38th SS Division Nibelungen
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The 38th SS Division Nibelungen was the 38th and last of the divisions fielded by the Waffen-SS, formed in the last few weeks of World War II.
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[edit] Formation
The division was formed on 27 March 1945 from personnel and students of the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. It was first intended that the unit should be named SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz, but was renamed to SS-Division Junkerschule and finally to 38. SS-Grenadier-Division Nibelungen by the commander of the cadet school Richard Schulze-Kossens. The name ‘Nibelungen’ comes from German mythology, which was the name of a lineage of dwarves, who were defeated by Siegfried.
Although it was called a division it never had more than a brigade strength (roughly around 6000 men). The division was raised in the upper Rhein regions Freiburg, Feldberg and Todtnau in Schwarzwald, with the divisional headquarters in Geschwend bei Todtnau.
Although formed from men of the Junkerschule, the division also received additional strength from parts of other units. This included an SS “special use” Begleit-Battaillon Reichführer SS (received on 9 April 1945), two Zollgrenzschutz battalions, soldiers from 6th SS Mountain Division Nord, a company from 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen (with Volksdeutsche members) officers from the 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian) (who were incorporated in the SS-Polizei-Bataillon-Siegling) and a whole battalion of Hitlerjugend members. The first commander was Richard Schulze-Kossens, who was the Commanding officer of the SS-Brigade Nibelungen and the Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. He was followed by Martin Stange on 12 April (Heinz Lammerding and Karl Ritter von Oberkamp were also assigned to command, but never took the post). The division had 2 Grenadier regiments (SS-Grenadier-Regiment 95 under the KC holder SS-Ostbf. Markus Faulhaber & SS-Ostbf. Richard Schulze-Kossens from 12 April. SS-Grenadier-Regiment 96 was commanded by the KC & OL holder SS-Ostbf. Walter Schmidt), which were both raised from the SS-Brigade Nibelungen. Some sources also claim the existence of a SS-Grenadier-Regiment 97, but it is likely that it was never more than two battalions strong. The divisions Panzerjäger-Abteilung 38 received the majority of its men from the ‘Prinz Eugen’ division and officers from ‘Nord’. The Abteilung received about 10 Jagdpanzer 38s shipped on April 15, it also had some 75 mm towed PaK 40 anti-tank guns (the Abteilung served under 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Götz von Berlichingen from 17 to 24 April, until it came under its parent division).
[edit] In action
The 38th SS division was first alerted for action on 7 April 1945 - at the time only 7 battalions strong. The unit was recognised as ready for battle on 24 April, when it entered the ranks of the XIII SS Armeekorps on the Danube river Front, facing American forces south of the river. The ‘Nibelungen’ was supposed to hold the Korps’ right wing from Vohlburg to Kelheim. The frontline which it was supposed to hold was too long for its strength, so the division retreated on the 26 April to a new front, which it held to the 27th. before withdrawing across the Danube River. On 28-29 Apr under heavy pressure, the division closed in on Landshut in preparation for a withdrawal across the Isar river. On 30 April, it withdrew across the river after a fierce two hour battle fighting house to house with the infantry of Combat Command R, U.S. 14th Armored Division. The next day the division retreated again, into the area between the Isar and Inn Rivers where under continual pressure from the 99th Infantry and 14th Armored Divisions it essentially ceased to exist as a cohesive combat unit. (Souces:Spuren Der Nibelungen 38. Grenadier-Division der Waffen SS and "12th U.S. Army Grp., "Situational Maps; 26 April-8 May, 1945.")
[edit] Commanders
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- SS-Obersturmbannführer Richard Schulze-Kossens (6 Apr 1945 - 9 Apr 1945)
- SS-Gruppenführer Heinz Lammerding (? Apr 1945 - ? Apr 1945)
- SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Ritter von Oberkamp (? Apr 1945 - ? Apr 1945)
- SS-Standartenführer Martin Stange (12 Apr 1945 - 8 May 1945)
- Chief of Operations (Ia)*
- SS-Sturmbannführer Heinrich Wulf (6 Apr 1945 – 8 May 1945)
- Quartermaster (Ib)
- SS-Sturmbannführer Ernst Fritscher (6 April 1945 - 8 May 1945)
- Chief Intelligence Officer (Ic)
- SS-Untersturmführer Hermann Buhl (6 Apr 1945 – 8 May 1945)
[edit] Area of operations
[edit] Southern Germany (Mar 1945 - May 1945)
[edit] Subordination
- 9. Armee (7 Apr 1945)
[edit] XIII SS Armeekorps (24 Apr 1945 – 8 May 1945)
[edit] Order of battle (Apr 1945)
- SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 95
- 3 Battalions
- SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 96
- 4 Battalions
- SS Artillery Regiment 38
- 2 Detachments
- 2 Batteries
- SS Tank Destroyer(Panzerjäger) Detachment 38
- 2 Tank Destroyer(Panzerjäger) Companies
- 1 FlaK Company
- SS Pioneer Detachment 38
- SS Flak Detachment 38
- SS Signals Detachment 38
- SS Training and Reserve Detachment 38
- SS Police Battalion Siegling
- SS Wirtschafts Battalion 38
