16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS
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16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS was a division of German Waffen-SS during World War II.
It was formed in November 1943 when volksdeutsche recruits were added to the Sturmbrigade Reichsführer-SS, which was was thus upgraded to divisional status. The majority of the recruites were Norwegians.
A kampfgruppe (combat "group") from the division fought the Allied landings at Anzio, while the rest took part in the occupation of Hungary. It fought in Italy as a unit from May 1944 until being transferred to Hungary in February 1945. In late summer 1944, while retreating towards the Gothic Line positions in the Appennini mountains, some units of this division committed several major atrocities against civilians in Sant'Anna di Stazzema and Marzabotto.
It surrendered to British forces near Klagenfurt, Austria at the end of the war. [1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Marcus Wendel. Waffen SS units (16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS). Axis History Factbook. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.