Published in „Siegrunen“ Magazine – Volume XI, Number 4, Whole Number 66,
Fall 1998
by Dr. Marco Novarese
ABOVE: Northwest Italy, November 1944. Italian W-SS volunteers from II./WGRdSS 82 collect money for the families of comrades killed In action.
2 October 1943: The formation of the Italienische Verband Milizia Armata (Waffen Miliz) begins. It was only an auxiliary force under the control of the Waffen-SS and the responsibility for its equipping came from the Ordnungspolizei, (Order Police). RFSS „Tgb.Nr.35/143/43 (g).”
9 February 1944: The Milizia Armata becomes the 1 .Sturmbrigade der Italienischen Freiwilligen Legionen. It was still under the control of the Waffen-SS and under the overall command of the Higher SS and Police Leader in Italy, SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff. „Aufstellungsbefehl Tgb.Nr.282/56 (g).“
27 April 1944: The 1.Sturmbrigade becomes the I.Waffen-Grenadier Brigade der SS. This order came directly from the Reichsführer-SS and it was repeated by SS-Ofgruf. Wolff in his Order of the Day (Tagesbefehl)Nr. 65 that appeared in the newspaper of the Italian SS Legion. The Italian SS unit was now a real Waffen-SS formation, with black collar patches, instead of red ones.
7 September 1944: The official order that authorized the formation of the Waffen Grenadier Brigade der SS (italienische Nr.1), FHA „Tgb.Nr.2940/44 (g)B, was issued. Apart from this document, the unit was known as the I. Waffen-Grenadier Brigade der SS until the end of April 1945, even though its status changed to that of a division in February 1945.
11 October 1944: The two Waffen-Grenadier Regiments der SS in the Brigade became the 81. and 82. Waffen-Grenadier Regiments der SS. All of the other internal units received the number 59. The Brigade itself simply remained Waffen-Grenadier Brigade der SS (ital.Nr. 1).
10 February 1945: The Brigade became the 29. Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS (Italianische Nr.1), by an order of the SS-FHA (SS Main Office).
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September to the end of November 1943: The Italian volunteers underwent training at the Münsingen Troop Training Grounds, with the exception of the SS Battalion „Debica“, which was trained at the SS Heidelager Training Grounds at Debica, Poland, from December 1943 until February 1944. In October 1943, the Milizia Armata had a strength of more than 13,000 volunteers.
The end of November 1943 until the end of February 1944: The independent battalions of the Milizia Armata were relocated to different cities in northern Italy under the orders of the Higher SS and Police Leader. Only minor anti-partisan operations were reported. The soldiers still needed uniforms, weapons and equipment. They wore no insignia except for metal Waffen-SS death heads on the pocket and on the hat. In January 1944, the Milizia Armata had a strength of 9,000 men.
End of February 1944: The best elements of the Milizia Armata were concentrated in an area to the west of Turin to form the I. Sturmbrigade. The staff was located in Pinerolo. The Sturmbrigade remained under the orders of the Higher SS and Police Leader for Italy, but for anti-partisan operations it came under the direction of the SS and Police Leader for Oberitalien West (Upper Italy West). SS-Brigadeführer Willy Tensfeld.
March 1944: The recruitment of new volunteers began with the opening of 35 recruiting offices, (Werbstellen), in the principal cities of central and northern Italy. The strength of the I. Sturmbrigade in Pinerolo was 3,500 men. They were issued with new uniforms and the red double rank insignia collar patches.
21 March to 31 March 1944: I. SS Btl. „Debica“, under the control of the SSuPF Oberitialien West, took part in the anti-partisan operation known as Unternehemen „Spaerber“ in the Pellice Valley to the southwest of Turin. Throughout April and May 1944, the battalion continued to see anti-partisan action in the Umbria and Marche regions of central Italy under the command of 10.Armee.
ABOVE: The Werfer Zug (Mortar Platoon) of 8. Heavy Weapons Company/II.Btl1/Waf.Gr.Rgt.d.SS 82 during the anti-partisan Unternhemen „Hochland“ (Operation „Highland“) January-March 1945.
18 March to June 1944: SS-Kampfgruppe „Diebitsch“ with II.Btl./1.WGRdSS (later WGRdSS 81) and later with the replacement unit from III.Btl./1 .WGRdSS and the 1.schwere Batterie/SS-Pz.Jg.Abt., (Heavy Battery of the Italian SS Anti-tank Detachment), served in heavy close-combat on the Anzio Front under the LXXVI. Panzer Korps/14.Armee.
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III. Platoon of the Infantry Gun Company of the SS-Heimwehr Danzig, led by Ostuf. Walter, deployed two cumbersome WWI mortars from the Königsberg Arsenal during the battle for Poland in September 1939. The two mortars were nicknamed „Ivan“ and „Isolde“, and presumably this was their last military campaign!
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The IG Company from the SS-HD consisted in total of 121 men, 25 of whom were partially trained members of the General SS in Danzig. There were 3 platoons in all under Hstuf. Kuehn, Ustuf. Hiemeyer and Ostuf. Walter with 10 guns and 2 Mortars.
ABOVE: October 1944 – The Inspector of the Italian SS-Oberführer Erich Tschimpke speaks with SS-Sturmbannführer Luis Thaler during maneuvers being carried out by 11/WGRdSS 82. On the far right in Waffon-Obersturmführer der SS Pio Filippani Ronconi.
27 April 1944: Following a conversation between Hitler and Himmler, the Reichsführer-SS gave a vocal order to change the name of the Italian unit from 1.Sturmbrigade (ital.) to I. Waffen-Grenadier Brigade der SS (ital.), thus making it a true Waffen-SS formation. At the same time, the volunteers of the I. WGBdSS received new black collar patches; only the Italian SS recruit and replacement units then continued to wear the red collar patches.
10 to 18 May 1944: Unternehmen „Habicht“, (Operation „Hawk“), began in the Sangone Valley to the west of Turin with III./WGRdSS 1 (81) and III./WGRdSS 2 (82) participating under the orders of the SS and Police Leader for Upper Italy West.
26 May to 3 June 1944: Unternehmen „Hamburg“ took place against the partisans in the Aosta Valley with MI./WGRdSS 2 (82) taking part again under the SSuPF Oberitalien West.
2 June to 16 June 1944: I.SS-Btl. „Debica“, under the Korps and later with the Gruppe „Goritz“ of the XIV. Panzer Korps, fought to the north of Rome along the Tyrrenic Coast.
20 June to 10 July 1944: The surviving remnant of Kampfgruppe „Diebitsch“ consisting of I. SS-Btl. „Debica“, was deployed to guard the construction of the new „Wotan“ Positions under Armee Abteilung von Zangen.
2 July 1944: From this date on the Waffen-Grenadier Brigade der SS came under the control of the newly formed Armee „Ligurien“, commanded by Maresdallo Graziani. The WGBdSS was under the direct control of the Army but was located in the operational area of LXXV. Armee Korps.
5 July to 19 July 1944: Unternehmen „Bayreuth“ took place near Valsesia (Vercelli). An Italian SS artillery battle-group consisting of one 75mm Mountain Artillery Battery, one 75mm Anti-tank Battery and one mixed 47mm Anti-tank and 20mnr< Flak Battery, participated under the direction of the SSuPF Oberitalien West.
29 July to 18 August 1944: Unternehmen „Nachtigall“, (Operation „Nightingale“), took place against the partisans in the Chisone and Susa Valleys to the west of Turin. The Italian SS Kampfgruppen „degil Oddi“, (ll./WGRdSS 81), and „Celebrano“, (I. and II. WGRdSS 82, I. and 2. „Special Use“ Companies, I. Detachment/Italian SS Art. Rgt., one 75mm Mountain Artillery Battery and on 47mm Anti-tank Battery along with support units), took part under the leadership of the SSuPF Oberitalien West.
30 July to 3 September 1944: Kampfgruppe „Heldman“, formed with Italian SS artillery units, (one 75mm Mountain Battery, one 47mm Antitank Battery and one 20mm Flak Company), operated against the partisans in the area south of Turin under the direction of the SSuPF Oberitalien West.
5 September to 4 October 1944: Unternehmen „Strassburg“ took place in the Lanzo Valley to the northwest of Turin. Kampfgruppe „Noweck“, formed from Italian Waffen-SS troops participated under the control of the SSuPF Oberitalien West. This battle-group consisted of troops from the new Waffen-Füsilier Btl. der SS „Debica“, an engineer company, l./Waf.Art. Rgt.d.SS (ital.), one 75mm Anti-tank Battery, one 47mm Antitank Battery of the Italian SS Anti-tank Detachment, 3rd Platoon from the Italian SS Medical Company, and elements of the signals company and the supply regiment.
9 October to 4 November 1944: Unternehmen „Avanti“ was carried out It succeeded in liberating ihe Ossola Valley and Lake Maggiore near the Swiss border from the partisans. Kampfgruppe „Noweck“, after finishing with Unternehmen „Strassburg“, took part in „Avanti“, again under the control of the SS and Police Leader for Upper Italy West. Hauptmann Noweck, (born in Danzig on 5 August 1914), received the German Cross in Gold for this operation in February 1945. It would be the highest level decoration to be awarded to a member of an Italian SS unit.
ABOVE: 8. Schwere Kompanie (Heavy Weapons)/WG\RdSS 82 under W.-Ostuf. Guerrino Milazzi, during Unternehmen „Hochland“, (Operation „Highland“), at the beginning of 1945.
8 October to 31 October 1944: Anti-partisan fighting took place near Lake Iseo to the northeast of Bergamo. Italian SS units participating were the Kampfgruppe „degli Oddi“, (II. Btl./WGRdSS 81), and Kampfgruppe „Celebrano“, (I. and il.Btls./WGRdSS 82), one battery of 75mm Mountain Artillery from ll./Italian SS ArtRgt., one medical platoon and various support units, again under the orders of the SSuPF Oberitalien West.
12 January to 8 March 1945: Unternehmen „Hochland“, (Operation „Highland“), took place in the Valsesia - Lake Maggiore area to the north of Novara. I. and ll./WGRdSS 82 participated under the SSuPF Oberitalien West.
10 February 1945: After an order from the SS-FHA, the WGBdSS (ital.), became the 29.Waffen-Grenadicr Division der SS (ital. Nr. 1). The division came under the orders of the Higher SS and Police Leader for itial, (Ogruf. Wolff). The division had an initial strength of 5,000 men, with the entire Italienische Waffenverbände der SS, (including replacement and recruit units, numbering some 6,200 men.
ABOVE: 8./WGRdSS 82
9 February to 30 April 1945: Unternehmen „Binz„ took place in the area to the south of the Po River in the province of Piacenza. The following units from the 29./WGDdSS (ital.Nr.1), took part: Regimental Group or Kampfgruppe „Binz”, formed from I. Btl. „Debica“ and II. Btl./WGRdSS 81 „Nettuno“, one engineer company, l./Waffen- Art. Rgtd. SS 29, the infantry gun companies from WGRdSS 81 and 82, one Flak platoon from Waffen-Pz.Jg.Abt.29 (Anti-tank), 3.Platoon from the Signals Company, 3.Platoon from the Medical Company, along with elements of the supply regiment and SS staff company. KGr.“Binz“ was under the command of the Armee Korps „Lombardia“/Armeegruppe „Liguria“
February to 28 April 1945: One section from the 75mm Mountain Artillery Battery of Waf.Art. Rgt.d.SS 29 and 3./Waf.Pz.Jg.Abt.29, (47mm PAK), were deployed in Valtellina, an Alpine region to the north of Milan, for the last resistance effort by the RSI authorities.
10 April to 5 May 1945: Unternehmen „Mughetto“ was launched to keep open the important Tonale Pass between Lombardia and South Tyrol. Taking part was the Italian SS-Kampfgruppe „Bianchi“, formed from the I. and II.Btls. of Waf.Gr.Rgtd. SS 82, which were combined into a new ll./WGRdSS 82 under the control of the SSuPF Oberitalien Mitte.
ABOVE: Germany, 1943. On the left is an Italian officer of the Waffen Miliz, with the old uniform of the Italian Army that he wore before September 8, 1943. In the center is SS-Hauptsturmführer Luis Thaler of the SS-Ausbildungsstab (Training Staff). On the right is Waffen-Sturmbannführer der SS Fortunato, the first commander of the SS Btl. „Debica“. He seems to be wearing collar patches with the double rank insignia.
26 to 28 April 1945: Troops from the 29. WGDdSS (ital.Nr.1), began surrendering to the partisans and U.S. troops in the province of Como. In addition, the Italian SS replacement units near Brescia surrendered on 28 April 1945. On the 30th of April, SS-KGr.“Binz“ surrendered to U.S. troops to the east of Milan. On 2 May 1945, the last Italian unit to surrender, ll./WGRdSS 82, gave up near Bolzano.
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