The Axix Forces 3

by Afiero, Massimiliano

  At the beginning of June 1944, the 400-man unit moved from Stablack to the towns of Stockerau and Hollabrun, near Vienna, where it would be called the Freiwilligen Einheit Stockerau. Their first two companies, already completed, marched to the town of Solbad Hall im Tirol (now Hall im Tirol), near Innsbruck, to receive training as mountain troops for eight weeks. The entire unit will be named Freiwilligen Einheit Solbad Hall and its two companies, 101st Spanische-Freiwilligen Kompanie and 102nd Spanische-Freiwilligen Kompanie. From this group of men, about 50 were transferred to the Todt organization in the South of France for several reasons.

  In the Karstjäger

  After the training was completed in August 1944, the soldiers will be fitted into German units as diverse as the 357th Infantry Division, the 3rd Gebirgs Division or the Anti-Partisan units of the 3rd Regiment of the Brandenburg Division. Another contingent of Spaniards served for the SD and about 50 men performed antipartisan tasks in the area of the Pyrenees until being transferred to the Jadgverbande of Otto Skorzeny. The 101st, company attached to the 3.Gebirgs-Division (belonging to the XVII.Armee-Korps of the Group of armies South Ukraine of the Wehrmacht), departed from Solbad im Hall Tirol by train until Vienna from where they will set off to the Bucovina where they will arrive in the middle of August of 1944.

  Soldiers of the Brandenburg Division during an anti-partisan operation in Jugoslavia, 1944.

  A Karstjäger unit before an anti-partisan operation.

  Possibly a number of men who totaled a company (the 102nd), were entrusted to carry out anti-partisan fighting in Yugoslavia, in present-day Slovenia. The Spaniards commanded by Lieutenant Ortiz appear to have been integrated into the 8th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment of the Brandenburg Division. Part of these men remained in the north of Yugoslavia with order to fight to Tito´s partisans; another group that extended its antipartisans tasks towards Italian territory led by the lieutenants Ortiz and Demetrio following the 7th Company with which they will face the Italian partisan troops in localities such as Bevagna, Perugia, Arsoli, Carsoli, Avezzano or Terni, and later met with other “Brandenburgers” north of Turin in September 1944 (specifically in Ivrea), from where they will retreat to the south of France, although some of the Spaniards were leave behind and incorporated into the “Karstjäger“.

  Summer 1944: Karstjäger during operation Annemarie, conducted along the borders of theReich and in the province of Ljubljana.

  A Karstjäger soldier on the cover of the magazine ‘Adria Illustrierte‘, April 1945.

  At the end of October, as a result of the advance of the Soviet army and the Tito´s Yugoslav forces, there were withdrawals of the German troops, causing some of the Spaniards who had deployed through northern Italy were left behind, being absorbed by the SS-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 59 of the 24.Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS “Karstjäger”, under the command of the Sturmbannführer Werner Hahn. Here they would concentrate on a Spanish company with denomination 5.Kmp./II.Btl. (Spanish-Kmp.) belonging to the SS-Gebirs-Regiment 59, under the command of W-Ustuf. Ortiz Fernández. According to Ortiz’s testimony, he held a course in Solbad Hall im Tirol to qualify as an officer of the Waffen-SS, after which he recruited Spaniards through factories and prison camps around Vienna. With these men would increase the potential of his 5th Company of the 2nd Battalion, which he would command with the rank of Untersturmführer. The Karstjäger fought from November 1944 mainly in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (in German Julisch Venetien) to northeast Italy, west of Slovenia and Croatia with remarkable success. The Spanish Company would be fully operational with an approximate number of about 100 men between November and December, acting in antipartisan tasks in Villach and Pontebba, and later in Tolmezzo.

  SS-Ostubaf. Skorzeny in the Schwedt area, February 1945.

  In March of 1945 they acted in the area of Trieste in the battle that took place in the city of Gorizia against Tito´s partisans troops. According to the testimony of a “Karstjäger” German veteran, the Spanish company was very aggressive in the combats that were developed mainly in the sector of Chiaporano, in which the combat ended up being body to body. On April 8, the section commanded by the Oberscharführer Trápaga, was surrounded in Ponte di Canale, suffering major casualties. The combats against Yugoslav and Italian partisans caused a multitude of atrocities on both sides. The men of the “Karstjäger” at the end of the war also fought in the regions occupied by the English troops arriving to confront the famous British Desert Rats.

  Spanish with Skorzeny

  About the Spaniards enlisted in the Brandenburg (now withdrawing to France), were integrated in 8.Kompanie II.Bataillon 3.Regiment “BR” belonging to the “Streifkorps Biscaya” as part of the “Streifkorps Süd-Frankreich“. To these men commanded by Lieutenant Helmut Demetrio would join some Spaniards coming from the organization Todt constituting the denominated Einsatzgruppe Pyrenären from July 1944, that fought the maquis in the south and the south-east of France; totaling about 50 men. The Einsatzgruppe Pyrenären during his period of activity was distinguished in the antipartisan fight against the maquis, but they had to withdraw from France during the summer of 1944 along with Streifkorps Süd-Frankreich before the advance of the allied forces. In September 1944, when the Abwehr was absorbed, the Streifkorps Süd-Frankreich was transferred to the SS-Jagdvervänd Südwest under the command of the Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny. Possibly the men of Demetrio attached to the Einsatzgruppe Pyrenären that would be around 20-30 men, constituted the denominated “Kommando Kondor“, attached to the SS-Jagdeinsatz Süd-Frankreich.

  Leutnant Helmut Demetrio, at right in the photo, with some members of his unit.

  They were destined in a base close to Molsheim (an Alsatian town), to combat the infiltrations of French collaborators in the liberated regions. From January 1945, the Spaniards of the “Kommando Kondor” joined the reconnaissance and sabotage missions in the rear of the US 7th Army. In April 1945, the SS-Jagdvervänd Südwest merged into the SS-Jagdvervänd Mitte; at that time the latter was personally commanded by Skorzeny.

  With the Walloons of Degrelle and the 29th SS-Division

  From October 1944, the remains of the Spanish units that fought in Yugoslavia (102nd) are grouped in Stockerau and Hollabrunn with those who fought in the Carpathians (101st) and with the 3rd Company that had finished training with the volunteers who had kept coming.

  Spanish volunteers belonging to the Wallonien.

  At this time, the Spanisches-Freiwilligen-Einheit was incorporated into the Croatian Depot Brigade (Kroatisches-Ersatz-Brigade). The situation of “waiting” of the Spanish troops stationed in Stockerau, allowed that already from the early date of the 11 to 17 of December 1944, 33 men left the Austrian quartering with destination to the 28.SS-Freiw.Pz.Gren.Div. “Wallonien”.

  Wallonien officers at SS-Panzergrenadier-Schule of Kienschlag. At center, With right arm on his hip, SS-Ustuf. Roger de Goy. To his left, the Sturmscharführer Lorenzo Ocañas.

  On January 25, 1945, the Military District XVII (Vienna) established the 101st and 102nd Spanish Voluntary Companies as reinforcements of the 357th Infantry Division that would be deployed east of Bratislava. This would have been the fate of the remains of both companies, although everything changed due to the “escape” at the beginning of February 1945 from some of these men to the 28.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division “Wallonien” following his formerly escaped companions thanks to the mediation of Van Horembeke (Belgian nationalized Spanish), to the town of Hemmendorf where the location of the Wallonien Depot was at that time. Among these first Spaniards attracted for the “Wallonien” were several non-commissioned officers with considerable experience in combat with both the Blue Division and the Blue Legion on the Eastern Front (such as Zabala, Ocañas, Cabrera or Pinar). As a first step, these men were allowed to recover their old ranks, lost until that time. Taking advantage of the presence of these Spaniards, it was traced everywhere the existence of Spaniards who could join to the “Wallonien
”. It is difficult to say with accuracy the number of men who joined the Belgians from both camps, but it was possible that between them and those recruited in other areas could be formed almost independent unit and commanded exclusively by Spaniards and commanded by García Valdajos. At the end of November 1944 the first contingent of Spanish volunteers was concentrated in the camp that the Walloon division had in Breslau. The final number of Spaniards that were enlisted in the “Wallonien” could ascend to more than one hundred according to some sources, although more possibly was reached to the 240-350 men in January of 1945 that were integrated in the unique battalion of the 70 Regiment of infantry SS of the division to whose command was the SS-Hstuf. Denie, giving rise to the formation of a third company in the same (the 3/I/70).

  Ricardo Botet Moro.

  Wallons and Spanish troops left Breslau and were stationed first in Olderhof (near Hannover) and were subsequently sent to the Rhineland area, where they were prepared for a possible intervention in the offensive of the Bulge (Ardennes), in which they did not finally take part, although on 24 December 1944 a group of Spaniards under the command of SS-Oscha. Botet was in the area of Marmagen (Nettersheim) integrated into the SS-Ostuf. Derriks’ group. Once left the western front, they will go in February to Stettin (now Szczecin) and Stargard sector (currently Stargard Szczeciński). Even in the final stages of the training and before combats, another “transfer” of men from one unit to another occurred, so that a group of about 30 Italian volunteers got permission to join the 29.Waffen Gren.Div. der SS “(Ital. Nr 1)”.

  Waffen-Oberscharführer der SS Giorgio Gandini on the right, with the Spanish Waf.-Oscha. der SS Camargo, during military maneuvers by the Italian SS Training Battalion (I./WGRdSS 81), in March 1945, near Rodengo-Saiano (Corbatti-Nava Collection).

  Together with the Italians, about ten or twenty Spaniards should be added, who may have preferred to move to another area of the conflict closest to Spain, and this small group of Spaniards was under SS-Oscha. Camargo and SS-Uscha. Martínez Alberich, who will be integrated into the Italian division directing a section of SS-Regiment 81 belonging to the 29.Waffen Grenadier Division of SS “(Italienische Nr 1)” mainly dedicated to antipartisan tasks, arriving only at the end of the conflict to face American troops with acceptable results given the circumstances in the last days of the conflict in Europe and possibly taking part in combats close to Trieste and Brenner. Since mid-January 1945, the hitherto relatively inactive Soviets, carry out a strong offensive that breaks the Front of the Vistula.

  Léon Degrelle on the Pomeranian front.

  Only in a few weeks they reach the river Oder, which led the German forces to retreat and redo their defenses again. In order to establish a secure defensive front, new troops are claimed to the front line on the Eastern Front; among them is the Walloon unit (magnificently studied by Norling).

  SS Grenadier on the Pomeranian front.

  On January 27, the “Wallonien“, along with the Belgian too (but Flemish not Wallons) 27.SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “Langemarck”, are ordered to go to Stargard, where they arrive on 6 February. Already in their area of deployment, the Spaniards received new compatriots who were integrated into their unit. The zone entrusted to the Walloons for the defense, is located to the south of the city of Stargard, being like force of reserve the unique Battalion of the 2º Regiment that is where they integrated the Spaniards conforming its 3rd Company.

  Wallonien grenadiers in combat, 1945.

  On the 11th, in the context of the battle for Arnswalde, the 1st Company of the 1st Battalion of the SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69 (among which some Spaniards), temporarily assigned to the SS-Panzer-Division ‘Frundsberg’, tries to conquer the village of Klutzow although the final result is the defeat with the subsequent retreat. On February 16, 1945, Operation “Sonnenwende” (Solstice) commenced, including the divisions SS “Frundsberg“, “Nordland“, “Langemarck“, “SS-Polizei”, “Nederland” and “Wallonien” All under the joint command of the SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner.

  German Grenadiers in Stargard, February 1945.

  The subsequent reorganization of the forces still “standing” in that sector, leads the “Wallonien” to be subordinated under the control of the most powerful “Nordland“. On February 27, the Soviets moved forward with the intention of sieging the troops at Stargard; starting the Battle for Stargard. The casualties are numerous again, so that the only SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 70 (also called 3/I/70) Battalion, where the Spaniards were placed, has to be dissolved and its troops divided in the two Battalions of the SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69. Here the Spaniards, joined forces with the Walloons, will destroy the Soviet tanks, mainly the well-known T-34, with their new anti-tank weapons (the dreaded panzerfaust), stopping as much as possible the Soviet advance. On March 3, the remains of the disappeared 1st Battalion of the 70th SS Infantry Regiment of the division cover the retreat of the “Wallonien” along the Baltic coast. On March 4, Stargard is definitely abandoned, with only about 60 Spaniards who managed to escape the siege in early March 1945.

  Grenadiers and Panzer during an attack, March 1945.

  The Stargard survivors will be regrouped in Scheune, south of Stettin, where they were initially part of a line Defense north of Berlin. They were there for little time, since immediately they received orders so that all the Spaniards that were in the Walloon division, were to concentrate in the environs of Potsdam, fact that took place towards the first days of March taking advantage that the units of III Germanic Corps of the SS retired towards the capital of the Reich too. These men will be part of the Ezquerra Unit made up of at least two companies of men, who were nominally adhered to the “Nordland” in the defense of Berlin; although this story requires a separate chapter. Possibly some of the Spaniards of the Wallonien did not retreat to Potsdam and continue until the end of the conflict with the Walloon Unit, scattered among their companies as Degrelle himself made known in an interview.

  With the Bozen and the Dirlewanger.

  There are also reports of the existence of a few Spanish men in another unit under the double rune such as SS-Polizei Freiwilligen Bataillon Bozen, where it is said that they came to form between 20-31 Spanish. The origin of the Spanish in this unit is unclear, and may well have been from the 24.Waffen Gebirgs Division “Karstjäger”. Since the I.Btl./SS-Pol.Rgt. “Bozen” coincided at the end of April 1945 in the same area of deployment as the “Karstjäger“, the Tarvisio area. Of the approximately 100 men who would be in the mountain unit, about 20 or 31 may have been authorized to join in the SS-Polizei Freiwilligen Bataillon Bozen, being arranged in Italy until the end of the war in the fight against the partisans.

  An unit of SS-Polizei Freiwilligen Bataillon Bozen during an anti-partisan operation (KB Trainotti)

  Finally, another unit in which documents refer to the presence of Spaniards is the SS-Sonder Bataillon “Dirlewanger”, where the name of 6 Spaniards in their 1st Company appears. With this unit incorporated in the SS-Kampfgruppe Anhalt took part in Operation “Frühlingfest” in Belarus. Little more is known of the Spaniards of this Unit of penitentiary origin, although they are supposed to continue in it until the end of the conflict, being able to participate in the atrocious repression of the rise of Warsaw.

  Warsaw 1944: German soldiers engaged in fighting to repress the uprising against Polish insurgents.

  Some other Spaniards served in other German units very possibly in a punctual way, as in the Kriegsmarine (Naval Deposit 28 in Sennheim), in naval coast artillery units in Estonia, the Organization Todt, the NSKK, the Legion “Speer” or even in an artillery regiment from 17.Luftwaffen-Felddivision during the summer of 1944 in the Norman coast.

  Bibliography

  “Bajo las banderas del III Reich alemán. Españoles en Rusia, 1941-1945“, Defensa. Mayo 1999.

  Wayne H. Bowen, “The Ghost Battalion: Spaniards in the Waffen-SS, 1944-1945“, The Historian, vol. 63.

  Carlos Caba
llero Jurado, “El batallón fantasma. Españoles en la Wehrmacht y Waffen-SS, 1944-45“, CEHRE y ACTV, Alicante-Valencia, 1987.

  Eduardo M. Gil Martínez, ”Españoles en las SS y la Wehrmacht 1944-45. La Unidad Ezquerra en la batalla de Berlín”, Editorial Almena. 2011.

  Eduardo M. Gil Martínez, “The spanish in the SS and Wehrmacht 1944-45. The Ezquerra unit in the battle of Berlin”, Schiffer Military History. 2012.