Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade

Lineage

  • Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment
  • Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade

Campaigns

  • Eastern Front Aug. 1944

History

The Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade was formed on July 18th, 1944from the Französische SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment.

On July 18th, 1944, as it was renamed from a Regiment to a Brigade, the unit was sentdirectly to the front to fight under the control of the 18.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Horst Wessel whichwas fighting in Galicia. On August 10th, 1944, it was thrown into fiercerearguard fighting against the advancing Soviets at the foothills of theCarpathinans near Sanok and Visloka. The newly formed Brigade took extremely heavycasualties with 15 of 18 officers dead or wounded, 130 dead, and 660 wounded.After this brief and costly baptism of fire the unit was pulled from thelines and transfered to Schwarnegast near Danzig in East Prussia.

Shortly after being transfered to Schwarnegast, in September 1944 the FranzösischeSS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade was joined with the verst.Franz.Gren.Inf.Reg.638 (LVF)to form a new French SS Brigade, the Waffen-Grenadier-Brigadeder SS Charlemagne (französische Nr.1)

Commanders

SS-Oberführer Dr. Gustav Kruckenberg
Waffen Oberführer der SS Edgard Puaud