Die Bandenkämpfer - Holders of Bandenkampfabzeichen

[FransN]

Zdravo Ivane (hello Ivan) and other forum members,

Now that's an interesting battalion CO of I./14 in late March 1945!!! I have a Hstuf. Erich Fischer (*15.06.1915) as CO of that battalion around that time.
The name looks like Koberstern. I have not been able to find a Stubaf. (or with any other rank) with that or a similar name in any files so far. Can anybody help???

Best regards,
Frans

[Ivan Ž.]

Hallo, Frans

According to the source website, the name is Koberstein (see the link I provided; there's also a document with a company commander's name there). But I have no info on Koberstein, Koberstern or anyone with a remotely similar name. Good luck and let me know what you find out

Cheers,
Ivan

[FransN]

Hi Ivan,

I checked for the name of "Koberstein" or similar names on AHF, in John P. Moore's "Führerliste der Waffen-SS", in the DAL of 1938/1939, 1 July 1944, October 1943 and October 1944. Nothing. Also Otto Kumm does not mention him in his divisional history. His name does not show up in any KTB or in the Vopersal archive. He might be a Major that recently came over from the Wehrmacht and got/used the Sturmbannführer rank. But personally I suspect that these documents are a fake with an invented name.
This is corroborated by the Besitzzeugnis for the Verwundetenabzeichen, signed in Travnik on 09.03.1944. The name of the regiment (14) is "Skanderbeg" !!! In March 1944 the division "Skanderbeg" had not even been raised. If Rgt. 14 ever used the name "Skanderbeg", then only in the final months of the war, when the remnants of the "Skanderbeg" battle group were absorbed as the reconstituted II./Rgt. 14 (in winter 1945).
Fake documents? What's your opinion?

Best regards,
Frans

[Ivan Ž.]

Hello, Frans

Yes, I've noticed it too (the name of Skanderbeg and the date in the Wound Badge document). That's not right. I first assumed that there was simply a typo in the date (year): '44, instead of '45 (some division elements were indeed located in the Travnik area in early March 1945). The documents themselves seem genuine, compared to other similar documents that I've seen - but they also seem rather easy to fake. So, I don't know (a document expert's opinion would be appreciated). It would make sense that he was awarded the Wound Badge as SS-Rttf. on 9 March 1945, got promoted to SS-Uscha. and was awarded the Bandit-Fighting Badge on 28 March 1945. However, the year 1944 was written twice in the Wound Badge document, decreasing the chances of being a typo. So something's definitely not right there. (By the way, Frans, can you read the company commander's name? It might be helpful.)

Cheers,
Ivan

PS
We should have started a separate thread for this discussion I think.

[FransN]

Hello Ivan,

I cannot decipher the name of the company Chef.

I have the following Chef's names for the relevant periods as to my knowledge (early 1944 & possibly early 1945)

Ustuf Herbert Gross (* 17.09.1921)
Chef 2./14 on 10.12.1943 (BA-MA RS-files, I can let you know the exact numbers)
Chef 2./14 in 05.1944 (John P . Moore's "Führerliste der Waffenn-SS")

Ustuf. Felix Benesch (* 19.02.1922)
Chef 2./14 on 19.10.1944 (BA-MA RS-files)
Chef 2./14 on 02.11.1944 (BA-MA RS-files)

Best regards,
Frans

PS I still think this is all a hoax. But I cannot really prove it.... It's just my personal gut feeling.

[Ivan Ž.]

I know what you mean And you gotta trust your gut! Too many things don't seem right there. Either we're lacking info, or it's indeed a hoax.

Cheers,
Ivan

[Michael Miller]

SS-Untersturmführer und Kriminalsekretär Ernst Green (RSHA) – Bandenkampfabzeichen in Bronze, 1945.
Stammkarte from his SS-Personalakte (SSO_Grawitz-Grener_030A NARA).

~ Mike

[Igor Karpov]

Erwin Rösener.

Regards,
Igor

[Michael Miller]

Damn, that's a nice and rare shot, Igor.
May I ask the name of the newspaper in which it appeared?

Best wishes,
~ Mike

[steve248]

Another holder (comes from UK National Archives) (10 Feb 1945, was distributuion of the message among British Intelligence; the Jan 1945 date is the date of transmission):

IMG_0003.JPG

[Georg_S]

Hello all,

here is a photo of SS-Hstuf Werner Blessau wearing his Bandenkampfabz. among all the other awards,

Best regards
Georg

[mil-archive]

SS-Sturmbannführer und Major d.Sch. Ernst Strothmann.

His photo group was recently broken apart on ebay including with Pol.Rgt.2 & an image of him with BKA in wear.

Some of the writings on the picture backs included :

Podmielki December 1942"
Starolin 10.2.43"
"March 1943 Iwancewicze"
"Lepel May 1943"
Begomel June 1943"
"July 1943 Rgts.-Gef. St. im Walde near Lessenij - ....
Senior Physician Dr. Schwarz, O. Inspector Matthei"
October 1943 Polota"
November 1943 Dretun"
– Newel November/December 1943"

see also :
https://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/inde ... trothmann/

geb. 13.07.1908
NSDAP ab 1.5.1933, Nr. 2158680,
SS-Stubaf., Nr. 357206
Leutnant m.W.v. 01.10.1935,
Oberltn. m.W..v. 1.8.1936,
Hptm. m.W.v. 1.1.38, RDA. 30.1.38,
Maj. m.W.v. 1.10.44, RDA. 9.11.44.

Strothmann-030 - crop.jpg

Pol-Btl-2-010.jpg

A3343 SSO-B167

SSO Strothmann, Ernst (1).jpg

SSO Strothmann, Ernst (2).jpg

Gets a mention in T-175 R 7 (Kampfgruppe Hannibal)

T175 R7__1068.jpg

https://search.ancestry.de/cgi-bin/sse. ... cessSource

Name: Ernst Strothmann
Geschlecht: männlich
Alter: 36
Geburtsdatum: 13. Jul 1908
Sterbedatum: 20. Feb 1945
Sterbeort: Braunsberg/Ostpreußen
Registrierungsdatum: 1952
Standesamt: Standesamt I in Berlin-West
Ehepartner: Gertrud Wilhelmine Strothmann
Urkunde Nummer: 9677

[Ivan Ž.]

SS-Rottenführer Georg Wirkert ("Handschar" Division)

(source: eBay)

Wirkert, Georg, ??, SS-Rottenführer, 13. Waffen-Geb.Div. dSS "Handschar" - BKAb ? death card

SS-Rottenführer Georg Wirkert (Handschar Division) - APB

SS-Rottenführer Georg Wirkert (Handschar Division) - APB

Important note: Wirkert was pictured on his death card in a "Handschar" uniform (with no decorations visible) and it was stated that he was a holder of the Bandenkampfabzeichen. However, although he obviously served in the "Handschar" at some point of his military service, I'm quite sure that if he indeed earned such a decoration, he earned it while serving in a different unit (as far as I've noticed, "Handschar" and "Prinz Eugen" men, who exclusively fought partisans, weren't awarded the Bandenkampfabzeichen; also, Wirkert, killed in March 1945, was buried in Bocholt, far from the operational areas of the "Handschar" Division).

Cheers,
Ivan

[Matt Gibbs]

Damn, that's a nice and rare shot, Igor.
May I ask the name of the newspaper in which it appeared?

Best wishes,
~ Mike

Better late than never, I echo that sentiment. Great photo of Rosener with the badge in wear !

May I add that the junior SS ranked Kriminalsecretar award was one I also find interesting. Moved from a desk job into a combat unit ?

[Matt Gibbs]

Do anyone has infos about the BKA holders of the Kriegsmarine?

Kriegsmarine recipients would seem to be the most unusual- possibly neglected in research ? I'm afraid I'm guilty myself for not really being able to get a handle on this, I'm yet to really understand how the KM involvement would allow qualification or which theatres of operations.