SS Brigade Schuldt
Encyclopedia
SS Brigade Schuldt was a formation of the Waffen SS during World War II
. It was named after its commander Brigadeführer
Hinrich Schuldt
. It served on the Eastern Front
and was composed of units drawn from the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Polizei Divisions and a detachment from the Luftwaffe
.
on Guard and Public Duties
, The I. Battalion SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 3, Der Führer from the Das Reich, the I. Battalion SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Regiment 7, from the SS Polizei and the Luftwaffe
Field Battalion 100 Hermann Göring.
in December 1942, and by the 16 December was sent to the Stalingrad front line between Millerovo
and Meshkov in the Southern end of the Eastern Front.
On 5 December the I Battalion SS Polizei Panzergrenader Regiment 7 was loaded on trains and was disembarked to occupy defensive positions to the West of the Don river
which was being held by the Italian 8th Army
. When the Red Army attacked the Italians retreated without a fight. Parts of the I. Battalion SS-Polizei became separated from the main body (1st and 4th companies). But they still managed to critically delay the Russian advance to the Donets River, which enabled the 1st Panzer Army and the 4th Panzer Army to retreat through Rostov
.
On 1 January 1943, it was placed under command of the 6th Panzer Division and on the 13 December after taking part in the defence of Oveschkin, it was surrounded by the Red Army and was forced to breakout and retreat to the new German liines.
The final Battalion of the Brigade arrived on the 23 January when the I. Battalion Der Führer reached the Brigade positions and the next day the Brigade launched its first counterattack towards Slavyanoserbsk.
Because of its battle spirit, fire power and speed, this battalion soon makes its reputation with the Russians. "The Russians were scared of them as hell" The attack failed and the Brigade returned to a defensive posture on the 29 January.
The battalion had proved its worth during the fighting around Voroshilov
in early February to the 7 March, the reinforced I.Btn Der Führer received orders to rejoin its Division, the battalion is reorganized into two rifle companies and one heavy company.
The Brigade was pulled our of the line to reform on the 14 February at Krassnoskij and was assigned to the 15th Panzergrenadier Division on the 15 January.
To overcome some of the Brigades losses it was reinforced on the 25 February by a Battalion from the 62nd Infantry Division. The Brigade was formally disbanded on the 1 March 1943 with what was left of its units returning to their parent formations.
The I./SS-Polizei Panzegrenadier Regiment 7 was left with 84 men from original 527 and the VII.Battalion LSSAH had 38 men left from original 800.
and the German Cross
in Gold for the Brigades performance.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was named after its commander Brigadeführer
Brigadeführer
SS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
Hinrich Schuldt
Hinrich Schuldt
SS-Brigadeführer Hinrich Schuldt was a German Waffen-SS officer and a posthumous recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
. It served on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
and was composed of units drawn from the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Polizei Divisions and a detachment from the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
.
Formation
The brigade was formed in November 1942, from the VII. (Wach) Battalion LSSAH a unit normally stationed in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on Guard and Public Duties
Public duties
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.-Germany:...
, The I. Battalion SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 3, Der Führer from the Das Reich, the I. Battalion SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Regiment 7, from the SS Polizei and the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Field Battalion 100 Hermann Göring.
Eastern Front
After formation the Brigade was moved to the Eastern FrontEastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
in December 1942, and by the 16 December was sent to the Stalingrad front line between Millerovo
Millerovo
Millerovo is a town and the administrative center of Millerovsky District of Rostov Oblast, Russia. Population: It was founded in 1786 and named after its founder, the army officer Ivan Abramovich Müller...
and Meshkov in the Southern end of the Eastern Front.
On 5 December the I Battalion SS Polizei Panzergrenader Regiment 7 was loaded on trains and was disembarked to occupy defensive positions to the West of the Don river
Don River
- Australia :* Don River , a tributary of the Fitzroy River * Don River in North Queensland* Don River - United Kingdom :* River Don, South Yorkshire, England...
which was being held by the Italian 8th Army
Italian Army in Russia
The Italian Army in Russia was an army-sized unit of the Italian Royal Army which fought on the Eastern Front during World War II...
. When the Red Army attacked the Italians retreated without a fight. Parts of the I. Battalion SS-Polizei became separated from the main body (1st and 4th companies). But they still managed to critically delay the Russian advance to the Donets River, which enabled the 1st Panzer Army and the 4th Panzer Army to retreat through Rostov
Rostov
Rostov is a town in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, one of the oldest in the country and a tourist center of the Golden Ring. It is located on the shores of Lake Nero, northeast of Moscow. Population:...
.
On 1 January 1943, it was placed under command of the 6th Panzer Division and on the 13 December after taking part in the defence of Oveschkin, it was surrounded by the Red Army and was forced to breakout and retreat to the new German liines.
The final Battalion of the Brigade arrived on the 23 January when the I. Battalion Der Führer reached the Brigade positions and the next day the Brigade launched its first counterattack towards Slavyanoserbsk.
Because of its battle spirit, fire power and speed, this battalion soon makes its reputation with the Russians. "The Russians were scared of them as hell" The attack failed and the Brigade returned to a defensive posture on the 29 January.
The battalion had proved its worth during the fighting around Voroshilov
Voroshilov
Voroshilov may refer to:*Kliment Voroshilov , Marshal of the Soviet Union*Viktor Voroshilov, Soviet footballer*Vladimir Voroshilov , Russian TV personality*Voroshilov, former name of Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai, Russia...
in early February to the 7 March, the reinforced I.Btn Der Führer received orders to rejoin its Division, the battalion is reorganized into two rifle companies and one heavy company.
The Brigade was pulled our of the line to reform on the 14 February at Krassnoskij and was assigned to the 15th Panzergrenadier Division on the 15 January.
To overcome some of the Brigades losses it was reinforced on the 25 February by a Battalion from the 62nd Infantry Division. The Brigade was formally disbanded on the 1 March 1943 with what was left of its units returning to their parent formations.
The I./SS-Polizei Panzegrenadier Regiment 7 was left with 84 men from original 527 and the VII.Battalion LSSAH had 38 men left from original 800.
Aftermath
On the 1 April the Brigade commander Hinrich Schuldt was awarded the Oak Leaves. to the Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
and the German Cross
German Cross
The German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold for the Brigades performance.
Order of battle
- VII/.(Wach) Battalion, Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler.
- 3 Schützen Companies
- 1 Heavy Company
- I/.Battalion, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 3 Der Führer.
- 1 Schützen Company
- 1 Heavy Company (4 x 7.5 cm PaK 40, 2 x Flammenwerfer)
- 1 Panzer Company (8 x Panzer IVPanzer IVThe Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
, 13 x Panzer IIIPanzer IIIPanzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
)
- I/.Battalion SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Regiment 7
- 3 Schützen Companies
- 1 Heavy Company
- Luftwaffe Field Battalion 100 Hermann Göring.
- 3 Schützen Companies
- 1 Anti tank Company (12 x 7.5 cm PaK 40)