11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland

Formation

In February 1943, Hitler ordered the creation of an SS division which would be officered by foreign volunteers. In March 1943, the SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment Nordland was separated from the SS Division Wiking to be used as the nucleus for the new division. The division's two Panzergrenadier regiments were also given titles that were meant to reference the countries of origin of their respective recruits, SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23 Norge (Norway) and SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24 Danmark (Denmark), however, at the time of the division's arrival on the Eastern Front in the autumn of 1943, almost 80% of its men were either Reichsdeutsche from Germany or Volksdeutsche.

After its formation in Germany, the division was attached to the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps under the command of SS-Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner and was moved to Croatia. The division began combat operations against Yugoslav partisans in September 1943. In mid-October 1943, the division burned and looted several Serb villages in the Banija region of Croatia, and helped organize a local collaborationist Chetnik militia. In January 1944, the division was transferred to the Oranienbaum, Russia near Leningrad, under the command of Field Marshal Walter Model's Army Group North.---

1944–1945

The division, along with the rest of the III SS Panzer Corps arrived at the front near Leningrad and was put into action against the Soviet Red Army attacks aimed at breaking the German encirclement of the city. The Red Army forced Nordland to withdraw to Oranienbaum. On 14 January 1944, the Soviet Krasnoye Selo–Ropsha Offensive succeeded in collapsing the German front. The follow-on Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive pushed the German forces to the city of Narva in northeastern Estonia to a new defensive line.

The Kingisepp–Gdov Offensive was launched on 13 February, with Soviet forces attacking across the front-line, as well as launching an amphibious assault from the Baltic near Mereküla. Over the next five months, the Waffen-SS units fought against the Soviet Army attacks. The launching of Operation Bagration in June 1944 led to the Narva Offensive. The German forces moved 16 kilometres west to the Tannenberg Line. --

From 27 July 1944, Nordland fought alongside the 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) and elements of the Grossdeutschland Division In the Battle of Tannenberg Line. During these battles, the commanders of two regiments were killed. While visiting the front line, the division's commander, SS-Gruppenführer Fritz von Scholz was caught in an artillery barrage and received a head wound. Scholz died on 28 July 1944. Thereafter, SS-Brigadeführer Joachim Ziegler took over command of the division. After Riga fell, the division retreated into what was known as the Courland Pocket. From late October to December 1944, the Nordland remained in the pocket; by early December the divisional strength was down to 9,000 men. In January 1945, the division was ordered to the Baltic port of Libau, where it was evacuated by sea.

In early February 1945, the refitted Panzer Battalion returned to the division along with other reinforcements. On 16 February, the division participated in Operation Sonnenwende, the plan to destroy a Soviet salient and to relieve the troops encircled in the town of Arnswalde. Initially, their attack achieved a tactical surprise and the division soon advanced to the banks of Lake Ihna. However, the Soviet forces offered stiff resistance and the advance slowed. On 17 February, the division reached Arnswalde and relieved the garrison. By 21 February, Steiner ordered a general withdrawal back to the north bank of the Ihna. Between the 23rd and 28th, III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps withdrew to the area around Stargard and Stettin on the northern Oder River.

The Soviet offensive of 1 March pushed Nordland, along with the rest of the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps, before them. By 4 March, the division was falling back to Altdamm, the last defensive position east of the Oder. On 19 March, the division fell back behind the Oder. The division was ordered back to the area west of Schwedt-Bad Freinwalde for a refit. During this time, the Spanish Volunteer Company of the SS No.101 was attached to the division. The division's strength was further replenished with the addition of vehicles and personnel from the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. --

Battle of Berlin

On 16 April, the division was ordered to defend Berlin. Despite recent replenishment, the division was still understrength. From 17 to 20 April, the division was involved in combat all along its front and then retreated into the city. On 24 April, the main Soviet Army assault was towards the Treptow Park area, defended by the rest of the pioneer battalion and the remaining Tiger tanks of a Panzer battalion. SS-Obersturmbannführer Kausch led the few tanks and armoured vehicles in a counterattack and succeeded in temporarily halting the enemy advance. However, by midday, the 5th Shock Army was able to advance again. A later counter-attack by three assault guns was stopped by a Soviet soldier with three captured German Panzerfausts.

On 25 April, SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg was appointed the commander of (Berlin) Defence Sector C, which included Nordland. Ziegler was relieved of his command of the division earlier the same day.

By 26 April, with Neukölln heavily penetrated by Soviet combat groups, Krukenberg prepared fallback positions for Sector C troops around Hermannplatz. He moved his headquarters into the opera house. As Nordland fell back towards Hermannplatz, its troops and one-hundred Hitler Youth attached to their group destroyed 14 Soviet tanks with Panzerfausts; one machine gun position by the Halensee bridge managed to block Soviet advance in that area for 48 hours. Its remaining armour, eight Tiger tanks and several assault guns, were ordered to take up positions in the Tiergarten; although the two divisions of Weidling's LVI Panzer Corps could slow the Soviet advance down, they could not stop it.

The Soviet forces advance into Berlin followed a pattern of massive shelling followed by assaults using house-clearing battle groups of about 80 men in each, with tank escorts and close artillery support. On 27 April, the remnants of Nordland were pushed back into the central government district (Zitadelle sector) in Defence sector Z. Krukenberg's headquarters was a carriage in the Stadtmitte U-Bahn station. Of the 108 Soviet tanks destroyed in the centre district, Frenchmen under Krukenberg's overall command accounted for "about half" of them. Still, the troops in the government district were pushed back by Soviet forces into the Reichstag and the Reich Chancellery.

On 30 April, after receiving news of Hitler's suicide, orders were issued that those who could do so were to break out. Prior to that SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke briefed all commanders that could be reached within the Zitadelle sector about the events as to Hitler's death and the planned breakout. The break out from the Reich Chancellery and Führerbunker started at 2300 hours on 1 May. There were ten main groups that attempted to head northwest.

Fierce fighting continued all around, especially in the Weidendammer Bridge area. In that area, what was left of the division was destroyed by Soviet artillery and anti-tank guns. The division's last Tiger was knocked out attempting to cross the Weidendammer Bridge. Several small groups reached the Americans at the Elbe's west bank, but most (including Mohnke's group and men from Krukenberg's group), were not successful. Most were killed in the fighting or taken prisoner after they surrendered to Soviet troops. Ziegler was gravely wounded after the break out group he was in came under heavy Soviet fire. He died on 2 May. Krukenberg made it to Dahlem, where he hid out in an apartment for a week, before surrendering to Soviet troops. On 2 May hostilities officially ended by order of General Helmuth Weidling, commander of the Defence Area Berlin.

Organization

Structure of the Division

• SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 23
• SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 24
• Kradschützen-Regiment SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11
• SS-Panzer-Regiment 11
• SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 11
• SS-Artillerie-Regiment 11
• SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 11
• SS-Flak-Abteilung 11
• SS-Pionier-Bataillon 11
• SS-Nachrichten-Abteilung 11
• SS-Feldersatz-Bataillon 11
• Kommandeur der SS-Divisions-Nachschubtruppen 11
• SS-Instandsetzungs-Abteilung 11
• SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 11
• SS-Wirtschafts-Bataillon 11

Commanders

• SS-Brigadeführer Franz Augsberger (22 March – 1 May 1943)
• SS-Gruppenführer Fritz von Scholz (1 May 1943 – 27 July 1944)
• SS-Brigadeführer Joachim Ziegler (27 July 1944 – 25 April 1945)
• SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg (25 April – 8 May 1945)
• SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 23 Norge
• SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 24 Danmark
• SS-Panzer Battalion 11 Herman von Salza
• SS-Panzer Artilleree Regiment 11
• SS-Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 11
• SS-Sturmgeschutz Battalion 11
• SS-Panzerjäger Battalion 11
• SS-Signals Battalion 11
• SS-Pionier Battalion 11
• SS-Nachrichtung Abteilung Truppen 11
• SS-Supply troop 11
• SS-Repair Battalion 11
• SS-Wirtschafts Battalion 11
• SS-War Reporter platoon 11
• SS-Feldgendarmerie Troop 11
• SS-Reserve Battalion 11
• SS-Bewährungs-Company 11
• SS-Medical Battalion 11
• SS-Werfer Battalion 521
• SS-Jäger Regiment 11 --

Gallery

File:Nazi German Waffen-SS uniform, visor skull (Totenkopf) cap, Hauptsturmführer, Regiment Nordland, etc. Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum, Norway 2019-05-08 DSC09938.jpg|Officer uniform with medals and cuffband Nordland of the Regiment Nordland, Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:WW2 frontkjemper Norw. volunteer regiment Nordland Waffen SS uniform, songbook, Nazi decorations, helmet, dogtag, Norske Legion Skijegerbataljon poster, etc Lofoten krigsminnemuseum Norway 2019-05-08 DSC09952.jpg|Enlisted "frontkjemper" ("Frontfighter" a Norwegian Waffen-SS volunteer) SS-Mann (private) of the Regiment Nordland, with medals, badges and other memorabilia; Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:WW2 in Norway. Frontkjemper (Norwegian volunteer). Waffen-SS uniform. Decorations etc. Fronterkjempermerket, Pohjois rintama Die Nordfront, SS Nordland and skull rings, etc. Lofoten krigsminnemuseum 2019.05.08 DSC09955.jpg|Soldiers' songbook in Norwegian ("Frontkjemper sangbok"), badges and rings; Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:WW2 in Norway. Frontkjemper (Norwegian volunteer). Waffen-SS uniform. Nazi decorations etc. Fronterkjempermerket, Pohjois rintama Die Nordfront, SS Nordland and skull rings. Lofoten krigsminnemuseum 2019.05.08 DSC09955 cropped.jpg|Close-up of the "Fronterkjempermerket", "Pohjoisrintama Die Nordfront 1941-1943" SS Nordland ring and skull ring; Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:WW2 frontkjemper Norw. volunteer regiment Nordland Waffen SS uniform, cap, SS eagle, cuff title, equipment on back, water flask, etc Lofoten krigsminnemuseum Norway 2019-05-08 DSC09982.jpg|Enlisted "frontkjemper" ("Frontfighter" a Norwegian Waffen-SS volunteer) SS-Mann (private) of the Regiment Nordland, with visiblebackpack, canteen and lunch box; Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:WW2 frontkjemper Norw. volunteer regiment Nordland Waffen SS uniform, cuff title, Norw. flag, SS sleeve eagle, water flask, equipment, etc Lofoten krigsminnemuseum Norway 2019-05-08 DSC09983.jpg|Close-up of the armband and flag; Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:WW2 Norway. Recruitment brochure pamphlet for Frontkjemper (Norwegian Waffen-SS volunteer) , tent pegs Zeltbahn, Gebirgsjäger Edelweiss emblem, East Front Medal, compass, Ost-Front newspaper, etc. Lofoten krigsminnemuseum 2019 09964.jpg|Display with recruitment brochure pamphlet for Frontkjemper (Norwegian Waffen-SS volunteers), tent pegs Zeltbahn, Gebirgsjäger Edelweiss emblem, Eastern Medal, compass, Ost-Front newspape, etc.; Lofoten War Museum, Norway. File:Narvafronten, 1944 - Narvafront006.jpg|The propaganda department visits the investigation department of the Nordland Division in the Narva Front, 1944.

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Hillblad, Thorolf – Twilight of the Gods: A Swedish Waffen-SS Volunteer's Experiences with the 11th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Nordland, Eastern Front 1944–45

References

1. Littlejohn (1987) p. 52.
2. III. (germ.) SS-Panzerkorps, IIa, TB, 31.03.1944, National Archives Microfilm Publication T354, roll 120, frames 3754145 - 3754147
3. Littlejohn (1987) p. 54
4. Radanović (2020) p. 86-91
5. Ailsby (1997) p. 186.
6. Beevor (2002) p. 297.
7. Beevor (2002) p. 301.
8. Beevor (2002) pp. 301–302.
9. Beevor (2002) p. 303.
10. Beevor (2002) p. 319.
11. Beevor (2002) p. 323.
12. Beevor (2002) p. 352.
13. Forbes (2010) [2006] p. 425.
14. Beevor (2002) pp. 321, 323, 351–352.
15. Fischer (2008), p. 49.
16. Beevor (2002) p. 382.
17. Beevor (2002) pp. 382, 383.
18. Beevor (2002) pp. 383, 384.
19. Fischer (2008), pp. 49–50.