31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division

31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division
31. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division
Divisional symbol of the 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division, used as early as November 1944.[1][2]
Active4 October 1944 – 8 May 1945[3]
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Waffen-SS
TypeGrenadier
RoleInfantry
Size14,800 (4 November 1944)[4]
11,000 (16 December 1944)[5]
Part of
Garrison/HQKúla, Szenttamás, Verbász and Zombor.[9]
Nickname(s)'Division Batschka'
'Division Kukuruz '
'Division Lombard'
'Gruppe Lombard'[10]
Motto(s)"Meine Ehre heißt Treue!"
Engagements
Commanders
Notable
commanders
[3][11]

The 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division (German: 31. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division)[12] (Hungarian: 31. SS-önkéntes-gránátoshadosztály) (Romanian: Divizia 31 de voluntari SS) (Serbo-Croatian: 31. SS dobrovoljačka grenadirska divizija) was a German infantry division of the Waffen-SS during the Second World War, commanded by SS-Brigadeführer, Gustav Lombard.[3] The division was formed of German, Hungarian, Serbian and other Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans), mostly from the Batschka region as well as the personnel and equipment from the 23rd Waffen Mountain Division SS 'Kama'.[13][14] By 26 October 1944, Army Group South deployed the division to the frontlines to assist in securing the Danube, despite its complete lack of heavy weapons, inadequate training and weaponry.[15][16][17] During the division’s stay in Lower Styria, an order from 16 January 1945 reorganised the division from a Type 1944 division into a Type 1945 division.[18] A month later on 17 February 1945, orders were given for the immediate transfer of the division to Silesia in the Görlitz area in preparation for an upcoming offensive operation.[19] Portions of the division were still under the 17th Army's command in the Hirschberg region, incorporated into their order of battle as army reservists.[20]

By May 1945, the escalating pressure from the advancing Red Army led to the division being encircled, lacking support and being outnumbered causing the remaining components to retreat to try and escape. The division's main body elements from the 78th, 79th and 80th Grenadier Regiments, along with the Pioneer and Nachrichten Battalions, and more headed South from Josefstadt to the general direction of Königgrätz, however, due to a shortage of fuel they were prevented from moving any further in that direction.[21] In accordance with orders, the unit formally dissolved and most small groups or individuals would eventually be forced by the Czechs to surrender.[22] The Czechs instituted a formal hunt for German soldiers, especially for members of the Waffen-SS. The vengeful actions of the Czech insurgents seeking retribution, coupled with Soviet captivity, inflicted even greater casualties with the division suffering around 4,000 casualties being killed in action, missing or murdered during the last two days of the war and the first few days after the war had officially ended on Czech territory.[23]

Photograph of destroyed buildings in Batina after the Battle of Batina captured by the 1st Vojvodinian Brigade on 30 November 1944.
Officers from SS Volunteer Medical Abteilung 31 in Vrbas, August 1944: SS-Rottenführer Peter Glitza (left) and SS-Rottenführer Ernest Bennert (right).[24]
German officer in uniform
Photograph of the division commander, SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Lombard from March 1943.
Divisional vehicle symbol of the 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division.[25]
Gustav Lombard had a very similar deer antler that was used on his personal letterheads until his death in 1992.[26][27]

Order of Battle

The division was created by combining the 23rd Waffen Mountain Division SS 'Kama' and the conscription of Volksdeutsche in the Batschka region, primarily in Hungary after the third drive of recruitment in 1944 which saw the Hungarian government withdraw their control over its German minorities.[3][28][29][30] The formation order issued on the 4 October 1944 shows that the order of battle was a typical German-horse-drawn division, taking the form of what the Germans designated as a "Type 1944 Infantry Division" which was partially motorised but still mostly horse-drawn, possessing three infantry regiments comprising three battalions each and about 100 artillery pieces.[3] The order decreed that the division was to be organised as follows:[31][32]

Type 1944 Structure

Division Staff
  • Motorised Mapping Office
  • SS Field Police Troops 31 (Partially motorised)
  • (no musician band)
SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 78
  • Regimental Staff
  • Staff Company
  • 1st Battalion with 1st – 4th Grenadier Companies
  • 2nd Battalion with 5th – 8th Grenadier Companies
  • 3rd Battalion with 9th – 12th Grenadier Companies
  • 13th Infantry Gun Company (2 heavy and 6 light mortars)
  • 14th Panzerzerstörer Company (1 motorised Panzerjäger platoon with 3 x 7.5 cm anti-tank guns, and 2 Panzerzerstörer platoons)
SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 79
  • Regimental Staff
  • Staff Company
  • 1st Battalion with 1st – 4th Grenadier Companies
  • 2nd Battalion with 5th – 8th Grenadier Companies
  • 3rd Battalion with 9th – 12th Grenadier Companies
  • 13th Infantry Gun Company (2 heavy and 6 light mortars)
  • 14th Panzerzerstörer Company (1 motorised Panzerjäger platoon with 3 x 7.5 cm anti-tank guns, and 2 Panzerzerstörer platoons)
SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 80
  • Regimental Staff
  • Staff Company
  • 1st Battalion with 1st – 4th Grenadier Companies
  • 2nd Battalion with 5th – 8th Grenadier Companies
  • 3rd Battalion with 9th – 12th Grenadier Companies
  • 13th Infantry Gun Company (2 heavy and 6 light mortars)
  • 14th Panzerzerstörer Company (1 motorised Panzerjäger platoon with 3 x 7.5 cm anti-tank guns, and 2 Panzerzerstörer platoons)
SS Volunteer Fusilier Battalion 31
  • Staff Company
  • 1st Motorcycle Company
  • 2nd - 3rd Fusilier Companies (Bicycles)
  • 4th (Heavy Weapons) Company
SS Volunteer Panzerjäger Abteilung 31
  • Staff Company
  • Mixed Staff Company
  • 1st Motorised Panzerjäger Company (9–12 guns)
  • 2nd Sturmgeschütz Company (10–14 guns, also known as a Sturmgeschütz Abteilung)
  • 3rd Flak Company (12 x 2 cm self-propelled guns)
SS Volunteer Artillery Regiment 31
  • Regimental Staff
  • Staff Battery
  • 1st Abteilung with Staff Battery and 1st – 3rd Batteries (4 x 10.5 cm light field howitzer)
  • 2nd Abteilung with Staff Battery and 4th – 6th Batteries (4 x 10.5 cm light field howitzer)
  • 3rd Abteilung with Staff Battery and 7th – 9th Batteries (4 x 10.5 cm light field howitzer)
  • 4th Abteilung with Staff Battery and 10th – 12th Batteries (4 x 10.5 cm light field howitzer)
SS Volunteer Pioneer Battalion 31
  • Staff Company
  • 1st – 3rd Pioneer Companies (Partially equipped with bicycles)
  • (no pontoon train)
SS Volunteer Nachrichten Battalion 31
  • Staff Company (Partially motorised with a messenger dog section)
  • 1st Telephone Company (Partially motorised)
  • 2nd Radio Company (Motorised)
  • Supplies section (Partially motorised, also known as a 'Light Signals Column')
SS Volunteer Feldersatz Battalion 31
  • Staff Company
  • 1st – 5th Feldersatz Companies 31
  • Supplies Company
SS Volunteer Supply Abteilung 31
  • Staff, Commander Divisional Supply Troops (Partially motorised)
  • 1st and 2nd Supply Columns (Motorised, also known as 'Motor Vehicle Companies')
  • 3rd and 4th Supply Columns (Horse-drawn, also known as 'Supply Squadrons')
  • SS Volunteer Supply Company
SS Volunteer Motor Vehicle Workshop Company 31
  • Staff Company (Motorised)
  • 1st SS Motor Vehicle Workshop Company 31 (Motorised)
SS Volunteer Verwaltungstruppen Abteilung 31
  • Staff Company (Motorised)
  • SS Bakery Company 31 (Motorised)
  • SS Butchery Company 31 (Motorised)
  • SS Administrative Company 31 (Motorised)
  • SS Field Post Office 31 (Motorised)
SS Volunteer Medical Abteilung 31
  • Staff Company
  • 1st SS Volunteer Medical Company 31
  • 2nd SS Volunteer Medical Company 31 (Motorised)
  • SS Volunteer Motor Ambulance Company 31 (Motorised)
SS Volunteer Veterinary Company 31
  • 1st SS Veterinary Company 31
  • 2nd SS Veterinary Company 31

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 22.
  2. ^ zu Ploën 2011, p. 290.
  3. ^ a b c d e Pencz 2010, p. 19.
  4. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 145.
  5. ^ Munoz 1991, p. 367.
  6. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 148.
  7. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 148 & 168.
  8. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 168.
  9. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 19 & 23.
  10. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 21.
  11. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 515.
  12. ^ Official designation in the German language according to the "Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv" in Freiburg im Breisgau, the archives of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS.
  13. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 15.
  14. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 30 & 31.
  15. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 138.
  16. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 144.
  17. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 262.
  18. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 304.
  19. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 321.
  20. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 344.
  21. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 423, 427 & 428.
  22. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 427.
  23. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 430.
  24. ^ zu Ploën 2011, p. 69.
  25. ^ zu Ploën 2011, p. 8.
  26. ^ zu Ploën 2011.
  27. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 2.
  28. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 30 & 32.
  29. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 40.
  30. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 264.
  31. ^ Pencz 2010, p. 41.
  32. ^ Mitcham 2007, p. 229.

Bibliography

  • Munoz, A.J. (1991). Forgotten Legions: Obscure Combat Formations of the Waffen-SS. Axis Europa Books. ISBN 978-0-7394-0817-9. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  • Mitcham, S.W. (2007). German Order of Battle: Panzer, Panzer Grenadier, and Waffen SS divisions in World War II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3438-7. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  • Pencz, R. (2010). For the Homeland: The 31st Waffen-SS Volunteer Grenadier Division in World War II. Stackpole military history series. Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3582-7. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  • ""A 31. SS-önkéntes-gránátoshadosztály (31. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division)"". arcanum.com (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  • zu Ploën, F.C. (2011). Vor Haus und Hof und Kind und Weib: mit der 31. SS-Division an der Donau und in Schlesien ; eine Divisionschronik (in German). Francovilla. ISBN 978-963-08-3134-5. Retrieved 2024-05-26.

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