SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 was a formation of the Waffen SS during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was created in June 1944, from units stationed at the
NCO'SA non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
(SS-Unterführerschulen) and replacement units. By the end of August it had been virtually destroyed and the remnants were incorporated into the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division
Formation
The SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 can trace its origins to the SS
KampfgruppeIn 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...
3 which was formed in March 1944, from personnel stationed at the NCO school in
LauenburgLębork is a town on the Łeba and Okalica rivers in Middle Pomerania region, north-western Poland with some 37,000 inhabitants.Lębork is also the capital of Lębork County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, formerly in Słupsk Voivodeship ....
,
PomeraniaPomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
. They were placed under the command of Sturmbannfuehrer (Major) Walter Joecke. Until the Normandy Landings 6 June 1944, the Brigade was just a paper formation, but it had been arranged that the Brigade could be fully mobilized within 48 hours if required.
SS Kampfgruppe 3 was officially renamed the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade on 18 June 1944. The Brigade's title is misleading as the Brigade was an Infantry formation and did not have an armoured unit attached.
Denmark
The Brigade was posted to
DenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to relieve the garrison and allow them to move towards the invasion beaches, the main formation released was the
363rd Infantry DivisionThe 363rd Volksgrenadier Division was a volksgrenadier division of the Heer during the Second World War, active from 1944 to 1945....
. There secondary task in Denmark together with their sister brigade the
SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 was a formation of the Waffen SS during World War II. It was created in June 1944, from units stationed at the NCO's and replacement units...
was to guard against a suspected Allied landing on the
North SeaIn the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coastline. The Brigade was located in the
HaderslevHaderslev is a town and municipality on the east coast of the Jutland peninsula in south Denmark. Also included is the island of Årø as well as several other smaller islands in the Little Belt. The municipality covers and has a population of 56,414 . Its mayor is Jens Christian Gjesing,...
area southeast of
JutlandJutland , historically also called Cimbria, is the name of the peninsula that juts out in Northern Europe toward the rest of Scandinavia, forming the mainland part of Denmark. It has the North Sea to its west, Kattegat and Skagerrak to its north, the Baltic Sea to its east, and the Danish–German...
.
The Brigade received orders to move to
FranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 4 August and the 3,000 men of the Brigade set out by rail for
TroyesTroyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
. In an attempt at deception they were upgraded and referred to as the 27th SS Panzer Division.
France
On 22 August the SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 saw its first action in the area of
SensSens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
, when the II/Battalion SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 and a
HeerHeer is German for "army". Generally, its use as "army" is not restricted to any particular country, so "das britische Heer" would mean "the British army".However, more specifically it can refer to:*An army of Germany:...
unit I/Battalion Regiment 199, were attacked in a carefully executed attack. Both Battalions were forced to withdraw when they were in danger of being outflanked after some heavy fighting they withdrew to new positions west of the Seine River near
TroyesTroyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
.
The Brigade was now located on both sides of the river with the I/Battalion to the North and the newly arrived II/Battalion and I/Battalion 199 Regiment to the South. The other units in the area were part of the II/Battalion, 199 Regiment and some Infantry units from the
KriegsmarineThe Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
. The Brigade headquarters had been established in the city of Troyes opposite the bridgehead.
Waiting to establish contact with the advancing Allies, the Brigade sent out a reconnaissance party south on 24 August, on the approach to
BucheresBuchères is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-World War II:On August 24, 1944, men of the 51st SS-Brigade massacred 68 people, of whom 10 children under ten year old, 5 elderly above seventy years, 35 women and three babys of 18, 11 and 6 months.-References:*...
near
ChatillonChâtillon may refer to:*Châtillon ** Hugh I of Châtillon*First Battle of Châtillon during the war in the Vendée .*Battle of Châtillon during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War It is the name of several places:...
they encountered a roadblock set up by the
French ResistanceThe French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
and were forced to go to ground.
When he was informed of the situation the Brigade commander sent the 3rd Company, I/Battalion and the 3rd Artillery Battery to attempt a rescue.
What followed was a fierce battle with the resistance forces who were forced to withdraw leaving behind 62 dead.
The next day 25 August, Troyes was attacked by a large American tank force of the
U.S. 4th Armored DivisionThe 4th Armored Division of the United States Army was an armored division that compiled a distinguished career in the European theater of World War II. Unlike many other World War II U.S. armored divisions, the 4th never adopted an official divisional nickname or slogan...
which captured or destroyed the 8th Company, a medical detachment and the Brigade Motor Transport unit. The assault lasted all day and by late afternoon the tank assault had been turned back, but a large force from the French Resistance had surrounded the Brigade Headquarters. Soon afterwards the Americans returned and occupied Troyes and all contact with Brigade Headquarters was lost by 1630 hours.
Sturmbannfuehrer Walter Joecke gave orders that the Brigade staff, Headquarters Company and the Pionier Company should fight their way out of the town and rejoin the rest of the Brigade. Fighting house to house they fought their way free of the town, which surprised the Americans who had expected them to surrender.
The SS Pionier Company 51, covered the break out losing all its officers but they were effective and their sacrifice was not in vain. Their effectiveness in house to house fighting won praise from the American General George Patton and it was documented in his memoirs.
It was now that the majority of the I/Battalion was destroyed in bitter fighting for Sainte Savine and
Fontvannes Fontvannes is a commune in the Aube department in north-central France.-Population:...
between 25 and 26 August.
At the same time on the other side of the bridgehead the rest of the Brigade was preparing to withdraw. The Panzergrenadiers would withdraw on foot and sent their vehicles on ahead in two convoys towards Route 19. One of the convoys was shot up by American aircraft on the morning of 26 August, but suffered only minor losses.
The Panzergrenadier Battalions crossed over the railroad bridge to the South of Troyes on foot and then withdrew along the rail lines towards
Lusigny Lusigny is a commune in the Allier department in central France.-Population:...
, accompanied by 100 American prisoners of war.
The Brigade Staff and the Brigade commander Walter Joecke were captured by an American Reconnaissance unit on 28 August.
Disbandment
What was left of the Brigade eventually reached the 3rd Panzer Division at St Dizier and to the west of Bar le Duc. Unable to reform the destroyed brigade they were assigned to 17th SS Division Goetz von Berlichengen'.
II/Battalion SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51, which has only suffered minimal losses was renamed the II/Battalion. SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 37, replacing the old battalion which had been decimated in the fighting in Normandy and the rest of the Brigade as used as individual replacements.