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18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel

German armored division

German armored division

FieldValue
unit_name18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division *Horst Wessel*
image18th SS Division Logo.svg
image_size100
dates25 January 1944 – 8 May 1945
countryNazi Germany
branchSchutzstaffel Waffen-SS
typePanzergrenadier
sizeDivision
native_name18. SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier-Division "Horst Wessel"

The 18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division "Horst Wessel" ( was formed in 1944 around a cadre from the 1st SS Infantry Brigade.

It was used for "rear-security" duties until it was sent to the Eastern front, with the exception of one regiment that fought the Slovak National Uprising in August 1944. During this period, the 1st Battalion of the Sturmbrigade Frankreich fought with the division as the 4th Battalion of SS Rgt. 40 commanded by Sturmbannführer Schaeffer in Galicia. The division later fought as a single unit in Hungary and in Czechoslovakia where it was destroyed.

The Division was named after SA member Horst Wessel, known for being the author of the lyrics to the Nazi Party anthem, the Horst-Wessel-Lied, and glorified by the Nazi regime as a martyr of the party's early years.

Commanders

  • SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Trabandt (25 January 1944 – 3 January 1945)
  • SS-Gruppenführer Josef Fitzthum (3 January 1945 – 10 January 1945)
  • SS-Standartenführer Georg Bochmann (10 January 1945 – March 1945)
  • SS-Standartenführer Heinrich Petersen (15 March 1945 – 8 May 1945)

Battles

  • Hungary (January 1944 – July 1944)

  • Eastern front, central sector (July 1944 – October 1944)

  • Poland & Czechoslovakia (October 1944 – May 1945)

  • 39th SS-Panzer Grenadier Regiment (I - III)

  • 40th SS-Panzer Grenadier Regiment (I - III)

  • 18th SS-Artillery Regiment

  • 18th SS-Panzerjäger Battalion

  • 18th SS-Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion

  • 18th SS-Panzer Battalion

  • 18th SS-Sturmgeschütz Battalion

  • 18th SS-Flak Battalion

  • 18th SS-Signals Battalion

  • 18th SS-Pionier Battalion

  • 18th SS-Administration Battalion

  • 18th SS-Wirtschafts Battalion

  • 18th SS-Supplies Troop

  • 18th SS-Instandsetzungs Battalion

  • 18th SS-Feldgendarmerie Battalion

  • 18th SS-Reserve Battalion

  • 18th SS-Sanitäts Battalion----

References

Notes

Bibliography

References

  1. Official designation in German language as to „Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv“ in [[Freiburg im Breisgau]], stores of the [[Wehrmacht]] and [[Waffen-SS]].
  2. 'Les volontaires français dans l'armée allemande', Christophe Leguerandais
Info: Wikipedia Source

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