Kampfgruppe Fegelein

[Simon V.]

MFB KG Fegelein 24.12.42-1.3.43.

Hi Camp Upshur,

What is MFB standing for? I came across this abbrev. a few times on this forum, however still wondering what it is standing for.

Cheers
Simon

[Camp Upshur]

Hi Simon,

MFB = mit der vertretungsweisen Fuhrung beauftragt = temporiarily charged with conduct of affairs.

Anything on Dorffler-Schuband or SS Inf Reg 8 ?

Best,
Camp Upshur

[Mark V.]

Hi Camp Upshur,

SS-Inf.Rgt.8 was part of 1.SS-Inf.Brig. and was at this period (Dec 1942-Feb 1943) in action around Welikije Luki (AG Center) subordinated to Gruppe von der Chevallerie. The unit was otherwise used mainly in anti-partisan operations - most of the time killing civilians, together with units like SS-Sonderbataillon Dirlewanger .

cheers
Mark

[Simon V.]

Camp Upshur,

Thanks for your reply, after I saw your reply I smacked my head how come I couldn't find this one... most of the times I use mdFB myself. Thats why I couldn' find it well you solved my problem!

I don't have any additional information regarding Dorffler-Schuband

[Camp Upshur]

Simon,

I forgot to post my usual warning :

' Anyone trying to make sense of my attempted use of arcane German acronyms may well be doomed'

Thanks
Camp Upshur

[Camp Upshur]

Mark.

Thanks for the response. I am attempting to reconcile two slightly differing military assignment profiles of Dorffler-Schuband.

The SS Inf Rgt 8 was therefore not a component of KG Fegelein and operated in a different area I take it. Dorffler-Schuband's posting from the SS Inf Rgt 8 to KG Fegelein must have therefor been a transfer as opposed to stepping up within the same command.

What little else I know of the SS Inf Rgt 8 is that Dorffler-Schuband came in after Paul Massell ( who there is very little on ) and passed command to Augustin Trabandt.

I had presumed Dorffller-Schuband was 'clean' as his brief incarceration as an American POW after the war seemed quite cooperative , with no war crimes allegations or special 'de-nazification' that I am aware of. As I said he wrote a paper for the U.S. Army's Foreign Military Studies program just after the war, which was the seminal outline later for Schulze-Kossens 'Fuhrernachwuchs - Junkerschulen' book.

Thanks
Camp Upshur

[Rob - wssob2]

Mark - my apologies! You are correct re: KG Fegelein wasn't assigned to the 8th SS sector in Feb 1943. It is strange how Fegelein got to manage his own little combat group on the Don. His command seems to have started in December 1942, lasted throught Feb 1943 - but when did it end? He was appointed commander of the 8th SS division in May 1943.

[Camp Upshur]

Rob,

To indirectly address your question of how long 'KG Fegelien' was existant:

Dorffler-Schuband served two separate tours, the second ending 1.8.43, when he was re-posted as CO JS Tolz, I do not know when the KG stood down .

A little bit at a time,
Camp Upshur

[Mark V.]

Fegelein was put in charge of leading this KG in early December, he was apparently very successful in leading it at Tally on Don and somehow even managed to (personally ?) capture a Russian Corps commander (with maps and orders) for what he would receive the Oakleaves. Fegelein was later (22-24 December) wounded by a sniper and Liecke temporarily replaced him until the arrival of Dorffler-Schuband at the start of January.

Both sources (Stoves and Husemann) mention that KG fought courageously against overwhelming Russian forces (so I guess nothing unusual ) and after being encircled somehow managed to reach German lines while of course suffering heavy losses - only 200 out of original 1000 members of I./ II./Pol.Inf.Rgt.3 survived this ordeal.

[Camp Upshur]

Mark,

When did this encirclement / escape take place ? Was Fegelein still the CO or was it after ?

Thanks
Camp upshur

[Abel Ravasz]

Hi,

the brigade was encircled twice.

1.) 18/12/42, the unit, in the area of the Boguchar valley is encircled during the Operation Little Saturn. 21/12, the unit breaks out to the east.

2.) 14/1/43, the brigade is encircled in the area of Kantemirovka by the 3rd Tank Army during the Ostrogozhsk - Rossosh offensive operation. After losing most of the personel, the unit finally breaks out to the east 20/1.

So, Fegelein was CO during the first encirclement, but not during the second.

Hope this helps,
Best,

Abel

[Mark V.]

The KG actually fought through two encirclements at first while breaking out of Taly (late December) and later from Rossosch (12 Jan-late Jan). Fegelein did take part during the first one and was during or afterwards evacuated - not much info on him or Dorffler-Schuband. It seems like as if Liecke was the chief on ground (after Fegelein) - Hausser even gave him his own EK1 when the KG reached German lines .

[Mark V.]

Oops! Abel beat me to it .

[Alexderome]

Fegelein was wounded on december 23th 1942, for this action he was awarded oak leaves (Eichenlaub), but I don't know exactly of the fate of this KG.
ALEX