29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian)

The 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian) or Legione SS Italiana was created on 10 February 1945 as second SS-Division with number 29 – (see 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Russian) which was dissolved) – based on a unit created in November 1943, the "Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1)". The division is also called "Italia".

Background

The Kingdom of Italy on 8 September 1943 signed a truce with the Allies. In response, the German Army ("Wehrmacht Heer") and the Waffen-SS disarmed Italian troops unless they were fighting for the German cause. The new Italian Social Republic was founded on 23 September 1943 under dictator Benito Mussolini and this allowed Italians to be recruited for Waffen-SS. On 2 October 1943, Heinrich Himmler and Gottlob Berger devised the "Programm zur Aufstellung der italienischen Milizeinheiten durch die Waffen-SS" [RF-SS, Tgb.Nr. 35/143/43 g. vom 2. Oktober 1943] which was approved by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Training

In October 15,000 volunteers started training at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen, but 9,000 of them were unsuitable and released for training in Police units or for work [Der Chef der OrdPol, Kdo I O (3) 1 Nr. 578/43 vom 2. Oktober 1943] . The soldiers wore Sig rune (SS Runes) on red rather than black, and the left sleeve had a Reichsadler, not with a swastika, but with fasces.

On 23 November 1943, 13 Miliz-Bataillons pledged their loyalty before being moved to "SS-Ausbildungsstab Italien" under SS-Brigadeführers Peter Hansen who led them in a "bloody war among brothers" [Rolf Michaelis "Die Grenadier-Divisionen der Waffen-SS", II, S.179] against partisans. The unit was commanded by SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff and called "Italienische SS-Freiwilligen-Legion", but soon renamed "1. Sturmbrigade Italienische Freiwilligen-Legion".

Soon the unit was called "Legionari" in Italy, also in official reports.

Combat

In April 1944 three Battalions fought against Allied bridgeheads of Anzio and Nettuno with surprisingly good results for which Heinrich Himmler allowed them to wear SS-Runes on black rather than red. On 7 September 1944 renamed to "Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1)" [SS-FHA, Amt II Org.Abt. Ia/II, Tgb.Nr. 2940/44 g.Kdos. 07.09.1944] under Generalkommando "Lombardia" of Heeresgruppe C. New recruits made the unit grow in December 1944 to 15,000 men. In Spring 1945 the Division under command by SS-Oberführer Ernst Tzschoppe as "Kampfgruppe Binz"fought against French units and Resistenza in Piemont.

On 30 April 1945 the last parts of the Division surrendered to US troops in Gorgonzola Lombardy.

Units

(die Gliederung der Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1) ist die gleiche wie die der Division)
*Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS 81 (italienisches Nr. 1) (I.-III.)
*Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment der SS 82 (italienisches Nr. 2) (I.-III.)
*Waffen-Artillerie-Regiment der SS 29 (italienisches Nr. 1) (I.,II.)
*Füsilier-Bataillon 29 "Debica"
*Panzerjäger-Abteilung 29
*SS-Pionier-Kompanie 29
*SS-Nachrichten-Kompanie 29
*SS-Ersatzbataillon
*Offiziersbataillon

Commanders

*13. November 1943 – März 1944: "SS-Brigadeführer" Peter Hansen
*März 1944 – September 1944: "SS-Obergruppenführer" Karl Wolff
*September 1944 – September 1944: "SS-Brigadeführer" Pietro Mannelli
*September 1944 – Oktober 1944: "SS-Brigadeführer" Christian Hansen
*Oktober 1944 – November 1944: "SS-Standartenführer" Gustav Lombard
*9. November 1944 – Januar 1945: "SS-Standartenführer" Constantin Heldmann
*Januar 1945 – April 1945: "SS-Oberführer" Ernst Tzschoppe

References

*Stein, G (1966) "The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War 1939-1945". Cornel Uni. Press, London.

ee also

*Waffen-SS
*Italienische SS
*Ausländische Freiwillige der Waffen-SS
* Grenadier, Waffen-SS
* Division (military), Military unit
* Wehrmacht, List of German military units of World War II