Führer Grenadier Brigade

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Führer Grenadier Brigade (FGB)


caption=Divisional insignia of "Großdeutschland"
country=Nazi Germany
type=Motorized Infantry
branch=Infantry
dates=Raised April 1943, Surrendered May 1945
command_structure=Created as Grenadier Battalion, expanded on paper to Grenadier Division 1945.
garrison=Rastenburg, East Prussia, Fallsingbostel
nickname=
battles=Grosswaltersdorf, Herbstnebel
notable_commanders= Oberst Hans-Joachim Kahler
associated units=Führer Begleit Battalion/Brigade, "Großdeutschland"

101 Panzer Regiment99 Panzergrenadier RegimentArtillerie Regiment 'FGB'(-)911 Sturmgeschutz Brigade124 Flak AbteilungKampfschule 'FGB' 1124 Infantriegeschutz Kompanie 1124 Panzerjäger Kompanie

The Führer Genadier Brigade was an élite German Heer combat unit which saw action during World War II.

The Führer Genadier Brigade is sometimes mistakenly perceived as being a part of the Waffen-SS, whereas it was actually a Heer unit and technically assigned to the Großdeutschland Division. This misconception comes from its original duty of guaring Adolf Hitler's East Prussian Wolfsschanze Headquarter, a task which sounded similar to the original one of Waffen-SS 1. Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", which in turn stemmed from the Führer's original bodyguard corps.

Creation and Early History

The Führer Genadier Battalion was raised in April, 1943 to act as a second guard unit on the outer perimeter of Hitler's "Wolfsschanze" in Rastenburg, East Prussia.

Despite the idea of Hitler's bodyguards being drawn from the SS, a small detachment was drawn from the Wach Regiment to become Hitler's private bodyguard. This unit was called the Führer Begleit (or Führer Escort), and was to eventually be expanded to divisional size (see Führer Begleit Brigade).

"Brigade" - Eastern Front

In 1944, the Battalion was reorganized as an armored brigade at Fallingbostel. Personnel were drawn fron the Großdeutschland Division pool of hand-picked personnel. In October 1944, it was assigned to XXVII Korps of the FOURTH ARMEE and sent to the vicinity of Gumbinnen. They fought at Daken and Grosswaltersdorf from October 21 - 23. The Brigade operated in conjunction with 5th Panzer Division and the 'Hermann Göring" Division.

Western Front - Wacht am Rhein

Between December 11 - 17, 1944, the Brigade was sent west to participate in Operation Herbstnebel.The Brigade's composition did not match any standard unit configuration. The Großdeutschland Division never fought on the western front in 1944-45 (It did see action in the 1940 invasion of France but in Regiment form), however, the Führer Grenadier Brigade was technically a part of the division and some photographs show the "Großdeutschland" Insignia from the Battle of the Bulge. As a part of "Großdeutschland", FGB was permitted to wear cuff-title insignia. The "Großdeutschland" was ordered to wear the cuff title on the right sleeve (as did veterans of the North African campaign or the taking of Crete with their own honour bands), while the SS wore theirs on the left. In 1945, the Brigade was awarded their own cuff title, FGB."FGB" was assigned to SEVENTH ARMEE Reserve for Operation Herbstnebel.

"Großdeutschland" Insignia

"Division" - 1945

The Brigade was pulled from the line in early January. On paper, it was enlarged to a Division and assigned to Heeresgruppe Vistula.In April, it was reassigned to Sixth SS-Panzer ARMEE.The Führer Grenadier Division surrendered to U.S. troops in May 1945 near Vienna, Austria.

Commanders

Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

*Generalmajor Hellmuth Mäder, awarded Swords to his Knight's Cross on 18 April 1945 as Commander of the Führer Grenadier Division.

101 Panzer Regiment

Hauptmann Herbert Hensel, Knight's Cross on 5 March 1945 as Commander of the II. Abteilung (Panzer-Füsilier-Bataillon)/Panzer-Regiment 101 (former I./PzGrenRegt 99).

99 Panzergrenadier Regiment

Major Ernst-Günter Lehnhoff, Knight's Cross on 12 December 1944 as Commander of the Panzer-Füsilier-Bataillon of the Führer-Grenadier-Brigade (I./PzGrenRegt 99).

Order of Battle

*101 Panzer Regiment
1 Companie - 12 Panthers
2 Companie - 12 Panthers
3 Companie - 12 Panthers
4 Companie - 11 Panzer V with 88mm Pak 43
5 Companie - 14 Stug III

*99 Panzergrenadier Regiment
92 Armored Personnel Carriers

*Artillerie Regiment 'FGB'(-)
12 - 150mm guns (10 guns on loan to Skorzeny's Panzer Brigade 150 during Herbstnebel)
*911 Sturmgeschutz Brigade
1 Companie - 10 Stug III
2 Companie - 14 Stug III
3 Companie - 6 Stug III

*124 Flak Abteilung
*Kampfschule 'FGB'
*1124 Infantriegeschutz Kompanie
*1124 Panzerjäger Kompanie - 3 Marder III, 4 Hunting Panthers, 6 Hetzer

*1124 Panzer Aufklärungs Kompanie
*1124 Flak Kompanie - 26 guns
*1124 Pionier Kompanie
*1124 Nachrichten Abteilung
*Nachschub Truppe 'FGB'
*Werkstatt Kompanie 'FGB'
*Sanitäts Kompanie 'FGB'

See also

List of German divisions in World War II

Bibliography

Printed references

* Quarrie, Bruce "The Ardennes Offensive, I ARMEE & VII ARMEE" (Order of Battle series book, Osprey Publishing Group, London, UK. 2001. ISBN 1 85532 913 1

Web resources

* Pipes, Jason. " [http://www.feldgrau.com/gross2.html Panzergrenadier-Division "Großdeutschland"] ". Retrieved December 29, 2007.

* " [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Panzergrenadierdivisionen/PGDGD.htm Panzergrenadier Division "Großdeutschland"] ". German language article at www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de. (Follow links for Infanterie Division "Großdeutschland" (mot).) Retrieved December 29, 2007.