"German Naval Infantry" Topic

Robert,

2. Marine-Infanterie-Division also had the curious Hungarian Kampfrgruppe 'Kolotay' under command at Rethem, who put up one hell of a fight against 53rd (Welsh) Division.

Thanks Mark. Looks like they could put up a fight if properly motivated.Especially if they were a foreign contingent. Is there any source for additional info? Robert

Abschnitt Narvik
Marinebatallion Erdmenger (sometimes referred to as "Marine-Regiment Erdmenger")
Marinebatallion v. Freytag

These two "batallions" had 2 companies each.

On the railway itself, same "Abschnitt", was Marine-Regiment Berger (Freg.Kpt Berger),w/ Mar.Btl Holtorf (3 coys), Mar.Btl Thiele (3 coys), Mar.Btl Zenker (2 coys) and Mar.Btl von Arnim.

Gruppe Windisch (at Bjerkvik)
Mar.Btl Kothe (3 coys formed from crewmembers from "Hermann Kühne".)

In German sources, the "batallions" sometimes are referred to as "Batallione", "Abteilungen", or "Kompanien". The men, about 2000, were mostly crew members of sunken ships, including U-64, and Coastal Artillery soldiers.
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Robert,

Patrick Delaforce's 'Red Crown & Dragon: 53 (Welsh) Division' covers the Rethem battles in some detail and unlike some of his other books, the German units thereabouts are identified with considerable accuracy, even down to Kampfgruppe names. 53 Div had some excellent intelligence, drawn from captured documents and/or PoWs.

The Hungarian battlegroup even succeeded in overrunning two companies of one of the division's battalions (1st East Lancs, iirc?), before being routed by a strong counter-attack.

Thanks Mark. I'll have to keep an eye out for it :). Robert

You're in luck, as it's recently been re-published, following years of being incredibly rare and sought-after.

On a related note: Jonathan Ware is shortly embarking on a series of books covering the campaigns of 53 Div.

Well I certainly will then . Robert

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More Naval Troops with British POWS .

Administrative Order of Battle, Marinelandungsverbande, December 1941

Marine-Schützen Brigade 1 (HQ Flensburg)

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 301 (Flensburg)
Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 302 (Bredstedt)
Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 303 (Sillenstedt)
leichte Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 681
Marine Nachschub-Abteilung 501
Strandmeisterkompanie 1

(attached)

Marine-Sicherungs-Abteilung 204
Marine-Bau-Abteilung 311

Marine-Schützen Brigade 2 (HQ Elbing)

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 304 (Elbing)
Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 305 (Pillau)

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From feldgrau.com,

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 100

Formed 11.44 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen*. Renamed 106 in 2.45.

* Marine-Division Gotenhafen was apparently formed to control the 10 battalions (100 – 109). No details of combat are available, but nr. 107 – 109 are mentioned in the German Red Cross lists of missing persons (for example 124 persons missing from bataillon 109), so they all probably saw combat defending Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 101

Formed 12.44 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 102

Formed 1945 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 103

Formed 1945 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 104

Formed 12.44 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 105

Formed 1945 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 106

Formed 2.45 in Gotenhafen (from 106) under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 107

Formed 3.45 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 108

Formed 3.45 in Gotenhafen under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 109

Formed 3.45 in Gotenhafen from 3. Marine-Ersatz-Abteilung, under Marine-Division Gotenhafen.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 120

Formed 3.45 in Pillau under Festung Pillau (under Army command).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 121

Formed 3.45 in Pillau under Festung Pillau (under Army command).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 122

Formed 3.45 in Pillau under Festung Pillau (under Army command).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 123

Formed 3.45 in Pillau under Festung Pillau (under Army command).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 124

Formed 3.45 in Pillau under Festung Pillau (under Army command).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 125

Formed 3.45 in Pillau under Festung Pillau (under Army command).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 126

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde under Festung Swinemünde. Used to form the 3. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 127

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde under Festung Swinemünde. Used to form the 3. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 128

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde under Festung Swinemünde. Used to form the 3.Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 129

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde under Festung Swinemünde. Used to form the 3. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 130

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde under Festung Swinemünde. Used to form the 3. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 131

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde under Festung Swinemünde. Used to form the 3. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 250

Formed 10.44 in Estonia, bu apparently disbanded again 12.44. Details are unknown.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 301

Formed 11.44 in the Hamburg area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 302

Formed 11.44 in the Hamburg area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 303

Formed 11.44 in the Glückstadt area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 304

Formed 11.44 in the Glückstedt area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 305

Formed 11.44 in Wesermünde from the 4. Marine-Lehr-Abteilung. 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 306

Formed 11.44 in the Wesermünde area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 307

Formed 11.44 in the Wesermünde-Cuxhaven area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 308

Formed 11.44 in the Cuxhaven area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 309

Formed 11.44 in the Wilhelmshaven area(?). Saw action at Marienburg and Elbing.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 310

Formed 11.44 in Varel from 6. Marine-Lehr-Abteilung. Apparently remained behind when Marine-Schützen-Regiment 3 went east, and was instead attached to Marine-Schützen-Regiment 4. 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 311

Formed 11.44 in Varel from parts of the 4. Marine-Ersatz-Abteilung(?). Saw action at Marienburg and Elbing.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 312

Formed 11.44 in the Wilhelmshaven area(?). Saw action at Marienburg and Elbing.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 313

Formed 11.44 in the Emden area(?). Not used to form the 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division. Served in Emsland (from 2.45 under Seekommandant Elbe-Weser). In 3.45 a unit was formed in Cuxhaven – Marine-Lehr-Bataillon 313 (Alarm-Bataillon Cuxhaven). This unit is probably Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 313.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 314

Formed 11.44 in the Emden area(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 315

Formed 11.44 in the Emden area(?). Apparently not used to form the 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division, but is mentioned under Marine-Schützen-Regiment 3 at Marienburg and Elbing.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 316

Formed 11.44 in the Emden(?). 2.45 used to form 1. Marine-Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 357

See Marine-Festungs-Bataillon 357

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 501

Formed 10.44 in the Balkans (Commander: Dorfner) from Hafenkommandant Sulina. Covered the withdrawal from the Balkans, and was again disbanded 11.44. Subordinated to Admiral Schwarzes Meer(?).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 502

Formed 10.44 in the Balkans. Covered the withdrawal from the Balkans, and was again disbanded 11.44. Subordinated to Admiral Schwarzes Meer(?).

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 581

Formed 10.44 in Zara (Balkans) from Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 540. Served under the XV. Gebirgs-Korps at Sebenico and Knin. 108 persons are still missing, according to the German Red Cross lists.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 582

Formed 10.44 in North Dalmatien. Served under the XV. Gebirgs-Korps at Sebenico and Knin. Disbanded 1.45, according to the Feldpostübersicht.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 583

Formed 10.44 in North Dalmatien. Served under the XV. Gebirgs-Korps at Sebenico and Knin.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 744(?)

Mentioned 4.45 (Commander: Küster), no details. Might even be an entry error.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 979

Formed 4.45 in Waren/Müritz from Bereitstellungs-Abteilung der Kleinkampfverbände. Served under the 281. Infanterie-Division.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon 1011

Formed 3.45 in Swinemünde from 1. Abteilung der Schnellboot-Lehrdivision. (Commander: Meyering)

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon Scharnhorst

Formed 1945 in Gotenhafen. Only mentioned in German Red Cross lists.

Marine-Schützen-Bataillon Wachtel

Formed 10.44 in Dubrovnik from Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 612. Covered the withdrawal from the Balkans, and was disbanded in early 1945.

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Marinestoßkompanie "Westerplatte"

On 24.August 1939 the 1.Minensuchflottille picks up the Marinestoßkompanie (cdr. Olt.Henningsen) with six boats at Memel. Two T-boats provide anti-submarine protection. Around 20:00 the MSK is transferred to the cruiser "Schleswig Holstein".

On the 25.August 1939 the "Schleswig Holstein" ("SX") takes position at Neufahrwasser with the MSK hidden under deck. During the day several official ceremonies take place on board. In the afternoon Gen.Maj. Eberhard comes onboard and gives order to attack the Westerplatte after preparation fire from "SX".

On 31.August Kleikamp and Henningsen decide how to attack the Westerplatte on the next day. The MSK should be in position for the attack about 1 1/2 hours before "Fall Weiß" north of the fortress Weichselmünde, about the height of the Möwenschanze. A machinegun platoon with crewmembers of "SX" under the command of Lt.Hartwig provides fire support from the south side of the canal and two machineguns C/30 of Danzig Police get into position north of it. A heavy machinegun of Danzig police is in reserve on the western edge of Neufahrwasser pier. The police units involved in the engagement are commanded by Major Winter of the Danzig police. At 18:35 the order for "Fall Weiß" arrives at "SX" All commanders are informed and get their orders for the attack.

23:30 – 01:45 the MSK disambarks from "SX" and the ship prepares for battle. 04:43 Kleikamp announces that "SX" will proceed to attack the Westerplatte and so open the war against poland. 04:47 "SX" fires the first rounds against the polish fortifications on the Westerplatte. Between 04:47 and 04:55 8 28cm, 59 15cm, 600 2cm are fired mainly on the outer wall to make gaps for the attacking MSK. The wooden buildings of the harbor-maintainance buildings are hit and explode because of the stored fuel.

The supporting machinguns take position with one sMG 08 and a MG34 at the white silo in the east. One sMG08 and a MG34 in a new building in the middle with Lt. Hartwig with radio contact to "SX". Two MG34 in the red silo in the West.

First attack

As the "SX" shot several gaps into the outer wall Hartwig ordered his machineguns to stop firing because of the MSK attack. At 04:56 starts attacking through the gaps in the wall. The "Verbandplatz" for wounded soldiers is at the Beach coffee shop 100m behind the starting position of the MSK. First platoon is on the left, the Pionier-platoon in the middle and the 2. platoon on the right side. A MG C/30 follows for support. The Pionier platoon blows up the railway-gate while the two infantry platoons advance through the destroyed wall sections. This first attack encounters heavy resistance after about 500m while the Pionier platoon has to stop after 25 meters. Heavy defensive fire supported by a 7,5cm gun is concentrated on the Pionier platoon. The 2. platoon is advancing along the wall but is halted by burning buildings. Just one group makes it through the wall and the polish defenders aim the 7,5 gun on them. After Henningsen recognizes that his company suffers high losses he asks for an additional medic from "SX".

As Hartwig sees that the MSK is stuck he starts firing again to help. At 06:00 the 7,5 gun fires at the left and right machinegun position. The right machinegun has to give up its position and changes to the store-house behind the distillery. The left machinegun stayed in the same building just one floor down. One sailor is slightly injured. At 06:22 the MSK reports that they have to withdraw because of heavy losses and ask for stretcher bearers and ambulances. At 07:20 the MSK reports that the terrain is searched for wounded comrades and that the new attack can start in about half an hour but after artillery preparation fire by "SX".

07:40 – 08:15 the first artillery attack goes down on the Westerplatte followed by the second from 08:29 – 08:55 with 90x 28cm, 407x 15cm, 366x 8,8cm, 3000x 2cm rounds. During the artillery fire three men are injured as the lock of a 15cm gun explodes. Around 07:50 the polish 7,5cm gun fires on "SX" threatening the artillery directing section. Some 8,8cm HP rounds with timer fuze knock out the enemy gun.

Second attack

In the meantime the MSK is reinfrices by 60 men of the SS-Heimwehr. SS-platoon on the far right, then the 1.platoon, Pionier-platoon (21 men) in the middle and the 2. platoon (18 men) on the left. The advance is delayed by wire-obstacles, mines and trees cut by artillery fire. At 10:08 MSK reports heavy enemy defensive fire and that the main force is now in the commanders building. At the first barracks building enemy snipers on trees cause high losses. The liason officer Korv.Kpt.Davidson arrives on the scene and asks Kleikamp if he needs reinforcements. Kleikamp demands another SS-platoon and aditional artillery because the polish positions can not be seen from "SX" now. 11:40 the MSK reports heavy enemy fire and the loss of all machineguns. The SS platoon has already withdrawn. Around 12:30 Olt. Henningsen is severly wounded (dies next day) and Olt. Schug takes command of the MSK. As the polish forces try to encircle the german attackers the MSK withdraws. At 13:00 Olt.Schug reports that is is impossible to take the Westerplatte without reinforcements.Kleikamp orders to take position against the Westerplatte together with three AT guns of the SS-Heimwehr. After replaced by Police units the MSK recovers near the fortress Weichselmünde.

Eberhard wants to attack the Westerplatte again on the 2.September against the will of Kleikamp. At 01:45 the securing police units fire on polish soldiers which try to occupate the lost territory again. In the evening the supporting machineguns are withdrawn onboard of "SX" again. Losses of the MSK on 1.Sept.39: 13 dead, 58 seriously wounded (4 die in the next days), 40 wounded 29 of them still ready for combat. The MSK has 143 men left.

After Kleikamp sees that the second attack also failed he reports to Gen.Adm.Albrecht that he cannot attack the polish positions because he has no line of sight. During the night and the morning of the 2.Sept. the High command discussed wether to attack on the 2. or not, with or without air support and so on. Between 18:05 – 18:45 60 a/c of 2. and 3 group of St.G.2 attack polish instalations on the Westerplatte.

On the 3.Sept.1939 Oberst Krappe with 2 police Btl., a Pionier Kompanie, a Haubitzen-Abt. and several heavy machineguns arrive on the Westerplatte to support the next attack.

4.Sept.1939 T94 and the Begleitboot of 1.Minenräumflottille "v.d.Gröben" bombard the Westerplatte without obvious success.

5.Sept.1939 Danzig Heimwehr units bombard enemy instalations on the Westerplatte. The MSK buries the dead soldiers from the 1.Sept. Before the forces start the attack again they want to have exact informations about the polish positions. All attempts to burn down the trees concealing the bunkers failed because the wood was too wet. SS-Heimwehr is firing with mine-throwers.

7.Sept.1939 At 03:00 the MSK assembles again for an armed recon attack. The machineguns of the "SX" take positions against. At 04:26 "SX" opens fire on several targets on the Westerplatte. Around 06:20 the MSK advances in three waves. First wave 2 platoons Pioniere, second wave pionier-platoon and one platoon of MSK, third wave 2 platoons of MSK. At 07:15 the MSK withdraws again failing again to set the trees on fire.

At 09:45 the Polish fortress shows the white flag. Henke signs the surrender document and talks to the polish commander Major Sucharski. He says that the Stuka attack on the second and the artillery fire today demoralized them so much that they had to surrender today. The polish defenders lost 15 – 20 dead, 9 wounded, 5 officers, 27 NCO´s and 158 men are captured.

Source: Jörg Benz, Deutsche Marineinfanterie 1939-1945
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Cremer and fellow U-Boat officer in FieldGray. Marine-Panzervernichtungsbataillon Cremer

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Marine Regiment Panzerknacker

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Not often you would see a sailor with a Tank Destruction Badge . Robert

"German naval ground units also provided a critical service during WWII, manning massive guns along the Atlantic Wall in the west and naval flak and artillery units all across Western and Eastern Europe. There were also countless naval infantry, engineer and communications units as well. In the last months of WWII most all of the naval ground units were involved directly in fighting of some form or another, some naval units even took part in the Battle for Berlin in 1945."
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"Festung Schneidemühl was formally constituted on 12 Oct 1944 with the appointment of a Festungs-Kommandant, but not much was done to prepare the defenses of the small city until the Soviet winter offensive began on 12 January. By 8 Feb 1945 the fortress garrison consisted of four static regiments made up of mostly Volkssturm, Alarm and "Gneisenau" formations, two fortress machine gun battalions, 8 battalions of school and miscellaneous troops, a recon battalion, a naval infantry battalion, an artillery battalion and an assault gun battalion. These are all identified in Tessin, volume XIV, p.226.

The battle for Schneidemühl began on 10 February when 1st Belorussian Front launched a powerful drive through eastern Pomerania toward the Baltic. Schneidemühl was astride the east-west and north-south lines of communication and had to be quickly taken. By 14 February the majority of the garrison had been overrun and destroyed, although a few small pockets held out until 17 February. "Festung" Schneidemühl fell after only a few days of fighting because the garrison consisted of overage and poorly equipped emergency units and school troops who were expected to hold out against an assault by a vastly superior force of combat-hardened Soviet tank units and accompanying infantry. German losses were high but I have never seen a listing of the numbers.

I do not believe there are any detailed English language accounts of the defense of Schneidemühl, but there are several in German and Russian

Festung Schneidemühl (per Tessin)

The Festungs-Kommandant was established on 12.10.1944. By 25.1.1945, the existing 4 Gneisenau-, 2 Alarm-, and 2 Volkssturm-Battalions were organized; and were then used to create the following units as part of the 11th Army on 8.2.1945:

Regiment Mentz I-II.

Regiment Bonin I-IV.

Regiment Möring I-II.,

Compare with the units mentioned by author Murawski in "Die Eroberung Pommerns":

4 Stellungs-Regiments: Bonin, Obermeier, Schwarzmeier and Sann.

Engaged according to the FpU:

Festungs-MG-Abteilung Schneidemühl I

Festungs-MG-Abteilung Schneidemühl II.

Also engaged (according to Murawski):

Bataillon (Heeresunteroffizierschulen) Kolberg, Eutin, Treptow

Bataillon Belgard, Anklam, Schneidemühl, Hannover, Feldherrnhalle

Aufklärungs-Abteilung Stolp

Marine-Bataillon (23. Schiffs-Stamm Abteilung) Deutsch – Krone

I./Artillerie-Lehr-Regiment 5 (Groß-Born)

Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung Graf Dohna (Wespe, Hummel)."
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"Festung Thorn & Schneidermuhl

Postby donwhite on 20 Sep 2005, 17:17
This is taken from a Post off the 'Feldgrau' forum posted by 'BW' Sept 2002. The data for Schneidermuhl is slightly confusing.

Thorn (No date supplied)
Standort-Btl z.b.V Thorn
Sonderstab Thorn Sud
Gren-Ausbildungs-Btl 368
Fest-Stamm-Art-Abt 3124 & 3125 (Formation listed as doubtfull)
Marine-Stamm-Kp Thorn
Marine-Art-Abt Thorn

Schneidermuhl
25/1/1945
4x Gneisenau, 2x Alarm & 2x Volkstrum Btl's are use to create (8/2/45) Rgt Mentz (I-II), Rgt Bonin (I-IV) & Rgt Morin (I-IV) for 11th Army

Compare with Murawski mentions 4x Stellungs Rgt's Bonin, Obermeir, Schwarzmeir & Sann, Btl Kolberg, Eutin, Treptow, Belgard, Schneidermuhl, Anklam, Hannover, Feldherrenhalle, Aufklarungs Abt Stolp, Marine Btl Deutsch-Krone, , I/Art Lehr Rgt 5 & StuG Abt Graf Dohna "
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Fallschirmjäger, Gebirgsjäger, and Kriegsmarine soldiers stand together; a few weeks into the fighting on Narvik.
awwyisswwii.tumblr.com/page/6

"Mission accomplished … HMS Campbeltown after ramming the docks in St Nazaire
and right, Germans take British PoWs in the town"
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"Kriegsmarine soldiers join the ranks of theirGebirgsjäger/Fallschirmjäger kameraden. After having their U-Boat sunk, these men continued the fight on land along side Gebirgsjäger Rgt. 139 and formed a unit of "GebirgsMarine" and went into action as mountain infantry."
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"Sailors of the German Navy are seen marching into into Memel, Lithuania on March 23, 1939. Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop of Nazi Germany delivered an ultimatum to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister on March 20, 1939, demanding the surrender of the Memel region to German control. The British Consul in Danzig, Mr.Shepherd, reported to Viscount Halifax that "it was generally anticipated that on 25th March the Memel Landtag would vote for the immediate return of Memelland to Germany." Ribbentrop is also claimed to have stated that Memel "will be taken by other means if necessary." Lithuania, however, submitted to the ultimatum and, in exchange for the right to use the new harbour facilities as a Free Port, ceded the disputed region to Germany in the late evening of March 22, 1939. Adolf Hitler had awaited this result on a battleship, sailed into the harbour in the morning hours and made a speech from a theatre balcony. This was Hitler's last territorial acquisition prior to World War II.

Memel is now known as Klaipėda, a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Curonian Lagoon where it flows into the Baltic Sea. As Lithuania's only seaport, it has ferry terminal connections to Sweden and Germany."
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Anyone make German Marines in 15mm? I'd like to get a company built for Operation Seelowe.

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Norway

1940, Denmark, German sailors aboard a destroyer before the invasion

Hello all,

Old thread – but any update on 15mm?

Thanks!