SS-Oberabschnitt Alpenland

SS-Oberabschnitt Alpenland was one of two main division strength commands of the Allgemeine-SS in the country of Austria. The Alpenland Oberabschnitt was formed in 1939, a year after Germany incorporated Austria through the Anschluss. The territory of the Oberabschnitt Alpenland had previously been a part of the SS-Oberabschnitt Donau.

Alfred Rodenbücher, who had served as the original commander of the Donau Oberabschnitt, was also the first commander of Oberabschnitt Alpenland. The headquarters of the Oberabschnitt was in the city of Salzburg. The command encompassed the northern border of Austria and Germany, including the area of the Berghof. SS soldiers attached to the Oberabschnitt Alpenland would occasionally perform ceremonial duties at the Berghof; however, during visits by Adolf Hitler, security was always provided by the Leibstandarte-SS.

During World War II, Oberabschnitt Alpenland was gradually folded into the office of the SS and Police Leader commanding the northern Austrian frontier. As the war progressed, most of the General-SS troops either joined the Waffen-SS or were conscripted into the Wehrmacht. By 1941, the commander and staff of the Oberabschnitt Alpenland had been completely merged with the Office of the SS and Police Leader of Salzburg.

The last commander of Oberabschnitt Alpenland was SS-Gruppenführer Erwin Rösener; however, during the last year of World War II, the day-to-day administration of the command was handled by SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Harm. Oberabschnitt Alpenland was disbanded in May 1945 upon the surrender of Nazi Germany.

Oberabschnitt Commanders

• SS-Gruppenführer Alfred Rodenbucher (June 1, 1939 - May 15, 1941)
• SS-Brigadeführer Dr. Gustav-Adolf Scheel (May 15, 1941 - November 18, 1941)
• SS-Gruppenführer Erwin Rösener (November 18, 1941 - May 8, 1945)
  • SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Harm [Acting Deputy] (November 1, 1944 - May 8, 1945)

Subordinate SS-Regiments

• 76th SS-Standarte

Reference

• Yerger, Mark C. Allgemeine-SS: The Commands, Units, and Leaders of the General SS, Schiffer Publishing (1997). ISBN 0-7643-0145-4