SS-Bewährungsbataillon 500

[Ludwig]

Did this unit really exist? What sources are there, except for Frithjof-Elmo Porsch, who IMO is a fraude?
The Dirlewanger-unit wore the collar tab with crossed rifle and a grenade. Is it logical that another unit wore the same collar tab? Why shouldn´t the 500-soldiers be in the Dirlewanger-unit? Both were suposed to be penalty units.

[Larry deZeng]

Yes, Ludwig, SS-Bewährungsbataillon 500 (8 hits on Google) really existed, but it seems to have been better known as SS-Fallschirmjäger-Btl. 500 (262 hits on Google):

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=SS...s=&safe=images

http://www.google.com/search?q=SS-Be...UTF-8&filter=0

http://www.agrupacion1seis.com/xs/1-vt1199.html?start=0
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=7637

Here is an excellent unit history of it along with published references. The first paragraph explains why it was sometimes referred to as a Bewährungs- unit:

http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1714

--Larry

[MJC]

and more..

[Ludwig]

I don´t know if you can call the SS-Fallschirmjägerbataillon 500 a penalty unit!

About the Bewährungsbataillon 500 the main source (only source?) is Porsch and he is a liar. He mentions several German cross in gold holders, holders of the CCC in gold, says his father held the KC to the War merit cross etc etc. Not a single name he mentions is to be found in the archives, newspaper from the war etc. And soldiers who had been "rehabilitated" were treated just like any other soldier.

[Ludwig]

No more opinions?

[John P. Moore]

I checked some Hauptampt SS-Gericht documents from April 1944 that were found in the Personalakte of Otto Skorzeny. There are multiple references to the SS-Bewährungs Abteilung headquartered in Chlum (no "500" in the unit's name) and a description of some people assigned to that unit who were being considered for the SS-Sonderverband z.b.V. "Friedenthal". Also mentioned in those documents is the Abteilung "Z" which was the unpleasant SS punishment camp at Danzig-Matzkau where people appeared to spend months or years before being sent to the SS-Bewährungs Abteilung or other penal unit such as the Dirlewanger formation.

John

[peter u]

Hello Ludwig,

"I don´t know if you can call the SS-Fallschirmjägerbataillon 500 a penalty unit!"

You can and you can't.
The officers and nco's were volunteers the soldiers were more forced volunteers.
The ss-fallschirmjägerbataillion was a good excuse for disposing of trouble makers.
Once I read an article that a Flemish ss volunteer who was a trouble maker, atleast according to the German ss officers, was sent to a ss-fallschirmjäger unit as some sort of punishment.
But I don't think the ss-fallschirmjagerbat 500 was a punishment bataillion pur sang.

In my collection I once had the wehrstambuch, wp and sb from an ss-nord member that was punished by an ss court for 5 years of imprisonment, after the verdict he was sent to his ersatz unit for a year (perhaps to serve his prison sentence) after that year he was transfered to ss jag bat 502, a Skorzeny unit.

Cheers,
Peter

[polux]

SS-Bewährungsbataillon 500

Hello to all,

Just some words to restore some facts.

To my knowledge, there was no unity named : SS-Bewährungsbataillon 500.

As indicated it very exactly Larry by making a research on Google, the error results probably from a bad knowledge and from a bad interpretation of the role played by the SS-Fallschirmjäger Btl. 500. Maybe also of a mixture made with the unity of the Heer, Btl. 500 z.b.V.

It is here necessary to raise the good Peter's remark relative to this last unity. In its creation, this unity was formed with people resulting from the Strafvollzugslagers der SS und Polizei Danzig-Matzkau then was strengthened by volunteers in 1944.


To end, I can only advise you the reading the very interesting Mr. Franz W. Seidler's work, "Die Militärgerichtsbarkeit der deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945", Verlag S. Bublies, on 1999. This book would have to interest the persons who are interested in the disciplinary unities of the German army. A chapter is reserved for the troops SS and no track of the first-rate SS-Bewährungsbataillon 500.

Cordial greetings.

Polux

[Ludwig]

Many thanks for your comments, Kameraden!
Polux – as always – very informative!

[andrewb]

My uncle was in 1 kompanie Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 500. The penal battalion. He died on the russian front in 1942. Here is some info I received on him from the Deutsche Dienststelle and a photo of his field grave site.

Regards,
AB.

[Ludwig]

Yes, I do have some documents, WPs etc from the 500s, BUT that is Heer – not SS!
Big difference there!

I will soon sell these groupings at the e-stand, so if you are interested, keep your eyes open!

[andrewb]

This photo was taken by one of my uncles buddies and posted to his family. My mother ended up with it.

regards,
AB.

P.S. He's the one on the left. Karl Hofbauer.

[Ludwig]

Note that even these penalty-soldiers were buried with full military honours!

[andrewb]

Note that even these penalty-soldiers were buried with full military honours!

That's right Ludwig and so they should. They fought bravely and died for their country.

AB.

[Ludwig]

Agree to that!