Is it true that fighting the partisans were considered as a lowly job among the German Army?
Also, it would be great if anyone could give any info about German anti-partisans. Curiousity suddenly strucked me...
German anti-partisan soldiers
Fighting against partisans
I know only famous unit, which fought generally against partisans. It was the brigade of SS-Oberführer Dr. Oskar Dirlewanger, who was well known as a very cruel character. His unit depended on former prisoners, even murderers fought unde rhis order. Dirlewanger`s men were very successfull at their fight against partisans, but their behaviour against caught partisans and against civilians was criminal. They killed every man who was suspected to be an partisans and they murdered even children on a very cruel way, if their parents didnt give them a hint to find partisans. Dirlewnger got the Ritterkreuz (knight`s cross) for his fight against the jewish people at Warszaw in 1944. At the end of the war Dirlewanger`s brigade reached the size of a division (the name: 36th Waffen-Grenadierdivision of the SS), but most of the soldiers were killed after a short time.
Preuße
Preuße
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Krasnaya Zvezda
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I believe Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski was commander of the anti partisan units. He ansqwered to Himmler only and Hitler. For anti-Partisan activities, formations of the Waffen S.S., of the Order Police and above all, of the Wehrmacht were used.
the nature of these regular army units that were used for anti-Partisan operations:
The units of the Wehrmacht constituted, in the first place, the Security Divisions introduced in the rear zone, behind the battle front. Further, there were the so-called Regional Defence Units which, naturally, came under the orders of the Military District Commanders. Further, Wehrmacht had formations, introduced for the air defence of certain installations, such as railways and landing grounds and for the protection of other military objectives. Moreover, as from 1942 or 1943, so-called "Alarm Units" were introduced, composed of formations in the rear, i.e., from administrative formations
Some of the commanders were: Wehrmacht Commander Ostland; General of Cavalry Bromer; General Field Marshal Kuechler; Commander- in-Chief of the Army Group North; Commander-in-Chief of the Army Group Centre, Klugge; and later Busch; the Wehrmacht Commander-in-Chief of the Ukraine; General of the Luftwaffe Kitzinger; General Field Marshal Freiherr von Weichs, the Commander-in-Chief in Serbia at Belgrade; and Kugler, Commander-in-Chief of the Trieste Area.
On Dirlewanger Brigade, when the Soviet prosecutor asked why were criminals used to fight the partisans, Zelewski answered:
" I am of the opinion that this step was closely connected with a speech made by Heinrich Himmler, at the beginning of 1941 prior to the campaign against Russia, when he spoke at the Weselburg of the purpose of the Russian campaign, which was, he said, to decimate the Slav population by thirty million, and that in order to achieve this purpose units of inferior calibre would have to be introduced"
the nature of these regular army units that were used for anti-Partisan operations:
The units of the Wehrmacht constituted, in the first place, the Security Divisions introduced in the rear zone, behind the battle front. Further, there were the so-called Regional Defence Units which, naturally, came under the orders of the Military District Commanders. Further, Wehrmacht had formations, introduced for the air defence of certain installations, such as railways and landing grounds and for the protection of other military objectives. Moreover, as from 1942 or 1943, so-called "Alarm Units" were introduced, composed of formations in the rear, i.e., from administrative formations
Some of the commanders were: Wehrmacht Commander Ostland; General of Cavalry Bromer; General Field Marshal Kuechler; Commander- in-Chief of the Army Group North; Commander-in-Chief of the Army Group Centre, Klugge; and later Busch; the Wehrmacht Commander-in-Chief of the Ukraine; General of the Luftwaffe Kitzinger; General Field Marshal Freiherr von Weichs, the Commander-in-Chief in Serbia at Belgrade; and Kugler, Commander-in-Chief of the Trieste Area.
On Dirlewanger Brigade, when the Soviet prosecutor asked why were criminals used to fight the partisans, Zelewski answered:
" I am of the opinion that this step was closely connected with a speech made by Heinrich Himmler, at the beginning of 1941 prior to the campaign against Russia, when he spoke at the Weselburg of the purpose of the Russian campaign, which was, he said, to decimate the Slav population by thirty million, and that in order to achieve this purpose units of inferior calibre would have to be introduced"
The 7th SS division Prinz Eugen mainly fought partisans in Yugoslavia. The Handschar division also fought partisans. Of the other SS units, of the histories I have read, all of them had 'brushes' with partisans.
The Einsatzgruppen also served in frontline roles in times of crisis which includes sweeping areas for partisans.
Most of the Police batalions/regiments were employed in the role of anti-partisan.
The Das Reich division had an infamous encounter with partisans at Ordur-San-Glane (spelling).
The Einsatzgruppen also served in frontline roles in times of crisis which includes sweeping areas for partisans.
Most of the Police batalions/regiments were employed in the role of anti-partisan.
The Das Reich division had an infamous encounter with partisans at Ordur-San-Glane (spelling).
Germany raised some 15 Security Divisions whose primary role was to stop acts of sabotage and secure LoC, plus defend key logisitic nodes and economic centres, mainly to the rear of the front line. As the war progressed many of these Security Divisions found themselves thrown into the line to counter Russian breakthroughs, for which they were totally unsuited.
Also the Germans recruited many people from occupied areas to serve in police detachments, whilst the Baltic nations provided men for home defence btn's etc to fight Partisans.
Andy
Also the Germans recruited many people from occupied areas to serve in police detachments, whilst the Baltic nations provided men for home defence btn's etc to fight Partisans.
Andy
Guys
talking about anti-partisans units we must to emphazise some differences:
Territories under german rule were generically divided into two parts:
1) along front line and zone behind front line (some hundreds km) were under Army rule. Generically Army used Sicherungs-Divisions, local militias organized by OKH, Ost-Bataillone, front-line units (as Waffen-SS when on rest or Heer formations), Landesschutzen-Bataillone and whatever unit or formation could be useful to fight partisan (not particularly formed or devoted to this task).
In those areas anti-partisan formations were under so-called Feld & Orst-Kommandaturen
2) territories under "civil" administation (zivilwerwaltung) in which anti-partisan task were prerogative of the HSSPF. HSSPF were Himmler's "alter ego" and they used basically police formations.
Police formations were:
A) German Ordnungspolizei Bataillons/Regiment under BdO (Befhelshaber der ORPO)
B) German Gendarmerie under KdGend (kommandeure der Gendarmerie). Deployed in rural areas, this was so-called motorisierte-gendarmerie NOT the same as Feldgendarmerie des Heer.
C) German Schupo in major towns & cities (so-called einzeldienst or "single service") under KdSchupo
D) Non-Germans Schutzmannschaft formations under KdO
E) Non-German Schutzmannschaft-Einzeldienst both under KdGend or KdSchupo.
Naturally Army or Waffen-SS formations on rest could be used on request, but this is not the rule in those areas.
HSSPF controlled nominally Sichereitspolizei formations also, as SD enheit or local formations under SD: but, I repeat, nominally only, as Sichereitspolizei depend directly fm RSHA in Berlin.
This double situation was particularly applied in Russia: Reichkommissariat "Ostland" and "Ukraina" (with Estonia, Lettonia, Lithuania, White Russia and Ucraina) were under "civil" administration.
Central Russia, east Ukraina and far east territories near front line were under Army administration.
Naturally as front line approached to "civil" territories, differences tended to disappear, but this occours on late 1943 and 1944 only.
Another questions were the so called "national" policies: in Ucraina,
White Russia, Poland etc they were nominally under
Reich(or General)kommissar and assigned fm him to HSSPF on request.
In West Europe national policies were under "quisling" administrations and teneded to respond to respective governements. Naturally HSSPF in western territories had the "final word".
Particular cases were in Croatia (and Italy after September 1943).
A rightful assert:
Einsatzgruppen never served on front line duties or against partisans: they were used only against jewish during 1941 and 1942; then Einsatzgruppen formally were disbanded and were organized into BdS
(befehlshaber der Sichereitspolizei), directly under RSHA in Berlin.
Best
Max
talking about anti-partisans units we must to emphazise some differences:
Territories under german rule were generically divided into two parts:
1) along front line and zone behind front line (some hundreds km) were under Army rule. Generically Army used Sicherungs-Divisions, local militias organized by OKH, Ost-Bataillone, front-line units (as Waffen-SS when on rest or Heer formations), Landesschutzen-Bataillone and whatever unit or formation could be useful to fight partisan (not particularly formed or devoted to this task).
In those areas anti-partisan formations were under so-called Feld & Orst-Kommandaturen
2) territories under "civil" administation (zivilwerwaltung) in which anti-partisan task were prerogative of the HSSPF. HSSPF were Himmler's "alter ego" and they used basically police formations.
Police formations were:
A) German Ordnungspolizei Bataillons/Regiment under BdO (Befhelshaber der ORPO)
B) German Gendarmerie under KdGend (kommandeure der Gendarmerie). Deployed in rural areas, this was so-called motorisierte-gendarmerie NOT the same as Feldgendarmerie des Heer.
C) German Schupo in major towns & cities (so-called einzeldienst or "single service") under KdSchupo
D) Non-Germans Schutzmannschaft formations under KdO
E) Non-German Schutzmannschaft-Einzeldienst both under KdGend or KdSchupo.
Naturally Army or Waffen-SS formations on rest could be used on request, but this is not the rule in those areas.
HSSPF controlled nominally Sichereitspolizei formations also, as SD enheit or local formations under SD: but, I repeat, nominally only, as Sichereitspolizei depend directly fm RSHA in Berlin.
This double situation was particularly applied in Russia: Reichkommissariat "Ostland" and "Ukraina" (with Estonia, Lettonia, Lithuania, White Russia and Ucraina) were under "civil" administration.
Central Russia, east Ukraina and far east territories near front line were under Army administration.
Naturally as front line approached to "civil" territories, differences tended to disappear, but this occours on late 1943 and 1944 only.
Another questions were the so called "national" policies: in Ucraina,
White Russia, Poland etc they were nominally under
Reich(or General)kommissar and assigned fm him to HSSPF on request.
In West Europe national policies were under "quisling" administrations and teneded to respond to respective governements. Naturally HSSPF in western territories had the "final word".
Particular cases were in Croatia (and Italy after September 1943).
A rightful assert:
Einsatzgruppen never served on front line duties or against partisans: they were used only against jewish during 1941 and 1942; then Einsatzgruppen formally were disbanded and were organized into BdS
(befehlshaber der Sichereitspolizei), directly under RSHA in Berlin.
Best
Max
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K.Kocjancic
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nor 29 Waffen-SS Grenadier-Division