Category Archives: Luftwaffe

Norwegian Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht in WWII

During World War II a great number of volunteers from Norway served within the ranks of the German Wehrmacht. Prior to 1940, there were few such volunteers, but after the invasion, their numbers increased dramatically totaling around 50,000 by wars end. Nowhere did Norwegians serve in greater numbers than in the ranks of the Waffen-SS, […]

Sicherheits und Hilfdienst

The Sicherheits und Hilfdienst, or Security and Assistance Service was formed in 1935 as a mobile civil defense organization to augment the most vulnerable…

Seeaufklärungsgruppen

Seeaufklärungsgruppe 125 Gruppenkommandeure: Oberst Gerhard Kolbe, 4.41 – 28.4.43 Oberst Hellmut Schalke, 28.4.43 – 8.44 Formed 1.4.41 in Holtenau: Stab in Holtenau with He 60 1. Staffel in Holtenau with He 60 2. Staffel in Thisted (Denmark) with He 114 (formed from parts of the Bordflieger-Ergänzungsstaffel) 3. Staffel in Holtenau with Ar 95W In 12.43 […]

SS-Fallshirmjäger-Batallion-500

The first attempt to form an SS airborne unit was in 1937 when a small group of volunteers from the Germania Regt. of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (later Waffen-SS) gathered at the Fallschirmschule at Stendal between 23 May and 17 July for jump training. However, the idea suffered crib-death in its infancy, and the troops were returned […]

SS-Panzer-Brigade “Gross”

History This unit was formed on 8 August 1944 from elements of the SS Panzer TroopTraining and Replacement Regiment at Dondangen, Latvia, along with SSPanzer Troop Training Regiment ‘”Seelager”. By 16 August, the brigade hadattained a personnel strength of 2500 and was attached to a new andtemporary Divisional Command: Panzer-Division Strachwitz. The entire formation first […]