Wilddiebkommando Oranienburg
Sonderkommando Dr. Dirlewanger
SS-Sonderbataillon Dirlewanger
SS-Sonderregiment Dirlewanger
SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger
36.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS
The SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger, often referred to as the Dirlewanger Brigade was a German Waffen SS formation which saw action durign World War II. Originally formed for anti-partisan duties, it eventually saw action against the Red Army near the end of the War. Although upgraded to divisional status, it never reached above brigade strength. It is among the most infamous of all Waffen SS units of the war.
Oskar Dirlewanger - Legión Cóndor
The history of the Dirlewanger Brigade is inextricably linked to the life of it's commander, Oskar Dirlewanger. Born 26 September 1895, Oskar Dirlewanger was an intelligent and brave man, but he was also severely troubled. After winning the Iron Cross first and second class during his service in the Imperial German Army during World War I, Dirlewanger joined the Freikorps and took part in the vicious street fighting against communist insurgents. When the crisis was averted, he returned to university and obtained a PhD in political science. Joining the NSDAP in 1923, he was soon expelled and was forced to reapply and rejoin the formation.
After completing his PhD, Dirlewanger went on to hold a teaching job. In 1934, he was convicted of sexually assaulting a female minor. He lost his position and was forbidden from returning to teaching. After serving a two year jail sentence, Dirlewanger was released. Soon after, he was again accused of sexual assault and was thrown into a Concentration Camp. Desperate, Dirlewanger contacted Gottlob Berger, an old Freikorps comrade now working closely with Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer-SS. Despite the two convictions and the fact that Dirlewanger was an alcoholic, Berger secured his comrades release and secured an appointment for him with the Legión Cóndor, a German volunteer unit fighting in the Spanish Civil War on Franco's Nationalist side. Dirlewanger fought bravely during this campaign, being wounded in combat three times.
Returning to Germany in 1939, Dirlewanger was granted admission to the Allgemeine SS and given the rank of SS-Untersturmführer. Berger realised that Dirlewanger could be kept in check only while on military duty, so he organised the creation of a military unit which would be used to rehabilitate convicts.
On June 15, 1940, the Wilddiebkommando Oranienburg (Poacher's Command Oranienburg) was formed. This unit was to be composed of criminals convicted of poaching. It was felt that poachers were in posession of skills which would make them excellent scouts and anti-partisan troops. By July 1, 1940, the unit numbered 84 men.
Sonderkommando - Foreign Volunteers
As the news spread of the new formation, hundreds of concentration camp prisoners applied for service with the unit. By September, the formation numbered over 300 men. With the influx of criminals, the emphasis on poachers was now lost, and those convicted of other more severe crimes, including assault, burglary and rape joined the unit. Accordingly, the unit name was changed to Sonderkommando Dr. Dirlewanger (Special Command Dr. Dirlewanger). As the unit strength continued to grow, the unit was placed under the command of the SS Totenkopfverbände (the formation responsible for the administration of the concentration camps) and it was redesignated SS-Sonderbataillon Dirlewanger.
In mid 1941, the Dirlewanger was assigned to anti-partisan duties in the General Government region in Poland, and was answereable only to Heinrich Himmler himself. In January 1942, the battalion was authorised to recruit from Russian and Ukranian volunteers to rebuild it's strength.
During the battalion's service in Poland, it was involved in numerous cases of corruption, rape, indiscriminate slaughter, beating and looting and desertion was common. The General Government's Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer Friedrich Wilhelm Krüger was disgusted with the behaviour of the Dirlewanger, and his complaints resulted in it's transfer to Byelorussia.
In Byelorussia, it cam under the command of Central Russia's Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer, Erich von dem Bach Zelewski. The Dirlewanger resumed anti-partisan duties in this area, working in cooperation with the Kaminski Brigade for the first time. It's conduct in Russia, rather than improving, worsened and atrocities were a daily occurence.
Commanders
- SS-Oberführer Dr. Oskar Dirlewanger (15 Jun 1940 - ? Apr 1945)
- SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Schmedes (? Apr 1945 - ? May 1945)
Orders Of Battle
SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger, August 1944
- Brigade Stab
- SS-Regiment 1
- SS Regiment 2
- Artillerie-Abteilung
- Füsilier-Kompanie
- Pioneer-Kompanie
- Nachrichtren-Kompanie
36.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS, March 1945
- Division Stab
- 72.Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS
- 73.Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS
- Panzer-Abteilung Stansdorf I
- Artillerie Abteilung 36
- Füsilier Kompanie 36
- 1244.(Heer) Grenadier-Regiment
- 687.(Heer) Pioneer-Brigade
- 681.(Heer) schwere-Panzerjäger-Abteilung
See also
References
- MacLean, French L. - The Cruel Hunters: SS-Sonder-Kommando Dirlewanger Hitler's Most Notorious Anti-Partisan Unit
- Michaelis, Rolf - Das SS-Sonderkommando Dirlewanger: Ein Beispiel deutscher Besatzungspolitik in Weißrussland
- 36.Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS at www.feldgrau.com
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