Führer Grenadier Brigade
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| Führer Grenadier Brigade (FGB) | |
|---|---|
 Divisional insignia of Großdeutschland |
|
| Active | Raised April 1943, Surrendered May 1945 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | Infantry |
| Type | Motorized Infantry |
| Part of | Created as Grenadier Batallion, expanded on paper to Grenadier Division 1945. |
| Garrison/HQ | Rastenburg, East Prussia, Fallsingbostel |
| Engagements | Grosswaltersdorf, Herbstnebel |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Oberst Hans-Joachim Kahler |
101 Panzer Regiment 99 Panzergrenadier Regiment Artillerie Regiment 'FGB'(-) 911 Sturmgeschutz Brigade 124 Flak Abteilung Kampfschule 'FGB' 1124 Infantriegeschutz Kompanie 1124 Panzerjäger Kompanie
The Führer Genadier Brigade was an élite German Heer combat unit which saw action during World War II.
The Führer Genadier Brigade is sometimes mistakenly perceived as being a part of the Waffen-SS, whereas it was actually a Heer unit and technically assigned to the Großdeutschland Division.
Contents |
[edit] Creation and Early History
The Führer Genadier Battalion was raised in April, 1943 to act as a second guard unit on the outer perimeter of Hitler's Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia.
Despite the idea of Hitler's bodyguards being drawn from the SS, a small detachment was drawn from the Wach Regiment to become Hitler's private bodyguard. This unit was called the Führer Begleit (or Führer Escort), and was to eventually be expanded to divisional size (see Führer Begleit Division).
[edit] Brigade - Eastern Front
In 1944, the Battalion was reorganized as an armored brigade at Fallingbostel. Personnel were drawn fron the Großdeutschland Division pool of hand-picked personnel. In October 1944, it was assigned to XXVII Korps of the FOURTH ARMEE and sent to the vicinity of Gumbinnen. They fought at Daken and Grosswaltersdorf from October 21 - 23. The Brigade operated in conjunction with 5th Panzer Division and the 'Hermann Göring" Division.
[edit] Western Front - Wacht am Rhein
Between December 11 - 17, 1944, the Brigade was sent west to participate in Operation Herbstnebel. The Brigade's composition did not match any standard unit configuration. The Großdeutschland Division never fought on the western front, however, the Führer Grenadier Brigade was technically a part of the division and some photographs show the Großdeutschland Insignia from the Battle of the Bulge. As a part of Großdeutschland, FGB was permitted to wear unique insignia of the type granted to Waffen-SS units. The Großdeutschland was ordered to wear the cuff title on the right sleeve, while the SS wore theirs on the left. In 1945, the Brigade was awarded their own cuff title, FGB. FGB was assigned to SEVENTH ARMEE Reserve for Operation Herbstnebel.
[edit] Großdeutschland Insignia
Image of the Latin Script cuff title introduced in 1944. From the GD for CM website, courtesy the webmaster.
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[edit] Division - 1945
The Brigade was pulled from the line in early January. On paper, it was enlarged to a Division and assigned to Heeresgruppe Vistula. In April, it was reassigned to Sixth SS-Panzer ARMEE. The Führer Grenadier Division surrendered to U.S. troops in May 1945 near Vienna, Austria.
[edit] Commanders
| Führer Grenadier Brigade (April 1943 - May 1945) | ||
| In work | 1 | |
| In work | 1 | |
| Oberst Hans-Joachim Kahler (badly wounded) | July 10, 1944 - December 23, 1944 | |
| Major von Courbière | Dec 1944 - Jan 1945 | |
| Generalmajor Hellmuth Mäder (Führer Grenadier Division) | January 26, 1945 - February 1, 1945 | |
| Generalmajor Erich von Haßenstein (1 Feb 1945 - 8 May 1945) | February 1, 1945 - May 8, 1945 | |
[edit] Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
- Generalmajor Hellmuth Mäder, awarded Swords to his Knight's Cross on 18 April 1945 as Commander of the Führer Grenadier Division.
[edit] 101 Panzer Regiment
Hauptmann Herbert Hensel, Knight's Cross on 5 March 1945 as Commander of the II. Abteilung (Panzer-Füsilier-Bataillon)/Panzer-Regiment 101 (former I./PzGrenRegt 99).
[edit] 99 Panzergrenadier Regiment
Major Ernst-Günter Lehnhoff, Knight's Cross on 12 December 1944 as Commander of the Panzer-Füsilier-Bataillon of the Führer-Grenadier-Brigade (I./PzGrenRegt 99).
[edit] Order of Battle
- 101 Panzer Regiment
1 Companie - 12 Panthers
2 Companie - 12 Panthers
3 Companie - 12 Panthers
4 Companie - 11 Panzer V with 88mm Pak 43
5 Companie - 14 Stug III
- 99 Panzergrenadier Regiment
92 Armored Personnel Carriers
- Artillerie Regiment 'FGB'(-)
12 - 150mm guns (10 guns on loan to Skorzeny's Panzer Brigade 150 during Herbstnebel)
- 911 Sturmgeschutz Brigade
1 Companie - 10 Stug III
2 Companie - 14 Stug III
3 Companie - 6 Stug III
- 124 Flak Abteilung
- Kampfschule 'FGB'
- 1124 Infantriegeschutz Kompanie
- 1124 Panzerjäger Kompanie - 3 Marder III, 4 Hunting Panthers, 6 Hetzer
- 1124 Panzer Aufklärungs Kompanie
- 1124 Flak Kompanie - 26 guns
- 1124 Pionier Kompanie
- 1124 Nachrichten Abteilung
- Nachschub Truppe 'FGB'
- Werkstatt Kompanie 'FGB'
- Sanitäts Kompanie 'FGB'
[edit] See also
List of German divisions in World War II
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] Printed references
- Quarrie, Bruce The Ardennes Offensive, I ARMEE & VII ARMEE (Order of Battle series book, Osprey Publishing Group, London, UK. 2001. ISBN 1 85532 913 1
[edit] Web resources
- Pipes, Jason. "Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland". Retrieved December 29, 2007.
- "Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. (Follow links for Infanterie Division Großdeutschland (mot).) Retrieved December 29, 2007.
