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Brandenburg Division

History

Brandenburg Regiment was expanded to full division with four light infantry regiments, signals battalion, tropical battalion and coastal raider battalion in February 1943. Being experienced in anti-partisans warfare more and more divisions units were being transferred from other fronts to Yugoslavia and Greece.

Brandenburgers specialist troops were used in numerous anti-partisans operation launched by Germans from 1943 to 1944.

First to arrive was 4th Regiment which was stationed in Sjenica where it was subordinated to 1st Mountain Division. Regiment participated in disarming of Italian formation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in September 1943.

2nd Regiment which was spread between Greece and Albania was moved to Montenegro and participated in operation Kugelblitz.

Operation Rösselsprung

1st Regiment (without 3rd Battlion which guarded Skradin, Benkovac and Lozovac aluminum factory) lead a mixed battle group reinforced with rifle and engineer company from 373rd Division and 6 brigades and 4 battalions of Chetniks (2500 soldiers out of which only 426 were Germans) advancing from Knin towards Grahovo over mountainous terrain. All units gathered at 5 a.m. on 25 May in Knin and begun their advance at 5:05. Motorized column got strafed by 6 Allied aircraft at 7:00 and advance resumed at 8:00. North of Strmica near demolished bridge 800 meters south of Zaseok, vanguard run into two Grahovo-Peulje partisan detachment. From here on regiment had to fight its way to Grahovo by largely demolished and mined road preventing any chance of planed breakthrough on the first day. Key position of Cigelj was captured by 16:00 but scout car run into mine at first road curve and was disabled. Engineers commander reported that Strmica-Cigelj road was demolished at 17 places plus two brigades of 15 and 30 meters requiring two days for repairs. In the morning of 26 May one truck fell into abyss below Derala resulting in 2 killed and 5 wounded. Finally 2nd Battalion was sent on foot through undefended Jelina Polja to Grahovo where at 16:00 linked up with 105th SS Reconnaissance Battalion which fought its way through Livno field arriving there at 12:00. Both battalions planed their advance through Resanovac towards Drvar to aid 500th SS Parachute battalion. Motorized column finally arrived on 28 May at 14:00 to Grahovo after several air attack resulting in loss of one Flak-38, staff car and heavy damage on 6 trucks and one motorcycle as well as many flat tires. Delay allowed for 3rd Dalmatian Brigade to take defensive positions which was also made possible by Germans delaying notifying Chetniks until operation already begun in order to keep operation a secret.

...

On 27 May, 2nd Battalion suffered in 1 killed and 8 wounded,3 badly with Partisans losses at 3 killed and 6 wounded, Chetnik losses unknown.

...

On 28 May, 2nd Battalion suffered in 1 killed and 21 wounded,6 badly with Partisans losses at 3 killed and 12 wounded, Chetnik losses unknown.

Following days saw constant combat over mountainous and heavily forested terrain only to disengage on 5 June, primarily because Allied landing on Brač were thought to be part of larger plan but also because troops fought without food for 48 and drink for 24 hours giving Partisans badly needed break.

Regimental commander, LtColonel Walther considered Partisans 9th Division to be broken and decided to make reconnaissance in force and launch surprise attack directly 8th Corps HQ. Regiment begun its advance at 20:00 on 8 May leaving logistics at Grahovo unprotected only to learn at 20:15 that around 300 Partisans from 3rd Brigade begun their own attack on Grahovo forcing Regiment to split half its forces and send it back. After plan failed it was canceled at 3:30 with fresh attack to be made at 14:00 on 9 May. Finally at 17:15 mountain peaks were captured after heavy 4 hour fighting during which Lt. Späth was wounded in belly and 2nd Lt. von Wrede, battalion adjutant, killed. Attempts to advance further become impossible because of Partisan reinforcements and thick forest breaking contact and falling back at 21:15 ending the operation. Regiment suffered 1 officer killed, 3 NCO and 14 soldiers wounded while Partisans 3rd Brigade had 2 killed, 2 missing, 2 badly and 6 lightly wounded.

...

It was also planned to use Brandenburg commandos in cancelled Operation FREISCHÃœTZ.

Division suffered heavy losses during Belgrade and Batina operation.

  • Bataillon Ebbinghaus
  • Lehr und Bau Kompanie z.b.V. 800
  • Bataillon Brandenburg
  • Regiment Brandenburg
  • Division Brandenburg
  • Infanterie-Division Brandenburg (mot)
  • Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg

Staff

  • Jäger Regiment 1 Brandenburg
    • Commander: LtColonel Wilhelm Walther
    • captain Wandrrey
    • Lt. von Anderkas
    • Lt. Herenbach
    • Lt. Späth, WIA
    • 2nd Lt. von Wrede, KIA
    • dr. Becker,

Battles & Campaigns

References