Hello,
It really depends on what kind of information you are looking for. My assessment is that about 70% of the text are quotes taken directly from the book by Wilhelm Tieke on the III. (germ.)SS-Panzer-Korps, that is all the text concerning actions. The maps are also from Tieke. The other major source, used in its entirety, is the Tätigkeitsbericht des Pi.-Aufstellungsstabes, that can also be found on the only roll containing documents about this corps at NARA. Additionally, as minor sources, some quotes are used as given by a total of seven veterans, as well as 13 photos, showing mostly training and soldiers taking the oath.
Best regards
Blanusa
SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
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phillip burke
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Thank you Blanusa so much for the info, if you lived near i d buy you a beer.
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phillip burke
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hello all, can anyone confirm that this is the correct amount of sdkfz 251 s , staff 1 sdkfz 251/3 1st platoon staff 1 sdkfz 251/3 , 1 sdkfz 251/1 ammo carrier, troops 6 sdkfz 251/9.plus four of these conversion with stuka ze fuss. 2nd platoon 6 sdkfz 251/1 one for staff one for ammo and 4 for towing Pak 40. 3rd platoon 1 command vehicle sdkfz 251/11 and 2 sdkfz 251/1 for towing infantry guns 75. 4th platoon 1 sdkfz 251/1 for staff 6 sdkfz 251/7 . Numbering sequence for vehicles. staff 501. 1st platoon 511 - 518. 2nd platoon 521 - 526. 3rd platoon 531 - 533. 4th platoon 541 - 547.
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phillip burke
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hello all,and for complete understanding of what i was going on about here is the target strength for the battalion , according to Panzers in Berlin ......sdkfz 250/1, 56 vehicles...... sdkfz 250/3, 4 vehicles....sdkfz 250/5 , 9 vehicles.......sdkfz 250/7, 8 vehicles....sdkfz 250/9, 16 vehicles......sdkfz/10, 6 vehicles..........sdkfz 251/1, 4 vehicles.....sdkfz 251/2, 6 vehicles......sdkfz 251/3, 2 vehicles.....sdkfz 251/7, 7 vehicles.....sdkfz 251/9, 6 vehicles......sdkfz 251/17, 4 vehicles.....sdkfz 222, 12 vehicles.....sdkfz 223, 6 vehicles.....sdkfz 231/232, 6 vehicles.Just realized made mistake with my last posting .....should be 4th platoon 7 sdkfz 251/7 , 1 for staff.
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Halfdan S.
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt.11 'Nordland'
Hi,Lasse wrote: ↑16 May 2011, 08:43About Pehrssons promotion: Pehrsson was atleast back with the 3./SS-Pz-Aufkl-Abt 11 on the 28.6.44, just a week after his promotion. I have no evidence that he participated in his course in june really, but I just have a hard time seeing that he would leave the unit while it was engaged in Latvia.
Does anyone have the promotion dates to Obersturmführer and Hauptsturmführer for Pehrsson?
Best
Halfdan S.
Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt.11 'Nordland'
Pehrsson stated that this occured on April 15, 1945, about the same time when he was appointed to 1C in the divisional staff.Halfdan S. wrote: ↑20 Jun 2020, 23:22Hi,Lasse wrote: ↑16 May 2011, 08:43About Pehrssons promotion: Pehrsson was atleast back with the 3./SS-Pz-Aufkl-Abt 11 on the 28.6.44, just a week after his promotion. I have no evidence that he participated in his course in june really, but I just have a hard time seeing that he would leave the unit while it was engaged in Latvia.
Does anyone have the promotion dates to Obersturmführer and Hauptsturmführer for Pehrsson?
Best
Halfdan S.
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Halfdan S.
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Thanks, Lasse, makes sense.
Regards
Halfdan S.
Regards
Halfdan S.
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Panzeraufklärung
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hello everyone,
Im searching for informations/photos of my grandfather.
He was in the dj then hj and later in the SS Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11. Nordland. Most of the time he was inside of a halftrack he said. His name was Heinz Willy Pfützner born at 27.01.1926 in Thüringen/Deutschland.
After the war he was a pow in russia.
Maybe someone can help me to find more about him
Thank you all!
Im searching for informations/photos of my grandfather.
He was in the dj then hj and later in the SS Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11. Nordland. Most of the time he was inside of a halftrack he said. His name was Heinz Willy Pfützner born at 27.01.1926 in Thüringen/Deutschland.
After the war he was a pow in russia.
Maybe someone can help me to find more about him
Thank you all!
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axelkoester
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- Location: USA
Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hi everybody, especially Blanusa, Regiment Norge, Endzeit Jan and Lasse, if you are still following this very interesting thread. I very much hope you do. This is my first post on this forum.
I am looking for any and all information about my father, Karl-Friedrich Köster, who was a member of the SS-Pz.-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland”, from its formation in June, 1943, in Grafenwöhr until the final battles in Berlin in May, 1945. I only know his Wehrnummer from his SS-Überwachungskarte: Rostock 25/454/1/4. His last rank was SS-Untersturmführer. From bits and pieces my father told me, he passed away in 1997, I believe he served as a Funker, a radio man in an artillery reconnaissance unit. I know he was wounded at least once when he caught a piece of shrapnel in his buttocks in Russia. He didn’t like to talk about his experiences in the war and we children knew not to ask him too many questions. I wish I had pressed him for more information when he was alive. But I missed that opportunity to connect with my father in that way.
The only story he mentioned had to do with of the last days of the war in Berlin. He said that he and his men were stationed in the Schultheiss-Brauerei leading up to May 2nd, 1945, apparently awaiting orders. He said that he and his unit then ended up at Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, and that his commanding officer relieved them of their oaths and duties and told them to do what they had to do to save their skins. I have found a passage in the Poller Månsson Westberg book about the AA-11 that quotes SS-Sturmbannführer Saalbach saying the same thing.
So I’m wondering, could it be that my dad was in that last group of 37 survivors with Saalbach that night at Friedrichstraße? Had they tried to cross the Weidendammer Brücke in those repeated failed break-out attempts at night?
My father said that since he had found civilian clothes and he was now free to do what he thought was best, he felt he stood a better chance of survival by not fighting his way out. Others decided to take their weapons and keep fighting. He didn’t want to go with them. He said he managed to slip through undetected, passing a number of Russian check points until he found himself literally walking home. But then he decided to turn around to be with his fellow soldiers who were already taken prisoner. He told me that he simply walked back, back to the Schultheiss Brauerei, and turned himself in. His 20th birthday was three days later. This story seems crazy to me. I suppose there is probably no way to confirm or deny it. But still, I wonder. Has anybody heard of anything like this? He told me he felt duty-bound to join his men on their journey to be prisoners of war. Or could it be the Kettenhunde? He had seen many men hanging from lampposts who had been shot by fellow SS-men for desertion, my father told me.
I have recently found a letter when I cleaned out my mother’s home after she moved into a memory care facility in Hamburg. It was dated November 11, 1945, and it was addressed to my grandparents. The writer was a Günther Michael, who served with my father throughout the war, it says. His letter informs my grandparents that their son was healthy and well when he last saw him as they left for Russia to be POWs. He said he was some kind of unit clerk, an Abteilungsschreiber in der Stabsbatterie. He writes that they served in der 8. Batterie together, until they were in Stettin Altdamm and Michael was transferred to the 7th battery.
Does that ring a bell? Do you know what the 8. Batterie was? I have found no information about it. Jan, you are writing in your post from 22 February, 2010, that a Köster was a Funker in Obstfu Pehrsson’s SPW. Could that be my father and would he have served with Pehrsson throughout the war?
Anyway, so many questions. I would love to find out as much as I can so I can tell my children and grandchildren about their grandfather.
Thank you so much for your patience with this request and your interest in my story.
(I really appreciate any comment or advice you might have. I am very interested in Poller’s Kameraden der SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 „Nordland“ that was mentioned. WHERE CAN I FIND IT???)
I am looking for any and all information about my father, Karl-Friedrich Köster, who was a member of the SS-Pz.-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 “Nordland”, from its formation in June, 1943, in Grafenwöhr until the final battles in Berlin in May, 1945. I only know his Wehrnummer from his SS-Überwachungskarte: Rostock 25/454/1/4. His last rank was SS-Untersturmführer. From bits and pieces my father told me, he passed away in 1997, I believe he served as a Funker, a radio man in an artillery reconnaissance unit. I know he was wounded at least once when he caught a piece of shrapnel in his buttocks in Russia. He didn’t like to talk about his experiences in the war and we children knew not to ask him too many questions. I wish I had pressed him for more information when he was alive. But I missed that opportunity to connect with my father in that way.
The only story he mentioned had to do with of the last days of the war in Berlin. He said that he and his men were stationed in the Schultheiss-Brauerei leading up to May 2nd, 1945, apparently awaiting orders. He said that he and his unit then ended up at Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, and that his commanding officer relieved them of their oaths and duties and told them to do what they had to do to save their skins. I have found a passage in the Poller Månsson Westberg book about the AA-11 that quotes SS-Sturmbannführer Saalbach saying the same thing.
So I’m wondering, could it be that my dad was in that last group of 37 survivors with Saalbach that night at Friedrichstraße? Had they tried to cross the Weidendammer Brücke in those repeated failed break-out attempts at night?
My father said that since he had found civilian clothes and he was now free to do what he thought was best, he felt he stood a better chance of survival by not fighting his way out. Others decided to take their weapons and keep fighting. He didn’t want to go with them. He said he managed to slip through undetected, passing a number of Russian check points until he found himself literally walking home. But then he decided to turn around to be with his fellow soldiers who were already taken prisoner. He told me that he simply walked back, back to the Schultheiss Brauerei, and turned himself in. His 20th birthday was three days later. This story seems crazy to me. I suppose there is probably no way to confirm or deny it. But still, I wonder. Has anybody heard of anything like this? He told me he felt duty-bound to join his men on their journey to be prisoners of war. Or could it be the Kettenhunde? He had seen many men hanging from lampposts who had been shot by fellow SS-men for desertion, my father told me.
I have recently found a letter when I cleaned out my mother’s home after she moved into a memory care facility in Hamburg. It was dated November 11, 1945, and it was addressed to my grandparents. The writer was a Günther Michael, who served with my father throughout the war, it says. His letter informs my grandparents that their son was healthy and well when he last saw him as they left for Russia to be POWs. He said he was some kind of unit clerk, an Abteilungsschreiber in der Stabsbatterie. He writes that they served in der 8. Batterie together, until they were in Stettin Altdamm and Michael was transferred to the 7th battery.
Does that ring a bell? Do you know what the 8. Batterie was? I have found no information about it. Jan, you are writing in your post from 22 February, 2010, that a Köster was a Funker in Obstfu Pehrsson’s SPW. Could that be my father and would he have served with Pehrsson throughout the war?
Anyway, so many questions. I would love to find out as much as I can so I can tell my children and grandchildren about their grandfather.
Thank you so much for your patience with this request and your interest in my story.
(I really appreciate any comment or advice you might have. I am very interested in Poller’s Kameraden der SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11 „Nordland“ that was mentioned. WHERE CAN I FIND IT???)
Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hey Axel,
Without additional data points it’s difficult to find further information and know for certain which one is your father. Following is information on three individuals named Köster that I have found over the years.
However, first and foremost, the one mentioned in Poller/Månsson/Westberg is a Hans KÖSTNER, born on 12 June 1922 in Reschitz (today Reșița in Romania). He served as a Funker with the company command of 3rd Company in the reconnaissance battalion (Kompanietrupp der 3./AA11). His final rank, as far as I could make out, was Sturmmann. It would appear he survived the final battles in Berlin, as Erik Wallin recounted seeing Köstner in a POW camp in Berlin.
Of the three KÖSTER that I have found, the first was August Köster, born on 3 September 1926 in Altenbruch. His final rank, as far as I could make out, was Panzergrenadier and he served in an unknown capacity in the 3rd Company of the reconnaissance battalion. He was likely wounded in January or February 1944, as I found he was administratively transferred in April 1944 to a replacement unit because he had spent more than 8 weeks in a hospital. He returned to the unit, as he is found on a casualty list, stating that he was wounded in action a second time, now at Urli, Lithuania, on 17 July 1944. From what I could gather, he also survived the war.
The second was a Friedrich Köster, born on 5 May 1924 in Selov, and from what I could gather served in the artillery regiment. Unfortunately, this is all I know of him.
The third was a Herbert Köster, born on 24 July 1926 in Essen, that served with the rank of Grenadier in regiment Norge. He was captured by Soviet forced in Berlin on 2 May 1945.
Best regards
Blanusa
Without additional data points it’s difficult to find further information and know for certain which one is your father. Following is information on three individuals named Köster that I have found over the years.
However, first and foremost, the one mentioned in Poller/Månsson/Westberg is a Hans KÖSTNER, born on 12 June 1922 in Reschitz (today Reșița in Romania). He served as a Funker with the company command of 3rd Company in the reconnaissance battalion (Kompanietrupp der 3./AA11). His final rank, as far as I could make out, was Sturmmann. It would appear he survived the final battles in Berlin, as Erik Wallin recounted seeing Köstner in a POW camp in Berlin.
Of the three KÖSTER that I have found, the first was August Köster, born on 3 September 1926 in Altenbruch. His final rank, as far as I could make out, was Panzergrenadier and he served in an unknown capacity in the 3rd Company of the reconnaissance battalion. He was likely wounded in January or February 1944, as I found he was administratively transferred in April 1944 to a replacement unit because he had spent more than 8 weeks in a hospital. He returned to the unit, as he is found on a casualty list, stating that he was wounded in action a second time, now at Urli, Lithuania, on 17 July 1944. From what I could gather, he also survived the war.
The second was a Friedrich Köster, born on 5 May 1924 in Selov, and from what I could gather served in the artillery regiment. Unfortunately, this is all I know of him.
The third was a Herbert Köster, born on 24 July 1926 in Essen, that served with the rank of Grenadier in regiment Norge. He was captured by Soviet forced in Berlin on 2 May 1945.
Best regards
Blanusa
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axelkoester
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Wow! Thank you so much! Thank you for confirming this. It means the world to me to hear from you. My father is Karl-Friedrich Köster, born on 5 May 1925 in Selow, Mecklenburg. He served alongside two others from Mecklenburg, one was from Goldberg, the other was Günther Michael (I think I deciphered his name correctly) When you say "Artillery Regiment," is there a way to drill down with more specificity? Would it have been part of the AA 11 or the larger division?
I have attached some pictures I found recently in the bottom drawer of my dad's cousin after she died. They appear to be from Grafenwöhr, taken during division formation, I assume. Photo #1 shows my father standing, 4th from left, in the middle of the group. I am certain, it is him. Photo #2 shows what appears to be officers, or soldiers in dress uniforms. My father could be one of the men standing in the back row, again 4th from left, but I can't be certain. Photo #3 shows what looks like a model of a Panzer and a tank crew posing in front of it. My father could be one of the men seated, second from left, but, again, I am not sure it is him.
Thanks again for taking the time to look into this for me. If you have any advice for me to further research my father's service from 23. June, 1943 until 2 May, 1945 in Berlin, I'd greatly appreciate hearing from you.
(I have found this Chronik PAA 11. Panzergrenadier Division NORDLAND - PANZERGRUPPE SAALBACH ! Is it the same as Herbert Poller's "Unsere Ehre heißt Treue" Die "Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung" der Freiwilligen-SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division 11 "Nordland" - auch genannt "Panzergruppe Saalbach"? )
Best,
Axel
I have attached some pictures I found recently in the bottom drawer of my dad's cousin after she died. They appear to be from Grafenwöhr, taken during division formation, I assume. Photo #1 shows my father standing, 4th from left, in the middle of the group. I am certain, it is him. Photo #2 shows what appears to be officers, or soldiers in dress uniforms. My father could be one of the men standing in the back row, again 4th from left, but I can't be certain. Photo #3 shows what looks like a model of a Panzer and a tank crew posing in front of it. My father could be one of the men seated, second from left, but, again, I am not sure it is him.
Thanks again for taking the time to look into this for me. If you have any advice for me to further research my father's service from 23. June, 1943 until 2 May, 1945 in Berlin, I'd greatly appreciate hearing from you.
(I have found this Chronik PAA 11. Panzergrenadier Division NORDLAND - PANZERGRUPPE SAALBACH ! Is it the same as Herbert Poller's "Unsere Ehre heißt Treue" Die "Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung" der Freiwilligen-SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Division 11 "Nordland" - auch genannt "Panzergruppe Saalbach"? )
Best,
Axel
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axelkoester
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Chronik PAA 11. Panzergrenadier Division NORDLAND - PANZERGRUPPE SAALBACH !
This is the book I found
Is it the same as Herbert Poller's book published for the Kameradschaft?
This is the book I found
Is it the same as Herbert Poller's book published for the Kameradschaft?
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- Chronik PAA 11. Panzergrenadier Division NORDLAND - PANZERGRUPPE SAALBACH !
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Jan-Hendrik
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
If I remember correctly: yes!
Endzeit-Jan aka Jan Linzmaier, my old friend cannot answer anymore, he passed awy last year...
Jan-Hendrik
Endzeit-Jan aka Jan Linzmaier, my old friend cannot answer anymore, he passed awy last year...
Jan-Hendrik
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axelkoester
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hi Jan-Hendrik!
I am sorry to hear that. My condolences!
Axel
I am sorry to hear that. My condolences!
Axel
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spannermann
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Re: SS-Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 11 'Nordland'
Hi Phillip,A long time in reply to your query which was about the correct number of 251's in the SS Pz AA 11 unit, but from your initial comment its looks like you're talking about the 5th Kompanie only.phillip burke wrote: ↑08 Feb 2020, 12:38Hello all, can anyone confirm that this is the correct amount of sdkfz 251 s , staff 1 sdkfz 251/3 1st platoon staff 1 sdkfz 251/3 , 1 sdkfz 251/1 ammo carrier, troops 6 sdkfz 251/9.plus four of these conversion with stuka ze fuss. 2nd platoon 6 sdkfz 251/1 one for staff one for ammo and 4 for towing Pak 40. 3rd platoon 1 command vehicle sdkfz 251/11 and 2 sdkfz 251/1 for towing infantry guns 75. 4th platoon 1 sdkfz 251/1 for staff 6 sdkfz 251/7 . Numbering sequence for vehicles. staff 501. 1st platoon 511 - 518. 2nd platoon 521 - 526. 3rd platoon 531 - 533. 4th platoon 541 - 547.
The 5kp /SS Pz AA 11 was created based on a PzAA Type 43 OOB, which for;-
The Kompanie Stab is KStN 1121 (gp) 1.11.43This Stab contains a 251/3 for chef and a 251/11
The 1st Zug is KStN 1125 (gp) 21.12.42This contains a 251/1 for chef, a 251/4 (ammo) and 6x 251/9, 4x with Stuka ze Fuss and 1, 2 or 3 others with four spare rockets apiece carried on their side armour.
The 2nd Zug is KStN 1145 (gp) 1.3.43This contains a 251/1 for chef, 3x 251/4 each with a Pak 40 and a 251/4 (ammo)
Another version of KStN 1145 (gp) 1.3.43 contains 1x 251/17 for chef, 3x 251/17 each with a Pak 40 and 1x 251/1 (ammo), the problem here is that due to delays in manufacture the 251/17 did not enter service until approximately October 1944, so this KStN is invalid for approximately another 18 months.
The 3rd Zug is KStN 1123a (gp) 1.3.43This contains a 251/1 chef, 2x 251/1 each with an iG 7,5cm and a 251/1 (ammo)
The 4th Zug is KStN 1124a (gp) 1.3.43This contains a 251/10 3,6 cm Pak or often a 251/7 also with a Pak 3,6 cm for chef and 6x 251/7.
Reference your earlier comment, it is not correct to have a 251/11 FernsprechSpw as the chef's vehicle of a troop, that is tactical number 531 in your comment, but there should be a 251/11 in the Kompanie Stab as per the KStN 1121 (gp).
Of course whilst all the above KStN are the correct theoretical OOB of these units, and most units were correct to these KStN's, there will of course be some slight variations, either through lack of the correct vehicles or through combat losses.
Note that for a PzAA Typ 44 OOB the 5th sKompanie became the s4 Kompanie, but SS PzAA 11 was formed as a Pz AA Tye 43 and never implemented theTyp 44 OOB this remaining a Typ 43 right through to wars end.
Pz AA are always an interesting subject, but are also a complicated subject with so many KStN changes over the years and not easy to correctly understand.
cheers