13th SS-Standarte
Encyclopedia
The 13th SS-Standarte was a regimental formation of the Allgemeine-SS first founded in the year 1927. During its first years of existence, the Standarte was one of a handful of regional SS-Gaus and was headquartered in the city of Stuttgart
. The unit's first commander was SS-Führer Friedrich Schlegel.
In 1931, the former SS-Gau was reorganized and the Standarte referred to after which as the "SS-Standarate Württemberg
". The Standarte now maintained several battalion sized Sturmbann in and around Stuttgart and the regiment grew to be considered one of the more important in the Allgemeine-SS Order of Battle
.
Between 1932 and 1938, the 13th Standarte was one of the largest General-SS units in Germany and also seen as a "starting point" for many SS officers who would later hold significant positions in the SS during World War II
. Herbert Kappler
, for instance, began his SS career as a member of this Standarte.
By 1939, with war looming on the horizon, the 13th Standarte began losing its SS membership to either the general draft
or to service within the Waffen-SS
. When war began in 1939, the Standarte's last commander, Kurt Hoffmann
, assumed leadership of the regiment and would hold this title for the duration of the war. After 1943, however, the 13th Standarte had very few members and had become a "paper regiment" by 1944.
The 13th Standarte was formally disbanded upon the fall of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. The unit's first commander was SS-Führer Friedrich Schlegel.
In 1931, the former SS-Gau was reorganized and the Standarte referred to after which as the "SS-Standarate Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
". The Standarte now maintained several battalion sized Sturmbann in and around Stuttgart and the regiment grew to be considered one of the more important in the Allgemeine-SS Order of Battle
Allgemeine-SS Order of Battle
The Allgemeine-SS Order of Battle refers to the mustering formations of SS units in Nazi Germany and Austria that existed prior to and during World War II....
.
Between 1932 and 1938, the 13th Standarte was one of the largest General-SS units in Germany and also seen as a "starting point" for many SS officers who would later hold significant positions in the SS during World War II
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...
. Herbert Kappler
Herbert Kappler
Herbert Kappler , was the head of German police and security services in Rome during World War II...
, for instance, began his SS career as a member of this Standarte.
By 1939, with war looming on the horizon, the 13th Standarte began losing its SS membership to either the general draft
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
or to service within the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
. When war began in 1939, the Standarte's last commander, Kurt Hoffmann
Kurt Hoffmann
Kurt Hoffmann was a German film director. He directed 48 films between 1938 and 1971. His film The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi was entered into the 11th Berlin International Film Festival.-Selected filmography:...
, assumed leadership of the regiment and would hold this title for the duration of the war. After 1943, however, the 13th Standarte had very few members and had become a "paper regiment" by 1944.
The 13th Standarte was formally disbanded upon the fall of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
Commanders
- SS-Führer Friedrich Schlegel (May 27, 1927 - September 14, 1927)
- No Posted Commander (1927 - 1931)
- SS-SturmführerSturmführerSturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party which began as a title used by the Sturmabteilung in 1925 and became an actual SA rank in 1928...
Karl Schuster (January 15, 1931 - March 19, 1931) - SS-SturmbannführerSturmbannführerSturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Karl Pflomm (March 19, 1931 - March 21, 1932) - SS-StandartenführerStandartenführerStandartenführer was a Nazi Party paramilitary rank that was used in the so-called Nazi combat-organisations: SA, SS, NSKK and the NSFK...
Robert Zeller (March 21, 1932 - July 31, 1933) - SS-Sturmbannführer Max Humps (July 15, 1933 - April 22, 1934)
- SS-Sturmbannführer Ernst Greulich (April 23, 1934 - March 15, 1936)
- SS-Standartenführer Wilhelm Ihle (March 15, 1936 - January 1, 1938)
- SS-ObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführerObersturmbannführer was a paramilitary Nazi Party rank used by both the SA and the SS. It was created in May 1933 to fill the need for an additional field grade officer rank above Sturmbannführer as the SA expanded. It became an SS rank at the same time...
Hans von Uslar (January 1, 1938 - November 30, 1938) - SS-Obersturmbannführer Kurt Hoffmann (December 1, 1938 - May 8, 1945)