Criticism towards L-SS-AH by Ia HGr. Süd in March 1944

[Westphalia1812]

It may be that I misunderstood the tone of the comments made by Ia HGr. Süd but it seems that SS-"LAH" was disliked by army group command in March 1944:

100 tanks per division are enough. Pulling out the divisions to the Lemberg area or even OB. West impossible.
Refreshment only possible in areas close to the front, so that parts are available at any time.

SS-"T" bravest of all SS units. Relocate Leibstandarte to 0.B. West has only benefits. SS-"A.H." has denied a captain commissioned by the army group the strength and accommodation survey requested. Divisional commander has flown away without army or army group approval. S.Pz.Rgt. Baecke has had SS-"A.H." handing over fuel and advanced with this fuel after Leibstandarte had been in the same place for 2 days.

Suggestion for order of refreshment: In order of combat value and need for refreshment

Since I don't own the divisional history, does Lehmann mention anything in regard to the these incident?

For comparison: note the positive comment on SS-"TK".

[Aglo2019]

Nothing is mentioned on this by Lehmann. Anyway, it seems a personal opinion expressed by one officer .
On page 59 of Die Leibstandarte IV/1 is mentioned a visit by Manstein to the division staff in Maschuroff on 28.02.1944 during which he utters the worry that the Leibstandarte would be ordered to the west by Führerbefehl. The Ia -in abscence of the divisional commander- could only assure the commander in chief that the division was not aware of such intentions. Illustrates that Manstein did not want to lose the division and so clearly appreciated it.

[pintere]

Interesting that Totenkopf of all the SS units was assessed as the bravest.

What’s the source for this document btw?

[Aglo2019]

'brav' is mostly translated as well-behaved or good and in the context of this document it is the more likely significance given the type of critiscism uttered against LAH.

[hagen]

'brav' is mostly translated as well-behaved or good and in the context of this document it is the more likely significance given the type of critiscism uttered against LAH.

Is there any summary which expresses the Army view of each of the SS Divisions?

[Aglo2019]

A summary could hardly exist. No reason why this would have been made.
The comment in this thread is overblown as LAH was certainly held in high regard by Manstein.

[hagen]

A summary could hardly exist. No reason why this would have been made.
The comment in this thread is overblown as LAH was certainly held in high regard by Manstein.

A summary could hardly exist.
No reason why a historian would not put together a compendium of such comments. There was a wide range of SS Divisions of very different background and performance.

[Aglo2019]

It would be a massive undertaking to look up all the comments made by Heer commanders during the war about Waffen ss divisions subordinated to them. I doubt anybody ever made the effort.

[Westphalia1812]

'brav' is mostly translated as well-behaved or good and in the context of this document it is the more likely significance given the type of critiscism uttered against LAH.

'brave' in this context means the most hardcore SS div not the most well behaved.

[Cult Icon]

1.SS division was one of the most important counterattack units in the battles of the Ukraine 43-44. When it arrived to the front for the battle of the Kiev Salient it was the most heavily equipped Pz division in the German forces at the time with well over 200 tanks and AG. This does not imply that it was not well regarded by Manstein & AGS.

The context behind this (March 1944) was that the 1.SS Pz Division and Bake had fought in the battle of the Korsun pocket. Heavy Pz Regiment Bake had worked with 1.SS previously in the Ukraine. After Korsun, the 1.SS was exhausted, especially its PzG component was burned out. It was its last major effort before it got caught in the retreats afterwards.

3.SS Division 'Totenkopf' was a "Cliff in the Ocean" so to speak, placed in a central location in the battles for Krivoy Rog in the southern wing of AGS, correctly winning a reputation for reliability in high-intensity defense.

[Westphalia1812]

Interesting that Totenkopf of all the SS units was assessed as the bravest.

What’s the source for this document btw?

Bro

[Jan-Hendrik]

After about 15 years of research...'Totenkopf' was the only SS-Division on Eastern Front that got mostly good rates till the and of the war by superior staffs...

Jan-Hendrik