Invation of Austria 1938

[martinksk88]

Hello guy!

I'm trying to gather information about German forces participating on this invation, but i can't find much about it. Until now i have this info:

AOK 8
-Attached from the Luftwaffe
-Heerestruppen
-Combat Troops

VII (07) Armeekorps
-7th Infantry Division
-27th Infantry Division
-Mountain Brigade
-SS-Regt. “Germania”

XIII (13) Armeekorps
-10th Infantry Division
-17th Infantry Division

Panzertruppen

I have this info from "axishistory" home page, but my struggle is to identify the structure on each unit, for example:

Heeresdienststelle 10
10 Grenzschutz Sector Nachr.Kp.
Infanterie-Regiment 14 (reinforced) (from 14 March) (Reichsheer)
1./ 5 Art.Regt.
1./ 5 Nachr.Abt. (Kp.1)
Infanterie-Regiment 61 (o.Abt.3) (reinforced)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 7
3./Pionier-Regiment 47 (mot)
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 (reinforced)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 79
1./Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 54

The only unit that i was able to identify and translate to german was the Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98. But there is no much info about the Infanterie-Regiment 14 and Infanterie-Regiment 61.

Sorry this looks long but does anybody have a little more clear picture of this?

Thanks, Martin.

[Sid Guttridge]

From memory, the Germans also mobilised a reserve division in Munich.

This was the first time the Germans had done so and it was found that the uniforms issued, which had been designed for lean 20 year old conscripts, often did not fit the rather older and plumper reservists. A wider range of sizes was ordered as a result.

The division did not cross the border.

Sid.

[martinksk88]

Thank you Sid, it helps.

Any more info on this army force units?

[CNE503]

I know for sure that Guderian's 2. Panzer-Division was involved in the Anschluss of Austria.
For Infanterie-Regiment 14 (5. Infanterie-Division): http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... r/IR14.htm
For Infanterie-Regiment 61 (7. Infanterie-Division): http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gli ... r/IR61.htm

Specifically to the units you mentioned:
Heeresdienststelle 10 --> Borderguard District n°10
10 Grenzschutz Sector Nachr.Kp. (Grenzschutz-Abschnitt Nachrichten-Kompanie 10) --> Borderguard sector signal company n°10
Infanterie-Regiment 14 (reinforced) (from 14 March) (Reichsheer) --> reinforced 14th Infantry Regiment (from 5th Infantry Division)
1./ 5 Art.Regt. (1./Artillerie-Regiment 5) --> 1st Battery from 5th Artillery Regiment (from 5th Infantry Division)
1./ 5 Nachr.Abt. (Kp.1) (1./Nachrichten-Abteilung 5) --> 1st company from 5th signal battalion (from 5th Infantry Division)
Infanterie-Regiment 61 (o.Abt.3) (reinforced) --> 61st Infantry Regiment (from 7th Infantry Division) without its third battalion (ohne III. Bataillon)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 7 --> 2nd battalion of 7th Artillery Regiment (from 7th Infantry Division)
3./Pionier-Regiment 47 (mot) --> 3rd company of 47th motorized engineer regiment
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 (reinforced) --> reinforced 98th mountain Infantry Regiment
II./Artillerie-Regiment 79 --> 2nd battalion from 79th Artillery Regiment
1./Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 54 --> 1st company of 54th mountain Engineer Battalion.

CNE503

[Sid Guttridge]

Hi Martinsk88,

Another unused asset was the Austrian Legion based at Dachau. This consisted of 14,000 Austrian Nazis who had been in exile in Bavaria since their failed coup in 1933.

They had received military training with the S.A. and were equipped with over 10,000 rifles, about 350 machine guns and some 1,200 motor vehicles. I do not know precisely how they were organized.

Cheers,

Sid

[CNE503]

Sid,

Do you know what this Austrian Legion became after March 1938?
Was it transferred, for example, in the SS-Verfügungstruppe?

CNE503

[tigre]

Hello to all ; in short.......................................

The Austrian Legion (Österreichische Legion).

The Austrian Legion (Österreichische Legion), was established in 1933 in the German Reich from the escaped Austrian National Socialists. Later the legion underwent changes in its denomination and it was renamed first "Hilfswerk Osterreich" (Austrian Auxiliary Force) and then "Hilfswerk Schleissheim". Following the conclusion of the Parteitag celebrations in September 1934, the legion was officially integrated into the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) as the Second Battalion of the SS-Standarte 1 / VT, then SS-Deutschland (II./ SS- Deutschland). The first battalion commander was the SS-Obersturmbannführer Ranft. It was this battalion that after the annexation of Austria formed the core of the new SS-Der Führer regiment. At the end of April 1938 the I. / SS-Der Führer (former II./ SS-Deutschland) was installed in the Radetzky barracks in Vienna under the command of the SS-Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Bittrich. Cadres of this I. Battalion were selected to later form the other battalions of the regiment.

Sources: SS Das Reich: The History of the Second SS Division, 1939–45. Gregory L. Mattson
Uniforms of the SS Vol 3. SS-Verfüngstruppe 1933-1939.

Cheers. Raúl M .

[martinksk88]

Thank you all so much! it realy helped!!

I almost done with this 8. Armee structure so when i'm done i will post it here so you can check and correctme if i'm wrong.

Cheers, Martin

[martinksk88]

Hello again!!

So finally ended with this Order of Battle for the Ocupation of Austria March 1938. Please feel free to point the mistakes.

8. Armee / AOK 8
CO: Gen.d.Inf. Fedor v. Bock

Attached from the Luftwaffe (Koluft 8):
I./Flak-Regiment 5 (gem. mot.) (until 13 Mar.36)
I./Flak-Regiment 28 (gem. mot.) (until 13 Mar.36)
1.(F)/25 (Aufklärungsgruppe 25)
2.(F)/25 (Aufklärungsgruppe 25)
Luftnachrichten-Abteilung 1 (H) (mot)
Transportstaffel/IV

Armeetruppen:
Gruppe Geheime Feldpolizei 570
Kradmeldezug 570
Kartenstelle (mot) 570
Armee-Nachrichten-Regiment 570, 3. / Nachrichten-Abteilung 7.

Heerestruppen:
Brückenbau-Bataillon 574
Brückenbau-Bataillon 577

Armeekorps:
VII. Armeekorps, CO: Gen.d.Inf. Ritter v. Schobert

Attached from the Luftwaffe:
I./Flak-Regiment 8 (gem. mot.)
II./Flak-Regiment 28 (gem. mot.)
1.(H)/15 (Aufklärungsgruppe 15)

Korpstruppen:
Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 47 (mot)
Kradmeldezug 407
Feldpostamt 407 (mot)
Kartenstelle 570 (mot)
Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 407 (mot)
Korps-Nachschubtruppen 407 (mot)
Brückenkolonne (B) 407 (mot)

Korps Reserves:
Maschinengewehr-Bataillon 6 (mot) (until 13 March)
I./Panzer-Regiment 25
Artillerie-Regiments-Stab z.b.V. 623 (mot)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 40 (mot)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 93 (mot)
schwere Artillerie-Abteilung 608 (mot)
Stab/Pionier-Regiment 617 (mot)
Pionier-Bataillon 47 (mot)
Brückenkolonne B 616 (mot)
1. SS-Totenkopf-Verband "Oberbayern"

Combat Troops:
7. Infanterie-Division
Infanterie-Regiment 19
3./Infanterie-Regiment 61
Infanterie-Regiment 62 (ohne Abt.3 until 13 Mar.)
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7
Artillerie-Regiment 7 (ohne Abt.2)
1./Artillerie-Regiment 43
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 7
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 7
Pionier-Bataillon 7
Nachrichten-Abteilung 7
27. Infanterie-Division
Infanterie-Regiment 40
Infanterie-Regiment 63
Infanterie-Regiment 91
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 27
Artillerie-Regiment 27
3./Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 79
Artillerie-Regiment 63
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 27
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 27
Pionier-Bataillon 27
Nachrichten-Abteilung 27
Gebirgs-Brigade
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 99
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100
Gebirgs-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 54
I./Gebirgs-Artillerie-Regiment 79
II. / Artillerie-Regiment 63
Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 54 (ohne Kp.1)
Gebirgs-Nachrichten-Abteilung 54
SS-Standarte "Germania" (part) (until 13 Mar.)


XIII. Armeekorps, CO: Gen.d.Cav. Freiherr v. Weichs

Attached from the Luftwaffe:
4.(H)/15 (Aufklärungsgruppe 15)
II./Flak-Regiment 5 (gem. mot.)

Korpstruppen:
Korps-Nachrichten-Abteilung 53 (mot)
Kradmeldezug 413
Korps-Kartenstelle 413 (mot)
Feldgendarmerietrupp 413 (mot)
Feldpostamt 413 (mot)
Korps-Nachschubtruppen 413 (mot)

Korps Reserves:
Artillerie-Regiments-Stab z.b.V. 627 (mot)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 46 (mot)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 53 (mot)
schwere Artillerie-Abteilung 620 (mot)
Pionier-Bataillon 51 (mot)
Brückenkolonne B 615 (mot)
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 645 (mot)

Combat Troops:
10. Infanterie-Division
Infanterie-Regiment 20
Infanterie-Regiment 41
Infanterie-Regiment 42
III./Infanterie-Regiment 61 (added from 11-15 March)
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 10
Artillerie-Regiment 10
I./Artillerie-Regiment 46
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 10
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 10
Pionier-Bataillon 10
Nachrichten-Abteilung 10
17. Infanterie-Division
Infanterie-Regiment 21
Infanterie-Regiment 55
Infanterie-Regiment 95
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 17
Artillerie-Regiment 17
1./Artillerie-Regiment 53
Beobachtungs-Abteilung 17
Panzerabwehr-Abteilung 17
Pionier-Bataillon 17
Nachrichten-Abteilung 17

Panzertruppen, CO: Gen.Lt. Heinz Guderian
(Released 13 Mar.38 - Redesignated as XVI AK on 01 Apr.38)

Attached from the Luftwaffe:
Flak-Regiment “General Goering”
I./Flak-Regiment "General Goering" (gem. mot.)
II./Flak-Regiment "General Goering" (gem. mot.)

Korps Troops:
62 Nachr.Abt.
473 Mot.Military Police Troop
473 Motorcycle Messenger Platoon
473 Mot.Karten Command
473 Mot.Field Post Office

Korps Reserves:
Maschinengewehr-Bataillon 6 (mot) (from 13 March)
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 7
Pionier-Bataillon 48 (mot)

Attached SS-Verfugungstruppe units:
SS-Infanterie-Regiment “Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler” (mot)
SS-Pionier-Bataillon “Dresden”
SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung “Berlin-Adlershof”

Combat Troops:
2. Panzer-Division
Panzer-Brigade 2
Panzer-Regiment 3
Panzer-Regiment 4
Schützen-Brigade 2
Schützen-Regiments 2
Kradschützen-Bataillon 2
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5
Artillerie-Regiment 74
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 38
Pionier-Bataillon 38
Nachrichten-Abteilung 38

97. Landwehr-Division
Division was never fully mobilized as the occupation didn't require it.

Heeresdienststelle 10
Grenzschutz-Abschnitt Nachrichten-Kompanie 10
Nachrichten-Kompanie 10
Kradmeldezug 10
Kartenstelle 10 (mot)
Gruppe Geheime Feldpolizei 310 (mot)
Versorgungstruppen 10
Gruppe Geheime Feldpolizei 10 (mot)
Infanterie-Regiment 14 (reinforced) (from 14 March) (Reichsheer 5.Division)
1./Artillerie-Regiment 5
1./Nachrichten-Abteilung 5
Infanterie-Regiment 61 (ohne Abt.3) (reinforced)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 7
3./Pionier-Bataillon 47 (mot)
SS-Regiment Deutschland (mot)
Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 98 (reinforced)
II./Artillerie-Regiment 79
1./Gebirgs-Pionier-Bataillon 54
II./1.SS-T Oberbayern
Grenzwacht-Regiment 191
I. Bataillon
II. Bataillon
III. Bataillon
IV. Bataillon
V. Bataillon
Grenzwacht-Regiment 192
I. Bataillon
II. Bataillon


Sources:
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/
http://niehorster.org/011_germany/38-oob/_08_army.html
https://www.axishistory.com/list-all-ca ... of-austria

Cheers, Martin

[CNE503]

Hello to all ; in short.......................................

The Austrian Legion (Österreichische Legion).

The Austrian Legion (Österreichische Legion), was established in 1933 in the German Reich from the escaped Austrian National Socialists. Later the legion underwent changes in its denomination and it was renamed first "Hilfswerk Osterreich" (Austrian Auxiliary Force) and then "Hilfswerk Schleissheim". Following the conclusion of the Parteitag celebrations in September 1934, the legion was officially integrated into the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) as the Second Battalion of the SS-Standarte 1 / VT, then SS-Deutschland (II./ SS- Deutschland). The first battalion commander was the SS-Obersturmbannführer Ranft. It was this battalion that after the annexation of Austria formed the core of the new SS-Der Führer regiment. At the end of April 1938 the I. / SS-Der Führer (former II./ SS-Deutschland) was installed in the Radetzky barracks in Vienna under the command of the SS-Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Bittrich. Cadres of this I. Battalion were selected to later form the other battalions of the regiment.

Sources: SS Das Reich: The History of the Second SS Division, 1939–45. Gregory L. Mattson
Uniforms of the SS Vol 3. SS-Verfüngstruppe 1933-1939.

Cheers. Raúl M .

Muchas gracias Raul!
Hasta luego!

CNE503

[tigre]

Hello to all ; you're welcome CNE503 . A complement.......................................

The advance of the German forces into Austria 1938.

Sources: https://media.diepresse.com/images/q40/ ... 3_v0_h.jpg

Cheers. Raúl M .