Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling
Encyclopedia
Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling (Schutzmanner-Brigade Siegling) - was a Nazi German
auxiliary police
brigade
formed by 31 July 1944 at East Prussia from the retreated from Belarus (as the result of the Operation Bagration) dozen remnants of the SiPo
, SD
, Ordnungsdienst units, Kommandanturas personnel and BKA
units composed from the Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians,Poles collaborators under German commands.
Soon thereafter – 1 August 1944 unit was ordered to be a basis for the 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)
which formation started 18 August 1944 at Belfort
, Alsace
.
Brigade named after its commander Obersturmbannführer Hans Siegling
, SD
, Ordnungsdienst units, Kommandanturas personnel and BKA
units composed from the Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians collaborators under German commands. Approximate number of the personnel estimated as follow: up to 6 thousands of the auxiliary police
, 2 thousands of the SD
and up to 8 thousands of the BKA
personnel. They were spread in different locations at East Prussia. Units suffered from persistent desertion – especially ethnic Poles – which join the different Polish Nazi-resistance forces and attack their yesterday masters. In order to place all units under general command Germans decide to form a brigade sized formation named after its commander Obersturmbannführer Hans Siegling – which lead dozen of anti-partisan operations in Belarus since 1941 and was a commander of the 57 Schutzmannschaft regiment. By end of June 1944 Curt von Gottberg
issued an order to create a brigade which by 20 July 1944 was nominally formed and named as “Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling”. The formation of the brigade’s 4 regiments was nominally complete by 31 July 1944 –all 4 regiments were named after their commanders were stationed at that time at different place: 1-st Regiment at Grady under command of the Sturmbannführer Hans Österreich, 2-nd regiment at Stawicz - commander Sturmbannführer Helmuth Gantz, 3-d regiment at Czartoriak - commander Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Mocha and 4-th regiment – commander Sturmbannführer Ernst Schmidt. Artillery unit was stationed at Suliny. Brigade also has a cavalry unit.
1 August 1944 issued an order to form a division on the brigade basis - thus personnel were transferred from Ordnungspolizei to SS command. 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)
which formation started 18 August 1944 at Belfort
, Alsace
initially has
following regiments - Waffen-Gren.Rgt. d. SS 75 (russ. Nr. 4), Waffen-Gren.Rgt. d. SS 76 (russ. Nr. 5) (consisted of three battalions each), Waffen-Artillerie-Rgt d. SS 30 (russ. Art.Rgt. 2) (consisted of three artillery batteries) and Replacement Regiment were created. Nevertheless combat ready units of Brigade transferred to France to participate at actions against French Resistance
from 17 August 1944.
and personnel of the Gebiets-Kommandantur Glebokie und Gebiets-Kommandantur Lida
but instead was used from August 12 at East Prussia for harvest collection. Some combat ready units of the brigade transferred to France to participate at actions against French Resistance
at August 17, 1944.
Die Landstreitkrafte 71-13 0 BIBLI O VERLAG OSNABRUCK 1972
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
auxiliary police
Ordnungspolizei
The Ordnungspolizei or Orpo were the uniformed regular police force in Nazi Germany between 1936 and 1945. It was increasingly absorbed into the Nazi police system. Owing to their green uniforms, they were also referred to as Grüne Polizei...
brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
formed by 31 July 1944 at East Prussia from the retreated from Belarus (as the result of the Operation Bagration) dozen remnants of the SiPo
Sicherheitspolizei
The Sicherheitspolizei , often abbreviated as SiPo, was a term used in Nazi Germany to describe the state political and criminal investigation security agencies. It was made up by the combined forces of the Gestapo and the Kripo between 1936 and 1939...
, SD
Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst , full title Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS, or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was often considered a "sister organization" with the...
, Ordnungsdienst units, Kommandanturas personnel and BKA
Bielaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona
Biełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona was the name of the armed forces of The Belarusian Central Rada from February 23, 1944 to April 28, 1945. The Belarusian Land Defence was formed under the control of Governor-General Curt von Gottberg with the help of German special services...
units composed from the Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians,Poles collaborators under German commands.
Soon thereafter – 1 August 1944 unit was ordered to be a basis for the 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)
30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)
The 30th SS Grenadier Division was a German Waffen SS infantry division formed largely from Belarussian, Russian and Ukrainian personnel of the Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling in August 1944 at Warsaw, Poland. The division was moved by rail to southeastern France by mid-August 1944 to combat the...
which formation started 18 August 1944 at Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
.
Brigade named after its commander Obersturmbannführer Hans Siegling
Formation
As the result of the Operation Bagration from Belarus retreated dozen remnants of the SiPoSicherheitspolizei
The Sicherheitspolizei , often abbreviated as SiPo, was a term used in Nazi Germany to describe the state political and criminal investigation security agencies. It was made up by the combined forces of the Gestapo and the Kripo between 1936 and 1939...
, SD
Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst , full title Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS, or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was often considered a "sister organization" with the...
, Ordnungsdienst units, Kommandanturas personnel and BKA
Bielaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona
Biełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona was the name of the armed forces of The Belarusian Central Rada from February 23, 1944 to April 28, 1945. The Belarusian Land Defence was formed under the control of Governor-General Curt von Gottberg with the help of German special services...
units composed from the Ukrainians, Belarusians, Russians collaborators under German commands. Approximate number of the personnel estimated as follow: up to 6 thousands of the auxiliary police
Ordnungspolizei
The Ordnungspolizei or Orpo were the uniformed regular police force in Nazi Germany between 1936 and 1945. It was increasingly absorbed into the Nazi police system. Owing to their green uniforms, they were also referred to as Grüne Polizei...
, 2 thousands of the SD
Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst , full title Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS, or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was often considered a "sister organization" with the...
and up to 8 thousands of the BKA
Bielaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona
Biełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona was the name of the armed forces of The Belarusian Central Rada from February 23, 1944 to April 28, 1945. The Belarusian Land Defence was formed under the control of Governor-General Curt von Gottberg with the help of German special services...
personnel. They were spread in different locations at East Prussia. Units suffered from persistent desertion – especially ethnic Poles – which join the different Polish Nazi-resistance forces and attack their yesterday masters. In order to place all units under general command Germans decide to form a brigade sized formation named after its commander Obersturmbannführer Hans Siegling – which lead dozen of anti-partisan operations in Belarus since 1941 and was a commander of the 57 Schutzmannschaft regiment. By end of June 1944 Curt von Gottberg
Curt von Gottberg
Curt von Gottberg was a Nazi official and military commander. Beginning in October 1942, within a few years he had personally combined the highest civil and military powers in occupied Belarus: from March 1943 as representative of the HSSPF for central Russia, and from October 1943 as the acting...
issued an order to create a brigade which by 20 July 1944 was nominally formed and named as “Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling”. The formation of the brigade’s 4 regiments was nominally complete by 31 July 1944 –all 4 regiments were named after their commanders were stationed at that time at different place: 1-st Regiment at Grady under command of the Sturmbannführer Hans Österreich, 2-nd regiment at Stawicz - commander Sturmbannführer Helmuth Gantz, 3-d regiment at Czartoriak - commander Sturmbannführer Wilhelm Mocha and 4-th regiment – commander Sturmbannführer Ernst Schmidt. Artillery unit was stationed at Suliny. Brigade also has a cavalry unit.
1 August 1944 issued an order to form a division on the brigade basis - thus personnel were transferred from Ordnungspolizei to SS command. 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)
30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)
The 30th SS Grenadier Division was a German Waffen SS infantry division formed largely from Belarussian, Russian and Ukrainian personnel of the Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling in August 1944 at Warsaw, Poland. The division was moved by rail to southeastern France by mid-August 1944 to combat the...
which formation started 18 August 1944 at Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
, Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
initially has
following regiments - Waffen-Gren.Rgt. d. SS 75 (russ. Nr. 4), Waffen-Gren.Rgt. d. SS 76 (russ. Nr. 5) (consisted of three battalions each), Waffen-Artillerie-Rgt d. SS 30 (russ. Art.Rgt. 2) (consisted of three artillery batteries) and Replacement Regiment were created. Nevertheless combat ready units of Brigade transferred to France to participate at actions against French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
from 17 August 1944.
Order of battle
- 1st Schutzmannschaft (Österreich) regiment – formed from the 57 and 61 “Ukrainian” Schutzmannschaft –battalions; 60 “Byelorussian” Schutzmannschaft –battalion, personnel of the Gebiets-Kommandantur Minsk and units of the 34-th BKABielaruskaja Krajovaja AbaronaBiełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona was the name of the armed forces of The Belarusian Central Rada from February 23, 1944 to April 28, 1945. The Belarusian Land Defence was formed under the control of Governor-General Curt von Gottberg with the help of German special services...
battalion. - 2-nd Schutzmannschaft (Gantz) regiment formed from the 62, 63 “Ukrainian” Schutzmannschaft –battalions, 64 “Byelorussian” Schutzmannschaft –battalion
and personnel of the Gebiets-Kommandantur Glebokie und Gebiets-Kommandantur Lida
- 3-d Schutzmannschaft (Mocha) regiment – 65, 66, 67 “Byelorussian” Schutzmannschaft –battalions, 34 schutzmannschaft regiment, personnel of the Gebiets-Kommandantur Slutsk, Baranovichi, Vileyka, SiPoSicherheitspolizeiThe Sicherheitspolizei , often abbreviated as SiPo, was a term used in Nazi Germany to describe the state political and criminal investigation security agencies. It was made up by the combined forces of the Gestapo and the Kripo between 1936 and 1939...
personnel from the Minsk and Smolensk, - 4 -th Schutzmannschaft – (Schmidt) regiment - personnel of the Gebiets-Kommandantur Slonim, Gantzevichi, Pripyat, 23 and units of the 34-th BKABielaruskaja Krajovaja AbaronaBiełaruskaja Krajovaja Abarona was the name of the armed forces of The Belarusian Central Rada from February 23, 1944 to April 28, 1945. The Belarusian Land Defence was formed under the control of Governor-General Curt von Gottberg with the help of German special services...
battalion, approximately 100 cadets of the BKA officer’s school from Minsk.
-
- Artillery unit – composed from the 56 auxiliary police artillery battalion (Schuma-Art-Abteilung 56) and SS artillery battalion «Weissruthenien» ( SS-Pol.-Art.-Abteilung «Weissruthenien»)
- Cavalry squadrone – (de:Reiter-Abteilung) – from the Ragulya’sBarys RahulaDr. Barys Rahula was a Belarusian military commander and politician and Canadian doctor.Barys Rahula was born near Nowogródek and spent his young years in Poland-occupied West Belarus. In 1938 he became student at the University of Vilnius but was mobilized into the Polish army after the German...
Squadrone - auxiliary police battalion 68 (Schuma-Reiter Abteilung 68 — Reiter Schwadron Rogula) and Kossak Cavalry battalion 69 (Kosaken Reiter Schutzmannschafts Bataillon F/69)
Operations
Actively engaged in anti-partisan operations in Belarus and suffered heavy losses. August 6, 1944 received an order to take part in Warsaw UprisingWarsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
but instead was used from August 12 at East Prussia for harvest collection. Some combat ready units of the brigade transferred to France to participate at actions against French Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
at August 17, 1944.
See also
- 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian)The 30th SS Grenadier Division was a German Waffen SS infantry division formed largely from Belarussian, Russian and Ukrainian personnel of the Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling in August 1944 at Warsaw, Poland. The division was moved by rail to southeastern France by mid-August 1944 to combat the...
- HilfspolizeiHilfspolizeiThe Hilfspolizei was a short-lived auxiliary police in Nazi Germany in 1933.The Hilfspolizei was created on February 22, 1933 by Hermann Göring, newly appointed Interior Minister of Prussia, to assist regular police in maintaining order and persecuting communist in the wake of the Reichstag fire...
- Holocaust in BelarusHolocaust in BelarusThe Holocaust in Belarus refers to the Nazi crimes during the occupation of Belarus by Nazi Germany on the territory of contemporary Belarus, and against the ethnic Belarusians outside it. Belarus lost a quarter of its pre-war population, including most of its intellectual elite and 90% of the...
External links
- Ю. Грыбоўскі — Беларускі легіён СС: міфы і рэчаіснасць
- «Белорусские коллаборационистские формирования в эмиграции (1944-1945): Организация и боевое применение» // Романько О.В. Коричневые тени в Польсье. Белоруссия 1941-1945. М.: Вече, 2008.
Book references
- Untermenschen in SS Uniforms: 30th Waffen-Grenadier Division of Waffen SS Leonid Rein The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 1556-3006, Volume 20, Issue 2, 2007, Pages 329—345
- Bishop C. Zagraniczne formacje SS. Zagraniczni ochotnicy w Waffen-SS w latach 1940—1945. Warszawa, 2006
- GEORG TESSIN Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 VIERTER BAND: Die Landstreitkrafte 15—30 VERLAG E. S. MITTLER & SOHN GMBH. - FRANKFURT/MAIN 1970
- GEORG TESSIN Verbande und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen SS im Zweiten Weltkrieg 1939-1945 SECHSTER BAND:
Die Landstreitkrafte 71-13 0 BIBLI O VERLAG OSNABRUCK 1972