Kampfgruppe Weidinger

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Kampfgruppe Weidinger (2nd SS Panzer Division)


caption=
dates= June-July 1944
country= Germany
allegiance=
branch= Waffen-SS
type= Mechanised Infantry Battlegroup
role= Rapid Assault Force
size= Roughly Brigade/Regimental Strength
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disbanded= Returned to regular organisation of 2nd SS Panzer Division after Operation Epsom
commander1= SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger
(4th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer")
commander1_label= Officer Commanding
commander2=
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aircraft_patrol=
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aircraft_transport=service record
is_ship=No
label=Kampfgruppe Weidinger
partof=2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich'
codes=
commanders= SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger
operations= Counter-attack against British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
victories= Prevented further expansion of British Odon bridgehead.
awards=

Kampfgruppe (or Battlegroup) Weidinger was a formation from the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" that was formed to support the attack of II SS Panzer Corps at the tail end of Operation Epsom in the Normandy Campaign. It took its name from the commander of the 4th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer", SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger.

The kampfgruppe was based around the forwardmost units of the 2nd SS Panzer Division in Normandy and was seconded to the I SS Panzerkorps on 26 June 1944 [Meyer,p.409] . It assaulted the positions of the British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division around the village of Rauray between 28 June and 1 July 1944. Although it was ultimately unsuccessful in penetrating the British lines, it prevented the 49th Division from continuing to advance southwards from Rauray. The kampfgruppe subsequently returned to the operational command of the 2nd SS Panzer Division.

Order of Battle [Meyer, ibid]

*1st Battalion, 4th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer"
*1st Battalion, 3rd SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Deutschland"
*14th, 15th and 16th (Support) Companies, 4th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer"

Notes

Bibliography

*Davis, Brian and Sharpe, Michael, "Spearhead #9: Das Reich". Ian Allan Publishing, 2003. ISBN 071102975X
*Meyer, Hubert, "The 12th SS: Volume One". Stackpole Books, 2005. ISBN 0811731987

ee Also

*2nd SS Division Das Reich
*Operation Martlet
*Operation Epsom