Published in „Siegrunen“ Magazine – Volume XII, Number 1, Whole Number 69,
Summer 2000
Battle Actions in the Austrian Wine Country, April-May 1945
by R.P.
Above: SS-Oberfuhrer Wilhelm Trabandt, commander of the SS-Kampfgruppe Division „Böhmen-Mähren“.
Editor’s Note: This fine article was sent to me by the author some time ago and I postponed it because it had appeared simultaneously in a different format in the German language W-SS veteran’s publication „Der Freiwillige“. I thought I would wart awhile before publishing it, but it is too interesting to not utilize and most of the SR readership will not have been exposed to the other version. I apologize to the author for only using his initials but I do not want to cause him problems should this issue be confiscated abroad, as others have been! This translation Is purely my own and is not the responsibility of the author. RL).
At the beginning of April 1945, the Russians commenced their advance into the Austrian „Wine Country“ to the north of Vienna and it was imperative to stop the enemy’s march if at all possible, because in that area were the last large oilfields supplying German industries. The oil production area was dearly the target of the enemy forces and the high command of the 8th Army of Army Group South stepped up its efforts to defend this front sector. Under the control of this Army, fighting in this area, was the Army Panzer Corps „Feldhermhalle“ which had been reinforced by the larger portion of the SS-Kampfgruppe Division „Böhmen-Mähren“. These formations were constructed in early April 1945 from Waffen-SS speciality schools and replacement and training units (in the Bohemia-Moravia Protectorate).
Effective 20 March 1945, SS-Oberführer Wilhelm Trabandt, the commander of the SS Troop Training Grounds „Bohemia“ at Beneschau to the south of Prague, was entrusted with the formation of a combat force consisting of three regimental „groups“, each consisting of three battalions each, along with supporting units, (artillery, engineers, etc.). The officers and NCO’s were training personnel from the last classes of the speciality schools which included the SS-Panzergrenadier Schule Prosetschwitz/Kienschlag, the SS Artillerie Schule II Benescahu, SS Pioniere Schule Hradischko and the SS-Panzerjäger/Sturmgeschütz Schule Jannowitz. Officer candidates from the SS-Junkerschule Prag were also added to the leadership contingent.
The rank-and-file troops were very young in general; some of them still almost children. They basically came from the age groups born in the years 1927,1928 and 1929. Although they had some preliminary military training in the Hitler Youth and the Reich Labour Service (R.A.D.), they were of course not combat experienced or prepared for frontline action against well-equipped and supplied seasoned enemy troops.
The following replacement units also sent troops to the new formation: SS-Panzergrenadier Training & Replacement Btl. 2 Prag-Rusin, SS- Pz.Gr. T.&R. Btl. 4 Pilgram (near Iglau), SS-Pz.Gr. T.&R. Btl.16 Tschernowitze (near Pilgram), SS-Pz.Gr. T.&R. Btl. 17 Iglau, SS Engineer T.&R. Btls. 3 and 4, SS-Panzerjäger T.&R. Detachments. 3 (Chlum) and 4 (Gross-Knowitz). Also included were the remnants of SS- Pz.Jg. T.&R. Detachment 1 which had been in action as SS-Kampgruppe Kiss.
Due to the very short period of formation time it was impossible to develop the unit cohesiveness found in the original units of the Waffen- SS. The experienced soldiers and supporting youth had to be rapidly assembled into companies, battalions and regiments and rushed to the front to block enemy breakthroughs. As these units arrived at the front they were immediately subordinated to Army units (usually) that were already in place. The result was the splitting up of the main units of the SS-KGr.Div. „Böhmen-Mähren“ into regimental groups as follows:
SS-Regiment „Schulze“. This regiment was led by the Knight’s Cross holder, SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Herbert Schulze, (born 1 April 1914; SS Nr. 121 397; last promotion on 17 Nov. 1943). The furthrer unit command roster as known went as follows:
I. Bataillon: SS-Stubaf. Kanth. SS-Ostuf. Fuchs (Company CO).
II. Bataillon: SS-Stubaf. Maurer. SS-Ustuf. Hedrich (Company CO).
III. Bataillon: SS-Hstuf. Böhm. SS-Ostuf. Maier, SS-Ustuf. Franke, SS-Ostuf. Bauer, (all Company commanders).
Above: SS-Stubaf. Herbert Schulze; Ritterkruez received on 16 December 1943 as CO of II./’SS-Pz.Gr.Rgt. “Der Führer“/2.SS-Pz. Div.“Das Reich”.
The regiment was deployed in the vicinity of the oilfields to the south/southwest of Zistersdorf. It fought in the sector of 211 .Volksgrenadier Division beginning on 11 April 1945 in and around Blumenthal, Loidestaal and Götzendorf. Despite taking high losses in fierce combat, the troops of SS-Rgt. „Schulze“ were able to stop the Russian advance in this sector until 17 April 1945. The regiment then began a fighting withdrawal through the Mistelbach-Poysdorf area back towards the region just south of Laa-on-the-Thaya. Here the battered regiment came under the command of the 44.lnfanterie Division „Hoch und Deutschmeister” and the 101. Jäger Division on 25 April 1945. SS- Rgt. „Schulze“ then took up positions in and to the north of Laa-on-the-Thaya near the Czech border, where it remained until the end of the war. Ifs right neighbour would be the 2b. Panzer Division (replaced by the 44.lnf.Div.) and its left neighbour remained the 211 .Volksgrenadier Div.
SS-Regiment „Siegmann“. This was the second regiment formed for the SS-KGr.Div. „Böhmen-Mähren“. The unit was led by SS-Stubaf. Erich Siegmann, (bom 22 Dec. 1914; SS Nr. 55 312; last promoted on 9 Nov. 1944), who was a former tactical instructor at the SS-Junkerschule Prag. Its further command roster looked like this:
I. Bataillon: SS-Stubaf. Jägers. SS-Ostuf. Spoil, SS-Ostuf. Sybitz, (both Company commanders).
II. Bataillon: SS-Hstuf. Dülfers. SS-Hstuf.d.Res. Gustav Funk, SS- Ustuf. Carstenson, (both Company commanders).
III. Bataillon: SS-Hstuf. Weiss. SS-Ustuf. Hertel, SS-Ustuf. Welzl SS-Ustut. Moosmann, Ustuf. Scheible, (all Company commanders).
SS-Regiment „Siegmann“ was deployed in the Krems bridgehead on the Danube River west of Vienna on 15 April 1945 as part of Korps „Von Bünau“ of the 6th Panzer Armee. It was basically separate from the bulk of the main battle group. The regimental companies were sent straight from their assembly area to the territory south-southeast of Krems where they were quickly engaged in heavy defensive fighting in an effort to stop the Soviet advance into the hilly terrain outside of the city. I. Battalion was located around Unter and Oberwölbing; the adjacent III. Battalion was at Kuffern and the II. Battalion was near Krustetten-Ried. Soon after the regiment took up its positions the Soviets redirected their main attack through the Austrian „wine country“ and further northwards towards Brunn (Brno).
At the capitulation, SS-Rgt. „Siegmann“ retreated to the north bank of the Danube River and attempted to reach the American lines in the area around Linz-Freistadt.
SS-Regiment „Konopacki“. The third regimental group in the SS- KGr.Division „Böhmen-Mähren“, came under the command of the leader of Training Group „D” at the SS-Panzergrenadier Schule Prosetschnitz/Klenschlag, SS-Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Konopacki, (born 12 April 1906; SS-Nr. 422 154; last promotion on 21 June 1944). The further command roster was as follows:
I. Bataillon: SS-Hstuf. Eckert.
II. Bataillon: SS-Hstuf. Bormuth
III. Bataillon: SS-Hstuf. Effenberger. SS-Ustuf. Minnert, SS-Ustuf. Meier, (Company commanders). SS-Ustuf. Hans-Werner Belbe, (CO of 10th Company).
This regiment was formed on the grounds of the training school in the area around Networtschitz-Neveklau. The three battalion commanders were all badly disabled war veterans who had served as tactical instructors in Training Group „D“, which was a three month reserve officers training course. The commander of III. Btl., SS-Hstuf. Effenberger in particular had a distinguished combat record and had received the German Cross in Gold.
On 9 April 1945, the first companies from the regiment were already being transported to Austria. SS-Rgt. „Konopacki“ was deployed by companies in the area north of Tulin on 11 April 1945 and the troops were soon engaged in providing security in and around the town. Part of the regiment, either the I. or II. Battalion, wound up on the south bank of the Danube River and managed to get entangled in rearguard withdrawal fighting near St. Polten.
On 16 April 1945, a relocation to the west from the Tulln-Grafenwörth area in the Austrian „wine country“ began. The heavily engaged formations of the XXXXIII. Army Corps and the Panzer Corps „Feldherrnhalle“ of the 8th Army, continued unceasing withdrawal fighting against the advancing Russians, in the course of this situation, the SS- Rgt. „Konopacki“ arrived in the Poysdorf area and became subordinated to the 357th (Viennese) Infantry Division. On 18 April 1945, operating in close cooperation with nearby Army units, troops from 111./“Konopacki“ regained some lost territory to the east of Poysdorf near Altlichtenwarth. There, the young soldiers of the battalion, some of whom actually came from that area were confronted by monstrous Russian atrocities that had been committed against the local civilian population. Even the older soldiers were shocked by the scenes of these barbarous acts! (Editor’s note: No one has ever been brought to justice for these crimes; in fact it is not even ‘proper’ or ‘correct’ to mention that these terrible atrocities took place!).
III./SS-Rgt. „Konopacki“ held the Altlichtenwarth area until 20 April 1945 when it was ordered to join the general retreat to the northwest before it could be cutoff by the Russian forces already advancing on its right and left flanks. I. and II. Battalions of Rgt. „Konopacki“ reached the area around Poysdorf on 18 April 1945 and were promptly incorporated into the defensive lines. 11./“Konopacki“, with companies commanded by SS-Ustuf. Klinger (from Innsbruck, Tyrol; born 1921 to 1923), and SS- Standartenoberjunker (Officer designate) Heinz or Heintz (from the Vogtland, born 1924), launched a counterattack which took back the hills or heights at Herbaumgarten to the north of Poysdorf. One of the companies remained there for security purposes and held important connecting positions with the rest of the regiment right up until 8 May 1945.
In addition to the regimental Kampfgruppen there were a batch of other, smaller units coming under the SS-KGr.Div, „Böhmen-Mähren“ that fought in northern Austria. One of these was the SS-KGr. „Röhwer“ which was constructed on 8 April 1945 from parts of the SS- Pz.Gr.Schule Kienschlag. Specifically, it incorporated the Panzer Close Combat Inspectorate Breschan and the Armored Car Training & Replacement Btl. Bukowan. This battlegroup was outfitted with captured Russian and American armored vehicles. The commander was SS- Hstuf. Hans Röhwer, (bom 5 Dec. 1915; SS-Nr. 281 122; last promoted on 9 Nov. 1942). He had been a company commander in the 1.SS- Pz.Div. ‘‘Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler“ until being badly wounded in 1943. After his recovery he was assigned as a tactical instructor at the SS-Panzergrenadier Schule Kienschlag.
The „Böhmen-Mähren“ artillery element in Austria was referred to as the SS-Artillery Detachment „Curtius“. It consisted of 2 howitzer batteries and a mortar unit with 2 mulit-barreled rocket mortars or „projectors“ (similar to the infamous „Stalin Organs“), all manned by instructors and trainees from the SS Artillerie Schule II Beneschau. The commander was SS-Ostubaf. Dr. Arthur Curtius, (born 26 Jan. 1897; SS- Nr. 71 818; last promotion on 9 Nov. 1941). He had been in charge of the SS Corps Heavy Artillery Detachment 503/III.SS Germanic Panzer Corps from January to March 1945 when he was specifically assigned to form an emergency artillery battle-group.
The commander of the mortar unit was a combat experienced SS- Obersturmführer. At the end of April 1945, the SS Corps Heavy Artillery Detachment 503 now led by SS-Hstuf. Schnell, was also added to the SS-Artillery Detachment „Curtius“. In addition, several engineer units, some up to battalion strength, that came from the staff and trainees at the SS Pioniere Schule Hradischko, were also sent to the „Böhmen- Mähren“ forces in Austria.
(Editor’s note: Other battlegroups from the Waffen-SS training schools near Prague also were assembled and fought mainly in Czech territory. See SR #38 for details; there may be some question as to whether or not all of these units were part of the SS-KGr.Div. „Böhmen-Mähren“).
The actions of these battlegroups, constructed from experienced front soldiers and partially trained recruits, many of whom were still almost children, came to an end with the capitulation of the German Wehrmacht. Despite their ages, these young soldiers bravely helped defend their homeland. In addition, under the soldierly leadership of their officers, they protected the civilians, the woman, children and old people, wherever possible from enemy atrocities, both during and after the fighting . . . They held on to the German ground as long as they could, but took high losses in the process.
After the capitulation many had the good fortune, on the grounds of their young ages, to be released from captivity in 1945. Much of the remembrance of service in these Waffen-SS battle-groups was soon forgotten, even by the veteran members of the units. This was simply because the service time was too short to permit any cohesive unit attachment, even in those elements that had been formed earlier. Nevertheless, the members of the SS-KGr. „Böhmen-Mähren“, young or old, fought, suffered, were wounded or killed for their homes while defending their fatherland.
(Editor’s note: Many „Böhmen-Mähren“ captives were later turned over to the Soviets by the Americans including the commander, SS- Oberführer Trabandt, and would either die in captivity or spend many years at hard labor in Siberia). The author has devoted himself to studying this particular formation and hopes to be able to finally bring more information to light on this little-known Waffen-SS element.
A Report on the Recapture of Altlichtenwarth
By SS-Ustuf. Hans-Werner Belbe,
(CO of 10./SS-Rgt.“Konopacki“)
After inspection and reprovisioning, the companies of III.Btl./Rgt.“Konopacki“ took up jumping-off positions to the north of Altlichtenwarth. The battalion was subordinated to a battlegroup led by Hauptmann Hafner, a Knight’s Cross holder. The objective was to retake Altlichtenwarth and the hills due north in which the Russians had posted artillery spotters who were then capable of seeing well into the German held territory.
Our attack commenced on the morning of 18 April 1945, with 11th Company, led by SS-Ustuf. Minnert, (who was killed in the fighting) at the fore and 10th Company in reserve behind 11th Company. A Wehrmacht company stormed the hill to the right behind which the town lay. The assault which took place without heavy weapons support other than from a few heavy machine-guns, was difficult and 11th Company suffered many killed and wounded. By the early afternoon, Altlichtenwarth was in our hands. There we saw the atrocities which the woman (of the town) had undergone. The battalion held its positions at Altlichtenwarth and staved off further attempts by the Russians to retake it until 20 April 1945.
Above: SS-Untersturmführer Hans-Werner Belbe, commander of 10th Company/III. Btl./SS-Rgt. “Konopacki“.
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