Hubert-Erwin Meierdress
Encyclopedia
Hubert-Erwin Meierdrees (11 December 1916 – 4 January 1945), usually referred to as Erwin Meierdrees, was a German
Waffen-SS
officer and panzer
ace who served with the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, SS-Verfügungs-Division before joining the SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, which he served with until his death in January 1945.
in Rhenish Prussia into a middle class
family. His father was a Customs Tariff Secretary. When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, Meierdrees was still in school. He joined the Hitlerjugend when all Scout
organizations were dissolved and replaced by the Nazi
-run organization. As soon as he was old enough, Meierdrees applied for NSDAP membership, which he was granted on 4 April 1934 (Nr.3 601 911). Soon after, he applied to join the SS
, to which he was admitted on 1 August 1934 (Nr.265 243). He was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, the SS' élite guard formation, serving as an enlisted man.
In April 1938, Meierdrees was given the opportunity to attend the SS-Junkerschule (the SS officer training school) at Braunschweig
. He performed well during the intensive study and training, showing particular interest in the artillery
and panzer
parts of the course. On 20 April 1939, he graduated as an SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) specializing in artillery. On 1 May 1939, he was posted to command of a platoon
in the 13th (Infantry gun) company of the newly formed SS-Standarte Der Führer.
In mid 1939, Adolf Hitler
authorized the formation of an SS-Verfügungs-Division, comprising all three SS-VT
Standartes, SS-Standarte Deutschland, SS-Standarte Germania and SS-Standarte Der Führer (The Leibstandarte was to form its own unit). Meierdrees was assigned to command of an artillery battery SS-Verfügungs-Artillerie-Regiment under SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Herbert Otto Gille
. The Polish Crisis of August 1939 put these plans on hold, and the SS-Standarten were deployed for action during the upcoming offensive, Fall Weiss
. The SS-Verfügungs-Artillerie-Regiment was subordinated to Panzer-Division Kempf
, based in East Prussia
.
began, sparking the Second World War. Meierdrees fought with the Panzer-Division Kempf through the campaign, seeing heavy action in the initial battles for the Mlava Position. At the conclusion of the campaign, Panzer-Division Kempf was disbanded, and the SS-VT formations began forming into the SS-Verfügungs-Division, to be commanded by SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser
. For personal bravery in combat during the Polish campaign, Meierdrees was awarded the Iron Cross
second class.
On 20 October 1939, Meierdrees was transferred to the staff of I./SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment, part of the now forming SS-Division Totenkopf commanded by SS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke
. Meierdrees served with the Totenkopf during the Invasion of France. As a member of the artillery regiment's staff, Meierdrees did not see any frontline combat during the invasion, but did gain valuable experience in the running of an artillery battalion. On 12 June 1940, Meierdrees secured a combat command. He was placed in charge of a platoon of StuG IIIs in the artillery regiment's assault gun
unit, SS-Sturmgeschütze-Batterie Totenkopf. He saw a little action during the mopping up of the last French forces. On 9 November 1940, Meierdrees was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant).
for Operation Barbarossa
, the plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union
. On 22 June 1941, Barbarossa began and the Totenkopf began its advance. Initially, Army Group North did not assign the Totenkopf any real frontline combat, but it was soon thrown into action. Meierdrees, as a StuG platoon commander, led his assault guns aggressively and was soon building a reputation as a highly skilled armour commander. Meierdrees' unit saw heavy action during the assault towards Leningrad
, the objective of Army Group North. By December 1941, the Germans had breached the Stalin Line
and were at the gates of Leningrad.
Several strong Soviet assaults launched at the height of winter caught the exhausted Germans off guard. The Totenkopf managed to hold its section of the line near Demjansk in ferocious fighting. By early January 1942 Totenkopf's position was located in a salient
which protruded into the Soviet lines. The Soviets, hoping to sever the German supply lines and encircle the forces around Demjansk, launched ferocious attacks at the flanks of the salient. During this period, Meierdrees and the remnants of the StuG Battery performed fire-brigade missions, halting all Soviet attempts.
On 15 January 1942, the Soviets launched a major attack which threatened to sever the main highway at the town of Bjakowo. Meierdress, seeing the threat, formed an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe
(battle group) from his StuG battery (down to less than 100 men) and assorted engineers, SS-police troopers and Artillery reconnaissance troops which were located in and around the town. With his kampfgruppe, Meierdrees held the town against repeated assaults by much larger forces.
Heavy Soviet attacks further to the south, launched on 8 February, sliced through the flanks of the Demjansk salient, trapping Totenkopf and five other divisions, over 100,000 men, in a kessel (pocket).
The Totenkopf, exhausted from the winter fighting, was severely understrength. Meierdrees' kampfgruppe, down to only 30 men, continued to hold the line at Bjakowo, now the closest point to friendly lines. For his actions during these battles, Meierdrees was awarded the Iron Cross, first class.
In early February, the Soviets captured Bjakowo, cutting off the Totenkopf, including Meierdrees' force from the main German force, II. Armeekorps, encircled around Demyansk
itself.
On February 18, Meierdress was seriously wounded. After Meierdrees' incapacitation, Totenkopf's SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Franz Kleffner
took over the command at Bjakowo. On February 19, he led the survivors in an assault which resulted in a breakthrough to the main force, an action for which Kleffner won the Knight's Cross
. On 21 February, Meierdrees was flown out of the pocket in a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
.
Severely wounded, Meierdrees was sent back to an SS Field Hospital, where it was feared that he would die. By early March, his condition had stabilised. On 13 March 1942, Meierdrees was awarded the Knight's Cross in recognition of his courage and resourcefulness while encircled near Bjakowo. The SS newspaper, Das Schwarze Korps
published a story on his actions.
. Instead, he was posted to the Waffen-SS artillery replacement regiment, SS-Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment. On 20 April, he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain). Meierdrees remained with the regiment, training replacements in the use of StuGs. He showed a skill and enthusiasm for training the young artillerymen.
Due to Wehrmacht
internal power struggles in the 1930s, although StuGs were armoured fighting vehicles, they came under the command of the artillery, with the remainder of the panzers being controlled by the Panzerwaffe
. In October 1942, the Totenkopf was pulled out of the line and moved to France to be reformed as a panzergrenadier
division. Meierdrees, having shown skill in the command of StuGs, was given the opportunity to take the Panzer commander's course at Panzertruppenschule II
at Wünsdorf. He accepted the offer and on 14 November, he graduated and was posted back to now reformed SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf as commander of I. Abteilung
of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.
With help from Heinrich Himmler
and Paul Hausser
, all SS Panzergrenadier Divisions were to receive a full panzer regiment, rather than the usual abteilung (detachment). This meant that SS Panzergrenadier Divisions were Panzer divisions in all but name. In December 1942, the situation in Stalingrad meant that the division was needed in the east. It was entrained and sent to the region around Kharkov, where it would form a part of SS-Obergruppenführer Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps
.
counter offensive to retake Kharkov. Earlier in January and February, the Das Reich and Leibstandarte had seen heavy fighting in defence of the city, inflicting some losses on the Red Army. Despite the best efforts of the SS-Panzerkorps, the Red Army was still advancing on the SS-Panzerkorps' flanks. Fearing encirclement, Hausser disobeyed Hitler's orders and authorized a full withdrawal from Kharkov.
The Totenkopf arrived in time to take part in the counteroffensive. The Soviet spearhead was formed by Mobile Group Popov. The SS-Panzerkorps was divided into a number of smaller Kampfgruppes, and Meierdrees' Abt formed the nucleus of one of the Totenkopf's kampfgruppes, providing flank defence to the main assault by elements of the Leibstandarte. During the battle, the Totenkopf's commander, Theodor Eicke
was shot down and killed while performing battlefield reconnaissance. In the desperate fighting to retake the city, Meierdress performed well, his unit inflicting some casualties on the enemy, and playing a major role in the annihilation of Mobile Group Popov, taking part in the recapture of Belgorod
.
After the victory at the Third Battle of Kharkov
, the SS-Panzekorps was rested and refitted in preparation for the major offensive against the Kursk
salient
, Operation Citadel.
4.Panzer-Armee
.
The Totenkopf led the advance on the SS-Panzerkops western flank, Meierdrees' Abt, together with II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 under SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Biermeier
, advanced in a panzerkeil
(wedge) across the hot and dusty steppe
. Despite encountering stiff Soviet resistance and several pakfront
s (groups of anti-tank guns), the Totenkopf's panzers continued to advance, albeit at a slower pace than had been planned. Hausser ordered his SS-Panzerkorps to split in two, with the Totenkopf crossing the Psel
river northwards and then continuing on towards the town of Prokhorovka
.
By July 10, the Totenkopf was in a position to cross the Psel in force, then all three SS Panzergrenadier Divisions could strike towards Prokhorovka. Elements of the Totenkopf's SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke had finally forced a crossing of the Psel and established a weak bridgehead.
By July 11, Meierdrees had led his Abt across the Psel on hastily constructed pontoon bridges, reinforcing the tenuous position. The forces in the bridgehead were subjected to several furious Soviet attacks, but with the support of Meierdrees' panzers they held their ground and resumed the division's advance northwards. In the afternoon of 12 July, near the village of Andre'evka on the south bank of the Psel, the Soviets launched a major counterattack against the Totenkopf's SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 Thule and the division's StuG Battalion.
SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Priess
, the Totenkopf's commander, ordered Meierdrees' abteilung to advance and support the beleaguered forces. The PzKpfw IIIs
and PzKpfw IVs
of Meierdrees' unit were supported by the Totenkopf's Tiger I
company, 9(schwere)./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. In ferocious combat with the lead units of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army, Meierdrees managed to halt the Soviet assault, destroying many Soviet T-34
s, but at the cost of the majority of his remaining operational panzers.
On 14 July, Hitler called off the operation.
, where Generaloberst Holldit's reformed 6.Armee
was under heavy Soviet attack and close to collapse. The Leibstandarte, which was heading to the Italian front, left its vehicles behind. These were used to partially refit both the Totenkopf and the Das Reich.
Upon arrival at the Mius-Front
, Totenkopf and Das Reich were immediately thrown into action. In the rocky ravine-crossed terrain, Meierdrees led the understrength SS-Panzer-Abt in several ferocious counterattacks which prevented several breakthroughs. By late June, Totenkopf and Das Reich had succeeded in stabilising the front to some extent.
The launch of the Soviet Operation Rumyantsev on the southern flank of the Kursk salient meant that the Totenkopf and Das Reich were sent back north to deal with the threat to Kharkov. Meierdrees' now exhausted abt was ordered into the line near Belgorod
, where it was engaged in a ferocious defensive battle in an attempt to stem the tide. The divisions halted the advance of Rumyantsev, and it seemed as if the line would be stabilized. However, strong Soviet forces soon outflanked the two divisions and forced them to fall back to Kharkov. The threat to the divisions' flanks was too great, and on 23 August the Totenkopf and Das Reich abandoned the city, narrowly avoiding encirclement. Despite the best efforts of the two SS-Panzergrenadier divisions, on 23 August Kharkov had fallen. Army Group South began a fighting withdrawal to the Dnieper.
Meierdrees continued to lead the abteilung in constant fire-brigade actions, preventing breakthroughs and flanking maneuvers as the slower formations of the Totenkopf fell back. By early September, the totenkopf reached the Dniepr. Elements of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank army had forced a crossing at Kremenchug and were soon threatening to break through the Dniepr line. Totenkopf was thrown into action against the bridgehead, with the panzer regiment leading many attacks. In late September, Meierdrees was seriously wounded in combat against the bridgehead. He was evacuated to an SS-Field Hospital where he recuperated. As this was his fifth serious wound, he was awarded the wound badge in gold. In recognition of his actions in Kharkov, Kursk, the Mius and the retreat to the Dnieper, Meierdrees was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross. These were personally awarded to him by Adolf Hitler on 5 October 1943.
The Totenkopf was engaged in heavy defensive fighting east of the Dnieper near Krivoy Rog. The Soviets had been attempting to capture Krivoi-Rog, which formed a linchpin in the German lines, since November 1943. Meierdrees assumed control of his old abteilung, and immediately led them into battle against Soviet probing attempts towards the city. In February 1944, 56,000 German troops were trapped in the Korsun Pocket. The Totenkopf was sent towards Cherkassy to assist in the relief attempts. Meierdrees led his panzer troops in attacks towards the city of Korsun, attempting to secure a crossing across the Gniloy-Tilkich river. The 1.Panzer-Division
, fighting alongside the Totenkopf, achieved a linkup with the encircled forces.
After a fierce fight near Kirovograd the Totenkopf fell back behind the Southern Bug
River, in the second week of March, taking up new defensive positions. During this period, Meierdrees performed his usual task of fire-brigade commander, dealing with threats as they arose. After two weeks of heavy fighting alongside the Heer's
Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland west of Ivanovka, the German lines again fell back, withdrawing to the Dniestr on the Romanian border near Iaşi
.
In the first week of April, Totenkopf gained a moments respite as it rested in the area near Târgul-Frumos in Romania. The division received replacements and new equipment, Meierdrees' abt receiving a component of Panthers
to replace some of the outdated PzKpfw IVs. In the second week of April, heavy soviet attacks towards Targul Frumos meant that Totenkopf was back in action, playing a role in the decisive defensive victory. Meierdrees' panzers were the main force employed by the Totenkopf in efforts to halt the soviet spearheads. By 7 May, the front had quieted and the Totenkopf went back to the business of reorganising. Meierdrees' abt was again brought up to strength. In early July, the division was ordered to the area near Grodno in Poland
, where it would form a part of SS-Obergruppenführer Gille's IV.SS-Panzerkorps
, covering the approaches to Warsaw near Modlin
.
, the central-Eastern front was a mess, and the IV. SS-Panzerkorps was one of the only formations standing in the way of the Soviet attacks. On 1 August 1944, the Armia Krajowa
, rose up in Warsaw itself, sparking the Warsaw Uprising
. A column of Totenkopf Tigers was caught up in the fighting, and several were lost. The Totenkopf was not involved in the suppression of the revolt, instead guarding the front lines, and fighting off several Soviet probing attacks into the city's eastern suburbs. Meierdress' panzers played a major role in these defensive victories.
In several furious battles near the town of Modlin in mid August, the Totenkopf, fighting alongside the 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and the Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 1 Hermann Göring failed to arrest the Soviet 3rd Corps. Meierdrees' abt, now totally equipped with Panthers, fought in this battle. The terrain around Modlin is excellent armour terrain, and Meierdrees exploited this to his advantage, engaging Soviet tanks from far range.
The efforts of the Totenkopf, Wiking and Hermann Göring allowed Germans to hold the Vistula
line and establish Army Group Vistula
. In December 1944, the IX. SS-Gebirgskorps was encircled in Budapest
. Hitler ordered the IV. SS-Panzerkorps to head south to break through to the 45,000 Germans and Hungarians
trapped in the city. The corps arrived late December, and was immediately thrown into action.
The relief attempt, codenamed Operation Konrad I
, was a joint attack by the Wiking and Totenkopf from the town of Táta
attacking along the line Bicske
-Budapest. Meierdrees' abt. was to form one of the Totenkopf's spearheads.
The operation got underway on 1 January, and the unexpected attack resulted in large gains for the Germans. Meierdrees' unit fought their way towards the city, destroying many Soviet tanks. Despite this initial success, the Red Army reacted quickly, and on 3 January defence had solidified near the town of Biscke. On 4 January, Meierdrees' unit was subjected to a ferocious enemy counterattack by a large Soviet armoured force. Meierdrees' Panther, after knocking some armour, was hit, and exploded. While his loader and driver escaped with serious wounds, Meierdrees and his gunner were killed in the explosion. Despite two subsequent offensives, the German garrison at Budapest was never reached and the survivors surrendered on 12 February 1945. The defeated Germans capitulated soon. It was, however, proved that the Germans were no match for the Red Army's assault.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
officer and panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
ace who served with the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, SS-Verfügungs-Division before joining the SS-Panzer-Division Totenkopf, which he served with until his death in January 1945.
Early Life - Hitlerjugend - SS
Meierdrees was born in WeselWesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
in Rhenish Prussia into a middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
family. His father was a Customs Tariff Secretary. When the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, Meierdrees was still in school. He joined the Hitlerjugend when all Scout
Scouting in Germany
The Scout movement in Germany consists of about 150 different associations and federations with about 260,000 Scouts and Guides.Scouting in Germany started in 1909. German Scouting later became involved with the German Youth Movement, of which the Wandervogel was a part...
organizations were dissolved and replaced by the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
-run organization. As soon as he was old enough, Meierdrees applied for NSDAP membership, which he was granted on 4 April 1934 (Nr.3 601 911). Soon after, he applied to join the SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
, to which he was admitted on 1 August 1934 (Nr.265 243). He was posted to the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, the SS' élite guard formation, serving as an enlisted man.
In April 1938, Meierdrees was given the opportunity to attend the SS-Junkerschule (the SS officer training school) at Braunschweig
Braunschweig
Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
. He performed well during the intensive study and training, showing particular interest in the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
and panzer
Panzer
A Panzer is a German language word that, when used as a noun, means "tank". When it is used as an adjective, it means either tank or "armoured" .- Etymology :...
parts of the course. On 20 April 1939, he graduated as an SS-Untersturmführer (Second Lieutenant) specializing in artillery. On 1 May 1939, he was posted to command of a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
in the 13th (Infantry gun) company of the newly formed SS-Standarte Der Führer.
In mid 1939, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
authorized the formation of an SS-Verfügungs-Division, comprising all three SS-VT
SS-Verfügungstruppe
The SS-Verfügungstruppe was formed in 1934 as combat troops for the NSDAP. By 1940 these military SS units had become the nucleus of the Waffen-SS....
Standartes, SS-Standarte Deutschland, SS-Standarte Germania and SS-Standarte Der Führer (The Leibstandarte was to form its own unit). Meierdrees was assigned to command of an artillery battery SS-Verfügungs-Artillerie-Regiment under SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Herbert Otto Gille
Herbert Otto Gille
Herbert Otto Gille was a German general, and as a winner of the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds and of the German Cross in Gold, the most highly decorated member of the Waffen SS during World War II...
. The Polish Crisis of August 1939 put these plans on hold, and the SS-Standarten were deployed for action during the upcoming offensive, Fall Weiss
Fall Weiss
Fall Weiss translates as Case White following the German military's naming convention.Fall Weiss may refer to two military operations:* Fall Weiss , the German strategic plan for a war with Poland...
. The SS-Verfügungs-Artillerie-Regiment was subordinated to Panzer-Division Kempf
German Panzer Division Kempf
The East Prussia Panzer Unit was an ad hoc combined arms unit created for operations out of East Prussia during the Invasion of Poland in 1939...
, based in East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
.
Early War Campaigns - Totenkopf
On 1 September 1939, the Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
began, sparking the Second World War. Meierdrees fought with the Panzer-Division Kempf through the campaign, seeing heavy action in the initial battles for the Mlava Position. At the conclusion of the campaign, Panzer-Division Kempf was disbanded, and the SS-VT formations began forming into the SS-Verfügungs-Division, to be commanded by SS-Gruppenführer Paul Hausser
Paul Hausser
Paul "Papa" Hausser was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of lieutenant-general in the inter-war Reichswehr. After retirement from the regular Army he became the "father" of the Waffen-SS and one of its most eminent leaders...
. For personal bravery in combat during the Polish campaign, Meierdrees was awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
second class.
On 20 October 1939, Meierdrees was transferred to the staff of I./SS-Totenkopf-Artillerie-Regiment, part of the now forming SS-Division Totenkopf commanded by SS-Gruppenführer Theodor Eicke
Theodor Eicke
Theodor Eicke was a SS Obergruppenführer , commander of the SS-Division Totenkopf of the Waffen-SS and one of the key figures in the establishment of concentration camps in Nazi Germany. His Nazi Party number was 114,901 and his SS number was 2,921...
. Meierdrees served with the Totenkopf during the Invasion of France. As a member of the artillery regiment's staff, Meierdrees did not see any frontline combat during the invasion, but did gain valuable experience in the running of an artillery battalion. On 12 June 1940, Meierdrees secured a combat command. He was placed in charge of a platoon of StuG IIIs in the artillery regiment's assault gun
Assault gun
An assault gun is a gun or howitzer mounted on a motor vehicle or armored chassis, designed for use in the direct fire role in support of infantry when attacking other infantry or fortified positions....
unit, SS-Sturmgeschütze-Batterie Totenkopf. He saw a little action during the mopping up of the last French forces. On 9 November 1940, Meierdrees was promoted to SS-Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant).
Barbarossa - Demjansk Kessel
The Totenkopf was assigned to Army Group NorthArmy Group North
Army Group North was a German strategic echelon formation commanding a grouping of Field Armies subordinated to the OKH during World War II. The army group coordinated the operations of attached separate army corps, reserve formations, rear services and logistics.- Formation :The Army Group North...
for Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the plan for the invasion of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. On 22 June 1941, Barbarossa began and the Totenkopf began its advance. Initially, Army Group North did not assign the Totenkopf any real frontline combat, but it was soon thrown into action. Meierdrees, as a StuG platoon commander, led his assault guns aggressively and was soon building a reputation as a highly skilled armour commander. Meierdrees' unit saw heavy action during the assault towards Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, the objective of Army Group North. By December 1941, the Germans had breached the Stalin Line
Stalin Line
The Stalin Line was a line of fortifications along the western border of the Soviet Union. Work began on the system in the 1920s to protect the USSR against attacks from the West. The line was made up of concrete bunkers and gun emplacements, somewhat similar but less elaborate than the Maginot...
and were at the gates of Leningrad.
Several strong Soviet assaults launched at the height of winter caught the exhausted Germans off guard. The Totenkopf managed to hold its section of the line near Demjansk in ferocious fighting. By early January 1942 Totenkopf's position was located in a salient
Salients, re-entrants and pockets
A salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...
which protruded into the Soviet lines. The Soviets, hoping to sever the German supply lines and encircle the forces around Demjansk, launched ferocious attacks at the flanks of the salient. During this period, Meierdrees and the remnants of the StuG Battery performed fire-brigade missions, halting all Soviet attempts.
On 15 January 1942, the Soviets launched a major attack which threatened to sever the main highway at the town of Bjakowo. Meierdress, seeing the threat, formed an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe
Kampfgruppe
In military history and military slang, the German term Kampfgruppe can refer to a combat formation of any kind, but most usually to that employed by the German Wehrmacht and its allies during World War II and, to a lesser extent, in World War I...
(battle group) from his StuG battery (down to less than 100 men) and assorted engineers, SS-police troopers and Artillery reconnaissance troops which were located in and around the town. With his kampfgruppe, Meierdrees held the town against repeated assaults by much larger forces.
Heavy Soviet attacks further to the south, launched on 8 February, sliced through the flanks of the Demjansk salient, trapping Totenkopf and five other divisions, over 100,000 men, in a kessel (pocket).
The Totenkopf, exhausted from the winter fighting, was severely understrength. Meierdrees' kampfgruppe, down to only 30 men, continued to hold the line at Bjakowo, now the closest point to friendly lines. For his actions during these battles, Meierdrees was awarded the Iron Cross, first class.
In early February, the Soviets captured Bjakowo, cutting off the Totenkopf, including Meierdrees' force from the main German force, II. Armeekorps, encircled around Demyansk
Demyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket was the name given for the encirclement of German troops by the Red Army around Demyansk , south of Leningrad, during World War II on the Eastern Front. The pocket existed mainly from 8 February-21 April 1942. A much smaller pocket was simultaneously surrounded in Kholm, about ...
itself.
On February 18, Meierdress was seriously wounded. After Meierdrees' incapacitation, Totenkopf's SS-Sturmbannführer (Major) Franz Kleffner
Franz Kleffner
Franz Kleffner was a Obersturmbannführer in the Waffen SS during World War II who was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.Franz Kleffner was born on the 2 July...
took over the command at Bjakowo. On February 19, he led the survivors in an assault which resulted in a breakthrough to the main force, an action for which Kleffner won the Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross refers to a distinguishing grade or level of various orders that denotes bravery and leadership on the battlefield....
. On 21 February, Meierdrees was flown out of the pocket in a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch
Fieseler Fi 156
The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch was a small German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II, and production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market...
.
Severely wounded, Meierdrees was sent back to an SS Field Hospital, where it was feared that he would die. By early March, his condition had stabilised. On 13 March 1942, Meierdrees was awarded the Knight's Cross in recognition of his courage and resourcefulness while encircled near Bjakowo. The SS newspaper, Das Schwarze Korps
Das Schwarze Korps
Das Schwarze Korps was the official newspaper of the Schutzstaffel . This newspaper was published on Wednesdays and distributed free of charge. Each SS member was supposed to read the publication and urge others to do so as well...
published a story on his actions.
Recuperation - Transfer to the Panzerwaffe
In late March, Meierdrees was discharged from the hospital, but was deemed unfit to rejoin the division, which was still heavily engaged in the Demjansk PocketDemyansk Pocket
The Demyansk Pocket was the name given for the encirclement of German troops by the Red Army around Demyansk , south of Leningrad, during World War II on the Eastern Front. The pocket existed mainly from 8 February-21 April 1942. A much smaller pocket was simultaneously surrounded in Kholm, about ...
. Instead, he was posted to the Waffen-SS artillery replacement regiment, SS-Artillerie-Ersatz-Regiment. On 20 April, he was promoted to SS-Hauptsturmführer (Captain). Meierdrees remained with the regiment, training replacements in the use of StuGs. He showed a skill and enthusiasm for training the young artillerymen.
Due to Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
internal power struggles in the 1930s, although StuGs were armoured fighting vehicles, they came under the command of the artillery, with the remainder of the panzers being controlled by the Panzerwaffe
Panzerwaffe
Panzerwaffe refers to a command within the Heer of the German Wehrmacht, responsible for the affairs of panzer and motorized forces shortly before and during the Second World War...
. In October 1942, the Totenkopf was pulled out of the line and moved to France to be reformed as a panzergrenadier
Panzergrenadier
is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
division. Meierdrees, having shown skill in the command of StuGs, was given the opportunity to take the Panzer commander's course at Panzertruppenschule II
Panzertruppenschule II
Panzertruppenschule II was the second of two major schools set up by the German Panzerwaffe in World War II to train German armour officers to operate Panzers...
at Wünsdorf. He accepted the offer and on 14 November, he graduated and was posted back to now reformed SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf as commander of I. Abteilung
Abteilung
Abteilung is a German language word often used when referring to German or Swiss military formations...
of SS-Panzer-Regiment 3.
With help from Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
and Paul Hausser
Paul Hausser
Paul "Papa" Hausser was an officer in the German Army, achieving the high rank of lieutenant-general in the inter-war Reichswehr. After retirement from the regular Army he became the "father" of the Waffen-SS and one of its most eminent leaders...
, all SS Panzergrenadier Divisions were to receive a full panzer regiment, rather than the usual abteilung (detachment). This meant that SS Panzergrenadier Divisions were Panzer divisions in all but name. In December 1942, the situation in Stalingrad meant that the division was needed in the east. It was entrained and sent to the region around Kharkov, where it would form a part of SS-Obergruppenführer Hausser's SS-Panzerkorps
II SS Panzer Corps
The II SS Panzer Corps was a Nazi German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on both the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.- Formation - Kharkov :...
.
Battles for Kharkov
The division arrived at the front in late February 1943, and, together with the SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler and SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Das Reich was thrown into action in Generaloberst Erich von Manstein'sErich von Manstein
Erich von Manstein was a field marshal in World War II. He became one of the most prominent commanders of Germany's World War II armed forces...
counter offensive to retake Kharkov. Earlier in January and February, the Das Reich and Leibstandarte had seen heavy fighting in defence of the city, inflicting some losses on the Red Army. Despite the best efforts of the SS-Panzerkorps, the Red Army was still advancing on the SS-Panzerkorps' flanks. Fearing encirclement, Hausser disobeyed Hitler's orders and authorized a full withdrawal from Kharkov.
The Totenkopf arrived in time to take part in the counteroffensive. The Soviet spearhead was formed by Mobile Group Popov. The SS-Panzerkorps was divided into a number of smaller Kampfgruppes, and Meierdrees' Abt formed the nucleus of one of the Totenkopf's kampfgruppes, providing flank defence to the main assault by elements of the Leibstandarte. During the battle, the Totenkopf's commander, Theodor Eicke
Theodor Eicke
Theodor Eicke was a SS Obergruppenführer , commander of the SS-Division Totenkopf of the Waffen-SS and one of the key figures in the establishment of concentration camps in Nazi Germany. His Nazi Party number was 114,901 and his SS number was 2,921...
was shot down and killed while performing battlefield reconnaissance. In the desperate fighting to retake the city, Meierdress performed well, his unit inflicting some casualties on the enemy, and playing a major role in the annihilation of Mobile Group Popov, taking part in the recapture of Belgorod
Belgorod
-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
.
After the victory at the Third Battle of Kharkov
Third Battle of Kharkov
The Third Battle of Kharkov was a series of offensive operations on the Eastern Front of World War II, undertaken by the German Army Group South against the Red Army, around the city of Kharkov , between 19 February and 15 March 1943...
, the SS-Panzekorps was rested and refitted in preparation for the major offensive against the Kursk
Kursk
Kursk is a city and the administrative center of Kursk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kur, Tuskar, and Seym Rivers. The area around Kursk was site of a turning point in the Russian-German struggle during World War II and the site of the largest tank battle in history...
salient
Salients, re-entrants and pockets
A salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. The salient is surrounded by the enemy on three sides, making the troops occupying the salient vulnerable. The enemy's line facing a salient is referred to as a re-entrant...
, Operation Citadel.
Citadel
The attack was launched on 4 July 1943, after a massive Soviet artillery barrage fell on the German assembly areas. The SS-Panzerkorps was to attack the southern flank of the salient as the spearhead for Generaloberst Hermann Hoth'sHermann Hoth
Hermann "Papa" Hoth was an officer in the German military from 1903 to 1945. He attained the rank of Generaloberst during World War II. He fought in France, but is most noted for his later exploits as a panzer commander on the Eastern Front...
4.Panzer-Armee
German Fourth Panzer Army
The 4th Panzer Army was, before being designated a full army, the Panzer Group 4 , a German panzer army that saw action during World War II. Its units played a part in the invasion of France, and then on the Eastern Front.-Early history:The 4th Panzer Group's predecessor was the XVI Corps formed...
.
The Totenkopf led the advance on the SS-Panzerkops western flank, Meierdrees' Abt, together with II./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 under SS-Hauptsturmführer Fritz Biermeier
Fritz Biermeier
Fritz Biermeier was a Sturmbannführer in the Waffen SS who was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves during World War II...
, advanced in a panzerkeil
Panzerkeil
The Panzerkeil was an offensive armoured tactic developed by German forces on the Eastern Front during World War II. The panzerkeil was developed in response to the Soviet employment of the pakfront defence....
(wedge) across the hot and dusty steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
. Despite encountering stiff Soviet resistance and several pakfront
Pakfront
The Pakfront was a defensive military tactic developed by the German forces on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. It was named after the phonetic pronunciation of the acronym nomenclature for German towed anti-tank guns, PaK...
s (groups of anti-tank guns), the Totenkopf's panzers continued to advance, albeit at a slower pace than had been planned. Hausser ordered his SS-Panzerkorps to split in two, with the Totenkopf crossing the Psel
Psel
Psel may refer to:* Printed segmented electroluminescence , an electroluminesence based technology used in creating flexible displays and interfaces* Another name for Olshanka, a small village in Belgorod Oblast, Russia...
river northwards and then continuing on towards the town of Prokhorovka
Prokhorovka
Prokhorovka is an urban locality and the administrative center of Prokhorovsky District of Belgorod Oblast, Russia, located along the Psyol River southwest of the city of Kursk. Population:...
.
By July 10, the Totenkopf was in a position to cross the Psel in force, then all three SS Panzergrenadier Divisions could strike towards Prokhorovka. Elements of the Totenkopf's SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 6 Theodor Eicke had finally forced a crossing of the Psel and established a weak bridgehead.
By July 11, Meierdrees had led his Abt across the Psel on hastily constructed pontoon bridges, reinforcing the tenuous position. The forces in the bridgehead were subjected to several furious Soviet attacks, but with the support of Meierdrees' panzers they held their ground and resumed the division's advance northwards. In the afternoon of 12 July, near the village of Andre'evka on the south bank of the Psel, the Soviets launched a major counterattack against the Totenkopf's SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 5 Thule and the division's StuG Battalion.
SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Priess
Hermann Priess
Hermann Prieß was the commander of 3rd SS Division Totenkopf following the death of Theodor Eicke in February 1943. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords...
, the Totenkopf's commander, ordered Meierdrees' abteilung to advance and support the beleaguered forces. The PzKpfw IIIs
Panzer III
Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
and PzKpfw IVs
Panzer IV
The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
of Meierdrees' unit were supported by the Totenkopf's Tiger I
Tiger I
Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
company, 9(schwere)./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3. In ferocious combat with the lead units of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army, Meierdrees managed to halt the Soviet assault, destroying many Soviet T-34
T-34
The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
s, but at the cost of the majority of his remaining operational panzers.
On 14 July, Hitler called off the operation.
Battles on the Mius Front
On 22 July, the Totenkopf was entrained for the Mius-FrontMius-Front
Mius-Front was a heavily fortified defensive line created by the Germans in October 1941 under direction of General Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist along the Mius River during World War II. By summer 1943 the Mius-Front consisted of three defense lines with total depth of the Mius defense range of...
, where Generaloberst Holldit's reformed 6.Armee
German Sixth Army
The 6th Army was a designation for German field armies which saw action in World War I and World War II. The 6th Army is best known for fighting in the Battle of Stalingrad, during which it became the first entire German field army to be completely destroyed...
was under heavy Soviet attack and close to collapse. The Leibstandarte, which was heading to the Italian front, left its vehicles behind. These were used to partially refit both the Totenkopf and the Das Reich.
Upon arrival at the Mius-Front
Mius-Front
Mius-Front was a heavily fortified defensive line created by the Germans in October 1941 under direction of General Paul Ludwig Ewald von Kleist along the Mius River during World War II. By summer 1943 the Mius-Front consisted of three defense lines with total depth of the Mius defense range of...
, Totenkopf and Das Reich were immediately thrown into action. In the rocky ravine-crossed terrain, Meierdrees led the understrength SS-Panzer-Abt in several ferocious counterattacks which prevented several breakthroughs. By late June, Totenkopf and Das Reich had succeeded in stabilising the front to some extent.
The launch of the Soviet Operation Rumyantsev on the southern flank of the Kursk salient meant that the Totenkopf and Das Reich were sent back north to deal with the threat to Kharkov. Meierdrees' now exhausted abt was ordered into the line near Belgorod
Belgorod
-Twin towns/sister cities:Belgorod is twinned with: Wakefield, England, United Kingdom Herne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia Opole, Poland Vyshhorod, Ukraine Kharkiv, Ukraine-External links:...
, where it was engaged in a ferocious defensive battle in an attempt to stem the tide. The divisions halted the advance of Rumyantsev, and it seemed as if the line would be stabilized. However, strong Soviet forces soon outflanked the two divisions and forced them to fall back to Kharkov. The threat to the divisions' flanks was too great, and on 23 August the Totenkopf and Das Reich abandoned the city, narrowly avoiding encirclement. Despite the best efforts of the two SS-Panzergrenadier divisions, on 23 August Kharkov had fallen. Army Group South began a fighting withdrawal to the Dnieper.
Meierdrees continued to lead the abteilung in constant fire-brigade actions, preventing breakthroughs and flanking maneuvers as the slower formations of the Totenkopf fell back. By early September, the totenkopf reached the Dniepr. Elements of the Soviet 5th Guards Tank army had forced a crossing at Kremenchug and were soon threatening to break through the Dniepr line. Totenkopf was thrown into action against the bridgehead, with the panzer regiment leading many attacks. In late September, Meierdrees was seriously wounded in combat against the bridgehead. He was evacuated to an SS-Field Hospital where he recuperated. As this was his fifth serious wound, he was awarded the wound badge in gold. In recognition of his actions in Kharkov, Kursk, the Mius and the retreat to the Dnieper, Meierdrees was awarded the Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross. These were personally awarded to him by Adolf Hitler on 5 October 1943.
Retreat to Romania
After his recovery, Meierdrees was posted to the SS-Panzer-Ausbildungs-und-Ersatz-Regiment, helping train new panzertroops who would be dispersed as replacements to the SS panzer divisions. In January 1944, he was deemed ready for active service and was sent back to his old command with the Totenkopf, arriving on 20 January. On 30 January, he received a promotion to SS-Sturmbannführer (Major).The Totenkopf was engaged in heavy defensive fighting east of the Dnieper near Krivoy Rog. The Soviets had been attempting to capture Krivoi-Rog, which formed a linchpin in the German lines, since November 1943. Meierdrees assumed control of his old abteilung, and immediately led them into battle against Soviet probing attempts towards the city. In February 1944, 56,000 German troops were trapped in the Korsun Pocket. The Totenkopf was sent towards Cherkassy to assist in the relief attempts. Meierdrees led his panzer troops in attacks towards the city of Korsun, attempting to secure a crossing across the Gniloy-Tilkich river. The 1.Panzer-Division
German 1st Panzer Division
The German 1st Panzer Division was an elite armoured division in the German Army during World War II. Its divisional insignia was a white oakleaf emblem.-History:...
, fighting alongside the Totenkopf, achieved a linkup with the encircled forces.
After a fierce fight near Kirovograd the Totenkopf fell back behind the Southern Bug
Southern Bug
The Southern Bug, also called Southern Buh), is a river located in Ukraine. The source of the river is in the west of Ukraine, in the Volyn-Podillia Upland, about 145 km from the Polish border, and flows southeasterly into the Bug Estuary through the southern steppes...
River, in the second week of March, taking up new defensive positions. During this period, Meierdrees performed his usual task of fire-brigade commander, dealing with threats as they arose. After two weeks of heavy fighting alongside the Heer's
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland west of Ivanovka, the German lines again fell back, withdrawing to the Dniestr on the Romanian border near Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
.
In the first week of April, Totenkopf gained a moments respite as it rested in the area near Târgul-Frumos in Romania. The division received replacements and new equipment, Meierdrees' abt receiving a component of Panthers
Panther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
to replace some of the outdated PzKpfw IVs. In the second week of April, heavy soviet attacks towards Targul Frumos meant that Totenkopf was back in action, playing a role in the decisive defensive victory. Meierdrees' panzers were the main force employed by the Totenkopf in efforts to halt the soviet spearheads. By 7 May, the front had quieted and the Totenkopf went back to the business of reorganising. Meierdrees' abt was again brought up to strength. In early July, the division was ordered to the area near Grodno in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, where it would form a part of SS-Obergruppenführer Gille's IV.SS-Panzerkorps
IV SS Panzer Corps
The IV.SS-Panzerkorps was a German Waffen-SS armoured corps which saw action on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans during World War II.The Panzerkorps was formed in August, 1943 in Poitiers, France...
, covering the approaches to Warsaw near Modlin
Modlin Fortress
Modlin Fortress is one of the biggest 19th century fortresses in Poland. It is located the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki in district Modlin on the Narew river, some 50 kilometres north of Warsaw...
.
Battles around Warsaw - Operation Konrad I
The Totenkopf arrived at the Warsaw front in late July 1944. After the launch of Operation Bagration and the collapse of Army Group CentreArmy Group Centre
Army Group Centre was the name of two distinct German strategic army groups that fought on the Eastern Front in World War II. The first Army Group Centre was created on 22 June 1941, as one of three German Army formations assigned to the invasion of the Soviet Union...
, the central-Eastern front was a mess, and the IV. SS-Panzerkorps was one of the only formations standing in the way of the Soviet attacks. On 1 August 1944, the Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
, rose up in Warsaw itself, sparking the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
. A column of Totenkopf Tigers was caught up in the fighting, and several were lost. The Totenkopf was not involved in the suppression of the revolt, instead guarding the front lines, and fighting off several Soviet probing attacks into the city's eastern suburbs. Meierdress' panzers played a major role in these defensive victories.
In several furious battles near the town of Modlin in mid August, the Totenkopf, fighting alongside the 5.SS-Panzer-Division Wiking and the Fallschirm-Panzer-Division 1 Hermann Göring failed to arrest the Soviet 3rd Corps. Meierdrees' abt, now totally equipped with Panthers, fought in this battle. The terrain around Modlin is excellent armour terrain, and Meierdrees exploited this to his advantage, engaging Soviet tanks from far range.
The efforts of the Totenkopf, Wiking and Hermann Göring allowed Germans to hold the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
line and establish Army Group Vistula
Army Group Vistula
Army Group Vistula was an Army Group of the Wehrmacht, formed on January 24, 1945. It was put together from elements of Army Group A , Army Group Centre , and a variety of new or ad-hoc formations...
. In December 1944, the IX. SS-Gebirgskorps was encircled in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. Hitler ordered the IV. SS-Panzerkorps to head south to break through to the 45,000 Germans and Hungarians
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
trapped in the city. The corps arrived late December, and was immediately thrown into action.
The relief attempt, codenamed Operation Konrad I
Operation Konrad
Operation Konrad was the German-Hungarian effort to relieve the encircled garrison of Budapest during the Battle of Budapest in January 1945. The operation was divided into three parts:...
, was a joint attack by the Wiking and Totenkopf from the town of Táta
Tata
- Companies :* Tata Group, India's largest business group and multinational company** List of entities associated with Tata Group- People :* Tata family, an influential family of India owning the Tata Group** Jamsetji Tata, known as the father of Indian industry...
attacking along the line Bicske
Bicske
Bicske is a town in Fejér county, Hungary.-History:According to a document dating from 1306, Botond’s sons János and Péter were granted the permission to levy toll in the locality of Bicske as well. Bicske was written Bykche, Biccke, Bykcze, Biczke, Bitske ...
-Budapest. Meierdrees' abt. was to form one of the Totenkopf's spearheads.
The operation got underway on 1 January, and the unexpected attack resulted in large gains for the Germans. Meierdrees' unit fought their way towards the city, destroying many Soviet tanks. Despite this initial success, the Red Army reacted quickly, and on 3 January defence had solidified near the town of Biscke. On 4 January, Meierdrees' unit was subjected to a ferocious enemy counterattack by a large Soviet armoured force. Meierdrees' Panther, after knocking some armour, was hit, and exploded. While his loader and driver escaped with serious wounds, Meierdrees and his gunner were killed in the explosion. Despite two subsequent offensives, the German garrison at Budapest was never reached and the survivors surrendered on 12 February 1945. The defeated Germans capitulated soon. It was, however, proved that the Germans were no match for the Red Army's assault.
Awards
- Wound BadgeWound BadgeWound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied...
in Gold - Tank Assault Badge
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
- 2nd Class (1939)
- 1st Class (15 March 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak LeavesKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 13 March 1942 as ObersturmführerObersturmführerObersturmführer was a paramilitary rank of the Nazi party that was used by the SS and also as a rank of the SA. Translated as “Senior Assault Leader”, the rank of Obersturmführer was first created in 1932 as the result of an expansion of the Sturmabteilung and the need for an additional rank in...
and leader of the SS-Sturm-Geschütz-Batterie "Totenkopf" - 544th Oak Leaves on 5 October 1943 as HauptsturmführerHauptsturmführerHauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
and commander of the I./SS-Panzer-Regiment 3 "Totenkopf"
- Knight's Cross on 13 March 1942 as Obersturmführer