I have a Polizei helmet named to a member of <b>5th Company, II Batallion of SS-Polizei Gebirgsjager Regiment 18</b>. I have researched this regiment and have found the following information that I hope will be of interest to the members. If anyone can add to this information, I would be most interested in hearing from you.
<center><b><i><u>SS-Polizei Gebirgsjäger Regiment 18</b></i></u></center>
In 1941, conditions in the Balkans began to make it necessary for Police regimental staffs to be set up in order to control a larger area. Regular and permanent <i>Polizei-Regimenter</i> were created, first in Russia, then in other eastern occupied territories. A total of 38 Regiments were thus formed.
<i>SS-Polizei Gebirgsjäger Regiment 18</i> was formed on May 23 1942 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavaria) from <i>Polizei-Bataillonen</i> 302 (Munich), 312 (Innsbruck) and 325 unknown). The regiment also contained a mountain artillery battalion of one staff battery and three 75mm artillery batteries. The regiment was at the disposal of the Chief of the Order Police, <i>SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Polizei</i> Kurt Daleuge, who sent it to northern Slovenia in October 1942 in order to use it against the Slovenian partisans. The commander of the regiment was <i>Oberst der Schutzpolizei</i> Hermann Franz. He had been placed in command of the forming regiment as early as May, 1942 and led the unit until August 1943. Of the 38 Polizei Regiments, the 18th was the only one to bear the designation <i>Gebirgsjäger</i> meaning mountain troops. Pictures of their vehicles show an eidelweiss on the left front fender. In February 1943 all <i>Polizei-Regimenter</i> had "SS" prefixed to their titles resulting in the name <i>SS-Polizei
Regimenter</i>.
For the rest of 1942 the regiment operated in the region of Slovenia in Yugoslavia. In July it was in the Upper Krajina region, in August it operated in the localities of Blegos, Pokljuca, Jelovca, the Steiner Alps, and Tucheinartal. In the beginning of September it moved through Jelovca, Herzogswald, St. Valentin (by oerautsch). In October it moved through Leermos-Ehrwald, Hammersbach, Greinau and Kreuzeck before reforming and replenishing the rest of the month.
In December 1-3rd, the regiment was sent by rail to Danzig, West Prussia. By December 25th-27th the Ist Batallion arrived at Hanko, Finland. On December 30th, it was located at Oulu. The IInd Battalion followed on December 28-30th to Hanko, arriving in Oulu on January 1st, 1943. The IIIrd Battalion arrived at Hanko between December 31st, 1942 and January 2nd, 1943 and made it to Oulu on January 3rd, 1943. By June 1943, it was subordinate to the <i>XX Gebirgsarmee</i> under General Dietl.
The regiment formed part of the German XVIII Mountain Corps, with the right flank of the German 7th Mountain Division and the left flank the 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord". The regiment fought in north-central Finland until July 10th, when it returned to Oulu in preparation for withdrawal from Finland. By July 25th, 1943 the unit was embarking and on the 31st they reached Danzig, West Prussia.
By August 2nd, 1943 the regiment was on its way to Greece. By August 18th the Ist & IInd Battalions were located in Amfissa. The IIIrd Battalion was operating with elements of the German commando "Brandenberg" Division then to the 11th Luftwaffe Field Division. In the beginning of November 1943 the regiment's Ist Battalion moved to Corinth at the mouth of the Peloponnese and by November 10th the battalions were located as follows:
1) I in Nemea
2) II in Kopais
3) III in Zykladen
In December 1943 the battalions were located in Skurta, Thebes and Zykladen respectively.
The regiment served in numerous areas of Greece such as Kopais. Levadia, Helicon district, Karutia, Athens, Amfissa, Marathon, Karditsa, Euboea, Molo, and Topolia. Between June 6-21st 1944 the regiment's IInd & IIIrd Battalions, plus the regiments mountain artillery battalion (minus one battery which remained with the Ist Battalion back in Athens) took part in "Operation Viper" in the Taygetos Mountains.
Between July 5th and August 25 the IInd & IIIrd Battalions served in the Parnon Hills by Amfissa and in an operation entitled "Kreuzotter." The Ist Battalion operated in the Saloniki Mountains. In August the Ist & IIIrd Battalions were stationed at Karutia while the IInd was at Carpenisio.
In September 1944 the Germans began their withdrawal from Greece. During the march to Belgrade through the Topola region, an ambush sees only 1 officer and 11 men survive from the IIIrd Batallion. By October 11th the Ist & IInd Battalions were located in Belgrade, Serbia (Yugoslavia). On Oct 23rd the entire regiment finally met at Irig. The regiment's subsequent postings followed the general retreat of the German armed forces in the Balkans:
Dec '44 - Feb '45: Basenova, Mandelos, Kuzmin, Osijek
Feb 15 - March 30 '45: Valpovo, Noskovski
April 1-26: Vasla, Varazdin
April 27- May 5: Koprivnica
May 8: Ludbreg/Jabzabet
May 9: Treun-Pragerhof
In April-May, the regiment served as rear garde for General Pannwitz's XV Cossack Cavalry Corps (which consisted of mostly Russians) during the bitter defensive fighting against the Soviets. During the 3 years that it was in existence, <i>SS-Polizei Gebirgsjäger Regiment 18</i> suffered horrendous losses. Of the initial complement of 4800 men, a total of 3080 are killed, wounded or missing. The remainder surrendered to the Soviets on the Austro-Yugoslave border.
The commanders of the regiment were as follows:
Regimental Commanders:
July 1942 - Aug. 1943: Oberst der Schupo Hermann Franz
Sept 43 - Oct 2nd 44: Oberstleutnant Hösl - wounded on Oct 2
Oct 2nd -10th 1944: Major der Polizei Mann -- commander for little over a week, he was killed in Belgrade by a mine
Oct 11th 1944 - May 45: Major der Schutzpolizei Poys
I Battalion (1200 men) Commanders:
May 42 - Sept 43: Oberstleutnant Hösl
Sept 43 - Oct 2 44: Major der Polizei Mann
Oct - Nov 1944: Hauptmann der Polizei Reischl
Nov - Dec 1944: Oberstleutnant der Polizei Staudacher
Dec 1944 - April 1945: Hauptmann der Polizei Musall
April - May 1945: Major der Polizei Fotter
II Battalion (1200 men) Commanders:
May 42 - Dec 43: Major der Polizei Zuehlke
Dec 43 - May 44: Major der Polizei Poys
June 44 - Sept 44: Hauptmann der Polizei Rosenschon
Sept 44 - Oct 44: Major der Polizei Poys
Oct 44 - March 45: Hauptmann der Polizei Eickelbaum
March - May 45: Hauptmann der Polizei Rosenschon
III Battalion (1200 men) Commanders:
May - Sept 1942: Oberstleutnant der Polizei Dietz (who was later killed during the Battle of Budapest)
Sept 42 - Sept 44: Hauptmann der Polizei Spann
Sept - Oct 1944: Hauptmann der Polizei Malten (KIA Oct 13 1944)
Oct - Nov 1944: Hauptmann der Polizei Lachauer
Nov 44 - May 45: Hauptmann der Polizei Heber (shot in a Yugoslav POW camp shortly after the war)
May 5-8 1945: Major der Polizei Hoffman
note: III Battalion also contained 1 company-sized cavalry squadron, 1 signals company & 1 150mm heavy infantry gun Company
SS-Polizei Gebirgs Artillerie Abt. (1200 men):
CO: SS-Sturnbannführer und Major der Gendarmerie Wilhelm Braun
Adjutant: Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Michaels (until July 1943)
Leutnant der Polizei Franz (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
Ordnance Officer: Oberleutnant der Schultzpolzei Thum (KIA Belgrade Oct 12 1944)
Staff Artillery Battery:
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Kasselmann (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
1. Artillery Battery
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Urbahn (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
2. Artillery Battery
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Braeunlic (KIA August 1944)
Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Schmidt (KIA Osijek November1944)
3. Artillery Battery
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Mitterhuber
Motorized Artillery Battery:
Leutnant der Schutzpolizei Rupprecht (in Peloponnese)
Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Popp
Regimental Doctors:
Dr. Reiser (until Oct 30, 1944)
Dr. Hofmann (MIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
Vet. Dr. Stift (until Dec 1943)
Vet. Dr. Hering (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
Vet. Dr. Ranftl
Bibliography:
The German Police published by Axis Europa
Armes Militaria Magazine volumes #171, #173, #176 and #182
<center><b><i><u>SS-Polizei Gebirgsjäger Regiment 18</b></i></u></center>
In 1941, conditions in the Balkans began to make it necessary for Police regimental staffs to be set up in order to control a larger area. Regular and permanent <i>Polizei-Regimenter</i> were created, first in Russia, then in other eastern occupied territories. A total of 38 Regiments were thus formed.
<i>SS-Polizei Gebirgsjäger Regiment 18</i> was formed on May 23 1942 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Bavaria) from <i>Polizei-Bataillonen</i> 302 (Munich), 312 (Innsbruck) and 325 unknown). The regiment also contained a mountain artillery battalion of one staff battery and three 75mm artillery batteries. The regiment was at the disposal of the Chief of the Order Police, <i>SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Polizei</i> Kurt Daleuge, who sent it to northern Slovenia in October 1942 in order to use it against the Slovenian partisans. The commander of the regiment was <i>Oberst der Schutzpolizei</i> Hermann Franz. He had been placed in command of the forming regiment as early as May, 1942 and led the unit until August 1943. Of the 38 Polizei Regiments, the 18th was the only one to bear the designation <i>Gebirgsjäger</i> meaning mountain troops. Pictures of their vehicles show an eidelweiss on the left front fender. In February 1943 all <i>Polizei-Regimenter</i> had "SS" prefixed to their titles resulting in the name <i>SS-Polizei
Regimenter</i>.
For the rest of 1942 the regiment operated in the region of Slovenia in Yugoslavia. In July it was in the Upper Krajina region, in August it operated in the localities of Blegos, Pokljuca, Jelovca, the Steiner Alps, and Tucheinartal. In the beginning of September it moved through Jelovca, Herzogswald, St. Valentin (by oerautsch). In October it moved through Leermos-Ehrwald, Hammersbach, Greinau and Kreuzeck before reforming and replenishing the rest of the month.
In December 1-3rd, the regiment was sent by rail to Danzig, West Prussia. By December 25th-27th the Ist Batallion arrived at Hanko, Finland. On December 30th, it was located at Oulu. The IInd Battalion followed on December 28-30th to Hanko, arriving in Oulu on January 1st, 1943. The IIIrd Battalion arrived at Hanko between December 31st, 1942 and January 2nd, 1943 and made it to Oulu on January 3rd, 1943. By June 1943, it was subordinate to the <i>XX Gebirgsarmee</i> under General Dietl.
The regiment formed part of the German XVIII Mountain Corps, with the right flank of the German 7th Mountain Division and the left flank the 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord". The regiment fought in north-central Finland until July 10th, when it returned to Oulu in preparation for withdrawal from Finland. By July 25th, 1943 the unit was embarking and on the 31st they reached Danzig, West Prussia.
By August 2nd, 1943 the regiment was on its way to Greece. By August 18th the Ist & IInd Battalions were located in Amfissa. The IIIrd Battalion was operating with elements of the German commando "Brandenberg" Division then to the 11th Luftwaffe Field Division. In the beginning of November 1943 the regiment's Ist Battalion moved to Corinth at the mouth of the Peloponnese and by November 10th the battalions were located as follows:
1) I in Nemea
2) II in Kopais
3) III in Zykladen
In December 1943 the battalions were located in Skurta, Thebes and Zykladen respectively.
The regiment served in numerous areas of Greece such as Kopais. Levadia, Helicon district, Karutia, Athens, Amfissa, Marathon, Karditsa, Euboea, Molo, and Topolia. Between June 6-21st 1944 the regiment's IInd & IIIrd Battalions, plus the regiments mountain artillery battalion (minus one battery which remained with the Ist Battalion back in Athens) took part in "Operation Viper" in the Taygetos Mountains.
Between July 5th and August 25 the IInd & IIIrd Battalions served in the Parnon Hills by Amfissa and in an operation entitled "Kreuzotter." The Ist Battalion operated in the Saloniki Mountains. In August the Ist & IIIrd Battalions were stationed at Karutia while the IInd was at Carpenisio.
In September 1944 the Germans began their withdrawal from Greece. During the march to Belgrade through the Topola region, an ambush sees only 1 officer and 11 men survive from the IIIrd Batallion. By October 11th the Ist & IInd Battalions were located in Belgrade, Serbia (Yugoslavia). On Oct 23rd the entire regiment finally met at Irig. The regiment's subsequent postings followed the general retreat of the German armed forces in the Balkans:
Dec '44 - Feb '45: Basenova, Mandelos, Kuzmin, Osijek
Feb 15 - March 30 '45: Valpovo, Noskovski
April 1-26: Vasla, Varazdin
April 27- May 5: Koprivnica
May 8: Ludbreg/Jabzabet
May 9: Treun-Pragerhof
In April-May, the regiment served as rear garde for General Pannwitz's XV Cossack Cavalry Corps (which consisted of mostly Russians) during the bitter defensive fighting against the Soviets. During the 3 years that it was in existence, <i>SS-Polizei Gebirgsjäger Regiment 18</i> suffered horrendous losses. Of the initial complement of 4800 men, a total of 3080 are killed, wounded or missing. The remainder surrendered to the Soviets on the Austro-Yugoslave border.
The commanders of the regiment were as follows:
Regimental Commanders:
July 1942 - Aug. 1943: Oberst der Schupo Hermann Franz
Sept 43 - Oct 2nd 44: Oberstleutnant Hösl - wounded on Oct 2
Oct 2nd -10th 1944: Major der Polizei Mann -- commander for little over a week, he was killed in Belgrade by a mine
Oct 11th 1944 - May 45: Major der Schutzpolizei Poys
I Battalion (1200 men) Commanders:
May 42 - Sept 43: Oberstleutnant Hösl
Sept 43 - Oct 2 44: Major der Polizei Mann
Oct - Nov 1944: Hauptmann der Polizei Reischl
Nov - Dec 1944: Oberstleutnant der Polizei Staudacher
Dec 1944 - April 1945: Hauptmann der Polizei Musall
April - May 1945: Major der Polizei Fotter
II Battalion (1200 men) Commanders:
May 42 - Dec 43: Major der Polizei Zuehlke
Dec 43 - May 44: Major der Polizei Poys
June 44 - Sept 44: Hauptmann der Polizei Rosenschon
Sept 44 - Oct 44: Major der Polizei Poys
Oct 44 - March 45: Hauptmann der Polizei Eickelbaum
March - May 45: Hauptmann der Polizei Rosenschon
III Battalion (1200 men) Commanders:
May - Sept 1942: Oberstleutnant der Polizei Dietz (who was later killed during the Battle of Budapest)
Sept 42 - Sept 44: Hauptmann der Polizei Spann
Sept - Oct 1944: Hauptmann der Polizei Malten (KIA Oct 13 1944)
Oct - Nov 1944: Hauptmann der Polizei Lachauer
Nov 44 - May 45: Hauptmann der Polizei Heber (shot in a Yugoslav POW camp shortly after the war)
May 5-8 1945: Major der Polizei Hoffman
note: III Battalion also contained 1 company-sized cavalry squadron, 1 signals company & 1 150mm heavy infantry gun Company
SS-Polizei Gebirgs Artillerie Abt. (1200 men):
CO: SS-Sturnbannführer und Major der Gendarmerie Wilhelm Braun
Adjutant: Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Michaels (until July 1943)
Leutnant der Polizei Franz (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
Ordnance Officer: Oberleutnant der Schultzpolzei Thum (KIA Belgrade Oct 12 1944)
Staff Artillery Battery:
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Kasselmann (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
1. Artillery Battery
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Urbahn (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
2. Artillery Battery
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Braeunlic (KIA August 1944)
Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Schmidt (KIA Osijek November1944)
3. Artillery Battery
Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Mitterhuber
Motorized Artillery Battery:
Leutnant der Schutzpolizei Rupprecht (in Peloponnese)
Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Popp
Regimental Doctors:
Dr. Reiser (until Oct 30, 1944)
Dr. Hofmann (MIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
Vet. Dr. Stift (until Dec 1943)
Vet. Dr. Hering (KIA Belgrade Oct 16 1944)
Vet. Dr. Ranftl
Bibliography:
The German Police published by Axis Europa
Armes Militaria Magazine volumes #171, #173, #176 and #182
Comment