Strafbattalion
Encyclopedia
Strafbattalion were Wehrmacht
penal units created from military prisoners during the final years of the Second World War. Soldiers sentenced to these units were poorly-armed and required to undertake dangerous high-casualty missions. Strafbattalion were operated and administered by the German military police
.
. Due to military losses and the need to maintain discipline by example, the German High Command ordered that punishment units should be formed from the thousands of Wehrmacht military prisoners held in its Military stockades
. These Strafbattalione, which were under the control of the Feldgendarmerie
, were then used to conduct dangerous operations (sometimes akin to suicide mission
s) for the Heer such as clearing minefields, assaulting difficult objectives and defending positions against overwhelming attacking forces. They were also made to do hard manual labor
in front-line locations building and repairing military infrastructure and defences.
Even though casualties were high, injured Strafbattalion prisoners were often shot or left to die as Wehrmacht doctors were ordered not to provide treatment. Bodies were not buried, instead they were left to rot. Prisoners that survived their missions, would be deemed 'fit to fight' and returned to the field with the 'rights' of a combat soldier. Although Strafbattalion were mainly used on the Eastern front
, some were sent to the Ardenne on the Western Front
during the last major German offensive
in December 1944.
In the final years of the war, order within all branches of the Wehrmacht was upheld by a specially-formed military police, the Feldjägerkorps
. These senior units, which were formed from combat-decorated officers and NCOs, had the direct authority from the OKW to maintain control and discipline throughout all the German armed forces including the SS. The Feldjägerkorps had the power in the field to summarily execute
officers or enlisted men for any breach of military discipline, order or duty. By September 1944, all soldiers and recruits convicted to a deferred execution
by drumhead court-martial
were sent directly to Strafbatallions. Numbers rapidly increased as the war drew to a close in May 1945.
, uses the Strafbattalion in many of his novels about the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front.
The fictional unit of disgraced German paratroopers
sent to kill British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
in The Eagle Has Landed
by Jack Higgins
are also recruited from a Wehrmacht penal unit.
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
penal units created from military prisoners during the final years of the Second World War. Soldiers sentenced to these units were poorly-armed and required to undertake dangerous high-casualty missions. Strafbattalion were operated and administered by the German military police
Feldgendarmerie
The 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 :...
.
Formation
In 1943, the course of World War II had started to turn against Nazi GermanyNazi 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...
. Due to military losses and the need to maintain discipline by example, the German High Command ordered that punishment units should be formed from the thousands of Wehrmacht military prisoners held in its Military stockades
Military prison
A military prison is a prison operated by the military. Military prisons are used variously to house prisoners of war, enemy combatants, those whose freedom is deemed a national security risk by the military or national authorities, and members of the military found guilty of a serious crime...
. These Strafbattalione, which were under the control of the Feldgendarmerie
Feldgendarmerie
The 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 :...
, were then used to conduct dangerous operations (sometimes akin to suicide mission
Suicide mission
The term suicide mission commonly refers to a task which is so dangerous for the people involved that they are not expected to survive. The term is sometimes extended to, but is not limited to, suicide attacks such as kamikaze and suicide bombings, where the people involved actively commit suicide...
s) for the Heer such as clearing minefields, assaulting difficult objectives and defending positions against overwhelming attacking forces. They were also made to do hard manual labor
Hard Labor
Hard Labor is the eleventh album by American rock band Three Dog Night, released in 1974 .- Cover Artwork :The original album cover, depicting of the birth of a record album , was deemed too controversial and was soon reworked with a huge bandage covering the "birth". The cover also includes an...
in front-line locations building and repairing military infrastructure and defences.
Even though casualties were high, injured Strafbattalion prisoners were often shot or left to die as Wehrmacht doctors were ordered not to provide treatment. Bodies were not buried, instead they were left to rot. Prisoners that survived their missions, would be deemed 'fit to fight' and returned to the field with the 'rights' of a combat soldier. Although Strafbattalion were mainly used 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...
, some were sent to the Ardenne on the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
during the last major German offensive
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
in December 1944.
In the final years of the war, order within all branches of the Wehrmacht was upheld by a specially-formed military police, the Feldjägerkorps
Feldjägerkorps
For the modern German Military Police see: FeldjaegerThe Feldjägerkorps was a military police organization in the German Wehrmacht during World War II. It was formed on 27 November 1943 from distinguished veterans and Patrol Service personnel...
. These senior units, which were formed from combat-decorated officers and NCOs, had the direct authority from the OKW to maintain control and discipline throughout all the German armed forces including the SS. The Feldjägerkorps had the power in the field to summarily execute
Summary execution
A summary execution is a variety of execution in which a person is killed on the spot without trial or after a show trial. Summary executions have been practiced by the police, military, and paramilitary organizations and are associated with guerrilla warfare, counter-insurgency, terrorism, and...
officers or enlisted men for any breach of military discipline, order or duty. By September 1944, all soldiers and recruits convicted to a deferred execution
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
by drumhead court-martial
Drumhead court-martial
A drumhead court-martial is a court-martial held in the field to hear urgent charges of offences committed in action. The term is said to originate from the use of a drumhead as an improvised writing table, altar for religious services, and a traditional gathering point for a regiment for orders...
were sent directly to Strafbatallions. Numbers rapidly increased as the war drew to a close in May 1945.
Literary references
Author Helmut Jung in his book, But Not for the Führer described the Strafbatalion as a "prolonged death". Danish writer, Sven HasselSven Hassel
Sven Hassel is a Danish-born soldier and writer who has written pseudo-autobiographical novels based on his experiences in World War II.-Biography:...
, uses the Strafbattalion in many of his novels about the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front.
The fictional unit of disgraced German paratroopers
Fallschirmjäger (World War II)
The Fallschirmjäger of Nazi Germany were the first German paratroopers to be committed in large-scale airborne operations. They came to be known as the "green devils" by the Allied forces they fought against during World War II...
sent to kill British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
in The Eagle Has Landed
The Eagle Has Landed
The Eagle Has Landed is a book by Jack Higgins set during World War II. It first published in 1975. It was made into a film of the same name in 1976 starring Michael Caine...
by Jack Higgins
Jack Higgins
Jack Higgins is the principal pseudonym of UK novelist Harry Patterson. Patterson is the author of more than 60 novels. As Higgins, most have been thrillers of various types and, since his breakthrough novel The Eagle Has Landed in 1975, nearly all have been bestsellers...
are also recruited from a Wehrmacht penal unit.
See also
- Geheime FeldpolizeiGeheime FeldpolizeiThe ' or GFP, was the secret military police of the German Wehrmacht until the end of Second World War. These units were used to carry out plain-clothed security work in the field such as counter-espionage, counter sabotage, detection of treasonable activities, counter-propaganda and to provide...
, the Wehrmacht's secret police service. - 999th Light Afrika Division, a punishment unit that fought in the North African CampaignNorth African campaignDuring the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
until its capture in 1943. - 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS - better known as the SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger. Its cadre was formed from military prisoners, POWs and criminals (including rapistsRapeRape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, child molestersChild sexual abuseChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
, murderMurderMurder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ers and those that had been committed to asylums for the criminally insane). - Soviet Penal Battalions