The
Combat History of the
10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg"
Chapter 1
Page 2
Organization
and Training
1943-1944
Between 6-25 March, the 1./SS-Stu.Gesch.Abt.10 (assault gun platoon) received basic infantry, specialized and battery training. During the month of March, both pioneer platoons, attached to the motorcycle regiment, disbanded and converted to a single platoon. The consolidated platoon attached to the reconnaissance battalion. The pioneer battalion relocated to Angouléme and quartered on either side of the Charente River, and SS Second Lieutenant Gerd Schättiger replaced the commander of the 1st Company, SS Second Lieutenant Günther Ostermann. The pioneer company that was attached to the SS-Pz.Rgt.10, relocated to Luxe along the Charente. According to Werkmeister, of the regimental tank pioneer company, the company commander, SS First Lieutenant Brandt, was a hardened soldier. The punitive actions Brandt administered for infractions of soldiering were especially severe, albeit he fostered a friendly and fatherly relationship with the men. Werkmeister recalls, "After a young pioneer soldier was caught stealing a rabbit, Brandt sentenced him to six months VH or 'Verlorener Haufen' (lost bunch). The soldier was never seen again."23
In the German armed forces, the punishments for acts of insubordination were harsh and reflected the brutality of war. Given the warring nature of the Nazi regime, the ideological indoctrination of soldiers and strict discipline, inhumane and brutal acts against captured soldiers or civilians were often overlooked. The death sentence was reserved for the most heinous offense, desertion. Extreme punishments for lesser offenses are documented with Army panzer units operating on the Russian front where, for example, eight soldiers were tried for neglect of duty while on guard. Three were sentenced to imprisonment for three to four years and five for longer terms. One soldier received a sentence of five years in jail for sleeping in his position. In contrast to the Army, men of the SS-Pz.Jg.Abt.10 found guilty of infractions received more fair sentences. For example, SS-Schütze Preuss (the lowest rank in the German armed forces was a gunner or soldier. The rank of Private was a senior gunner or Oberschütze) received a strong warning for smoking while on duty; SS Gunner M. Schneider received three days arrest for negligence while on guard duty; SS Gunner Myslinski received ten days arrest for stealing from a French vendor; and SS Gunner H. Rausch received three days arrest for smoking while cleaning his weapon.24
The Reichsführer SS, Heinrich Himmler, had the final word in all matters concerning SS officers. In some cases involving behavior unbecoming of an SS officer, they lost their commissions and were expelled from the SS altogether. However, the option of retaining their rank and stature carried the price of serving at a concentration camp.25
On 3 April 1943, group level training concluded for the I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.21 and followed with a surprise inspection by Himmler, who viewed the training and inspected the barracks. During the month of April, the 13th Company arrived in the battalion billeting area and was attached to the battalion. The organization of the Btl.-Nachrichtenstaffel (battalion signal squadron) was highlighted on 20 April 1943 by a one hour-long battalion celebration, commemorating Adolf Hitler's birthday. A thirty-eight-day regimental NCO training evolution began on 23 April 1943, to which the battalion selected thirteen individuals. Laubscheer was the NCO training supervisor and Krüger the training officer.26
Forming part of the cadre of the I Battalion, SS Captain Karl Bastian joined the Frundsberg Division in early 1943 as the company commander of the 7./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.21. Bastian entered the Hitler Jugend in 1932 and completed his labor service voluntarily between 1933-1935. Shortly thereafter, Bastian enlisted in the SS and received assignment to the 2./SS-Totenkopf-Standarte "Ostfriesland." A little over one year later, Bastian was promoted to SS Senior Corporal. He received orders to the Army from 1 November 1936 to 1 October 1938, where he served with the 5./Inf.Rgt.61 and participated in the occupation of the Ostmark and Sudetenland. After his release from the Army, he returned to the 3./SS-Totenkopf-Standarte "Brandenburg." As of January 1939, while serving as a platoon commander, Bastian participated in the occupation of Böhmen and Mähren. During the same year, Bastian transferred to the newly organized SS Totenkopf Division and received assignment to the 5./SS-Totenkopf-Inf.Rgt.2. One month later he attended the Platoon Leaders Course at the Jäger Battalion in Kassel. In the campaign against the Low Countries in Holland, Belgium, and France, Bastian participated as a platoon commander. Decorated during the campaign in 1940 with both the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Classes, the Tank Assault Clasp, and the Wound Badge, Bastian then obtained orders to the officer's candidate school (Junkerschule) at Bad Tölz. After his successful completion of the officer course, he remained at Bad Tölz until 8 January 1943, until his assignment as a company commander to the Frundsberg Division.27
The SS-Pz.Pi.Abt.10 continued to flesh out its billets in April and organized into three companies. Two basic pioneer companies were assembled for each of the two infantry regiments, each consisting of three platoons, one panzer pioneer company (disbanded in October 1943), and one pioneer platoon attached to the divisional reconnaissance battalion. Storm trooper training and intensive company-level combat training fostered confidence among the officers and men. However, according to the commander of the 3rd Company, Hugo Benger, the battalion commander made critical remarks during the gathering of an entire company. This led to resentment among the men. Additional but unqualified comments were made at the officer's mess during lunch that led to a written complaint. As a result, the commander of the 2nd Company, SS First Lieutenant Hermann, was relieved and transferred.28
By the end of April 1943, the 6./SS-Pz.Rgt.10 transferred from Rohrbach to the division's organizational area at Angouléme. Specifically, the 6th Company was assigned quarters in the small village of Vars sur Charente.
Bernhard Westerhoff, a cadre member of the division who served in the "Das Reich" Division described the relationship between the Germans and the French civilians of Vars as "good." The favorable relationship was a direct result from the strict leadership of Leo Franke and a handful of French-speaking soldiers. Field trips into the immediate French countryside were commonplace and treasured by the men, especially into the city of Angouleme. The most frequented attraction for the young Panzermänner (tanker men) was the cathedral of Saint-Pierre.29
The combat baggage-train of the 6./SS-Pz.Rgt.10, responsible for the supply of the fighting units, was comprised of seventeen NCOs and men and consisted of Hauptfeldwebel (Master Sergeant) Stief, Schirrmeister (Staff Sergeant) Kaluza (supply issue chief), Funkmeister Blata/Dennerlein (radio chief), Waffen-Unteroffizier (Weapons NCO) Bartsch (armorer), Geräteunteroffizier (Equipment NCO) Nitsch, Feldkochunteroffizier (Field Kitchen NCO) Reisenberger (cook), Sanitätsdienstgrad or SDG Utsch (medic), Bauer (typist), Mahler (truck driver), Kaucher, Sprössig (company clerk or writer), Cieslack (field cook) and Leister (carried the sick). The luggage/equipment (baggage-train) consisted of a cashier NCO as the responsible officer, the company cobbler, SS-Oberschütze (SS Private) Inneraski and the company tailor SS-Sturmmann (SS Private) Aicher.30
On 3 May 1943, the I./Pz.Gren.Rgt.21 conducted group combat field exercises. The officers studied the tactical war-game scenario "attacking from a forced march" and "assembly and attack up to the breakthrough." Two light armored half-tracks arrived on 9 May, and the 2nd Company conducted combat field exercises near Saint Julien, reinforced by one infantry howitzer platoon, a anti-tank platoon from the 4th Company, and one heavy infantry howitzer platoon from the 13th Company. The divisional and regimental commanders attended the exercise where after SS Colonel Debes determined the training to be acceptable. Until the end of May, the battalion continued combat field exercises that focused on the attack after assembly. On 27 May, such an event was attended by SS Lieutenant General Maximilian von Herff, the chief of the SS Personnel office, along with Debes and other commanders of the division. The training was approved and rated as exceptional. Herff addressed the men of the battalion and spoke to their loyal fulfillment of duties and noted their exceptional progress.30
In the classroom, the men were indoctrinated by an ideological curriculum that emphasized German history in a global context, the obligations of SS men and, more importantly, the elite status of the SS within German society. The indoctrination of SS men, known as Weltanschauung or Weltanschauliche Erziehung, in the broadest sense a global perspective and responsibility as it related to their position and mission in German society, Europe, and on earth. The literature of pure propaganda aimed to establish an army of political soldiers. Himmler cleverly amalgamated SS objectives and regulations with basic moral principles and responsibilities of honor. Peppered with nationalistic slogans and terminology, the SS dogma evoked romantic ideals of Teutonic chivalry, courage on the battlefield, honor, duty, and ultimately the Heldentod (a hero's death). The SS produced soldiers that contemporary historians call fanatical in spirit.32 It should be noted that teaching men how to fire a rifle or march in formation are routine military activities that are easily mastered. On the other hand, expectations of soldiers that are based on political and or ideological theories are complex and require a great deal of understanding. The divisional commander's memo dated 12 May 1943, regarding the progress of the global training, showed signs of discontent. Himself a proponent of indoctrination training, Debes actually aided in the failure of the training by formally recognizing the shortcomings of the Nazi ideology. For example, men with pure Aryan attributes were not among those in the division. For the instruction topic, "The SS-Man and the Question of Blood," dealing with race and racial differences, Debes recommended that company commanders not emphasize Nordic racial features of the SS man, but rather inner character and achievement.33
In early June 1943, the I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.21 conducted more field exercises that continued to focus on the unit "assembly and attack." The Chief of the First Army in southwest France, Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz, and divisional and regimental commanders attended the training. By 17 June 1943, the divisional and regimental commanders also supervised exercises conducted by the Army 708th Infantry Division. In turn, the pioneer platoon, attached to the SS-Pz.Aufk.Abt.10, received their first half-tracks around the end of June. SS Second Lieutenant Kögel and five NCOs attended the Panzer Grenadier Course in Prosetschnitz on 7 July 1943, and SS First Lieutenant Siebert transferred to the self-propelled training and replacement section in Heidelager. Three days later, the battalion transferred into the area of Heugas.34
On 16 July 1943, the 6./SS-Pz.Rgt.10 loaded onto a train in Angouléme and traveled through Bordeaux to the railroad station at Dax. An advanced party proceeded onto Souprosse, whereby the company made a brief stop in Mugron and occupied the former barracks of French soldiers. Training continued and security precautions were adopted as a result of partisan activity.35
During the same period, the pioneer platoon, attached to the heavy 5th Company, SS-Pz.Aufk.Abt.10. At the onset they received French trucks for the training of various groups, whereas the first half-tracks arrived around the end of June. Early in July, the pioneer platoon relocated to the area Bayonne-Dax, and field exercises were held in the Bay of Biscay. At the end of the month, the I./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.21 acquired eight Volkswagen.36
For the men of the 6./SS-Pz.Rgt.10, southern France excited the senses. Many saw lemon trees blooming for the first time. On a clear day, the Pyrenees Mountains were visible far off in the distance. Attending a bullfight in Mont de Marsan was a first-time experience for many.
In Souprosse, a crippled Allied bomber tried to make it back to England but the crew bailed out before the English Channel over occupied France. An expedient search party was organized to find the crew, but no one was found. However, men from the 6./SS-Pz.Rgt.10 did discover a smoke house and returned with a ham. Needless to say, the discovery resulted in a ten-hour punishment drill.37
After the division transferred from control of the First Army to the Fifteen Army, the pioneer battalion relocated to the vicinity of Nimes, north of Aix near the Mediterranean Sea. For the men from the divisional Feldgendarmerie (field police) and the Wirtschafts-Btl. (economic battalion), the pioneers provided instruction and training in the use of explosives and how to set fuzes.
Indoctrination training resumed during the month of August that focused on German history and enemies of the state. The divisional commander personally oversaw the progress of the training and assisted in those areas where he felt it necessary. In a memo to the company commanders dated 27 July, Debes emphasized the importance and urgency of teaching German history and identified the readily apparent need for such training throughout the majority of the units in the division. In order to transform historical facts into political thought, Debes recommended abandoning the study of dates, names, and specific historic events. Instead, he advocated focusing on SS ideology or the natural philosophy that determined the course of German history; the forces that determined the fate of the Germans in both the past and future. These forces were identified by Debes as race and space, which connected the various details and transformed the historical into political thought. Invariably, when company commanders selected instructional material, they were directed to ask themselves if the historical events enabled SS men to learn something applicable to the past and future, to foster enthusiasm, pride, and a willingness to fight. However, due to time constraints, Debes required that only three training hours be covered per month. The entire training phase involved twelve hours of instruction. For the topic "Our Enemies", Debes emphasized the objective of the instruction to foster "hatred and abhorrence against the brutal and criminal intent of the enemy" and "eagerness for combat and enthusiasm to destroy the enemy where he is encountered." His closing remarks reaffirm the nature of the training as pure indoctrination stating, "The lecture will require an intense degree of propaganda."38
In the beginning of August, the pioneers relocated to an airfield in the area around Marseille. Near Istres, the reconnaissance battalion and other units received their baptism of fire during an Allied bombing attack. A machine gunner from the 3rd Company was killed and buried along-side members of the Luftwaffe and female signal helpers.39
Following the Sunday-morning "pre-alert" on 7 August 1943, members of the 5./SS-Pz.Rgt.10, still wearing their service "A" uniforms from a previous inspection, loaded their equipment and trucks onto rail cars. The day passed and after various details (working parties) were sent in all directions, the company held a formation at 1900 hours and departed the station at 1945 hours. Rumors about their destination were settled when the company found itself traveling along the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. The train passed through the village of Lourdes, and the hot temperatures caused the men to sweat. Nevertheless, snow and glaciers covered the high Spanish alpine [sic] range as the train clattered passed the never-ending rows of vineyards. The train made longer stops at various stations that allowed for the replenishment of supplies, such as water for large containers for cooking. By 10 August, the 5./SS-Pz.Rgt.10 arrived at Toulouse and continued towards Narbonne. The company arrived at Beziers around 1815 hours and continued along the coast towards the Mediterranean. Upon arriving at their final destination the next morning, the early cry of the duty NCO ordered the unloading of the train. Not knowing their exact location, the men were greeted by a dry and rocky desert with sparse vegetation.40
Notes