31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division
Encyclopedia
The 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division was formed from Germans
, Hungarians and Volksdeutsche
, mostly from the Bačka
in September 1944. The division is sometimes given the title Batschka. By November 1944 it was in action on the Hungarian Front
In January 1945 it was sent to Austria
and reformed as a type 45 Division; only two Battalions in each Regiment and only three platoons in each Company.
It then joined the 17th Army in Silesia
where it was surrounded by the Red Army
and surrendered near Hradec Králové
in May 1945.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, Hungarians and Volksdeutsche
Volksdeutsche
Volksdeutsche - "German in terms of people/folk" -, defined ethnically, is a historical term from the 20th century. The words volk and volkische conveyed in Nazi thinking the meanings of "folk" and "race" while adding the sense of superior civilization and blood...
, mostly from the Bačka
Backa
Bačka is a geographical area within the Pannonian plain bordered by the river Danube to the west and south, and by the river Tisza to the east of which confluence is located near Titel...
in September 1944. The division is sometimes given the title Batschka. By November 1944 it was in action on the Hungarian 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...
In January 1945 it was sent to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and reformed as a type 45 Division; only two Battalions in each Regiment and only three platoons in each Company.
It then joined the 17th Army in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
where it was surrounded by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and surrendered near Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové
Hradec Králové is a city of the Czech Republic, in the Hradec Králové Region of Bohemia. The city's economy is based on food-processing technology, photochemical, and electronics manufacture. Traditional industries include musical instrument manufacturing – the best known being PETROF pianos...
in May 1945.
Commander
- SS BrigadeführerBrigadeführerSS-Brigadeführer was an SS rank that was used in Nazi Germany between the years of 1932 and 1945. Brigadeführer was also an SA rank....
, Gustav LombardGustav LombardGustav Lombard was an SS Brigadeführer who served in World War II. During World War II, Lombard commanded the 8. SS-Division Florian Geyer, 23. SS-Mountain Division Kama and the 31. SS-Volunteer Grenadier Division...
1 Oct 1944 to April 1945 - SS Brigadeführer Wilhelm TrabandtWilhelm TrabandtAugust Wilhelm Trabandt was a Brigadeführer in the Waffen SS during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.He also served in World War I and...
April 1945 to May 8 1945 According to Pencz Lombard was O/C until the Divisions destruction in 1945
Order of battle
- SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 78
- SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 79
- SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 80 (this unit was destroyed and reformed using the Brizen SS Police Regiment in 1945)
- SS Artillerie Regiment 31
- SS Füsilier Batallion 31 (this unit was destroyed in Hungary and replaced using the 'Szlasi' Hungarian SS Grenadier Battalion in March 1945)
- SS Signals Battalion 31
- SS Nachschub Troop 31
- SS PanzerjägerPanzerjägerPanzerjäger was a branch of service of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War which were the anti-tank arm-of-service who operated anti-tank artillery, and made exclusive use of the tank destroyers which were also named Panzerjäger...
Batallion 31 - SS Pionier Batallion 31
- SS Krankentransport Kompanie 31
- SS Vetinerary Company 31