Hitler's Defeat on the Eastern Front
Page 7
Inside a forest clearing and SS soldiers pose for a group photograph with their mosquito nets temporarily pulled back over their headdress. With the vast amounts of lakes and stagnated pools of water in the forested regions of the Baltics and northern Russia, mosquitoes plagued the daily routine of the German soldier.
The crew of a 10.5cm artillery gun have positioned their weapon inside a town in eastern Germany. By early April the German Army dug-in as the Russians prepared to smash across the Oder and reach Berlin. The atmosphere among the troops had become a mixture of terrible foreboding and despair.
An 8cm sGrW 34 mortar crew in action against an enemy target during the battle of the Reich in March/April I945. By this period of the war suicidal opposition from the last remaining SS and Wehrmacht strong points were being grimly held at all costs. Many isolated units spent hours or even days fighting a bloody defence and were slowly ground down by the sheer superiority of the Soviet colossus.
Appendices
Appendix One
Waffen-SS
Weapons and Equipment
The bulk of the weapons and equipment used by the Waffen-SS throughout the war was more or less identical to that used by the Wehrmacht. A number of small arms, particularly those of foreign origin, saw considerable use in the units of the Waffen-SS due to the Wehrmacht's reluctance to supply sufficient quantities of German-produced hard wear to Himmler's elite force. The Waffen-SS used a huge variety of weaponry, everything from small arms to heavy tanks. The elite SSPanzer divisions, especially, were equipped with Germany's best tanks and supporting armoured vehicles. From 1943 onward, Waffen-SS troops were normally the first to be furnished with a host of new modern weaponry. However, even these elite troops were curtailed by never-ending shortages and were supplied with various weapons and equipment in order to sustain them on the battlefield long enough to drive back the growing enemy forces.
During the last two years of the war the Waffen-SS supplemented the finest hardware the German armaments industry could produce with many standard popular weapons and equipment used by their Wehrmacht counterparts. Below are the principle types of weaponry used by the Waffen-SS, especially during the last two years of the war. The Wehrmacht also used a wide variety of these weapons and equipment too.
Popular Waffen-SS Weapons and Equipment
SMALL ARMS
Pistole 08 Pistol or Luger
Pisztoly 37M Hungarian Service Pistol
Frommer 7.65mm Hungarian Pistol
Model 1914 Norwegian Service Pistol
Fallschirmjäger 42 Automatic Rifle
Maschinenkarabiner 42
Gewehr 41 (W) Self-Loading Rifle
Maschinenpistole (MP) 28
Maschinenpistole (MP) 43
Sturmgewehr 44 (Assault Rifle)
Maschinenpistole (MP) 38
Maschinenpistole (MP) 40
Kar 98K Bolt-Action Rifle
INFANTRY SUPPORT WEAPONS
Maschinengewehr 34 (MG)
Maschinengewehr 42 (MG)
5cm Leichte Granatwerfer (leGW) 36 Mortar
15cm Nebelwerfer 41 (NbW 41)
21cm Nebelwerfer 42 (NbW 42)
Flammenwerfer (FIW) 41
Steilhandgrenate 39
Anti-tank and Anti-aircraft Weapons
7.92mm Panzerb?sche 38 Anti-Tank Rifle
7.92mm Panzerb?sche 39 Anti-Tank Rifle
3.7cm Pak 35/36 Anti-Tank Gun
5cm Pak 38 Anti-Tank Gun
7.5cm Pak 40 Heavy Anti-Tank Gun
8.8cm Pak 43 Heavy Anti-Tank Gun
Faustpatrone 30 Anti-Tank Rocket
Raketenpanzerb?sche (RPzB) 54 Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher
2cm Flugabwehrkanone (Flak) 30
2cm Flugabwehrkanone (Flak) 38
8.8cm Flugabwehrkanone (Flak) 18
ARTILLERY
10.5cm leFH 18 Light Field Howitzer
7.5cm Leichte Feldkanone 18 (leFK)
7.5cm Feldkanone 40 (FK 40)
10cm Kanone 18 (s 10cm K 18)
15cm Schwere Feldhaubitze 18 (sFH 18)
21cm M?rser 18 (21cm Mrs 18) Heavy Gun
Armoured Cars and Halftracks
ARMOURED CARS
Sd.Kfz.221
Sd.Kfz.222
Sd.Kfz.223
Sd.Kfz.231
Sd.Kfz.234
Sd.Kfz.260
Sd.Kfz.261
Sd.Kfz.263
ARTILLERY PRIME MOVER HALFTRACKS
Sd.Kfz.2
Sd.Kfz.6
Sd.Kfz.7
Sd.Kfz.8
Sd.Kfz.9
Sd.Kfz.10
Sd.Kfz.11
LIGHT ARMOURED RECONNAISSANCE HALFTRACKS
Sd.Kfz.250 Series (12 Variants)
LIGHT AMMUNITION CARRIER HALFTRACK
Sd.Kfz.252
Sd.Kfz.253
MEDIUM ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER HALFTRACK
Sd.Kfz.251 (22 Variants)
PANZERS
Pz.Kpfw.III (Later Variants)
Pz.Kpfw.IV (Later Variants)
Pz.Kpfw.V Panther
Pz.Kpfw.VI. Tiger.I
Pz.Kpfw.VI. Tiger.II
ASSAULT GUNS AND TANK DESTROYERS
Sturmgeschütz (StuG.III) (Later Variants)
Sturmgeschütz (StuG.IV)
Panzerjager Marder.I
Panzerjäger Marder.II
Panzerjäger Marder.III
Panzerjäger Nashorn
Panzerjäger Hummel
Panzerjäger Wespe
Jagdpanzer.IV/70 Tank Destroyer
Jagdpanzer.38 (t) Hetzer
Jagdpanzer. V Jagdpanther
Appendix Two
Infantry Division 1944
By 1944 the infantry division had gone through a series of changes and had been modified and reorganised. The reconnaissance battalion for instance was removed and introduced with a bicycle mounted reconnaissance platoon within every regiment. The anti-tank battalion was more or less made motorised and consisted of an anti-tank company equipped with Jagdpanzer IVs, Hetzers or StuG’s, which were organised into three platoons of 4 vehicles and an HQ section of 2 vehicles, a motorised anti-tank company of 12 x 7.5cm Pak 40 guns and a motorised flak company equipped with 12 x 2cm or 3.7cm flak guns. The engineer battalion also took over the responsibility of the heavy weapons company. It comprised of three engineer companies, each equipped with 2 x 81cm mortars, 2 x MG’s and 6 portable flamethrowers. The heavy weapons in the engineer battalion was normally mounted in trucks, but by 1944 they were predominately pulled by animal draught, whilst the troops would be mounted on bicycles.
At regimental level an anti-tank company was added. This consisted of a platoon equipped with 3 x 5cm Pak 38 guns and 2 platoons armed with Panzerfausts. Within the regiments, the infantry battalion was reduced in size to just two. A number of divisions in the field were attached with fusilier battalions and were structured identically to the new standard rifle battalion. The infantry battalions were equipped with 4 x 12cm heavy mortars, whilst the rifle companies heavy weapons platoon were equipped with 2 x 8.1cm mortars.
The Panzergrenadier Division 1944
By 1944 many infantry divisions were re-designated as Panzergrenadier divisions. Although having an armoured designation, the Panzergrenadier division was still technically an infantry formation. However, unlike a normal infantry division there was a higher than usual attachment of armoured vehicles. A typical Panzergrenadier division had at least one battalion of infantry that were transported to the forward edge of the battlefield by Sd.kfz.251 halftracks, and various armoured support provided by its own StuG battalion. A typical Panzergrenadier division normally composed an HQ company, a motorised engineer battalion and two Panzergrenadier regiments. Invariably a Panzergrenadier division had a StuG Battalion, which contained an HQ platoon equipped with 3 StuG's and 3 StuG Companies. The StuG battalion was normally supported by a company comprising of a StuG platoon which was equipped with 4 x StuG's with I0.5cm guns, a flak platoon with 3 x quad 2cm guns m
ounted on Sd.Kfz.6 or 7 halftracks, an armoured engineer platoon with 5 x Sd.Kfz.250 halftracks, and a motorised signal platoon. Other support elements with the divisions comprised of the following:
ARTILLERY REGIMENT
3 × 2cm Flak Guns towed by a howitzer battalion
3 × 2cm Flak Guns
4 × 15cm sFH 18 Howitzers
4 × 10.5cm leFH 18 Howitzers
1 battery of 6 × Hummel's
2 batteries of 6 × Wespe's
1 Company of 14 × Jagdpanzers
15 × 7.5cm Pak 40 vehicle towed Guns
1 Company of 12 × Quad Flak 2cm Guns
2 Companies of 4 × 8.8cm Guns
ARMOURED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION
4 Platoons of 4× Sd.Kfz.231
MG Platoons of 4 × MG 34/42 [on sustained fire mounts]
3 × Rifle Platoons
ARMOURED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION SUPPORT
2 × 7.5cm le 1G 18 Guns
3 × 5cm Pak 38 Guns
1 × Engineer Platoon
Panzer/Panzergrenadier-Brigade July 1944
By early July 1944 as the situation in Army Group Centre deteriorated Hitler outlined that his forces needed small, mobile, fast armoured Kampfgruppe, which could be used effectively in action to meet the attacking enemy armoured formations. During the first week of July plans were issued to create these special armoured Kampfgruppe. They were to consist of at least one SPW-Battalion; one Panzer group with some 40 Panzers, one Pak Company and a number of flak wagons. In total about twelve such Kampfgruppe, named as Panzer-Brigades, were to be issued to fighting units on the Eastern Front.
On 11 July OKH issued orders to create ten Panzer Brigades and these were designated as Panzer-Brigade 101 to 110. Each Panzer-Brigade had one Panzer-Abteilung with three Panther companies and one Panzer Jaeger Company, one Panzergrenadier Battalion with four companies.
Wehrmacht Panzer-Division (1944)
Panzer Division HQ
Reconnaissance Battalion
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Battalion
Combat Engineers Battalion
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
Tank Regiment
Tank Battalion
Tank Battalion
Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Mechanized Infantry Battalion
Road Motorized Infantry Battalion
Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Road Motorized Infantry Battalion
Infantry Battalion
Artillery Regiment
Artillery Battalion
Artillery Battalion
Artillery Battalion
Appendix Three
Combat Uniforms of the Waffen-SS 1943–45
General Information Notes
This section is not to give a definite reference to the combat uniforms worn by all the Waffen-SS divisions that saw active service during the latter half of the war, but simply to supply the reader with the general uniforms seen on the battle front between 1943–45
TUNICS
The Waffen-SS service uniforms worn between 1943–45 were generally designed in the typical army pattern M1940 tunic. They were field-grey in colour and manufactured from wool/rayon mixed material. They had four box pleated patch pockets. The collar patches displayed the typical wartime machine embroidered runes or insignia of the attached division. The shoulder straps were piped in a number of various colours depending on rank. On the left sleeve was the standard machine-embroidered eagle and chevron displaying the rank. The most prominent piece of insignia was the cuff title worn by all premier SS formations. The lesser divisions, or better known as non-German volunteer SS divisions wore tunics that varied considerably in quality. The design of the tunic was almost universal, but the volunteers, presumably to retain the individual soldiers national pride, normally wore the divisional emblem patch on the right collar, the national arm shield and the cuff title.
CAMOUFLAGE SMOCKS AND UNIFORMS
The Waffen-SS were the first soldiers in the World to be issued with camouflage clothing on a large scale. These camouflage printed uniforms became as much the hallmark of the Waffen-SS as the runes worn on their collars. The patterns, however, were quite varied and as a consequence multitude camouflage patterns were developed through the war. The camouflage jacket or smock was a very popular piece of uniform and was supposed to be worn over the wool service uniform and the field equipment. This loose fitting reversible smock was made from a high quality water-repellent cotton duck material, one side usually screened printed in spring/summer colour scheme and the reverse showing autumn/winter colours. From 1943 onwards the camouflage patterns varied considerably from the early type 1940 oakleaf camouflage smock, the M1942 second type oakleaf and palm tree camouflage smocks, M1943 ‘pea’ pattern drill camouflage uniform, to the M1944 ‘pea’ pattern camouflage drill uniform. It was not uncommon to see Waffen-SS soldiers in 1943–45, wearing a combination of the MI943 drill and M1944 herringbone twill camouflage uniforms. The difference in colours was quite apparent between the predominately ochre yellow 1943 jacket or trousers and the pinkish brown hue of the 1944 trousers or jacket.
Another item of camouflage clothing worn by the Waffen-SS during the war was the M1937 style camouflage tunic. It was made of herringbone twill, printed with ‘pea’ pattern camouflage and resembled the classic M37 tunic, since it had pleated breast pockets with flaps lined with artificial silk.
In 1944, the camouflage blouse was introduced. This waist length blouse roughly resembled the M1944 feldbluse or the British battledress blouse in cut, though with open patch pockets. It was made from Zeltbahn material, with autumn colours on the outside, but was not reversible.
WINTER UNIFORMS
The most universal item of winter clothing worn by the Waffen-SS was the two-piece snowsuit. This shapeless two-piece snowsuit consisting of a white jacket and white trousers were commonly worn by the SS, especially the volunteer combat formations. Another form of white snow camouflage clothing was the long overall coat, which buttoned right down the front of the garment. Large and shapeless it was worn without a belt over any uniform and all the equipment. However, the snowsuit tended to restrict the wearers freedom of movement and was not very popular by late 1943.
One of the most popular items of clothing in the winter was the reversible padded winter uniform, which was worn by both the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS in the later war years. This padded grey/white suit was produced in the winter of 1942 43, and was the first truly reversible cold weather uniform offering both concealment and extra warmth to become available to the troops on the Eastern Front in large numbers. Originally the suit was in grey-green, although the SS had them produced in a darker steel grey colour.
Another garment worn by the SS in the later war period was the Italian fur-lined, padded over-jacket, which was made from captured Italian camouflage material in 1944. The jacket was made large enough to be worn over the field equipment, so that a soldiers weapons and ammunition could also be kept warm in the extreme arctic conditions. In the cold weather the hood could be easily tightened around the head and helmet.
PANZER UNIFORM
The most common armoured uniform worn by the Panzer units of the Waffen-SS was the special black armoured crew uniform. The SS Panzer uniforms varied from that of the army version, and consisted of small and more rounded lapels and lacked the pink upper lapel piping initially worn by all army ranks. The black uniform was a very practical garment for all types of duty and was still seen in 1943 when the camouflage clothing specifically for armoured crews were introduced.
The armoured crews camouflage overalls were designed entirely for concealment when the crewman was away from his vehicle. The overall was reversible with autumn browns inside, and a green oakleaf type pattern for the spring and summer.
Another popular variation of the armoured uniform was the reed-green two-piece garment. However, by January 1944, it was decided to replace it with a two-piece printed ‘pea’ pattern camouflage version.
There were three slightly different models manufactured, but the cut did not vary.
ASSAULT GUN UNIFORM
When designing the uniform for crews of tank destroyers and self-propelled assault guns serving in the Panzer and Panzergrenadier divisions, the Germans decided on using the same style and practical cut of the black Panzer uniform to produce a new version, known as the self-propelled gun crew uniform. This special uniform was made entirely of field-grey cloth with all the details of cut and design as those of the black Panzer uniform. However, the uniform did differ in respect to the SS collar insignia.
Another variation of the assault gun uniform, but introduced in the later part of the war was the ‘pea’ style herringbone camouflage jacket with pointed lapels.
STEEL HELMET
The most distinctive universal headgear issued to the Waffen-SS was the steel helmet. In particular during the second half of the war the SS wore three major models, the basic M1935 and M1940 to the final M1942 pattern. By 1943 most of the steel helmets were predominantly covered with camouflage cloth that were held on by an envelope of material that slipped over the peak, and by three small sprung clips, one either side and one at the rear. The fabric, normally matching the camouflage smock, was printed on both sides in contrasting seasonal colour schemes for spring/summer and autumn/winter. However, even by 1943 there were still Waffen-SS soldiers, including those in the premier SS divisions that wore the single decal steel helmets without the camouflage fabric covering. The helmets had their previous shiny surface removed by soldiers daubing them with mud and camouflaging them with anything available, from vehicle paint to winter whitewash. In fact, by 1943 some artistic SS troops begun to mimic the various dot camouflage uniform patterns by applying paint to the helmet while covering it with chicken wire netting. The colours varied, but on many examples soldiers applied browns, greens and ochre's that were colours specifically issued to camouflage vehicles from mid-1943 onwards.