SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers

Lineage

  • SS-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie
  • SS-Kriegsberichter-Abteilung
  • SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers

History

In January of 1940 an SS-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie (Waffen-SS war reporterscompany) was established, and its züge (platoons) were attached tothe four main Waffen-SS combat formations that fought in the WesternCampaign of May and June, 1940. These platoons remained with theirrespective divisions for the Balkans Campaign in the spring of 1941.

By August of 1941 many additional units were fighting as part of theWaffen-SS. As a result, also during August of 1941, theSS-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie was expanded to Abteilung (battalion)strength. Waffen-SS expansion continued to grow throughout the war, and inDecember 1943 the reporters unit again expanded, this time to regimentalsize. It also received an honor title at this point, becoming known asSS-Standarte Kurt Eggers. It also received a cuff-title bearing thesame name. Kurt Eggers was the former editor of the SS magazine DasSchwarz Korps. He was killed in action west of Kharkov while serving withthe 5.SS-Division on August 13, 1943

Gunter d’Alquen commanded the SS-Kriegsberichter unit for its entireexistence. He held the Allgemeine-SS rank of Standartenführer, andbegan his Waffen-SS command in 1940 as a Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer derReserve. During the course of the war, he was gradually promoted until hebecame a Waffen-SS Standartenführer der Reserve at his regimentalcommand.

Under d’Alquen was a staff that processed the incoming material, as wellas photographers, movie cameramen, writers, broadcaster and recorders, allwho served in the field. The men in the field did their service with thevarious platoons assigned to the assorted Waffen-SS formations. Thereporters generally served with several different platoons during the war,and many new reporters joined during the war’s course. Non-Germans mostoften served with their own national formations, but were sometimesdetached to cover a particular campaign and report on it for their homepress.

Organization

Fall, 1944
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 1
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 2
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 3
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 5
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 6
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 7
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 8
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 9
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 10
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 11
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 12
SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 13
SS-Kriegsberichter-Kp. 105
Attached to: Kommandostab RFSS
Attached to: 4.SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division
Attached to: Estnische SS-Freiwilligen-Brigade
Attached to: 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH
Attached to: 2.SS-Panzer-Division Das Reich
Attached to: 3.SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf
Attached to: 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking
Attached to: 6.SS-Gebirgs-Division Nord
Attached to: 7.SS-Frei.Gebrigs-Division Prinz Eugen
Attached to: 8.SS-Kavallerie-Division Florian Geyer
Attached to: 9.SS-Panzer-Division Hohenstaufen
Attached to: 10.SS-Panzer-Division Frundsberg
Attached to: 11.SS-Frei.Pz.Gr.Division Nordland
Attached to: 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend
Attached to: 13.Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS Handschar
Attached to: SS-Gebirgs-Korps-Kommando V

Commanders

SS-Standartenführer Günther d’Alquen: 3.??.40 -5.??.45