Foreign Volunteers with the Fallschirmjäger

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 23 Apr 2007 19:37

Hi, im searching info about foreign volunteers serving with the fallschirmtruppe. Also interested in information about eventual volunteers with the "Fallschirm-Infanterie-Kompanie", "Fallschirm-Infanterie-Bataillon", "SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500 and 600" and "15.Fallschirmjäger-Kompanie" of the 4.Brandenburg-Regiment.

What I have found out by this point is not mutch, only that the Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 10 had a lot of Italian volunteers. (source: http://www.feldgrau.com/FJR.htm#10)

I also of know of two Norwegians who served with the SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 600 (Gunnar Baardseth and Anders Øvergård(CCC bronze), both received the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen).
Would very much like a bio on these two also.

Were there much recruitment into the fallschirmtruppe from other axis airborne units (Croatian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Italian, Slovakian) ?

And, was the SS-Jagdverbande parachute trained?

Best Regards,
Dan

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 23 Apr 2007 19:58

Additional info:

17. Air Force Company (Zrakoplovna Satnija) was attached to Luftwaffen Feld-Regiment 4. It was made up of Croatian volunteers who had attended the Fallschirmjäger course at Wiemer Neustad in 1942.

The unit fought on the northern sector of the Eastern front as a part of Luftwaffe-Division Meindl from 17 June 1942 until it was disbanded in 1943 and the volunteers returned to Croatia.

Commanders
Captain Martin Pflug
Lietutenant Vladimir Panjan

(source: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=4103)

panzerschreck · Post by **panzerschreck** » 23 Apr 2007 20:05

Volksbund gives the following on Anders Øvergård:

Nachname: Oevergaard
Vorname: Anders
Dienstgrad: Schütze
Geburtsdatum: 11.03.1919
Geburtsort: Stange
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 21.12.1944
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Zvolen (=Altsohl),Laz.

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 23 Apr 2007 20:07

Found some more:

PARACHUTE BRIGADE "GRUPPE B"
---------------------------------------------------------------------

The parachute brigade was party of UNA and was formed in beginning of February, 1945 under the orders of general Pavlo Shandruk. From the German side, the paratroopers brigade was sponsored by the Jagdverband Ost under the command of SS standartenfuehrer Otto Scorzeny. The German side was represented by major Aeuh and Ukrainian section in the Jagdverband Ost by T. Bulba-Borovets (former commander of UNRA - Ukrainian National-Revolutionary Army). The brigade totalled 400 men, forming two regiments, although plans were to increase it to 5,000 people. The brigade was trained in city of Jaltburgund.

In the spring of 1945, the brigade was to be involved in operation "Maiglockchen" (Konvalii). It was to be parachuted in Western Ukraine and continue waging a guerilla type war against the Red Army, however the operation did not occur due to lack of fuel for the planes.

Members of "Gruppe B" wore typical fallschirmjaeger uniforms, probably with UNA cap badges. T. Bulba-Borovets himself wore uniform of a Wehrmacht general without any UNA distinctions.

(source: http://ukr-ww2.onestop.net/una.html#gruppe_b )

Since this is a unit sponsored by the Germans and trained by the SS-Jagdverbande I would like to include it.

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 23 Apr 2007 20:10

panzerschreck wrote:Volksbund gives the following on Anders Øvergård:

Nachname: Oevergaard
Vorname: Anders
Dienstgrad: Schütze
Geburtsdatum: 11.03.1919
Geburtsort: Stange
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 21.12.1944
Todes-/Vermisstenort: Zvolen (=Altsohl),Laz.

Thank you panzerschreck, additional info is appreciated!

Serbian boy · Post by **Serbian boy** » 23 Apr 2007 22:55

The KONR had a parachute battalion, too (Falschirmjager Battalion 9.).

Allen Milcic · Post by **Allen Milcic** » 24 Apr 2007 02:57

Dan E. Moe wrote:Were there much recruitment into the fallschirmtruppe from other axis airborne units (Croatian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Italian, Slovakian) ?

Best Regards,
Dan

Hi Dan:

The history of the NDH parachute company (1. padobranski lovacki sat) does not mention any recruitment of jump-trained Croats into the fallschirmtruppe (see Hrvatski Orlovi: Paratroopers of the Independent State of Croatia 1942-1945; Novak-Spencer).

Allen/

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 24 Apr 2007 09:04

Hi Allen,

Thank you for the reply. Was the 17.LW-Kompanie incorporated into the 1. Padobranska Lovacka Bonja after their return to Croatia?

Dan

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 24 Apr 2007 12:48

Thank you Serbian Boy, more info on this unit?

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 24 Apr 2007 13:05

Found additional info on another Norwegian Fallschirmjäger; Axel Cappelen holder of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffen, Verwundetabzeichen im Schwartz, Frontkjempermerket and Fallschirmschützenabzeichen. KIA unknown.

panzerschreck · Post by **panzerschreck** » 24 Apr 2007 14:58

Dan E. Moe wrote:Found additional info on another Norwegian Fallschirmjäger; Axel Cappelen holder of the Iron Cross 2nd Class, Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffen, Verwundetabzeichen im Schwartz, Frontkjempermerket and Fallschirmschützenabzeichen. KIA unknown.

Interesting! Do you know if he belonged to SS-Fallschirmjägerbataillon 600 too?

Henrik

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 24 Apr 2007 15:21

I believe he served with the Luftwaffe. He also got the Unghirdmerket for service with the NSUF.

Here is the photo:

Askold · Post by **Askold** » 24 Apr 2007 17:46

A little correction, after finding some extra photos, T Bulba-Borovets wore a Luftwaffe General's uniform but with his own insignia. I also came across a Latvian volunteer in LW Soldbuch in which it was stated that he was attached to a FJ unit in which he was later killed.

Serbian boy · Post by **Serbian boy** » 24 Apr 2007 22:34

Dan E. Moe wrote:Thank you Serbian Boy, more info on this unit?

The commander was Oberst Kocar.The chieff of staff was Major Bezrodniy and later Oberstleutnant Speranskij.

Dan E. Moe · Post by **Dan E. Moe** » 29 Apr 2007 11:50

UMachine wrote:Captain Schact of the First Parachute Brigade is mentioned in the book Among The Righteous,early 42.Stationed in Hammamet,Tunisia.He handpicked nearly 100 Morrocans,Algerians,Tunisians,Senussi,Tuaregs,Syrians,Egyptians,Iraqi and desert arabs for an elite demolition and engineering unit.The unit was flown to Wittstock Parachute School,and fought behind Allied lines during the battle for Tunisia.Pg 87.

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