopped. Schirach and his Führungsstab "S", on the other hand, had already the day before from the
Gaubefehlsstand, in the bunker under the Gallitzinberg, to the Hohe Wait moved.
In the course of April 6, the German troops became more and more in the city center. pushed back. The furthest slump was achieved by the
Russian troops at Hütteldorf. Here pierced the M4 "Sherman" tanks of 46. Garde-Panzer-Brigade of the 9th Guards-mech-Korps the thin German security line and advanced towards St. Veit. There in Hütteldorf used Panzerjagdkommandos of the HJ Volkssturm companies fired again
some Russian tanks departed and withdrew in the direction of Knödelhütte, Satzberg and Heuberg back. Schirach now also was too dangerous
on the Hohe Warte and he moved with his staff to the Hofburg. Before that, he had one last phone call with Hitler. In this phone call, he is likely
to win favor due to his "not very steadfast attitude" with Hitler was finally lost. On this day, Lieutenant Ralf Ringler, too, at this time liaison
officer of the Vienna HJ to the combat commander of Vienna, at Schirach and asked for further orders regarding the use of the Wiener HJ. He
got from Schirach, who said to him: "... absent, transfigured and superior" had an effect, No answer.
On April 7, the Russian troops succeeded in breaking in Hütteldorf and St. Veit to the Westbahnhof and to Lainz. Only along the belt did it
succeed of the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" in the course of the day a new line of defense Build. To the previously used HJ Panzerjagdkommandos at the dumpling hut on the other hand, there was only sporadic connection.
The HJ Battalion "Werewolf", which had returned from Pressburg, was now also sent as reinforcements in this direction. On the
Westbahnhof, the Russian tanks also met the units of the Führer-GrenadierDivision. On April 6, this was first the Russian advance southwest of Vienna, but then, when the Russian units of the 5th Guards Tank Corps broke through towards Tulln on 7 April, they returned to the direction
of Tulln and Klosterneuburg.
On Mariahilferstraße developed between the units of the FührerGrenadier Division and the tanks of the Russian 46th Guards Tank Brigade, which developed into towards the city centre, a fierce battle with tanks on both sides. For the first time, parts of the HJ battalion "Werewolf" were
also used here again, in action and shot down some Russian tanks. In the southern districts Vienna's front, on the other hand, ran on 7 April
from the Südbahnhof via the Arsenal to the Prater. Here the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" and the 6th Panzer Division held the Position.
The HJ Panzerjagdkommandos fighting in the Knödelhütte area were surrounded on 7 July. During the night, some of the HJ members succeeded in
an escape attempt. The remaining soldiers and Hitler boys were killed the next day by the Russians and overrun.
On the afternoon of April 7, 1945, the combat commander of Vienna, General Bünau, and its alarm units after three days of deployment to the
II SS Panzer Corps supposed. When this became known in the regional leadership of the Vienna HJ, it was decided Hauptbannführer Lauterbacher
and his staff the two Viennese HJ battalions would fight it out and retreating towards the Danube. As a meeting point for both Viennese
HJ battalions were designated the Hohe Warte. Furthermore, it was decided to submit all to other Auxiliary services assigned Hitler boys on the order of the regional leadership to return home send.
And there was also resistance in the German Wehrmacht. A resistance group Around the Austrian-born Major Karl Szokoll, an officer of the Wehrkreiskommando XVII who was assigned to the Stabe Bünaus, tried in vain with the Secret Operation Radetzky a surrender of Vienna to
the Soviet troops without a fight. The resistance group was founded on April 5, one day before the Russian Major attack on Vienna, unmasked
and on 8 April 1945 Oberleutnant Rudolf Raschke, Captain Alfred Huth and Major Karl Biedermann, the commander of the Army Patrol Vienna, publicly hung at the Floridsdorfer Spitz.
Major Karl Szokoll could only do it with necessity, escape. Their measures were based on the plans of the Soviet High Command had little
influence. Major Biedermann's successor was SS-Hauptsturmführer Hauck the previous commander of the second Vienna HJ battalion. On April 9,
the Russian troops took the Kahlenberg and stood with their tanks near Nussdorf. The further advance to the Danube Canal was now to be
denied them by HJPanzerjagdkommandos. The two Viennese HJ battalions had developed up to collected as planned on 9 April at the Hohe Warte.
Forward of it, on the line Heiligenstädterstraße, Armbrustergasse, Silbergasse and Billrothstraße now occupied individual
HJ-Panzerjagdkommandos position. They were additionally supported from the Kahlenberg by the Panzer-Jägerersatz und Ausbildungs-
Abteilung 17 and the Luftwaffe-Jäger-Ersatz and Training Division 17.
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Introduction
When the soldiers of the Red Army at the beginning of April 1945 with the capture of the city, on the side of the German troops, it was replaced
by a new adversary. Teenagers aged 15 to 16, some even younger, threw themselves dozens of death-contemptuous and often only lightly armed,
attacking Soviet Tanks. What confronted the Russian soldiers here were formations of the Vienna Hitler Youth (HJ), which in a final, senseless struggle by the hundreds for the German Reich should be sacrificed.
HJ units were deployed throughout the German Reich. In the field of the former Ostmark, today's Austria, this was mainly in the greater area and
in the City of Vienna itself. In the fierce battles with the troops of the superior Red Army suffered these HJ-Volkssturm units high losses. This last deployment of the HJ in Vienna has hardly been researched to this day. The present work now wants to investigate how it is possible the deployment of these young people could come, where they were deployed and what losses were suffered by them. Many of these "child soldiers"
left in the fight for Vienna voluntarily, in peer pressure or involuntarily their lives.
The alarm of the Vienna Hitler Youth in March 1945
As the Russian troops approached the border of the Reich more and more threateningly, it came to alert the Volksturm. As the "last contingent"
of 16 to 60-year-olds, the Volksturm dubious combat value. First and foremost, it was intended to protect the Reich and hand them over to the declining army units of Army Group South. However, this failed completely when the first Volkssturm and Alarm Battalions almost simultaneously
arrived with the attacking Russian units in the Reich protection position and thereby were worn out. On 30 March 1945 the right to stand was proclaimed in Vienna and on 31 March 1945 the right to stand was proclaimed. The Volkssturm Battalions 41/1 to 41/5 and the HJ-Volkssturm-Battalion 41/6 and the Viennese Volkssturm was sworn in in a ceremony on 1 April 1945 at Rathausplatz.
The first Vienna HJ battalion was largely built up on Schirach's direct orders. the Viennese HJ members of the year 1928 of the WEL, which was currently running in March 1945 Judenburg, Eichgraben, Plankenberg and Halbthurn. Each camp assembled HJ members in the strength of a
company (about 100 men) and sent them to Vienna. These units were equipped in Vienna, additionally reinforced and thus combined to form the HJVolkssturmbataillone 41/6. The reinforcement consisted mainly of soldiers of the army and the Waffen-SS with front experience, who were collected in Vienna and now took the leadership positions. The first Viennese HJ battalion was immediately after the formation in HJ battalion "Werewolf" renamed and under the Leadership of Oberstammführer Prantz sent to Pressburg. There it should be in the fortress Pressburg,
together with the German units deployed here, the attacking Soviet troops.
The second Vienna HJ battalion was formed directly in Vienna. The Viennese HJBannen had also been ordered to set up one company each.
These Companies, in turn, were to each have two to three, about 50 men strong, tank hunting commandos. A total of seven HJ Volkssturm
companies were set up, which in turn a total of 16 tank hunting commandos were formed. Responsible for the installation was SS
Hauptsturmführer Otto Hauck, who due to a war injury in Vienna to the Recovery and was therefore called upon to do so. The command post
of the second Wiener HJ-Bataillons was built in the Lange Gasse, in the 9th district of Vienna (Alsergrund) furnished. These HJ-Volkssturm
companies remained in Vienna and became one of the Appropriate training at the Panzerfaust, a melee to combat Tanks at short range,
subjected. Some of this training took place in the middle of Vienna's Heldenplatz. While preparing for the mission in Vienna, the HJ members
of Area 28 (Niederdonau), already in action before Vienna.
The deployment of the Wiener HJ-Volkssturmbataillone [Vienna HJ Volkssturm battalions] in April 1945
First use Pressburg
Already since January 1945 the HJ members of the two Viennese HJ battalions went into combat. The HJ-Bataillon „Werwolf“ grew after its
arrival in Pressburg to about 800 men. The Festungskommandant [Fortress Commander] of Pressburg Colonel von Ohlen also wanted to convert
the battalion into individual Panzerjagdkommandos. However, this was due to Prantz's intervention in Schirach prevented. Thus, the HJ battalion "Werewolf" was deployed as a whole. On 1.In April 1945, the first tank tips of the Russian 7th Guards Army of the 2nd Ukrainian Front on the
outskirts of Pressburg. In a first battle, three Russian tanks were destroyed. In the next few days there were fierce fights, which finally led to
The German defenders had to leave the city on 4 April. Among them is the HJ-Bataillon „Werwolf“, which is now ordered back to Vienna
became. In Pressburg, however, it had already suffered its first losses.
Alarmeinsatz im Westen Wiens
In the morning hours of April 6, 1945, the Russian units began in the West and South with their advance on the outskirts of Vienna. The Panzerjagdkommandos of the second Vienna HJ battalion were now located directly on the outskirts of Vienna were used. The first enemy
contact of an HJ unit therefore took place on 5 April near Purkersdorf Instead of. The 5th HJ Volkssturm Company under the leadership of
Sergeant Fischer shot a Russian tank of the type M4 "Sherman". Now the battle for the Anti-aircraft fortresses defied the onslaught of the
Russians. Without exception, they were overrun. This also led to severe failures among the deployed Luftwaffenhelfern. In the Central
Cemetery, the Panzerjagdkommandos of another HJ-Volkssturm-Kompanie opposed the onslaught of the Russians there. Here, too, the
Soviet Troops are only briefly stopped. Schirach and his Führungsstab "S", on the other hand, had already the day before from the
Gaubefehlsstand, in the bunker under the Gallitzinberg, to the Hohe Wait moved.
In the course of April 6, the German troops became more and more in the city center. pushed back. The furthest slump was achieved by the
Russian troops at Hütteldorf. Here pierced the M4 "Sherman" tanks of 46. Garde-Panzer-Brigade of the 9th Guards-mech-Korps the thin German security line and advanced towards St. Veit. There in Hütteldorf used Panzerjagdkommandos of the HJ Volkssturm companies fired again
some Russian tanks departed and withdrew in the direction of Knödelhütte, Satzberg and Heuberg back. Schirach now also was too dangerous
on the Hohe Warte and he moved with his staff to the Hofburg. Before that, he had one last phone call with Hitler. In this phone call, he is likely
to win favor due to his "not very steadfast attitude" with Hitler was finally lost. On this day, Lieutenant Ralf Ringler, too, at this time liaison
officer of the Vienna HJ to the combat commander of Vienna, at Schirach and asked for further orders regarding the use of the Wiener HJ. He
got from Schirach, who said to him: "... absent, transfigured and superior" had an effect, No answer.
On April 7, the Russian troops succeeded in breaking in Hütteldorf and St. Veit to the Westbahnhof and to Lainz. Only along the belt did it
succeed of the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" in the course of the day a new line of defense Build. To the previously used HJ Panzerjagdkommandos at the dumpling hut on the other hand, there was only sporadic connection.
The HJ Battalion "Werewolf", which had returned from Pressburg, was now also sent as reinforcements in this direction. On the
Westbahnhof, the Russian tanks also met the units of the Führer-GrenadierDivision. On April 6, this was first the Russian advance southwest of Vienna, but then, when the Russian units of the 5th Guards Tank Corps broke through towards Tulln on 7 April, they returned to the direction
of Tulln and Klosterneuburg.
On Mariahilferstraße developed between the units of the FührerGrenadier Division and the tanks of the Russian 46th Guards Tank Brigade, which developed into towards the city centre, a fierce battle with tanks on both sides. For the first time, parts of the HJ battalion "Werewolf" were
also used here again, in action and shot down some Russian tanks. In the southern districts Vienna's front, on the other hand, ran on 7 April
from the Südbahnhof via the Arsenal to the Prater. Here the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" and the 6th Panzer Division held the Position.
The HJ Panzerjagdkommandos fighting in the Knödelhütte area were surrounded on 7 July. During the night, some of the HJ members succeeded in
an escape attempt. The remaining soldiers and Hitler boys were killed the next day by the Russians and overrun.
On the afternoon of April 7, 1945, the combat commander of Vienna, General Bünau, and its alarm units after three days of deployment to the
II SS Panzer Corps supposed. When this became known in the regional leadership of the Vienna HJ, it was decided Hauptbannführer Lauterbacher
and his staff the two Viennese HJ battalions would fight it out and retreating towards the Danube. As a meeting point for both Viennese
HJ battalions were designated the Hohe Warte. Furthermore, it was decided to submit all to other Auxiliary services assigned Hitler boys on the order of the regional leadership to return home send.
And there was also resistance in the German Wehrmacht. A resistance group Around the Austrian-born Major Karl Szokoll, an officer of the Wehrkreiskommando XVII who was assigned to the Stabe Bünaus, tried in vain with the Secret Operation Radetzky a surrender of Vienna to
the Soviet troops without a fight. The resistance group was founded on April 5, one day before the Russian Major attack on Vienna, unmasked
and on 8 April 1945 Oberleutnant Rudolf Raschke, Captain Alfred Huth and Major Karl Biedermann, the commander of the Army Patrol Vienna, publicly hung at the Floridsdorfer Spitz.
Major Karl Szokoll could only do it with necessity, escape. Their measures were based on the plans of the Soviet High Command had little
influence. Major Biedermann's successor was SS-Hauptsturmführer Hauck the previous commander of the second Vienna HJ battalion. On April 9,
the Russian troops took the Kahlenberg and stood with their tanks near Nussdorf. The further advance to the Danube Canal was now to be
denied them by HJPanzerjagdkommandos. The two Viennese HJ battalions had developed up to collected as planned on 9 April at the Hohe Warte.
Forward of it, on the line Heiligenstädterstraße, Armbrustergasse, Silbergasse and Billrothstraße now occupied individual
HJ-Panzerjagdkommandos position. They were additionally supported from the Kahlenberg by the Panzer-Jägerersatz und Ausbildungs-
Abteilung 17 and the Luftwaffe-Jäger-Ersatz and Training Division 17.
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
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Germanicus
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Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Schirachs Wiener Hitler-Jugend – „Treu bis zum Ende“ - Autor: Markus Reisner [Part C]
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Last edited by Germanicus on 23 Apr 2022, 08:08, edited 2 times in total.
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Germanicus
- Member
- Posts: 2184
- Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 14:26
- Location: Shell Cove NSW Australia
Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Schirachs Wiener Hitler-Jugend – „Treu bis zum Ende“ - Autor: Markus Reisner [Part D]
Across the Danube Canal
The fighting became increasingly fierce on April 9. The 5th Guards Tank Corps advanced with T34 tanks over the Höhenstraße in the direction of Heiligenstadt. In the course of 8 and 9 April, two of the HJPanzerjagdkommandos west of the Hohe Warte, attacks repelled and several Russian
tanks destroyed in Silbergasse. However, pressure from the attackers became stronger and stronger and so the Viennese HJ battalions pulled back across the Danube Canal on the night of 9 to 10 April. However, this was with On the other hand, it is important to note that the
Heiligenstädterbrücke over the Danube Canal was blown up. It was only with difficulty that the Hitler boys over the rubble of the destroyed
bridge to the other side. Here they moved into a new command post at Pater-Abel-Platz (today's Friedrich-EngelsPlatz). In the course of 10 April,
on the orders of the commander of the II SSPanzer Corps, SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich, he continued across the Danube in the direction
of Flansdorf. Exactly where Schirach already resided at that time. The individual companies gradually left their positions and moved into the room
north of the Danube.
On April 12, the final storm of the Soviet troops over the Danube Canal. The German defenders were moved to the area between
Floridsdorferbrücke, Nordwest- and Nordbahnhof as well as Reichsbrücke. On the night of 13. April the remains of the 3rd SS Panzer Division
"Totenkopf" and the 6th Panzer Division went over the Reichsbrücke. The bridge itself was finally completed almost intact on April 14 by
the Russians. The 2nd SS Panzer Division was the only one to hold "Das Das Reich" and remnants of the two Viennese HJ battalions a bridgehead
at the FloridsdorferBrücke. In this last phase of the battle for Vienna, Bünau became the Command of the bridgehead. With his forces, the
combat commander of Vienna endured another day in the bridgehead. Only after direct Intervention of Dietrich and Bittrich in Berlin became
the order for the final eviction of the Floridsdorf bridgehead and on the night of April 14 finally went also the last remnants of the II SS Panzer
Corps over the bridge. In the early morning hours the bridge was eventually blown up by the withdrawing troops of the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich".
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Across the Danube Canal
The fighting became increasingly fierce on April 9. The 5th Guards Tank Corps advanced with T34 tanks over the Höhenstraße in the direction of Heiligenstadt. In the course of 8 and 9 April, two of the HJPanzerjagdkommandos west of the Hohe Warte, attacks repelled and several Russian
tanks destroyed in Silbergasse. However, pressure from the attackers became stronger and stronger and so the Viennese HJ battalions pulled back across the Danube Canal on the night of 9 to 10 April. However, this was with On the other hand, it is important to note that the
Heiligenstädterbrücke over the Danube Canal was blown up. It was only with difficulty that the Hitler boys over the rubble of the destroyed
bridge to the other side. Here they moved into a new command post at Pater-Abel-Platz (today's Friedrich-EngelsPlatz). In the course of 10 April,
on the orders of the commander of the II SSPanzer Corps, SS-Obergruppenführer Wilhelm Bittrich, he continued across the Danube in the direction
of Flansdorf. Exactly where Schirach already resided at that time. The individual companies gradually left their positions and moved into the room
north of the Danube.
On April 12, the final storm of the Soviet troops over the Danube Canal. The German defenders were moved to the area between
Floridsdorferbrücke, Nordwest- and Nordbahnhof as well as Reichsbrücke. On the night of 13. April the remains of the 3rd SS Panzer Division
"Totenkopf" and the 6th Panzer Division went over the Reichsbrücke. The bridge itself was finally completed almost intact on April 14 by
the Russians. The 2nd SS Panzer Division was the only one to hold "Das Das Reich" and remnants of the two Viennese HJ battalions a bridgehead
at the FloridsdorferBrücke. In this last phase of the battle for Vienna, Bünau became the Command of the bridgehead. With his forces, the
combat commander of Vienna endured another day in the bridgehead. Only after direct Intervention of Dietrich and Bittrich in Berlin became
the order for the final eviction of the Floridsdorf bridgehead and on the night of April 14 finally went also the last remnants of the II SS Panzer
Corps over the bridge. In the early morning hours the bridge was eventually blown up by the withdrawing troops of the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich".
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Last edited by Germanicus on 23 Apr 2022, 08:39, edited 1 time in total.
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Germanicus
- Member
- Posts: 2184
- Joined: 04 Jun 2009, 14:26
- Location: Shell Cove NSW Australia
Re: An extensive list of Volkssturm-Bataillons?
Schirachs Wiener Hitler-Jugend – „Treu bis zum Ende“ - Autor: Markus Reisner
Bis zum bitteren Ende
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf
Bis zum bitteren Ende
https://www.ns-pressearchiv.at/sites/de ... gend_0.pdf