9. SS-Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"
This division was created during 1943 in France. It remained in France until the spring 1944 when it was sent to the eastern front. It remained there until 12 June, when it was ordered to move to Normandy.1
The structure of the division on 1 June 1944 was2:
According to the report for 1 June 1944 on the condition of the division it had certain shortages. The SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 19 had only 69 % of authorized manpower in its battalions, while SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 20 was somewhat better off with a shortage of 21 %. The engineer battalion was at 71 % of authorized strength. The other units of the division were between 90 and 100 % strength. The division had an authorized manpower strength of 19 855 officers and men plus 1 055 HiWi.3 It was short of 1 239 officers and men and it had only 52 HiWi. The shortage of officers was 26 %, of NCO:s 23 %, and of men less than 1 %.4
Most likely the strength given above include the Pz.Jäg.Abt., which did not follow the division to Normandy. According to Klietmann the 9. SS-Pz.Div. had a strength of 15 898 men on 30 June.5 By that time the casualties did not exceed 1 000 so probably the strength given on 1 June include men in replacement training organizations.
Like many German panzer divisions, the 9. SS-Pz.Div. experienced shortages of transport. It only had 345 operational cross-country trucks but was authorized 1 096. This was partially covered by a surplus of conventional trucks. It had 967 operational and 199 in short term repair compared to an authorized number of 868 trucks. Nevertheless it had less than two thirds of its authorized transport capacity.6
Equipment of the panzer grenadier regiments on 1 June was7:
|
|
MG |
8 cm |
3,7 cm |
7,5 cm |
7,5 cm |
7,5 cm |
15 cm |
2 cm |
Flame- |
|
I./19 |
53 |
10 |
|
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
II./19 |
52 |
11 |
|
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
III./19 |
52 |
12 |
|
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
13./19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
14./19 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
16./19 |
20 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I./20 |
54 |
12 |
|
3 |
4 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
II./20 |
54 |
11 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
III./20 (gp) |
139 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
|
12 |
|
13./20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
14./20 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
16./20 |
20 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
The panzer regiment had 41 operational Pz.Kpf.Wg. IV,
five in short term repair and two in long term
repair.8 Also it
had 38 operational StuG and two in workshops. Pz.Kpf.Wg. IV were
found in 5. and 6. Kompanie, while StuG:s equipped 7. and 8.
Kompanie. The Panther battalion (I./SS-Pz.Rgt. 9) was at
Mailly-le-Camp. Its training still had to be improved. It had not yet
trained in company or battalion formation and it needed at least four
weeks of intensive
training.9
Before June it had not been possible for the battalion to conduct
exercise on greater scale since deliveries of Panthers were slow. On
21 May 16 were sent, followed by four on 26 May. Another 39 were sent
7 - 9 June, bringing the battalion up to its authorized strength of
79 tanks.10
No Panthers, Pz.Kpf.Wg. IV or StuG were sent to the division while it was in Normandy.11
As mentioned above the division lacked its Pz.Jäg.Abt. in Normandy. The battalion had no tank destroyers. None were delivered until 29 July, when 21 were sent to the battalion.12 Given the fact that the men had to train with their new vehicles it was not possible for the unit to join its parent formation in Normandy.
An attempt to remedy the lack of an anti tank battalion was made in Normandy. A new company, called 3./SS-Pz.Jäg.Abt. 9 was formed in July, by utilizing elements from various parts of the division. It had twelve towed 7,5 cm Pak 40. Since it was formed from existing men and equipment of the division, it did not increase its strength, but it gave the divisional commander an asset at his disposal.13
The artillery regiment had the following equipment14:
|
1./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Six Wespe |
|
2./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Six Wespe |
|
3./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Six Hummel |
|
4./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 10,5 cm howitzers (towed) |
|
5./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 10,5 cm howitzers (towed) |
|
6./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 10,5 cm howitzers (towed) |
|
7./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 15 cm howitzers (towed) |
|
8./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 15 cm howitzers (towed) |
|
9./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 15 cm howitzers (towed) |
|
10./SS-Pz.Art.Rgt. 9 |
Four 10 cm guns (towed) |
The division was part of II. SS-Pz.Korps in June and together with the 10. SS-Pz.Div. "Frundsberg" it was transferred to Normandy in June. Its movements to Normandy resembled those of 10. SS-Pz.Div.
During the later stages of the British Epsom operation the Hohenstaufen was heavily engaged. Its casualties until 1 July (inclusive) amounted to 1145 killed, wounded and missing.15 Equipment losses included: 6 Panthers, 16 Pz IV, 10 StuG, 11 AT guns, 1 sIG, 6 leIG, 13 mortars and 19 machineguns. 16
It seems that the division was not engaged in such intensive combat for a while, since it was reported to have suffered 1 891 casualties until 18 July (inclusive).17 On that particular day the division captured 67 enemy tanks, 56 of them destroyed and the remaining 11 in running order.18
As usual the infantry suffered the vast majority of
the casualties. To compensate for this the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 19 and 20
were combined into the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. "H" on 23 July. One exception
was the SPW battalion, the III./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. 20, which was
subordinated to the panzer regiment
instead.19
The new SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. "H" was organized into three battalions. It
had rather hefty support
units20:
|
13. Kompanie |
twelve 15 cm sIG (Sf) |
|
14. Kompanie |
twelve 2 cm Flak Guns (Sf) |
|
15. Kompanie |
twelve 12 cm mortars |
|
16. Kompanie |
Pz.Pionere, partly equipped with SPW |
|
17. Kompanie |
HQ company with SPW platoon, motorcycle platoon and intelligence platoon |
The Hohenstaufen division remained in the area southwest of Caen until the beginning of August. At the beginning of August the division was sent to the area northeast of Vire.21
Until 31 July the division lost (complete write-offs) 20 Panthers, 13 Pz IV, 14 StuG, 4 SPW, 24 cars, 52 trucks and six towing vehicles.22
On 16 August the division was ordered to move outside the area that would eventually become known as the "Falaise Pocket".23 The elements moving by truck reached the Vimoutiers area on 18 August, while the tanks and other units moving on tracks moved by another route. Some of the tanks were commandeered by the 12. SS-Pz.Div.24
Together with 2. SS-Pz.Div. the Hohenstaufen division attacked from the outside of the Falaise pocket to enable surrounded units to escape.25
Exact casualties are impossible to establish, but given the combat actions the division participated in it seems that it may have lost 4 000 - 5 000 men killed wounded and missing.26
Consequently the division was in relatively good condition. This is also indicated by a report on 21 August which said that the division had 20-25 combat ready tanks and 20 artillery pieces ready for action, but the division only had 460 rifle men left.27
On 4 September the Hohenstaufen handed over eight Panthers and two Pz.Kpf.Wg. IV to the 11. Pz.Div.28
The tank strength of the division varied during the campaign:
|
Date |
Panzer IV |
Panzer IV in |
Panthers |
Panther in |
StuG III |
StuG III in |
|
1 June29 |
41 |
5 |
30 |
4 |
38 |
2 |
|
30 June (late)30 |
9 |
? |
27 |
? |
22 |
? |
|
2 July31 |
10 |
? |
19 |
? |
19 |
? |
|
5 July32 |
12 |
? |
36 |
? |
19 |
? |
|
6 July33 |
? |
? |
37 |
? |
? |
? |
|
7 July34 |
15 |
? |
43 |
? |
23 |
? |
|
8 July35 |
15 |
10 |
45 |
8 |
23 |
7 |
|
9 July36 |
19 |
? |
50 |
? |
25 |
? |
|
10 July37 |
20 |
3 |
50 |
5 |
27 |
4 |
|
13 July38 |
13 |
? |
35 |
? |
12 |
? |
|
14 July39 |
19 |
? |
38 |
? |
16 |
? |
|
17 July40 |
13 |
? |
25 |
? |
15 |
? |
|
18 July41 |
20 |
? |
25 |
? |
15 |
? |
|
19 July42 |
22 |
? |
24 |
? |
17 |
? |
|
20 July43 |
19 |
? |
8+16' |
? |
16 |
? |
|
25 July44 |
21 |
? |
23 |
? |
14 |
? |
|
27 July45 |
18 |
? |
26 |
? |
11 |
? |
|
28 July46 |
22 |
? |
26 |
? |
22 |
? |
|
29 July47 |
22 |
? |
29 |
? |
27 |
? |
|
30 July48 |
22 |
? |
29 |
? |
27 |
? |
|
1 Aug49 |
17 |
? |
31 |
? |
28 |
? |
|
3 Aug50 |
7 |
? |
18 |
? |
9 |
? |
|
5 Aug51 |
8 |
? |
11 |
? |
8 |
? |
|
6 Aug52 |
8 |
? |
11 |
? |
8 |
? |
|
7 August53 |
9 |
? |
7 |
? |
7 |
? |
|
9 August54 |
6 |
? |
10 |
? |
6 |
? |
|
10 August55 |
13 |
? |
11 |
? |
18 |
? |
|
11 August56 |
10 |
? |
11 |
? |
13 |
? |
|
13 August57 |
11 |
? |
15 |
? |
14 |
? |
Notes:
|
1 |
G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975). |
|
2 |
9. SS-Pz.Div. Hohenstafen, Anlage zu Ia Tgb. Nr. 547/44, 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/318. Note that th e I./SS.Pz.Rgt. 9 is presented on a separate paper in the file. |
|
3 |
Ibid. |
|
4 |
Ibid. |
|
5 |
K.G. Klietmann, Die Waffen-SS, eine Dokumentation (Osnabrück 1965). 509. |
|
6 |
9. SS-Pz.Div. Hohenstafen, Anlage zu Ia Tgb. Nr. 547/44, 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/318. The division was authorized a lift capacity of 5 024 tons, but had only 2 901 available, plus 578 in workshops. |
|
7 |
9. SS-Pz.Div. Hohenstafen, Anlage zu Ia Tgb. Nr. 547/44, 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/318. |
|
8 |
Ibid. |
|
9 |
Ibid. |
|
10 |
Lieferung der Pz.-Fahrzeuge Bd. ab Mai 1943, BA-MA RH 10/349. |
|
11 |
Ibid. |
|
12 |
Ibid. |
|
13 |
H. Fürbringer, 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstufen (Heimdal, 1984) p. 308. |
|
14 |
9. SS-Pz.Div. Hohenstafen, Anlage zu Ia Tgb. Nr. 547/44, 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/318. |
|
15 |
9. SS-Pz.Div. Ia/Nr. 2400/44 geh., den 2.7.1944, BA-MA RH 19 IX/3. |
|
16 |
Ibid. |
|
17 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 480/44 g.Kdos. 20.7.44, T313, R420, F8713975. |
|
18 |
HGr B Ib/Br. B Nr. 01087/44 geh 20.7.44, T311, R1, F7000812. |
|
19 |
H. Fürbringer, 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstufen (Heimdal, 1984) p. 337. |
|
20 |
Ibid. |
|
21 |
H. Fürbringer, 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstufen (Heimdal, 1984) p. 353ff. |
|
22 |
Anlage 3 zu Gen.Kdo. II. SS-Pz.Korps Qu. Tgb.Nr. 765/44 geh. vom 3.8.44, copy found in LVIII. Pz.Korps Qu Anlagen, T314, R1497, F000430. |
|
23 |
Ibid. p. 379. |
|
24 |
Ibid. p 389. |
|
25 |
Ibid. p. 389-391. |
|
26 |
Comparison can be made with the 1. and 2. SS-Pz.Div. These were comitted for about the same amount of time. On 18 July the 1. SS-Pz.Div. had casualties almost identical to those suffered by 9. SS-Pz.Div. The 1. SS-Pz.Div. was partly surrounded at Falaise, while parts of 2. SS-Pz.Div. was surrunded in late July. No similar encirclements were endured by units from 9. SS-Pz.Div. If anything then the 9. SS-Pz.Div. should be expected to have suffered less casualties than those two divisions. |
|
27 |
HGr B Ia Nr. 6388/44 g.Kdos. 21.8.44., T311, R4, F7004565. |
|
28 |
G. W. Schrodek, Geschichte des Panzer-Regiments 15 (Schild, München 1976) p. 309. |
|
29 |
Anlage 2 zu SS-Pz.Div. "H" Ia Tgb. Nr. 597/44, 1.6.44, BA-MA RH 10/318. |
|
30 |
H. Fürbringer, 9. SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstufen (Heimdal, 1984) p. 286. |
|
31 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 86/44 3.7.44, T313, R420, F8713808. |
|
32 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 187/44 6.7.44, T313, R420, F8713832. |
|
33 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 217/44 geh. von 7.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 6.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50 |
|
34 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 258/44 g.Kdos. Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 7.7, BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
35 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 258/44 g.Kdos. Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 7.7, BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
36 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 306/44 geh. von 10.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 9.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
37 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 287/44 geh. von 11.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 10.7., T313, R420, F8713880. |
|
38 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 348/44 geh. v. 14.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 13.7., T313, R420, F8713904. |
|
39 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. Unleserlich, v. 15.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 14.7, T313, R420, F8713915. |
|
40 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 479/44 geheim von 18.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 17.7.44, BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
41 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 451/44 geh. von 19.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 18.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
42 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 476/44 g.Kdos, 20.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 19.7, T313, R420, F8713961. |
|
43 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 491/44 geh. von 21.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 20.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
44 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 572/44 geh. von 26.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 25.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
45 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 605/44 geh. von 28.7.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 27.7., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
46 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 633/44 g.Kdos, 29.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 28.7, T313, R420, F8714036. |
|
47 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 647/44 g.Kdos, 30.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 29.7, T313, R420, F8714042. |
|
48 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 665/44 g.Kdos, 31.7.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 30.7, T313, R420, F8714049. |
|
49 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 704/44 g.Kdos. 2.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 1.8, T313, R420, F8714068. |
|
50 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia, Nr. 734/44 geh. von 4.8.1944., Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 3.8., BA-MA RH 21-5/50. |
|
51 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 775/44 g.Kdos. 6.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 5.8, T313, R420, F8714097. |
|
52 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 801/44 g.Kdos, 7.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 6.8, T313, R420, F8714118. |
|
53 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 811/44 g.Kdos, 8.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 7.8, T313, R420, F87141130. |
|
54 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 853/44 g.Kdos, 10.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 9.8, T313, R420, F87141177. |
|
55 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 890/44 g.Kdos, 11.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 10.8, T313, R420, F87141181. |
|
56 |
Pz.Gr. West Ia Nr. 899/44 g.Kdos, 12.8.44, Nachtrag zur Tagesmeldung 11.8, T313, R420, F87141187. |
|
57 |
Fürbringer, op. cit. p. 376. |