Question about Ost-Batallion 439

[Sturmschwein]

I am very confused about the national mixup of the Ost-Battalion 439. I am often reading that this Battalion was mostly ukrainian and sometimes it was mostly russian. I found this german newspaper article about this unit and there is written that the Battalion was mostly russian but also consisted of some ukrainians and peoples from other territories of the east (which nationalities exactly ?).



In general it would be awesome to know more about the Ost-Battalion 439. Maybe someone have photos which shows members of the Battalion ?

Thank you

[jpz4]

The unit was primarily Russian. It is referred as such in later records. I've never figured out what the claims it was mainly Ukrainian are based on.
The only Ukrainian units under AOK 7 on D-Day I can think of were Ost-Reiter-Abt.281 and Ost-Rafd.Abt.281.

[Sturmschwein]

Thank you very much ! What are the evidences that the Battalion was mainly russian ?

[jpz4]

In mid-1944 the Ost-einheiten were renamed to match their ethnic make-up. (I'm still looking for the original order.) Names were changed to include 'Russian', 'Ukrainian', etc. However, records to not necessarily show this in a uniform way. As an example, some records show a unit as 'Russen-Btl. X' or Ost (Russ.)Btl. X'.
In case of Ost-Btl.439 the battalion is shown as a Russian unit in the later overviews of all 'landeseigene Verbände'. Had it been primarily been Ukrainian, it would have been listed as such, like the Abt. 281 and 285 I mentioned.

[steve248]

Maybe this will help - it comes from UK National Archives, WO 208/3623

[Sturmschwein]

I have another Question. Under which division the Ost-Battalion 439 served ? Sometimes I read it served under the 352. Infantry Division and sometimes it served under the 716. Infantry Division. I feel like information about this Battalion is messed up. In the document above 716. is marked with a question mark

[Richard Anderson]

It was officially redesignated as IV./Gren.-Regt. 726 and was a part of 716. Inf-Div. However, it was attached to 352. Inf-Div, viz.:

Gren.-Regt. 726
Gefechtsstand – Château de Sully
Kdr.: Oberst Walter Korfes
I. Btl.
Gefechtsstand – Maissons (WN 54)
1. Kp. – Port en Bessin
2. Kp. – St. Honorine-des-Pertes
3. Kp. – Colleville-sur-Mer
4. Kp. – Longues-sur-Mer (on the coast northwest of Monvieux)
III. Btl.
Gefechtsstand – Château de Jucoville
9. Kp. – Château d’ Englesqueville
10. Kp. – St. Laurent sur Mer
11. Kp. – Vierville
12. Kp. – Grandcamp
Ost-Btl. 439 (IV./Gren.-Regt. 726)
Gefechtsstand – Les Veys (vicinity of Isigny)
Kdr.: Hauptmann Hans Becker
1.-4. Kp.
Züg/14. (Pz.Jg.) Kp. (three 5cm m.Pak)
III./Art.-Regt. 1716 (- 10. Bttr.)
Gefechtsstand – Le Cambe
8. Bttr. – Maisy La Martiniere (Wn 84) (four 10cm le.F.H. 14/19 (t))
9. Bttr. – Maisy Les Perruques (Wn 83) (four 15cm s.F.H. 414 (f))

[Sturmschwein]

Thank you very much for your answer ! When actually it was attached to 352. Inf-Div ?

[jpz4]

When the 352.I.D. took over the western part of the Calvados coast in March 1944 (19th).

[Sturmschwein]

Thank you. What are your sources that the Ost-Bataillon 439 then became part of the 352 I.D. ?

[jpz4]

Not part of, but attached/subordinated to.
First of all it makes perfect sense since the unit did not move and thus was (and remained stationed) in the sector taken over by the 352.I.D. As for documents, to name a few: the Gliederung of the 352.I.D. includes the battalion as an attached unit, that of the 716.I.D. shows the battalion to be away with the 352.I.D. as well and the overal Gliederung of 7.Armee also shows the battalion under the 352.I.D.

If you look at this map you can see the sector of the 352.I.D. on 5 June 1944.
http://www.6juin1944.com/assaut/allemag ... hp?cart=01
Now if you check where Isigny-sur-Mer is located you can see how far away trom the sector of the 716.I.D. it was.