SS Panzer Brigade Gross
Encyclopedia
SS Panzer Brigade Gross. was a formation of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was formed in 1944, from the SS Training and Reserve Regiments based in Latvia
, to keep the road to Riga
open and to counter the Red Army
s summer offensive, which had captured Mitau and Tukums
and putting the whole of Courland
in danger. The Brigade was disbanded in November 1944, and the survivors assigned to the SS Panzer Division's.
, Latvia
and the SS Panzer Troop Training Regiment Seelager based at the training grounds at Ventspils
together with the SS Reconnaissance Training Battalion formed the Brigade.
The Brigade began forming on 8 August 1944, under the command of Sturmbannführer
Martin Gross. The eventual Brigade consisted of two infantry
battalion
s, a panzer
battalion of two companies with Panzer III
and Panzer IV
, a reconnaissance battalion, a StuG battalion, a pioneer company and a Flak company.
in Latvia
and was involved in some heavy fighting with a Red Army Cavalry Corps and the attempt to recapture Tuckems failed.
The Brigade was reinforced on the 15 August, when a Tiger tank company was attached from the 103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
and two batteries of artillery from the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of SS (2nd Latvian) and by the 19 August the Brigade strength stood at 2,500 men.
The Brigade was also assigned to the Panzer Division Strachwitz and on the 20 August attacked the Soviet 51st Army and recaptured Mitau and Reval, now that the Baltic
coast was cleared of the Red Army the evacuation of the German forces continued across the Baltic sea.
On 28 August the Brigade was moved to Estonia
. and remained in the area of Lake Peipus
until early September By 12 September the Brigade's panzer battalion now counted eight Panzer III
, one Panzer IV
, one Panzer IV
, three Panther tank
s, one StuG and 17 Sd.Kfz. 251. It no longer had the SS Infantry Battalion 2 and its Reconnaissance Battalion had only eight Panzerspähwagen
.
They were dispatched back to Dorbet
in Latvia in mid-September and were in constant contact with the Soviet forces.
The Brigade had reported strength on the 20 September of only 300 men, two StuG, one T-34
, three Panzer III, two Panzer IV and four Sd.Kfz. 251.
the Brigade became a part of the 3 Panzer Army. It reached Memel in October and were ordered to pull out due to their heavy losses on 16 November.
The survivors were sent to the training area at Windau
in Prussia
and then onto Sennelager
. The Brigade was dismantled and its men sent as replacements to the 1 SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen and the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, which were all part of the 6th SS Panzer Army.
The disbanding of the Brigade was disguised as the forming of a new panzer regiment, SS Panzer Regiment 26 Reichsmarschall.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, to keep the road to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
open and to counter 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...
s summer offensive, which had captured Mitau and Tukums
Tukums
Tukums is a town in Latvia. Three regions of Latvia meet in the vicinity of Tukums – Vidzeme, Zemgale and Courland. The city was host to the Cold War facility Tukums air base.- History :...
and putting the whole of Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
in danger. The Brigade was disbanded in November 1944, and the survivors assigned to the SS Panzer Division's.
Formation
The SS Panzer Brigade Gross was formed from the SS Panzer Training and Replacement Regiment based in DundagaDundaga
Dundaga is a village in Courland, Latvia. From 2009 its an administrative centre of Dundaga municipality.Dundaga is famous for its castle from late 13th century, constructed by Archbishopric of Riga. From the 16th until the 20th century, Dundaga Castle was the centre of the largest private estate...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and the SS Panzer Troop Training Regiment Seelager based at the training grounds at Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
together with the SS Reconnaissance Training Battalion formed the Brigade.
The Brigade began forming on 8 August 1944, under the command of Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer
Sturmbannführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi Party equivalent to major, used both in the Sturmabteilung and the Schutzstaffel...
Martin Gross. The eventual Brigade consisted of two infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s, a panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
battalion of two companies with Panzer III
Panzer III
Panzer 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...
and Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The 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...
, a reconnaissance battalion, a StuG battalion, a pioneer company and a Flak company.
Counter attack
The Brigade was immediately sent into action, launching a counter attack towards LibauLiepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
in Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and was involved in some heavy fighting with a Red Army Cavalry Corps and the attempt to recapture Tuckems failed.
The Brigade was reinforced on the 15 August, when a Tiger tank company was attached from the 103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
103 SS Heavy Panzer Battalion
SS Heavy Panzer Battalion 103 or s.SS-Panzer Abteilung 103 was originally formed on 1 July 1943 as the II.Battalion, 11 SS Panzer Regiment and sent to Yugoslavia to fight as infantry, however, at the end of November, the battalion was converted back to the Tanks.The Battalion was then issued six...
and two batteries of artillery from the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of SS (2nd Latvian) and by the 19 August the Brigade strength stood at 2,500 men.
The Brigade was also assigned to the Panzer Division Strachwitz and on the 20 August attacked the Soviet 51st Army and recaptured Mitau and Reval, now that the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
coast was cleared of the Red Army the evacuation of the German forces continued across the Baltic sea.
On 28 August the Brigade was moved to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. and remained in the area of Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus
Lake Peipus, ) is the biggest transboundary lake in Europe on the border between Estonia and Russia.The lake is the fifth largest in Europe after Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega in Russia north of St...
until early September By 12 September the Brigade's panzer battalion now counted eight Panzer III
Panzer III
Panzer 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...
, one Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The 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...
, one Panzer IV
Panzer IV
The 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...
, three Panther tank
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
s, one StuG and 17 Sd.Kfz. 251. It no longer had the SS Infantry Battalion 2 and its Reconnaissance Battalion had only eight Panzerspähwagen
Leichter Panzerspähwagen
The Leichter Panzerspähwagen were a series of light four-wheel drive armoured cars produced by Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1944....
.
They were dispatched back to Dorbet
Dörbet
Dörbet may refers to:* Dörbet , an Oirat tribe;* Dörbet , a Khorchin-Kharchin tribe;...
in Latvia in mid-September and were in constant contact with the Soviet forces.
The Brigade had reported strength on the 20 September of only 300 men, two StuG, one T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
, three Panzer III, two Panzer IV and four Sd.Kfz. 251.
Disbandment
Forced back to LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
the Brigade became a part of the 3 Panzer Army. It reached Memel in October and were ordered to pull out due to their heavy losses on 16 November.
The survivors were sent to the training area at Windau
Windau
Windau may refer to:* Ventspils, Latvia * Venta River, Latvia...
in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and then onto Sennelager
Sennelager
Sennelager is a village in Germany that forms part of the City of Paderborn. It is notable by the presence of a British army barracks, where the 20th Armoured Brigade are currently situated...
. The Brigade was dismantled and its men sent as replacements to the 1 SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen and the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend, which were all part of the 6th SS Panzer Army.
The disbanding of the Brigade was disguised as the forming of a new panzer regiment, SS Panzer Regiment 26 Reichsmarschall.
Order of battle August 1944
- Brigade Staff
- SS InfantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
BattalionBattalionA battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
1- 4 x Companies
- SS Infantry Battalion 2
- 4 x Companies
- SS PanzerPanzerA Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
Battalion Gross- 3 x Companies
- 1 x Heavy Company
- SS SturmgeschützSturmgeschützSturmgeschütz is a German word for "assault gun", usually abbreviated StuG. The vehicle was a leading weapon of the Sturmartillerie, a branch of the German artillery tasked with close fire support of infantry in infantry, panzer, and panzergrenadier units...
Battalion 1- 2 x Batteries
- SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion Gross'
- Motorcycle Company
- Panzer Reconnaissnce Company
- Kettenrad Company
- SS Flak Company
- 4 x platoons
- SS Pionier Company
- Pionier platoon (motorised)
- NebelwerferNebelwerferThe Nebelwerfer was a World War II German series of weapons originally designed to deliver chemical weapons. They were initially developed by and assigned to the Wehrmacht's so-called Chemical Troops ...
platoon
- FeldgendarmerieFeldgendarmerieThe Feldgendarmerie were the uniformed military police units of the armies of the German Empire from the mid 19th Century until the conclusion of World War II.- Early history :...
Troop
- Repair Company