The Brandenburgers

[leon21]

Here's a photo of Leutnant Wilhelm Walther, commander of the 4th komp of Baulehr Battallion Z.B.V. 800, stationed

at Brandenburg-Havel, who took commaned on 15.12.1939. The 1st units of the komp moved to the West in Feb 1940.

Prior to the invasion of the low countries the Brandenburgers were given the task of capturing the Roermund and

Buggenum bridges. The railway bridge at Gennep was captured by Leutnant Walther personally with 8 other members

of his squad, Walther and 2 other members of the group were disguised as Dutch military police and the other 6 were

in German uniforms, to the Dutch side of the frontier the appeatance of nine men on the bridge aroused no suspicion

for it seemed that 3 fully armed Dutch policemen were escorting 6 disarmed German soldiers. Each of the prisoners

were carrying concealed machine pistols strapped to their chest under their unbuttoned overcoats and egg grenades

in their pockets, the bridge was captured and minutes later the first of 2 troop trains carrying units of the 256th Inf Div

rolled across the bridge. For this Leutnant Wather was the first Brandenburger to receive the Ritterkreuz on 24.6.40.

[leon21]

In 1941 the 13th and 17th Sonder Kompanies were formed and attached to Lehr Regiment Headquarters.

The 13th komp had a 300 man squad commanded by Oberleutnant Friedrich von Koenen, half the komp

was stationed in Greece with Sonderverband 288 and the 2nd half was stationed in Naples Italy. In Jan 42

the 1st half with 288 were sent to North Africa and attached to 90th Leichte Africa Div and used as normal

infantry.Also in Jan 42 Sonderkommando Dora unit was created who's members included a number of

specialists such has Geologists, Cartographers and Mineralogists, although quite strong and well equipped

their vehicles were poorly suited for deep desert operations. In june the 2nd half Komp of Brandenburgers

was attached about 100 men, with the fall of Tobruk and large quantities of British made vehicles captured

unit Dora was now ready to start deep desert operations. While training Dora also supported the Italian

defence of the Sahara by setting up 2 reconnaissance patrols to work in the Hon area.

Sonderkommando Dora or ( Special Force Dora ) was situated at Oasis El Gratrun Libya, they also set up a

[leon21]

Part 2.

 

Set up a airfield there and flew in a collection of odd aircraft including a captured Spitfire which was used for

airial reconnaissance work and used for air cover if a patrol got in trouble. When Rommel was finally turned

back at El Alamein, Soderkommando Dora was recalled to Tripoli were it met up with Brandenburgers of

Battalion von Koenen the 2 combined and fought a fighting withdrawl. At Wadi Zemzem the Brandenburgers

blooded the nose of the British Long Range Desert Group and Popski's private army, before safely retreating

back into Tunisa.

 

Heres a few photos of Sonderkommando Dora.=4174:stay10011.jpg]4172:33855021.jpg]

[Greg]

great photos, any of those would make excellent model dioramas.

 

Interesting about the captured spitfire, bet that gave a fright when you look up to see one of your own aircraft then see the German markings!

[leon21]

Here's another Brandenburger first.

 

 

Major der Reserve Siegfried Grabert.

 

Leader of 8th kompanie / 2nd battalion Lehr Regiment Branderburg Z.B.V. 800.

Took part in the invasion of the low country's were he won the EK2 - EK1, won his silver Assault badge and awarded the black

wound badge for a headwound when he was a leutnant, was promoted to Hauptmann.

He then received the Knights Cross on 10.6.41.

Later during the battle for Russia. Hauptmann Grabert with his 8th kompanie advanced towards the railway bridge over the Don

at Bataisk ( south of Rostov ). During the fighting he was badly wounded in the stomach and later died in the hands of Medical

korps Officer Hans Gunker on 25.7.42. The 8th kompanie suffered badly with a total loss of 87 killed wounded or missing, but captured the

bridge. For this success Grabert was Posthumously awarded the 320th Oak leaves to the Knights Cross on 6.11.43 he was given

the rank of Major also..

 

 

 

He was replaced by Leutnant der Reserve and Knights Cross winner Ernst Prochaska.

Prochaska was killed while leading a Assault on a bridge near Maikop wearing Russian uniforms and using Russian trucks,

the 13th Pz Div arrived at the bridgehead in time to save the rest of the kompanie on 16.9.42.

[Fritz]

Very well researched article and an interesting story-