Estonian 13,14,15.Kp/Waffen-Gren-Rgt.45 (estn. nr.1)

[Peter]

Please can anybody tell me if the Regiment had a IV Batl. I know it had 13. 14. and 15.Komp. but I have never seen reference to IV Batl or if these companies were included in III Batl ?? Who was Btl Kdr ?
thank you Peter

[wwilson]

Tessin and Kannapin's work shows I., II., and III. battalions. 13. and 14. companies, along with a heavy mortar company (disbanded July 1944), are shown separate from the three battalions. No mention of a IV. battalion.

Cheers

[Doktor Krollspell]

Gentlemen,

I've just been glancing through the Swedish (expanded) edition (2005) of Rolf Michaelis' "Esten in der Waffen-SS: Die 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Estnische Nr. 1)" from 2000. In the 3rd Appendix they give a total of 4 battalions for the Waffen-Gren.Rgt. 45 as well as additional companies numbered 16-18. The Appendix also provides a Feldpostnumber for the IV./Waffen-Gren.Rgt. 45: 56 475.

Unfortunately no other details are given in the Appendix. The Swedish expansion of Michaelis' book is mostly in the Appendixes and also more details about the battles around Narva as well as dwelling more on warcrimes committed by soldiers of the 20. Waffen-Gren.Rgt.d.SS...


Regards,

Krollspell

[wwilson]

Hi Krollspell,

Interesting find. For comparison, here is what the Feldpost index shows. Could it be the first entry is what Michaelis refers to ?

56475

(12.3.1943-7.9.1943) Stab IV SS-Regiment 1 (Estnische Legion),
(8.9.1943-22.4.1944) 10.3.1944 Stab I u. 1.-4. Kompanie Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 45 (3. SS-Brigade),
(8.9.1943-22.4.1944) 24.3.1944 Stab I u. 1.-4. Kompanie Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 45 (20. SS-Division),
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 9.6.1944 Stab I u. 1.-4. Kompanie Grenadier-Regiment 45 (20. SS-Division),
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 8.9.1944 Stab I u 1.-4. Kompanie Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment 45 (20. SS-Division).

Cheers

[Peter]

I can find CO's for the companies but no references to a IV Btl commander, did they effectively operate as independent companies ?
thank you
Peter

[Ultima]

Hi,

there was no fourth bataillon. The Legion build a regiment with three bataillons. They take the I./Btl. for Wiking (Btl. Narwa) and after this build a new Btl. as compensation.
The FpNr. Michaelis named for the IV/- ist the FpNr for the I./-

Regards
Christian

[Peter]

Thank you Christian
does that mean that 13 and 14 Kp were independent or were they part of III Btl.

thanks Peter

[Doktor Krollspell]

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your input to my post. I have now re-read the Rolf Michaelis book (the Swedish ed.) and in the general narrative of the combat history of the 20. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Estnische Nr. 1) there is no reference to any IV./Waffen-Gre.Rgt. 45, nor to any Kompanien numbered 16-18. So the only reference for such a sub-unit is from the appendix that i referred to in my first post.

I think that wwilson's description of the Feldpost number could be a plausible cause for the mistake made in the book...

Interesting find. For comparison, here is what the Feldpost index shows. Could it be the first entry is what Michaelis refers to ?

56475

(12.3.1943-7.9.1943) Stab IV SS-Regiment 1 (Estnische Legion),
(8.9.1943-22.4.1944) 10.3.1944 Stab I u. 1.-4. Kompanie Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 45 (3. SS-Brigade),
(8.9.1943-22.4.1944) 24.3.1944 Stab I u. 1.-4. Kompanie Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 45 (20. SS-Division),
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 9.6.1944 Stab I u. 1.-4. Kompanie Grenadier-Regiment 45 (20. SS-Division),
(23.4.1944-24.11.1944) 8.9.1944 Stab I u 1.-4. Kompanie Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment 45 (20. SS-Division).

Regards,

Krollspell

[Peter]

Thank you all
does that mean that 13 and 14 Kp were independent or were they part of III Btl.

thanks Peter

[Jan-Hendrik]

Independent under the Btl.Stab...never seen anything else....

Jan-Hendrik

[Peter]

Thank Jan-Hendrik

so would that have been under Stab III Btl ?
thank you
Peter

[Jan-Hendrik]

I regtet to have posting too fast!!

Regimental Stab!

Sorry!

Jan-Hendrik

[Peter]

Thank you Jan-Hendrik,
it makes sense for them to be under regimental command given their specialities.
thank you
Peter