logo-pzg-div-brandenburg


The Panzergrenadier-Division Brandenburg was formed as a Panzergrenadier Division in the fall of 1944 from Division Brandenberg.
It ended the war in Moravia with most of the men being captured either by the Red Army or the Czech forces.

Commanders

Generalleutnant Friedrich (Fritz) Kühlwein (15 Sept 1944 - 20 Oct 1944)
Generalmajor Hermann Schulte-Heuthaus (20 Oct 1944 - 9 May 1945)

Operations Officers (Ia)

Oberstleutnant Dr. jur. Johannes Erasmus (15 Sep 1944-May 1945)

Area of operations

Balkans (Sep 1944 - Oct 1944)
Austria & Eastern Germany (Oct 1944 - May 1945)

Holders of high awards

Holders of the German Cross in Gold (5)
- Becker, Dr. Theodor, 31.01.1945, Oberarzt, 1.Jg.Rgt. “Brandenburg”
- Glaser, Erich, 22.03.1945, Feldwebel, 6./Jg.Rgt. 1 “Brandenburg”
- Gohlke, Karl-Heinz, 30.03.1945, Leutnant d.R., II./Jg.Rgt. 2 “Brandenburg”
- Röseke, Erich, 22.03.1945, Oberleutnant d.R., 9./1.Jg.Rgt. “Brandenburg”
- Steidl, Konrad, 13.01.1945 , Hauptmann d.R., Kdr. I./Jg.Rgt. 2 "Brandenburg"
Holders of the Honor Roll Clasp of the Heer (4)
- Bansen, Hans-Gerhard, 25.03.1945, Major, Pz.Aufkl.Abt. “Brandenburg”
- Meschkeris, Wolf, 05.03.1945, Oberleutnant d.R., Div.Begl.Kp./Pz.Gren.Div. “Brandenburg”
- Pinckert, Gerhard, 05.02.1945, Hauptmann, I./Rgt. “Brandenburg”
- Stalf, Werner, 00.00.1945, Leutnant d.R., 7./Jäg.Rgt. 2 “Brandenburg”
Holders of the Knight's Cross (9, including three unofficial/unconfirmed)
- Oakleaves
-- Oesterwitz, Karl-Heinz [734. EL] 10.02.1945 Oberstleutnant Kdr 2. Jäg.Rgt „Brandenburg“
-- Wandrey, Max [787. EL] 16.03.1945 Major d.R. Kdr II./Jäg.Rgt 1 “Brandenburg”
- Knight’s Cross
-- Afheldt, Eckard 17.03.1945 Oberleutnant Führer II./Jäg.Rgt 2 „Brandenburg“
-- Brökerhoff, Wilhelm 08.05.1945 Major Führer Pz.Art.Rgt „Brandenburg“
--- [no proof in Bundesarchiv ; statement by B. that award was noted down in his Soldbuch, he could not show it on a request because it was getting lost ; several statements of superiors after the war on this case : Div.Kdr Schulte-Heuthaus did recall a proposal ; KG Pz.Korps "GD" General Jauer was not recalling this single case but had no doubts that after a proposal the award would have been approved ; on base of Gen Jauers presumption Admiral Dönitz in 1961 did confirm B. the award of the KC on 08.05.1945 [!]]
-- Brückner von, Erich 11.03.1945 Oberst Kdr Jäg.Rgt 1 „Brandenburg“
-- Leipzig von, Hellmut 28.04.1945 Leutnant d.R. Zugführer i. d. Pz.Aufkl.Abt „Brandenburg“
-- Müller-Rochholz, Friedrich 08.05.1945 Hauptmann Kdr Pz.Pi.Btl „Brandenburg“
[same situation as Brökerhoff, see above ; no proof in Bundesarchiv ; award date determined by Fellgiebel]
-- Röseke, Erich 14.04.1945 Oberleutnant d.R. Führer 9./1. Jäg.Rgt „Brandenburg“
-- Voshage, Werner 08.05.1945 Major Kdr Heeres-Flak.Art.Abt „Brandenburg“
[no proof in Bundesarchiv ; obviously one of 5 men suggested by Div.Kdr Schulte-Heuthaus in march 1945 ; not mentioned in the files of the OdR Ordenskommission ; accepted by OdR in accordance with so-called "Dönitz-Erlass" ; award date determined by OdR]

Holders of other notable badges & decorations

Holders of the Anti-Partisan Badge in Bronze (1)
- Röseke, Erich, ??, Oberleutnant/Hauptmann d.R., Jäg.Rgt. 1 "Brandenburg"

Order of battle (November/December 1944)

Stab
Jäger-Regiment 1 Brandenburg
- I. - III. Bataillon (mot)
Jäger-Regiment 2 Brandenburg
- I. - III. Bataillon (mot)
Feldersatz-Bataillon Brandenburg
Artillerie-Regiment Brandenburg
- I. - IV. Abteilung
Panzerjäger-Abteilung Brandenburg
- 1. - 3. Bttr.
Panzerpionier-Bataillon Brandenburg
Nachrichten-Abteilung Brandenburg
Kdr der Pz.Div.-Nachschubtruppen Brandenburg

Order of battle (December 1944)

HQ
- Staff
- Escort Company
-- Machine Gun Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
-- Flak Platoon (self-propelled)
-- Mortar Platoon
- Mapping Detachment (mot)
- Military Police Detachment (mot)
Brandenburg Panzer Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Signals Platoon
-- Pioneer Platoon
-- Flak Platoon (self-propelled)
- Panzer Maintenance Company
- 2 x Battalion
-- Staff
-- Staff Company
-- 4 x Panzer Company
-- Flak Company (self-propelled)
-- Supply Company (mot)
1. Jäger Regiment Brandenburg
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Staff Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
- Panzergrenadier Battalion (half-track)
-- Staff
-- Supply Company (mot)
-- 3 x Company (half-track)
-- Heavy Company
--- Staff Platoon
--- Mortar Platoon
--- Light Infantry Gun Platoon
- Jäger Battalion (mot)
-- Staff
-- Supply Company
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- 2 x Heavy Company (mot)
- Heavy Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
-- Staff (half-track)
-- 4 x Platoon (half-track)
2. Jäger Regiment Brandenburg
- Staff
- Staff Company
-- Staff Platoon
-- Signals Platoon
-- Motorcycle Platoon
- 2 x Jäger Battalion (mot)
-- Staff
-- Supply Company
-- 3 x Company (mot)
-- 2 x Heavy Company (mot)
- Heavy Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled)
- Pioneer Company (mot)
Brandenburg Panzerjäger Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- Sturmgeschütz Staff Platoon
- 2 x Sturmgeschütuz Company
- Panzerjäger Company (mot)
- Panzerjäger Supply Company (mot)
Brandenburg Reconnaissance Battalion
- Staff
-- Armored Car Platoon
-- Signals Platoon (mot)
- Amored Car Company (half-track)
- 3 x Reconnaissance Company (half-track)
- Reconnaissance Supply Company
Brandenburg Artillery Regiment
- Staff
- Staff Company
- Battalion
-- Staff (self-propelled)
-- Staff Battery (self-propelled)
-- Flak Battalion (self-propelled)
-- 2 x Light Howitzer Battery (self-propelled)
-- heavy Howitzer Battery (self-propelled)
- Battalion
-- Staff (mot)
-- Staff Company (mot)
-- Flak Platoon (mot)
-- 3 x Light Battery (mot)
- Battalion
-- Staff (mot)
-- Staff Company (mot)
-- Flak Platoon (mot)
-- 3 x Heavy Battery (mot)
Brandenburg Army Flak Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Battery
- 2 x Battery (mot)
- Light Flak Battery
- Flak Section (self-propelled)
- Searchlight Section
Brandenburg Pioneer Battalion
- Staff
- Staff Company
- 2 x Company (mot)
- Company (self-propelled)
Brandenburg Signals Battalion
- Staff
- Telephone Company
- Radio Company
- Signals Supply Column (mot)
Supply & Support Units

Order of battle (January 1945)

Stab
(Panzer-)Jäger-Regiment 1 Brandenburg
- I. - II. Bataillon (mot)
(Panzer-)Jäger-Regiment 2 Brandenburg
- I. - II. Bataillon (mot)
Feldersatz-Bataillon Brandenburg
Panzer-Regiment Brandenburg
- I. Abteilung [ex I./PR 26] -> detached to Pz.Gren.Div. Kurmark
- II. Abteilung
Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung Brandenburg [in Aufstellung]
Panzerartillerie-Regiment Brandenburg
- I. - III. Abteilung
Panzerjäger-Abteilung Brandenburg
- 1. - 3. Bttr.
Panzerpionier-Bataillon Brandenburg
Nachrichten-Abteilung Brandenburg
Heeres-Flakartillerie-Abteilung Brandenburg [ex He.-Flak.Art.Abt. 280]
Kdr der Pz.Div.-Nachschubtruppen Brandenburg

Insignia

The “Brandenburg” cuff title was authorized for this unit from 17 August 1944.

Personnel of the “Brandenburg” units were authorized to wear the arm badge for Jäger units on the upper right sleeve.

Sources used

Bundesarchiv - "Die Brandenburger" Kommandotruppe und Frontverband
Helmuth Spaeter - Die Brandenburger
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1939-1945
Gordon Williamson - German Army Elite Units, 1939-45
Unit insignia courtesy of Wikimedia

Reference material on this unit

Eduard Bodenmueller - Diary of a Tank Gunner in the Panzer Regiment of the Brandenburg Panzergrenadier Division (2 volumes)
Will Borcher - Division Brandenburg
Franz Kurowski - The Brandenburgers: Global Mission
Eric Lefevre - Brandenburg Division: Commandos of the Reich
Horst Scheibert - Panzer Grenadier Division Grossdeutschland
Helmuth Spaeter - Die Brandenburger
Helmuth Spaeter - The History of the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland Vol 1-3
Wolfgang Ockert & Axel Urbanke - The Panther Battalion "Brandenburg": Oder Front - Seelow Heights - The Halbe Pocket, The Battles and Final Destruction 1945