Wehrpass Eben Emael Inf.Rgt.zbV.100

[Ralle84]

Hello!

I received this Wehrpass of a soldier serving with Inf.Btl.zbV.100
According to battle entries he broke through the Albert Kanal and took away Fort Eben Emael.
Can anyone provide information what role Inf.Btl.zbV.100 (especially 4. Kompanie) played in the battle for Eben Emael?
He was awarded EK2 on May 28th and EK1 on June 2nd.

Thank you in advance.

[mtdr]

Found this on: http://www.maaslinie-mei1940.nl/index.php?page=groth-g

Batallion zbV 100 was an Abwehr unit, specifically set up to execute cunning commando raids. The Battalion had been assigned to support the German raid against Belgian fortress complex Eben Emael. As such a special formation was formed from the Battalion, called Sonderverband Hocke (after its commander, Leutnant Hocke), that would try to seize the three Dutch Maas bridges near Maastricht before these bridges could be destroyed by Dutch pioneers. The Sonderverband Hocke was a hetrogene unit comprising bicycle infantry, motorbike infantry, a signals group and a pioneer group, mostly dressed in Dutch military uniforms over their regular outfits. The formations would operate independantly against the bridges and cross the Dutch border before the invasion hour. A number of smaller teams inflitrated even before the Hocke outfit, dressed in civil clothing, in order to seize the guard posts near the Dutch bridges at the earliest possible hour. The main body of zbV.100 consisted of regular German infantry, supported by some heavier material, and was intended to speed to the bridges moments after the official invasion hour. Sonderverband Hocke did not manage to gain any of its targets. All efforts failed and losses were considerable, including Leutnant Hocke himself.

Bataillon z.b.V. 100 was tasked with taking the bridges at Maastricht, largely because the objective could not be reached by paratroopers or transport gliders.

The plan was comprised of three phases:

Soldiers disguised as civilians were already in Maastricht on 8 May 1940 or arrived on 9 May. They received bicycles in Voerendal and were ordered to Maastricht to sabotage the self-destruction charges on the bridges.
Sonderverband Hocke: Soldiers in uniforms of the Netherlands Military Police were to cross the boarder at Sittard heading for Maastricht on the night of 9/10 May. Riding on motorcycles they were tasked with the same objective, stepping in if the first group failed.
A fast armored unit was to head for Maastricht, parallel to the other German divisions. The objective was to take the bridges and halt behind Geleen-Gulpen-Epen.
The 4. Panzer-Division was expected to arrive at Maastricht by 10.00 o'clock

[Marcel Banziger]

Interesting Wehrpass, this all happened near my hometown.

[starikurac]

Very interesting entries indeed!!

[Meisenhelter]

very nice

[Ralle84]

Found this on: http://www.maaslinie-mei1940.nl/index.php?page=groth-g

Batallion zbV 100 was an Abwehr unit, specifically set up to execute cunning commando raids. The Battalion had been assigned to support the German raid against Belgian fortress complex Eben Emael. As such a special formation was formed from the Battalion, called Sonderverband Hocke (after its commander, Leutnant Hocke), that would try to seize the three Dutch Maas bridges near Maastricht before these bridges could be destroyed by Dutch pioneers. The Sonderverband Hocke was a hetrogene unit comprising bicycle infantry, motorbike infantry, a signals group and a pioneer group, mostly dressed in Dutch military uniforms over their regular outfits. The formations would operate independantly against the bridges and cross the Dutch border before the invasion hour. A number of smaller teams inflitrated even before the Hocke outfit, dressed in civil clothing, in order to seize the guard posts near the Dutch bridges at the earliest possible hour. The main body of zbV.100 consisted of regular German infantry, supported by some heavier material, and was intended to speed to the bridges moments after the official invasion hour. Sonderverband Hocke did not manage to gain any of its targets. All efforts failed and losses were considerable, including Leutnant Hocke himself.

Bataillon z.b.V. 100 was tasked with taking the bridges at Maastricht, largely because the objective could not be reached by paratroopers or transport gliders.

The plan was comprised of three phases:

Soldiers disguised as civilians were already in Maastricht on 8 May 1940 or arrived on 9 May. They received bicycles in Voerendal and were ordered to Maastricht to sabotage the self-destruction charges on the bridges.
Sonderverband Hocke: Soldiers in uniforms of the Netherlands Military Police were to cross the boarder at Sittard heading for Maastricht on the night of 9/10 May. Riding on motorcycles they were tasked with the same objective, stepping in if the first group failed.
A fast armored unit was to head for Maastricht, parallel to the other German divisions. The objective was to take the bridges and halt behind Geleen-Gulpen-Epen.
The 4. Panzer-Division was expected to arrive at Maastricht by 10.00 o'clock

Thank you very much. Some good information indeed.

[Ian Jewison]

Very nice Ralf,

A little more info from Tessin:

Infanterie-Bataillon z.b.V. 100

1. Aufstellung:

* 29.10.1939 durch Wehrkreis VIII für Sondereinsatz zu 4 Kompanie (3 Schützenkompanien und 1 schwere Kompanie mit 2 Pak- und 2 s.MG-Zügen) für den Angriff auf Fort Eben-Emael; 8.3.1941 motorisiert und umgegliedert in 5 Kompanie (1.-3. Schützenkompanie 4. MG und 5. schwere Kompanie); 30.9.1941 aufgelöst und im Schützen-Regiment 129 aufgegangen (zugweise auf sämtliche Kompanien dieses Regiments verteilt).

2. Unterstellung: Heerestruppe (OKH)

3. Ersatz: 375 Breslau; 24.5.1941 E 51 (motorisiert) Görlitz, Wehrkreis VIII


Schützen-Regiment 129 was part of 22 Panzer-Division. Looks like the Wehrpaß holder took this route as his PKA was awarded from 22 Pz.Div.

/Ian

[Ralle84]

Schützen-Regiment 129 was part of 22 Panzer-Division. Looks like the Wehrpaß holder took this route as his PKA was awarded from 22 Pz.Div.

/Ian

Absolutely right. He later served with Kampfgruppe Burgsthaler which became part of the 23. Panzer-Division.

[F L Clemens]

Thanks for posting. It is a very interesting unit and one that has little information. It would be interesting to see his unit assignment page if you don't mind posting it. It sounds like he was probably was of the regular infantry guys that filled out the bulk of the unit.

P.S. I like the unit because they led the way for the 4.PD - at the time, Meinrad von Lauchert, was one of the battalion commanders in PR35, so he would have come rolling up right behind this unit. In my research of the 4.PD records, I only saw the name of the zbV 100 unit but no details on them.

[Ralle84]

Here you go.

In 1940 he was Oberleutnant leading the 4th company of Inf.Btl. 100 zbV.

[Marcel Banziger]

On saturday I'll visit Eben Emael where a guide will show me around. I'm living so close yet I've never been there. So it's about time hehe

[WJW]

Ek ii 1940

Here is a grouping to a soldier in te same unit. He got the EK II for May 1940.

[skorzenyVStito]

very nice grouping!

[Ypenburg]

Here you go.

In 1940 he was Oberleutnant leading the 4th company of Inf.Btl. 100 zbV.

I'm very interested in his name. According to the "Verleihungsliste des Generalkommandos XXVII. AK" on 28.5.40 only a Leutnant and an Unterarzt from Inf.Btl.z.b.V.100 recieved an EKII. A Hauptmann from 4./Inf.Btl.z.b.V.100 and 2 Olt.'s (No Kp.-number) recieved the EKI on that date.

One of them was Olt. Schägger, who was a Lt. with 14./IR61 in 1939. So if this is your man, we have some different information.........

[Ralle84]

One of them was Olt. Schägger, who was a Lt. with 14./IR61 in 1939. So if this is your man, we have some different information.........

Very good investigation

Here is a picture of him