SS-Jagdverbände 502

[-Michael]

Can somebody please give me some information on the unit. Where there Flemish or maybe Dutch vollunteers?

Greeting
Michaël

[Rob - wssob2]

SS-JägerVerbände-Mitte was SS-Reichführer Hienrich Himmler's attempt to get into the commando business, which up to that point was the sole province of the German military's Abwehr. The unit is a bit of an enigma, with little documentation - as may be expected of a commando unit. Members of SS-JägerVerbände-Mitte are supposed to have participated both in the rescue of Mussolini and covert operations during the Battle of the Bulge.
After his successful and daring commando raid to rescue Italian dictator Benitio Mussolini, SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny became commander of the Waffen-SS covert operations units. However, Hitler and Himmler had him off soing all sorts of special missions (mostly political) that he lost lost touch with his agents/troops and did not oversee their administration. Consequently, the activity, status and morale of the units under his command suffered.
The main headquarters for all the the SS-Jägerverband units was Fuehrungs Stab Friedenthal, with a strength of 700 men.In April 1945 FS "Freidenthal" became "Schutz Korps Alpenland" - a 250 man scratch feldjäerkorps for the Alpine Redoubt.

COMPOSITION
3 rifle companies
1 heavy weapons company
4 foreign volunteer companies
total compliment: 600 men; many from Freidenthal unit, but supposedly some W-SS probationers and Heer volunteers
In addition, each Jäverbände unit formed replacement "jadgeinsatz" - organized by nationality.

1942: RSHA VI-F (Reich Security Office/Foreign Intelligence/ Foreign Intelligence Technical Assistence Dept. ) forms the "SS Sonder Lehrgang 'Orienburg'" - 70 NCO's and 30 enlisted men under SS-Hauptsturmscharführer Vessem. The organization's instigates several covert operations including "Einsatz Franz" - an attempt to instigate an insurgency in Iran. Unit changes its name to "Sonder Lehrgang zbV Friedenthal"


June 1943: Waffen-SS begin to recruit men for a covert operations unit, possible transfers from Sonder Lehrgang zbV Friedenthal

August 1943: Aug 5: The first Waffen-SS commando unit, SS-Sonderverbünde z.b.V. Friedenthal offically formed, although recruitment efforts may have begun in June.

September 1943: Sept 5: Some unit members, including commander SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny, participate in the daring glider-borne rescue of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, held captive at the Gran Sasso lodge.

October 1943: 1st. company sent on antipartisan operations in Croatia


February 1944: 3rd company formed with Flemish/Dutch personnel; 1 & 2nd companies sent to Kurmark for 6 week tour of duty on the Eastern front.

April 1944: Apr 17: unit redesignated "SS-Jäger-Bataillon 502;" company of foreign conscripts added to unit?

July 1944: Conspiracy of German Army officers attempt to assassinate Hitler but fail. Hitler, deeply shaken, looses all faith and trust in the German Army. He assumes total control of Germany's stategic and tactical military decisions (with disasterous results) and unleases the Gestapo on a witch hunt for conspirators which kills thousands.

August 1944: Unit placed on alert south of Berlin, due to the bomb plot.

September 1944: unit (dissolved?) renamed SS-JägerVerbände-Mitte
Sept 10: Hitler summons SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny to discuss plans for a Hungarian coup.

October 1944: Oct 13: Skorzeny travels to Budapest under the alias "Dr. Wolff"; meets with SS-Obergruppenführer Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski to discuss coup. Von dem Bach wants to pulverize the Hungarian government center, Castle Hill, with a huge "Big Bertha" type gun, but Skorzeny favors a more delicate operation.
Oct 15/16: participates in Operation Panzerfaust along with SS-Fallschirmj·ger Abteilung 500
Supported by 40 King Tiger tanks of Heer Schwere Panzer Abtleitung 503, the unit attacks Castle Hill.
November 1944: unit renamed "SS-Jagdverband Mitte"?

December 1944: Unit becomes part of the 150 Panzer Brigade for a special commando mission during the Operation Wacht am Rhein.


January - February 1945: Heavy defensive fighting, Schmeldt, Germany, against the Soviet Army.

March 1945: March 31: unit strength: 250

April 1945: sent to "Alpine Redoubt" (the mountainous area of Austria where a supposed Nazi "last stand" was to occur; Remnants surrender Linz.

SOURCES:
After The Battle #40: Budapest - Winston G. Ramsey - Battle of Britian Prints International Ltd. - 1983

Forgotten Legions: Obscure Combat Formations of the Waffen-SS - Antonio Munoz - Axis Europa Books - 1991

Forgotten Legions Addenda - Antonio Munoz - Axis Europa Books - 2000?

Hungary 1944-45: The Forgotten Tragedy - Perry Pierik - Aspekt - 1998

[-Michael]

Thank you very mutch for that information! wssob is a great site, I hope It's soon back on line, the spring is already over. Who were the officers in the unit, do you know?

Flemish Greetings Michael

[Sturmkreuz]

Can somebody please give me some information on the unit. Where there Flemish or maybe Dutch vollunteers?

Greeting
Michaël

I know of 3 Flemish volunteers who were in the SS-Jagdverbände 502.

[Endzeit Jan]

Hi
Sonderverband z.b.V.Friedentahl
Kdr. SS-Stubaf.Otto Skorzeny (16.06.1943-17.04.1944)
Adju. SS-Hstuf. Karl Radl (??.08.1943-17.04.1944)
then
SS-Jg.Btl. 502
Kdr.SS-Stubaf.Otto Skorzeny
then
SS-Jagdverband Mitte
Kdr. SS-Hstuf. Karl Fucker

Jan

[Mikedc]

SS-Jagdverband 'Nordwest'.
SS-Hstuf Hoyer: CO ??/??-45
SS-Hstuf Dethier: CO ??-3-45/??-45

SS-Jagdverband 'Ost'.
SS-Stubaf A. van Foelkersam: CO ??-44/21-1-45
SS-Stubaf Heinze: CO ??-1-45/??-45
SS-Stubaf A. Auch: CO ??-45/??-45

SS-Jagdverband 'Südost'.
SS-Ostubaf Benesch: CO ??-44/??-44
SS-Hstuf A. Auch: CO ??-44/??-44
SS-Hstuf E. Steiner: Ia 12-44/??-45
SS-Ostuf Hilbig: chief signals officer ??/??

SS-Jagdverband 'Südwest'.
SS-Hstuf Gerlach: CO

SS-Jäger-Bataillon 500:
SS-Stubaf A. Beilhack: CO ??-8-43 till 23-8-43
SS-Stubaf A. Sukkau: CO 7-44/??-9-44
SS-Ostuf H. Schafer: IIa

SS-Jäger-Bataillon 501:
SS-Stubaf H. Beyerlein: CO
SS-Hstuf R. Bachmann: CO

SS-Jäger-Bataillon 502:
SS-Stubaf O. Skorzeny: CO

Don't have anything else on these units.
Mike

[Endzeit Jan]

Hi
SS-Jagdverband 'Nordwest'
?? Appel: CO ??/??-44
SS-Hstuf Hoyer: CO ??/??-45
SS-Hstuf Dethier: CO ??-3-45/??-45
Jan

[-Michael]

This topic was posted a long time ago.
In the mean time I have discovered that there was a unit called »Jagd Einsatz Flandern« that was active in the SS-Jagdverband »Nordwest«.
This unit was raised in Neu-Strelitz. The 1. Kompanie was under command of the Flemish SS-Ustuf. Bachot. The Flemish SS-Ustuf. Stevens, Verlinden, Pasques, and the Flemish SS-Oscha. Morael where Zugführer in the »Jagd Einsatz Flandern«. Has somebody some more information about this unit? The men strength? The commander of this unit?

[transakt]

Does anyone have any information about the SS-Jagdverband Mitte Friedenthal base itself, there just to the north of Berlin? Or even a map?

P.S. I'm also interested in information about the SS installations, training schools, facilities at Buchenwald. As I understand it, aside from the infamous work camp, this was a complex that covered quite a large area and had many manufacturing plants and compounds, etc. Any maps in existence? I think I'll post this question as a new topic elsewhere as well.

[Moniroth You-Bell]

Born: 14.06.1922 Lokeren
SS-Ustuf.. Jagdverbände Nordwest 1.45
SOJ., 8. KJL, J.Sch. Bad Tölz 12.42
EK I: 1941 LCpl, 12./SS-IR. Westland
SS-Nr.: 455.588
SS-Ustuf.: 10.03.43

[Tamari]

Hello,

according to Karl Radl in fall 1943 SS-Hauptsturmführer Heinrich Hoyer was Commanding Officer of 3rd company of Jäger Btl 502.

Source: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/documen ... 098d515871

Karl Radl's statements

Best regards

Robert

[Tamari]

Hello,

Hoyer was possibly a former Hauptmann in Wehrmacht.


https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothe ... 4VUFSGTTAB

Hauptmann Heinrich Hoyer - Übernahme in die Waffen-SS

Best regards

Robert

[tsla]

Robert,
This is consistent with the things I was told as a child.
Do you happen to have more info on Heinrich Hoyer?

[Tamari]

Yes,

see here:
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=143823

Best regards

Robert