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The '''5th SS Panzer Division ''Wiking''''' was one of the elite [[Panzer]] divisions of the thirty eight ''[[Waffen SS]]'' divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers in [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Finland]], [[Estonia]], the [[Netherlands]] and [[Belgium]] under the command of German officers. During the course of [[World War II]], the division progressed from a [[motorised infantry]] formation to a ''[[Panzer division]]'' and served on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] during [[World War II]]. It surrendered in May 1945 to the advancing American forces in [[Austria]].
The '''5th SS Panzer Division ''Wiking''''' was a [[Panzer]] divisions among the thirty eight [[Waffen-SS]] divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands and Belgium under the command of German officers. During the course of [[World War II]], the division progressed from a [[motorised infantry]] formation to a ''[[Panzer division]]'' and served on the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] during [[World War II]]. It surrendered in May 1945 to the advancing American forces in Austria.


==Formation and training==
==Formation and training==
After the success of the [[Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler|''Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"'']], ''[[SS-Verfügungs-Division]]'' (later renamed ''Das Reich'') and the [[SS Division Totenkopf|''SS-Division "Totenkopf"'']] during the early war campaigns in [[Polish September Campaign|Poland]] and [[Fall Gelb|the West]], it was decided to expand the number of ''Waffen SS'' divisions. Due to the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium, a decision was made to form a volunteer division of the ''Waffen SS'' under the command of German officers.<ref>Ripley, p. 51</ref><ref>McNab, pp. 167, 178</ref>
After the [[invasion of Poland]] in 1939, ''Reichsführer-SS'' [[Heinrich Himmler]] sought to expand the Waffen-SS with foreign military volunteers for the "crusade against Bolshevism". The enrolment began in April 1940 with the creation of two regiments: the Waffen-SS Regiment ''Nordland'' (for Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish volunteers), and the Waffen-SS Regiment ''Westland'' (for Dutch, and Flemish volunteers).<ref>Ripley, p. 51</ref><ref>McNab, pp. 167, 178</ref>


This formation, originally organised as the ''Nordische Division'' (''Nr. 5''), was to be made up of [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] volunteers mixed with ethnic German ''Waffen SS'' veterans. To this end, the ''SS'' Infantry Regiment ''Germania'' in the ''SS-Verfügungs-Division'' was transferred in late 1940 and used as the nucleus of a new division.<ref name=r52>Ripley, p. 52</ref><ref>McNab, p. 167</ref> In December 1940, the new ''SS'' motorised formation, was to be designated '''SS-Division (mot.) "Germania"''', but after its formative period, the name was changed, to '''''SS-Division (mot.) "Wiking".''''' in January 1941.<ref>Stein, p. 107</ref>
The Nordic formation, originally organised as the ''Nordische Division'' (''Nr. 5''), was to be made up of Nordic volunteers mixed with ethnic German Waffen-SS personnel. The SS Infantry Regiment ''Germania'' of the ''SS-Verfügungs-Division'', which was formed mostly from ethnic Germans, was transferred to help form the nucleus of a new division in late 1940.<ref name=r52>Ripley, p. 52</ref><ref>McNab, p. 167</ref> In December 1940, the new SS motorised formation was to be designated '''SS-Division (mot.) "Germania"''', but after its formative period, the name was changed, to '''''SS-Division (mot.) "Wiking"''''' in January 1941.<ref>Stein, p. 107</ref> The ''Wiking'' division was formed around three motorised infantry regiments: ''Germania'', ''Westland'', and ''Nordland''.<ref name=r52/> Command of the newly formed division was given to ''Brigadeführer'' [[Felix Steiner]],<ref>Ripley, p. 53</ref> the former commander of the ''Verfügungstruppe SS Regiment "Deutschland"''.


⚫
After formation the division was sent to Heuberg in Germany for training and by April 1941, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was ready for combat. It was ordered east in mid-May, to take part with [[Army Group South|Army Group South's]] advance into the [[Ukraine]] during Operation [[Operation Barbarossa|''Barbarossa'']], (the invasion of the Soviet Union).<ref>McNab, p. 178</ref>
The division was formed around three motorised infantry regiments: ''Germania''; formed mostly from ethnic Germans; ''Westland'', consisting mainly of [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[Flemings|Flemish]] volunteers; and ''Nordland'', composed mostly of [[Danes]], [[Norwegians]] and [[Swedes]].<ref name=r52/> Command of the newly formed division was given to ''[[Brigadeführer]]'' [[Felix Steiner]],<ref>Ripley, p. 53</ref> the former commander of the ''Verfügungstruppe SS Regiment "Deutschland"''.


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In June 1941 the [[Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS|Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the ''Waffen-SS'']] was formed from volunteers from that country. After training, this unit was attached{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} to the ''SS Regiment "Nordland"'' in January 1942. About 430 Finns who fought in the [[Winter War]] served within the ''SS Division "Wiking"'' division since the beginning of Operation ''Barbarossa''. In spring 1943, the Finnish battalion was withdrawn and replaced by the Estonian infantry battalion "Narwa".
⚫
After formation the division was sent to Heuberg in Germany for training and by April 1941, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was deemed ready for combat. It was ordered east in mid-May, to take part with [[Army Group South|Army Group South's]] advance into the [[Ukraine]] during Operation [[Operation Barbarossa|''Barbarossa'']], (the invasion of the Soviet Union).<ref>McNab, p. 178</ref>

⚫
In June 1941 the [[Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS|Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the ''Waffen-SS'']] was formed from volunteers from that country. After training, this unit was attached{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} to the ''SS Regiment "Nordland"'' in January 1942. About 430 Finns who were veterans of the [[Winter War]] served within the ''SS Division "Wiking"'' division since the beginning of Operation ''Barbarossa''. In spring 1943, the Finnish battalion was withdrawn and replaced by the [[Estonians|Estonian]] infantry battalion "Narwa".


==Operation ''Barbarossa''==
==Operation ''Barbarossa''==
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[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Hummel-025-22, Russland, SS-Division "Wiking", Panzerspähwagen.jpg|thumb|Right|''Wiking'' soldiers deployed to [[Soviet Union|Soviet Russia]] observe the front in 1941. In the background is a [[Schwerer Panzerspähwagen|Sd.Kfz. 232]] reconnaissance vehicle.]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Hummel-025-22, Russland, SS-Division "Wiking", Panzerspähwagen.jpg|thumb|Right|''Wiking'' soldiers deployed to [[Soviet Union|Soviet Russia]] observe the front in 1941. In the background is a [[Schwerer Panzerspähwagen|Sd.Kfz. 232]] reconnaissance vehicle.]]


The division was not ready for combat until 29 June 1941, one week after the launch of the operation. During its first action, near [[Tarnopol]] in [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]], Ukraine, the division acquitted itself well. In August, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was ordered to establish a defensive perimeter around a bridgehead across the [[Dniepr River]]. Despite determined attacks by the [[Red Army]], the division held the line. Against stiffening resistance, the division continued its advance towards [[Rostov-on-Don]]. It took part in the heavy fighting for Rostov before being ordered back to the [[Mius River]] line in November. During 1941, the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|Heer]] officers in charge of the deployment of the ''SS Division "Wiking"'' were sceptical of its fighting abilities and so were hesitant to commit it to any major actions. As the division proved itself again and again in combat, it began to earn the grudging respect of the ''Heer'' commanders.
The division was ready for combat on 29 June 1941, one week after the launch of the invasion. It first saw action near [[Tarnopol]] in [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]], Ukraine. In August the division fought for the bridgehead across the [[Dniepr River]]. Later, the division took part in the heavy fighting for [[Rostov-on-Don]] before being ordered back to the [[Mius River]] line in November.


After successfully holding the line over the winter of 1941–42, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was ordered to retake Rostov-on-Don and advance into the [[Caucasus]], securing the region's vital [[oilfield]]s. This attack was known as [[Operation Mouse|Operation ''Maus'']], and formed a part of Army Group South's offensive [[Fall Blau|Case Blue]], aimed at capturing [[Stalingrad]] and the [[Baku]] oilfields. Launched at the height of summer, the offensive was unexpectedly successful. Within six weeks, Rostov and the entire Don region had been captured, and ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was advancing deep into the Caucasus.<ref>Tigre</ref>{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}
After holding the line over the winter of 1941–42, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was ordered to retake Rostov-on-Don and advance into the [[Caucasus]]. This attack was known as Operation ''Maus'', and formed a part of Army Group South's offensive [[Fall Blau|Case Blue]], aimed at capturing [[Stalingrad]] and the [[Baku]] oilfields. Launched at the height of summer, the offensive was unexpectedly successful. Within six weeks, Rostov and the entire Don region had been captured, and ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was advancing deep into the Caucasus.{{cn|date=December 2015}}


==The Caucasus==
==The Caucasus==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Altstadt-055-37, Russland, Panzer III, Waffen-SS-Division "Wiking".jpg|thumb|left|A [[Panzer III]] from ''SS "Wiking"'' in the summer of 1942; the divisional insignia can be seen on the tank's mudguard]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Altstadt-055-37, Russland, Panzer III, Waffen-SS-Division "Wiking".jpg|thumb|left|A [[Panzer III]] from ''SS "Wiking"'' in the summer of 1942; the divisional insignia can be seen on the tank's mudguard]]
By late September 1942, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' was in a position to launch an assault to capture the vital city of [[Grozny]]. Working in cooperation with ''General der Panzertruppen'' [[Traugott Herr|Traugott Herr's]] [[German 13th Panzer Division|13th Panzer Division]], a plan was arranged to capture the city. As they reached the [[Terek River]], the Soviet defences solidified. Several obstacle belts had to be breached before the [[Georgian Military Road|Georgian Road]] (along which American supplies were transported), could be reached. Realising the difficult situation, Felix Steiner divided his division into four columns, each with separate objectives, but all aimed at breaching the Soviet defences and opening a road to the [[Caspian Sea]].


In late September 1942, ''SS Division "Wiking"'' participated in the operation aimed to capture the city of [[Grozny]], alongside ''General der Panzertruppen'' [[Traugott Herr|Traugott Herr's]] [[German 13th Panzer Division|13th Panzer Division]].
The ''SS Regiment "Nordland"'' was to attack along the [[Kurp River]] to [[Malgobek]]. The ''SS Panzer battalion "Wiking""'', with elements of the ''SS Regiment "Germania"'', was to breach the main line of defence and establish a bridgehead. The ''SS Regiment "Westland"'' was to capture the town of [[Sagopshin]], and the division's engineer component, along with the rest of ''"Germania"'', was to advance along the Kurp.


The attack got underway on the night of 25–26 September 1942. ''"Nordland"'s'' assault soon bogged down, as the soldiers realised that not only were they outnumbered by the Red Army, but the latter were also well entrenched in prepared positions. Within thirty minutes, almost half of the men of the regiment had fallen. Despite this, they still captured the hill; its commander, [[Fritz von Scholz]], was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]] for his actions during the battle. The division finally captured Malgobek on 6 October; however, the objective of seizing the capital and opening a road to the Caspian Sea was not achieved. The closest point to Grozny, Hill 701, was captured by the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the ''Waffen-SS "Nordland"''. During this operation, ''"Wiking"'' lost over 1,500 men. Several combat units were reduced to only dozens of men, and as a veteran later wrote, "Casualties weren't counted any more, just men left alive."
The division captured Malgobek on 6 October; however, the objective of seizing Grozny and opening a road to the Caspian Sea was not achieved. The closest point to Grozny, Hill 701, was captured by the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the ''Waffen-SS "Nordland"''. During this operation, ''"Wiking"'' lost over 1,500 men.


In the first week of November 1942, the division was transferred from the Terek bend to the Urukh-Alagir sector to participate in the renewed attack eastwards, which was attempted in the direction of Ordzhonikidze rather than via Grozny. It ended up arriving just in time to extricate the [[13th Panzer Division]] from encirclement at Gisel, after which it took up defensive positions behind the Fiagdon river. The [[Operation Uranus|encirclement]] of the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|6th Army]] at Stalingrad brought a halt to all further notions of advance in the Caucasus, and "Wiking" was obliged to take over the positions of the 23rd Panzer Division, allowing the latter to be transferred by rail to Kotelnikovo to participate in the relief of Stalingrad. When that operation faltered in turn in the face of further Soviet advances against the Italian 8th Army on the middle Don, the Caucasian position itself began to come under threat. One notion proposed by [[Erich von Manstein]], the commander of Army Group South, was to release the 16th Motorised Infantry Division from the Elista sector to add strength to another attempt towards Stalingrad, ''"Wiking"'' entrained on 24 December, its front being shortened to make this possible; however, by the time it arrived on 31 December, it was forced to plug the gap made by the destruction of the Romanian corps on ''LVII Panzer Korps''’ right flank on the 26th, and assist in a fighting retreat towards Rostov to cover the inevitable (but much-resisted by [[Adolf Hitler]]) withdrawal of Army Group A from the Caucasus. The division fell back through Zimovniki, the Kuberle, Proletarskaya (holding open the bridge over the Manych), Zelina and Yegorlykskaya towards Bataisk and Rostov, finally escaping through the Rostov gap on 4 February.
In the first week of November 1942, the division was transferred from the Terek bend to the Urukh-Alagir sector to participate in the renewed attack eastwards, which was attempted in the direction of Ordzhonikidze rather than via Grozny. Upon its arrival there, the unit extricated the [[13th Panzer Division]] from encirclement at Gisel, and then took up defensive positions behind the Fiagdon river. The [[Operation Uranus|encirclement]] of the [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|6th Army]] at Stalingrad brought a halt to all further advances in the Caucasus.


After [[Operation Winter Storm]], the aborted attempt to relieve the 6th Army, faltered in the face of further Soviet advances on the middle Don, the Caucasian position itself came under threat. [[Erich von Manstein]], the commander of Army Group South, proposed another attempt towards Stalingrad. To that end, ''"Wiking"'' entrained on 24 December; however, by the time it arrived on 31 December, it was forced to plug the gap made by the destruction of the Romanian corps on ''LVII Panzer Korps''’ right flank on the 26th and to cover the withdrawal of Army Group A from the Caucasus towards Rostov. The division escaped through the Rostov gap on 4 February.
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==Battles for Kharkov - ''Panzergrenadier Division''==

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==Battles for Kharkov==
[[File:SS Viking motorbike.jpg|thumb|A captured motorbike with ''"SS Wiking"'' insignia – Ukraine front]]
[[File:SS Viking motorbike.jpg|thumb|A captured motorbike with ''"SS Wiking"'' insignia – Ukraine front]]
<!-- Commented out: [[Image:5SSWK-Fwfr.jpg|thumb|right|A soldier of the 5th SS Panzergrenadier Division ''Wiking'' with a Flammenwerfer 41, [[Kharkov]], 1943.]] -->
In late-November 1942 the division was redesignated the '''5th SS Panzergrenadier Division ''Wiking'''''. In early 1943, it was ordered to fall back to Ukraine south of [[Kharkov]], recently abandoned by ''Obergruppenführer'' [[Paul Hausser|Paul Hausser's]] [[II SS Panzer Corps]].
In late-November 1942 the division was redesignated the '''5th SS Panzergrenadier Division ''Wiking'''''.<ref name=we1>Wendel</ref> By now the division had gained a reputation as an elite formation. In early 1943, it was ordered to fall back to Ukraine south of [[Kharkov]], recently abandoned by ''[[Obergruppenführer]]'' [[Paul Hausser|Paul Hausser's]] [[II SS Panzer Corps]], and now the scene of fierce fighting for its recapture.

Erich von Manstein, the new commander of Army Group South, threw 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' and the [[German 11th Panzer Division|11th Panzer-Division]] into action against the Soviet Mobile Group Popov, which was threatening to break through to the vital rail line. 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' had great difficulty dealing with the armour-heavy Soviet formation. The Panzergrenadier regiments of 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' were exhausted and understrength from the fighting in the Caucasus; in addition, the Panzer Battalion lacked sufficient armour to counter the Soviet force. Despite this, the division held off the Soviet assault, protecting the vital rail line and helping bring about the destruction of Mobile Group "Popov". After the [[Third Battle of Kharkov|recapture of Kharkov]], 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was pulled out of combat to be refitted as a ''Panzergrenadier division''.

Thanks to ''Reichführer-SS '' [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s and Paul Hausser's efforts, it had been decided that all ''Waffen SS Panzergrenadier'' divisions were to have a regiment of Panzers, rather than only a battalion. This meant that the ''SS Panzergrenadier'' formations were full sized Panzer divisions in all but name. With the upgrade came [[SdKfz 251]] halftracks for one battalion of infantry and an additional panzer Battalion began forming on 28 February 1943. It would be over a year before the new battalion would receive its baptism of fire at Kovel.


In the remaining weeks of February, the SS Panzer Corps, including 5 SS '"Wiking"', under the command of Erich von Manstein's Army Group South, engaged [[Third Battle of Kharkov#Manstein's counterattack| Mobile Group Popov]], the major [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] attacking force. The losses of Mobile Group Popov halted the Soviet offensive which followed the [[Battle of Stalingrad]] and stabilized Manstein's front. After the recapture of Kharkov, 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was pulled out of combat to be refitted as a ''Panzergrenadier division''.
During mid-1943, 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' underwent a major transformation. Steiner, now a ''[[Gruppenführer]]'', was transferred to command the [[III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps]], currently forming in [[Croatia]]. His replacement was [[Herbert Otto Gille]], who was to prove himself Steiner's equal. The remnants of the veteran ''SS Regiment "Nordland"'', along with its commander [[Fritz von Scholz]], were removed from the division and used as the nucleus of the new [[11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland|11th SS Volunteer ''Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"'']]. Also, the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the ''Waffen-SS'' was disbanded, as the agreed two years' service of the Finnish volunteers had ended.


In an attempt to offset the loss of the Finns and the ''Nordland'' regiment, the newly formed Estonian volunteer unit [[Estonian Legion|Estonian Volunteer ''Panzergrenadier Bataillon "Narwa"'']] was attached to the division.<ref name=we1/>
In 1943, Steiner, now a ''Gruppenführer'', was transferred to command the [[III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps]], currently forming in Croatia. His replacement was [[Herbert Otto Gille]]. The remnants of the ''SS Regiment "Nordland"'', along with its commander [[Fritz von Scholz]], were removed from the division and used to build the new [[11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland|11th SS Volunteer ''Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"'']]. The Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the ''Waffen-SS'' was disbanded, as the agreed two years' service of the Finnish volunteers had ended. In an attempt to offset the loss of the Finns and the ''Nordland'' regiment, the newly formed Estonian volunteer unit [[Estonian Legion|Estonian Volunteer ''Panzergrenadier Bataillon "Narwa"'']] was attached to the division.{{cn|date=December 2015}}


==Kursk: battles on the Mius==
==Kursk: battles on the Mius==
While the division was refitting, it was involved in minor skirmishes with [[Partisan (military)|partisans]]. The reorganization was completed by late June, and the division was moved to [[Izyum]] where it, along with the [[German 23rd Panzer Division|''23.Panzer-Division'']] was to form the reserve force for Manstein's Army Group during the approaching Operation [[Operation Citadel|''Citadel'']]. While the operation was in effect, several Soviet formations attacked towards [[Oryol|Orel]] and Kharkov simultaneously. The 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was engaged against the forces near Kharkov, with the Estonians acquitting themselves well, destroying around 100 Red Army tanks over several days. When ''Citadel'' was cancelled, the division was still involved in halting Soviet attacks.
While the division was refitting, it was involved in minor skirmishes with [[Partisan (military)|partisans]]. The reorganization was completed by late June, and the division was moved to [[Izyum]] where it, along with the ''23.Panzer-Division'' was to form the reserve force for Manstein's Army Group during the approaching [[Operation Citadel]]. While the operation was in effect, several Soviet formations attacked towards [[Oryol|Orel]] and Kharkov simultaneously. The 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was engaged against the forces near Kharkov.


Further to the south, on the [[Mius-Front]], a major Red Army offensive, Operation [[Operation Rumyantsev|''Rumyantsev'']], threatened to break the German lines. 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was joined by the 3rd ''SS "Totenkopf" Panzer Division'' and the 2nd ''SS Panzergrenadier Division "Das Reich"'' and sent to the Mius-[[Bogodukhov]] sector to halt the Soviet attacks. In subsequent fighting, the ''SS'' divisions defeated two Soviet tank armies (totaling over 1,000 tanks), destroying over 800 of them. At no time did the ''SS'' divisions have any more than 50 panzers in working order. Despite horrific losses, the Soviets were able to take Kharkov on 23 August and began advancing towards the [[Dnieper River|Dnieper]]. In October, the division was again pulled back out of the line, this time to be restructured as a panzer division, the '''5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking"''.'''<ref name=we1/>
Further to the south, on the [[Mius-Front]], a major Red Army offensive, [[Operation Rumyantsev]], threatened to break the German lines. 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was joined by the 3rd ''SS "Totenkopf" Panzer Division'' and the 2nd ''SS Panzergrenadier Division "Das Reich"'' and sent to the Mius-[[Bogodukhov]] sector. The Soviets took Kharkov on 23 August and began advancing towards the [[Dnieper River|Dnieper]]. In October, the division was pulled back out of the line, to be restructured as a panzer division, the '''5th SS Panzer Division ''Wiking''.'''


==Korsun Pocket==
==Korsun Pocket==
<!-- Commented out: [[Image:5SSWK-PzV-SPW.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Panzer V|Panther Ausf. A]] and an [[SdKfz 251]]/1 of the 5.SS-Panzer-Division ''Wiking'', July 1944.]] -->
<!-- Commented out: [[Image:5SSWK-PzV-SPW.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Panzer V|Panther Ausf. A]] and an [[SdKfz 251]]/1 of the 5.SS-Panzer-Division ''Wiking'', July 1944.]] -->
To bolster the strength of the division, the [[Walloons|Walloon]] volunteer unit [[5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien|5th ''SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"'']] was attached to the division, under the command of [[Leon Degrelle]]. It was the subject of ridicule by many ''"Wiking"'' veterans until they proved their worth in the fighting for a forest near Teklino, at the head of a [[Salients, re-entrants and pockets|salient]] into the Soviet lines. A second panzer Battalion was also ordered to begin forming in Germany.
To bolster the strength of the division, the [[5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien|5th ''SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"'']] was attached to the division, under the command of [[Leon Degrelle]]. A second panzer Battalion was also ordered to begin forming in Germany.


While the 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' was engaged near Teklino, several Red Army tank formations had advanced along the side of the salient and succeeded in encircling the German forces of XLII and [[XI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XI Army Corps]] near [[Korsun-Shevchenkivskyy|Korsun]].During the battle of the [[Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket]], 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' defended against Soviet attacks on the eastern side of the pocket. While ''General der Artillerie'' [[Wilhelm Stemmermann]], the overall commander of the 'pocket', moved his forces to the west in readiness for an attempt to breakout, 5 SS ''"Wiking"'', along with the 5th ''SS Sturmbrigade'' were ordered to act as the rearguard.
On January 24, Red Army tank formations encircled the German forces of XLII and [[XI Army Corps (Wehrmacht)|XI Army Corps]] near [[Korsun-Shevchenkivskyy|Korsun]], including the division. During the battle of the [[Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket]], 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' fought on the eastern side of the pocket. While ''General der Artillerie'' [[Wilhelm Stemmermann]], the overall commander of the 'pocket', moved his forces to the west in readiness for an attempt to breakout, 5 SS ''"Wiking"'', along with the 5th ''SS Sturmbrigade'' were ordered to act as the rearguard.


After repulsing all Soviet attempts to break through near the town of Novaya-Buda, the 5 ''SS "Wiking"'' rearguard split up and began withdrawing under cover of darkness, one platoon at a time. Advancing through "Hell's Gate", the ''"Wiking"'' came under heavy fire. The division suffered heavy losses in men and materials during the carnage of the Korsun Pocket. Gille, the Divisional commander, had proven his loyalty to his men, fighting alongside them and remaining in action until all survivors had escaped. He was one of the last to cross the Gniloy Tikich River to safety. After the end of this battle, the 5th ''SS Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"'' brigade was withdrawn from the division.
After fighting near the town of Novaya-Buda, the 5 ''SS "Wiking"'' rearguard split up and began withdrawing under cover of darkness. Advancing through "Hell's Gate", the ''"Wiking"'' came under heavy fire. The division suffered heavy losses in men and materiel during battles in the Korsun Pocket. Afterwards, the 5th ''SS Sturmbrigade "Wallonien"'' brigade was withdrawn from the division.


==Kovel encirclement==
==Kovel encirclement==
After a brief period of rest and refit, the ''5 SS "Wiking"'' was sent to assist in the defence of [[Kovel]], which was under threat from a strong Soviet force. Gille led his men towards the town and began setting up a defensive perimeter, which was soon encircled by the Red Army. The 2nd Battalion, ''SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking"'', equipped with newly arrived [[Panther tank]]s, along with the 3rd Battalion, ''SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Germania"'', well equipped and up to strength, arrived at the front from Germany and began to form a relief formation.
After a brief period of rest and refit, the ''5 SS "Wiking"'' was sent to assist in the defence of [[Kovel]]. Gille's unit advanced towards the town and began setting up a defensive perimeter, which was soon encircled by the Red Army. The 2nd Battalion, ''SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking"'', equipped with newly arrived [[Panther tank]]s, along with the 3rd Battalion, ''SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Germania"'', well equipped and up to strength, arrived at the front from Germany and began to form a relief formation.


⚫
8th Company, 2nd Battalion, ''SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking"'', under the command of ''Obersturmführer'' [[Karl Nicolussi Leck]], broke the encirclement. After the relief force had established a corridor to the trapped forces, the withdrawal began. Unlike the previous encirclement at Korsun, the ''"Wiking"'' managed to escape with most of its equipment intact.
The unit was under the command of ''[[Obersturmführer]]'' [[Karl Nicolussi Leck]], commander of the 8th Company, 2nd Battalion, ''SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking"''. Nicolussi Leck immediately launched an attack with five tanks. Soon after beginning the assault, he received a radio message from the besieged commander to halt his attack and withdraw. Leck ordered his radio operator to ignore the call, and continue with the attack. Risking [[court-martial]], Nicolussi-Leck proceeded to fight his way through the Red Army encirclement, destroying several tanks in the process. His Panther was the first vehicle to break the encirclement; for his actions he was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].<ref>Kurowski pp. 398–400</ref>


For his actions, Nicolussi Leck was awarded the [[Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross]].<ref>Kurowski pp. 398–400</ref>
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After the relief force had established a corridor to the trapped forces, the withdrawal began. Unlike the previous encirclement at Korsun, the ''"Wiking"'' managed to escape with most of its equipment intact.


==Warsaw battles==
==Warsaw battles==
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[[File:Warsaw Uprising - Captured SdKfz 251 (1944).jpg|thumb|left|A German [[SdKfz 251]] armoured fighting vehicle of the "Wiking" Division captured by the Polish insurgents]]
[[File:Warsaw Uprising - Captured SdKfz 251 (1944).jpg|thumb|left|A German [[SdKfz 251]] armoured fighting vehicle of the "Wiking" Division captured by the Polish insurgents]]
<!-- Commented out: [[Image:5SSWK - PzJägers.jpg|thumb|right|Panzergrenadiers of the 5.SS-Panzer-Division ''Wiking'', Modlin, 1944.]] -->
<!-- Commented out: [[Image:5SSWK - PzJägers.jpg|thumb|right|Panzergrenadiers of the 5.SS-Panzer-Division ''Wiking'', Modlin, 1944.]] -->
In late-August 1944, the division was ordered back to [[Modlin Fortress]] on the [[Vistula River]] line near [[Warsaw]] where it was to join the newly formed [[Army Group Vistula]]. Fighting alongside the [[Luftwaffe|Luftwaffe's]] [[Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring|''"Hermann Göring" Panzer Division'']], the division [[Battle of Radzymin (1944)|annihilated]] the Red Army's [[Soviet 3rd Tank Corps|3rd Tank Corps]]. The advent of the [[Warsaw Uprising]] brought the Soviet offensive to a halt, and relative peace fell on the front line as in Warsaw [[Higher SS and Police Leader]] [[Erich von dem Bach Zelewski]] destroyed Warsaw with its civilians and the Home Army.
In late-August 1944, the division was ordered back to [[Modlin Fortress]] on the [[Vistula River]] line near [[Warsaw]] where it was to join the newly formed [[Army Group Vistula]]. Fighting alongside the [[Luftwaffe|Luftwaffe's]] [[Fallschirm-Panzer Division 1 Hermann Göring|''"Hermann Göring" Panzer Division'']], the division participated in the [[Battle of Radzymin (1944)|Battle of Radzymin]]. The German counterattacks brought the Soviet offensive to a halt and the front line stabilized for the rest of the year.


The division remained in the Modlin area for the rest of the year, grouped with the 3 ''SS "Totenkopf"'' and the [[IV SS Panzer Corps]]. Gille was promoted to the command of the new ''SS Panzer'' Corps, and after a brief period with ''[[Oberführer]]'' Dr. [[Eduard Deisenhofer]] in command, ''[[Standartenführer]]'' [[Johannes Mühlenkamp]], commander of the SS Panzer Regiment 5 ''"Wiking"'', took command. Heavy defensive battles around Modlin followed for the rest of the year, and in October, Mühlenkamp was replaced by ''Oberführer'' [[Karl Ullrich]]. Ullrich would lead the division for the rest of the war.
The division remained in the Modlin area, grouped with the 3 ''SS "Totenkopf"'' and the [[IV SS Panzer Corps]]. Gille was promoted to the command of the new ''SS Panzer'' Corps, and after a brief period with ''Oberführer'' Dr. [[Eduard Deisenhofer]] in command, ''Standartenführer'' [[Johannes Mühlenkamp]], commander of the SS Panzer Regiment 5 ''"Wiking"'', took command. Heavy defensive battles around Modlin followed for the rest of the year, and in October, Mühlenkamp was replaced by ''Oberführer'' [[Karl Ullrich]]. Ullrich lead the division for the rest of the war.


In late-December 1944, the German forces, including [[IX SS Mountain Corps]], defending [[Budapest]] were encircled and the IV SS Panzer Corps was ordered south to join [[Hermann Balck|Hermann Balck's]] [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|6th Army]] (Army Group ''Balck''), which was mustering for a relief effort, codenamed Operation [[Operation Konrad|''Konrad'']].
In late-December 1944, the German forces, including [[IX SS Mountain Corps]], defending [[Budapest]] were encircled and the IV SS Panzer Corps was ordered south to join [[Hermann Balck|Hermann Balck's]] [[6th Army (Wehrmacht)|6th Army]] (Army Group ''Balck''), which was preparing for a relief effort, codenamed [[Operation Konrad]].


==Budapest relief efforts==
==Budapest relief efforts==
As a part of Operation ''Konrad I'', the 5th SS Panzer Division ''Wiking'' was committed to action on 1 January 1945, fighting alongside the 3rd SS Panzer Division ''"Totenkopf"''. Near Tata, the advance columns of the ''"Wiking"'' attacked the [[Soviet Fourth Guards Tank Army|4th Guards Army]]. A heavy battle ensued, with the ''"Wiking"'' and the ''"Totenkopf"'' seeing many of the Red Army tanks destroyed. In three days, the two formations had driven 45 kilometres over rugged terrain, over half the distance from their start point to [[Budapest]]. The Soviets manoeuvred forces to block the advance, and they barely managed to halt the Germans at [[Bicske]], only 28 kilometres from Budapest. Gille pulled the ''"Wiking"'' out of the line and moved it to the south of [[Esztergom]], near the [[Danube]] bend. The second relief attempt, to be known as Operation ''Konrad II'', got under way on 7 January.
As a part of Operation ''Konrad I'', the 5th SS Panzer Division ''Wiking'' was committed to action on 1 January 1945, fighting alongside the 3rd SS Panzer Division ''"Totenkopf"''. Near Tata, the advance columns of the ''"Wiking"'' attacked the [[Soviet Fourth Guards Tank Army|4th Guards Army]]. The Soviet forces halted the German advance at [[Bicske]], 28 kilometres from Budapest. Gille pulled the ''"Wiking"'' out of the line and moved it to the south of [[Esztergom]], near the [[Danube]] bend.


In atrocious conditions, the ''"Wiking"'' advanced south towards Budapest. By 12 January, the ''SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Westland"'' had reached [[Pilisszentkereszt]], barely 20 kilometres from [[Buda]]. That morning the ''panzergrenadier''s spotted the church spires and turrets of the distinctive Budapest skyline poking through the morning fog. Despite the operation's success, it had been overextended and were vulnerable to attack, unable to exploit its breakthrough and eventually ordered to pull back and regroup. Hitler was furious at the lack of progress, and called the operation 'utterly pointless'.
The second relief attempt, Operation ''Konrad II'', got under way on 7 January. The ''"Wiking"'' advanced south towards Budapest. By 12 January, the ''SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Westland"'' had reached [[Pilisszentkereszt]], 20 kilometres from Buda. Despite initial successes, the division was unable to exploit its breakthrough and was ordered to pull back and regroup.


A third attempt, Operation ''Konrad III'', launched in cooperation with the veteran [[German III Panzer Corps|III Panzer Corps]], took place some 100 kilometres to the south. Launched on 20 January, this attack resulted in a 15-mile wide gap in the Soviet lines and the destruction of the [[Soviet 135th Rifle Corps|135th Rifle Corps]]. Despite initial success, the quick redeployment of more troops by the Soviets prevented a German breakthrough, turning back the operation by 28 January. By the end of January, the 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' and the 3 ''SS "Totenkopf"'' had suffered almost 8,000 casualties, including over 200 officers.
A third attempt, Operation ''Konrad III'', in cooperation with the [[German III Panzer Corps|III Panzer Corps]], took place 100 kilometres to the south. It went underway on 20 January and achieved initial tactical success. The quick redeployment of more Red Army troops prevented a German breakthrough, turning the German forces back by 28 January. By the end of January, the 5 SS ''"Wiking"'' and the 3 ''SS "Totenkopf"'' had suffered almost 8,000 casualties, including over 200 officers.


On 13 February, the besieged forces capitulated, and the badly mauled ''"Wiking"'' was ordered west to [[Lake Balaton]], where ''[[Oberstgruppenführer]]'' [[Josef Dietrich|'Sepp' Dietrich's]] [[6th Panzer Army|6th SS Panzer Army]] was preparing for [[Lake Balaton Offensive|another offensive]].
On 13 February, Budapest capitulated, and the ''"Wiking"'' was ordered west to Lake Balaton, where ''Oberstgruppenführer'' [[Josef Dietrich|'Sepp' Dietrich's]] [[6th Panzer Army|6th SS Panzer Army]] was preparing for the [[Lake Balaton Offensive]].


==Final battles==
==Final battles==
After the failure of ''Konrad III'', the ''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' began defensive operations, falling back west of Budapest and moving into [[Czechoslovakia]]. Gille's corps was too depleted to take part in Operation [[Operation Frühlingserwachen|''Frulingserwachen'']] near Lake Balaton, and instead remained as a support to the 6th SS Panzer Army during the beginning of the operation.
After the failure of ''Konrad III'', the ''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' began defensive operations, falling back west of Budapest and moving into Czechoslovakia. Gille's corps was too depleted to take part in Operation [[Operation Frühlingserwachen|''Frulingserwachen'']] near Lake Balaton, and instead remained as a support to the 6th SS Panzer Army during the beginning of the operation.


''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' performed a holding operation on the left flank of the offensive, in the area between [[Lake Velence]]-[[Székesfehérvár]]. As ''Frühlingserwachen'' progressed, the division was heavily engaged in preventing Soviet efforts at outflanking the advancing German forces. However, as the offensive stalled, the Red Army launched a major offensive, the [[Vienna Operation]], on 15 March. Attacking the lines between the ''3 SS "Totenkopf"'', stationed to the north of the ''"Wiking"'', and the [[Hungarian 2nd Armoured Division]], contact was soon lost between these formations.
''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' performed a holding operation on the left flank of the offensive, in the area between [[Lake Velence]]-[[Székesfehérvár]]. As ''Frühlingserwachen'' progressed, the division was engaged in preventing Soviet efforts at outflanking the advancing German forces. However, as the offensive stalled, the Red Army launched a major offensive, the [[Vienna Operation]], on 15 March. Attacking the lines between the ''3 SS "Totenkopf"'', stationed to the north of the ''"Wiking"'', and the Hungarian 2nd Armoured Division, contact was soon lost between these formations.{{awkward|date=December 2015}}


Acting quickly, Balck recommended moving the I SS Panzer Corps north to plug the gap and prevent the encirclement of the IV SS Panzer Corps. Despite this quick thinking, a ''Führer Order'' authorising this move was slow in coming, and when the divisions finally began moving, it was too late. On 22 March, the Soviet encirclement of the ''"Totenkopf"'' and ''"Wiking"'' was almost complete. Desperate, Balck threw the veteran [[9 SS|9th ''SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"'']] into the area to hold open the small exit. In the battle to hold open the ''Berhida Corridor'', the ''"Hohenstaufen"'' bled itself white, but Gille's corps managed to escape.
Balck recommended moving the I SS Panzer Corps north to prevent the encirclement of the IV SS Panzer Corps. However, it was too late. On 22 March, the Soviet encirclement of the ''"Totenkopf"'' and ''"Wiking"'' was almost complete. Desperate, Balck ordered [[9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen|9th ''SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"'']] to hold open the small exit. In the battle to hold open the ''Berhida Corridor'', the ''"Hohenstaufen"'' suffered heavy casualties, but Gille's corps escaped.


On 24 March, another Soviet attack threw the exhausted IV SS Panzer Corps back towards [[Vienna]]; all contact was lost with the neighbouring I SS Panzer Corps, and any resemblance of an organised line of defence was gone. The ''"Wiking"'' executed a fighting withdrawal further into Czechoslovakia. By early May, it was within reach of the American forces, to whom the division officially surrendered near [[Fürstenfeld]], [[Austria]] on 9 May.<ref name=we1/>
On 24 March, another Soviet attack threw the IV SS Panzer Corps back towards [[Vienna]]; all contact was lost with the neighbouring I SS Panzer Corps, and any resemblance of an organised line of defence was gone. The ''"Wiking"'' withdrew further into Czechoslovakia. The division surrendered to the American forces near [[Fürstenfeld]], [[Austria]] on 9 May.


==War crimes==
==War crimes==
Members of the division's bakery column, led by ''[[Obersturmführer]]'' Braunnagel and ''[[Untersturmführer]]'' Kochalty, assisted ''[[Einsatzgruppe A]]'' in rounding up Ukrainian Jews. {{when|date=June 2013}} Witnesses report that the Jewish victims were forced to run a gauntlet formed by soldiers who would beat them as they passed, and when they reached the end of the gauntlet, ''Einsatzgruppen'' officers murdered them and their bodies were pushed into a bomb crater. The [[1st Mountain Division (Wehrmacht)|German 1st Mountain Division]] is also suspected of being involved. Between 50 and 60 Jews were killed in this manner, as a part of the larger ''Einsatzgruppe'' operation which resulted in over 700 murders.<ref>''Masters of Death: The SS-Einsatzgruppen and the Invention of the Holocaust''. p. 63 Richard Rhodes. Vintage; Reprint edition (Aug 12 2003)</ref>
Members of the division's bakery column, led by ''Obersturmführer'' Braunnagel and ''Untersturmführer'' Kochalty, assisted ''[[Einsatzgruppe A]]'' in rounding up Ukrainian Jews. {{when|date=June 2013}} Witnesses report that the Jewish victims were forced to run a gauntlet formed by soldiers who would beat them as they passed, and when they reached the end of the gauntlet, ''Einsatzgruppen'' officers murdered them and their bodies were pushed into a bomb crater. The [[1st Mountain Division (Wehrmacht)|German 1st Mountain Division]] is also suspected of being involved. Between 50 and 60 Jews were killed in this manner, as a part of the larger ''Einsatzgruppe'' operation which resulted in over 700 murders.<ref>''Masters of Death: The SS-Einsatzgruppen and the Invention of the Holocaust''. p. 63 Richard Rhodes. Vintage; Reprint edition (Aug 12 2003)</ref>


In addition historian Eleonore Lappin from the Institute for the History of Jews in Austria, has documented several cases of war crimes committed by members of the ''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' in her work ''The Death Marches of Hungarian Jews Through Austria in the Spring of 1945''.<ref name="Lappin">Lappin</ref>
In addition historian Eleonore Lappin from the Institute for the History of Jews in Austria, has documented several cases of war crimes committed by members of the ''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' in her work ''The Death Marches of Hungarian Jews Through Austria in the Spring of 1945''.<ref name="Lappin">Lappin</ref>


On 28 March 1945, 80 Jews from an evacuation column, although fit for the journey, were shot by three members of the ''Waffen SS division "Wiking"'' and five military policemen. On 4 April, 20 members of another column that left [[Graz]] tried to escape near [[Eggenfeld]], not far from [[Gratkorn]]. Soldiers from the ''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' that were temporarily stationed there apprehended them in the forest near Mt. Eggenfeld and then herded them into a gully, where they were shot. On 7–11 April 1945, members of the division executed another eighteen escaped prisoners.<ref name="Lappin"/>
On 28 March 1945, 80 Jews from an evacuation column, although fit for the journey, were shot by three members of the ''Waffen SS division "Wiking"'' and five military policemen. On 4 April, 20 members of another column that left [[Graz]] tried to escape near the town of Eggenfeld, not far from [[Gratkorn]]. Soldiers from the ''5 SS Division "Wiking"'' that were temporarily stationed there apprehended them in the forest near Mt. Eggenfeld and then herded them into a gully, where they were shot. On 7–11 April 1945, members of the division executed another eighteen escaped prisoners.<ref name="Lappin"/>


===Modern reports===
===Modern reports===
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{{main|Josef Mengele}}
{{main|Josef Mengele}}
[[File:WP Josef Mengele 1956.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Josef Mengele]] in 1956. This picture was taken by a police photographer in Buenos Aires for Josef Mengele's Argentine identification document]]
[[File:WP Josef Mengele 1956.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Josef Mengele]] in 1956. This picture was taken by a police photographer in Buenos Aires for Josef Mengele's Argentine identification document]]
The notorious Dr. Josef Mengele, served with the ''SS Division "Wiking"'' during its early campaigns. According to all accounts, he performed the normal duties of a combat [[medic]], even being awarded the [[Iron Cross]] for saving two wounded men from a tank. After being wounded himself, Mengele was deemed unfit for combat and was absorbed into the ''SS'' [[Nazi concentration camp]] system, where he gained his infamous reputation. Mengele was very proud of his ''Waffen SS'' service and his front-line decorations. As the true horrors of the concentration camp system came to light, his former comrades attempted to have his name removed from the division's roll of veterans.<ref>Clifton</ref>{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}
The notorious Dr. Josef Mengele, served with the ''SS Division "Wiking"'' during its early campaigns. According to all accounts, he performed the duties of a combat [[medic]], being awarded the [[Iron Cross]] for saving two wounded men from a tank. After being wounded himself, Mengele was deemed unfit for combat and was absorbed into the ''SS'' [[Nazi concentration camp]] system. Mengele was proud of his ''Waffen SS'' service and his front-line decorations. As the horrors of his crimes came to light, former personnel of the division attempted to have his name removed from its rolls.<ref>Clifton</ref>{{Page needed|date=September 2010}}


==Commanders==
==Commanders==
* ''SS-[[Obergruppenführer]]'' [[Felix Steiner]] (1 December 1940 – 1 May 1943)
* SS-''[[Obergruppenführer]]'' [[Felix Steiner]] (1 December 1940 – 1 May 1943)
* ''SS-[[Gruppenführer]]'' [[Herbert Otto Gille]] (1 May 1943 – 6 August 1944)
* SS-''[[Gruppenführer]]'' [[Herbert Otto Gille]] (1 May 1943 – 6 August 1944)
* ''SS-[[Standartenführer]]'' [[Eduard Deisenhofer]] (6 August 1944 – 12 August 1944)
* SS-''[[Standartenführer]]'' [[Eduard Deisenhofer]] (6 August 1944 – 12 August 1944)
* ''SS-[[Standartenführer]]'' [[Johannes Mühlenkamp]] (12 August 1944 – 9 October 1944)
* SS-''[[Standartenführer]]'' [[Johannes Mühlenkamp]] (12 August 1944 – 9 October 1944)
* ''SS-[[Oberführer]]'' [[Karl Ullrich]] (9 October 1944 – 5 May 1945)
* SS-''[[Oberführer]]'' [[Karl Ullrich]] (9 October 1944 – 5 May 1945)


==Orders of battle==
==Orders of battle==
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* {{Cite book|title=The Waffen-SS at War: Hitler's Praetorians 1925–1945|author=Ripley, Tim|publisher=Zenith Imprint|year=2004|isbn=0-7603-2068-3}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Waffen-SS at War: Hitler's Praetorians 1925–1945|author=Ripley, Tim|publisher=Zenith Imprint|year=2004|isbn=0-7603-2068-3}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939–1945|author=Stein, George H|publisher=Cornell University Press|year=1984|isbn=0-8014-9275-0}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939–1945|author=Stein, George H|publisher=Cornell University Press|year=1984|isbn=0-8014-9275-0}}
* {{cite web|author=Tigre|title=SS-Division Wiking at Rostov July 1942|accessdate=2009-03-29|publisher=Axis History|url=http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=9193}}
* {{cite web|author=Wendel, Marcus|year=2005|url=http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1978|title=5. SS-Panzer-Division Wiking|accessdate=2005-04-05|publisher=Axis History}}

==External links==
* [http://www.wiking-ruf.com/ Wiking Division]


{{SS Divisions}}
{{SS Divisions}}

Revision as of 18:58, 8 December 2015

5th SS Panzer Division Wiking
Unit insignia
Active1941–45
Country Nazi Germany
AllegianceAdolf Hitler
Branch Waffen-SS
TypePanzer
RoleArmoured warfare
SizeDivision
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Obergruppenführer Felix Steiner
Obergruppenführer Herbert Otto Gille
Oberführer Eduard Deisenhofer
Standartenführer Johannes Mühlenkamp
Oberführer Karl Ullrich
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Identification
symbol		Divisional insignia

The 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking was a Panzer divisions among the thirty eight Waffen-SS divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands and Belgium under the command of German officers. During the course of World War II, the division progressed from a motorised infantry formation to a Panzer division and served on the Eastern Front during World War II. It surrendered in May 1945 to the advancing American forces in Austria.

Formation and training

After the invasion of Poland in 1939, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler sought to expand the Waffen-SS with foreign military volunteers for the "crusade against Bolshevism". The enrolment began in April 1940 with the creation of two regiments: the Waffen-SS Regiment Nordland (for Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish volunteers), and the Waffen-SS Regiment Westland (for Dutch, and Flemish volunteers).[1][2]

The Nordic formation, originally organised as the Nordische Division (Nr. 5), was to be made up of Nordic volunteers mixed with ethnic German Waffen-SS personnel. The SS Infantry Regiment Germania of the SS-Verfügungs-Division, which was formed mostly from ethnic Germans, was transferred to help form the nucleus of a new division in late 1940.[3][4] In December 1940, the new SS motorised formation was to be designated SS-Division (mot.) "Germania", but after its formative period, the name was changed, to SS-Division (mot.) "Wiking" in January 1941.[5] The Wiking division was formed around three motorised infantry regiments: Germania, Westland, and Nordland.[3] Command of the newly formed division was given to Brigadeführer Felix Steiner,[6] the former commander of the Verfügungstruppe SS Regiment "Deutschland".

After formation the division was sent to Heuberg in Germany for training and by April 1941, SS Division "Wiking" was ready for combat. It was ordered east in mid-May, to take part with Army Group South's advance into the Ukraine during Operation Barbarossa, (the invasion of the Soviet Union).[7]

In June 1941 the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS was formed from volunteers from that country. After training, this unit was attached[citation needed] to the SS Regiment "Nordland" in January 1942. About 430 Finns who fought in the Winter War served within the SS Division "Wiking" division since the beginning of Operation Barbarossa. In spring 1943, the Finnish battalion was withdrawn and replaced by the Estonian infantry battalion "Narwa".

Operation Barbarossa

Main article: Operation Barbarossa
Wiking soldiers deployed to Soviet Russia observe the front in 1941. In the background is a Sd.Kfz. 232 reconnaissance vehicle.

The division was ready for combat on 29 June 1941, one week after the launch of the invasion. It first saw action near Tarnopol in Galicia, Ukraine. In August the division fought for the bridgehead across the Dniepr River. Later, the division took part in the heavy fighting for Rostov-on-Don before being ordered back to the Mius River line in November.

After holding the line over the winter of 1941–42, SS Division "Wiking" was ordered to retake Rostov-on-Don and advance into the Caucasus. This attack was known as Operation Maus, and formed a part of Army Group South's offensive Case Blue, aimed at capturing Stalingrad and the Baku oilfields. Launched at the height of summer, the offensive was unexpectedly successful. Within six weeks, Rostov and the entire Don region had been captured, and SS Division "Wiking" was advancing deep into the Caucasus.[citation needed]

The Caucasus

A Panzer III from SS "Wiking" in the summer of 1942; the divisional insignia can be seen on the tank's mudguard

In late September 1942, SS Division "Wiking" participated in the operation aimed to capture the city of Grozny, alongside General der Panzertruppen Traugott Herr's 13th Panzer Division.

The division captured Malgobek on 6 October; however, the objective of seizing Grozny and opening a road to the Caspian Sea was not achieved. The closest point to Grozny, Hill 701, was captured by the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS "Nordland". During this operation, "Wiking" lost over 1,500 men.

In the first week of November 1942, the division was transferred from the Terek bend to the Urukh-Alagir sector to participate in the renewed attack eastwards, which was attempted in the direction of Ordzhonikidze rather than via Grozny. Upon its arrival there, the unit extricated the 13th Panzer Division from encirclement at Gisel, and then took up defensive positions behind the Fiagdon river. The encirclement of the 6th Army at Stalingrad brought a halt to all further advances in the Caucasus.

After Operation Winter Storm, the aborted attempt to relieve the 6th Army, faltered in the face of further Soviet advances on the middle Don, the Caucasian position itself came under threat. Erich von Manstein, the commander of Army Group South, proposed another attempt towards Stalingrad. To that end, "Wiking" entrained on 24 December; however, by the time it arrived on 31 December, it was forced to plug the gap made by the destruction of the Romanian corps on LVII Panzer Korps’ right flank on the 26th and to cover the withdrawal of Army Group A from the Caucasus towards Rostov. The division escaped through the Rostov gap on 4 February.

Battles for Kharkov

A captured motorbike with "SS Wiking" insignia – Ukraine front

In late-November 1942 the division was redesignated the 5th SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking. In early 1943, it was ordered to fall back to Ukraine south of Kharkov, recently abandoned by Obergruppenführer Paul Hausser's II SS Panzer Corps.

In the remaining weeks of February, the SS Panzer Corps, including 5 SS '"Wiking"', under the command of Erich von Manstein's Army Group South, engaged Mobile Group Popov, the major Soviet attacking force. The losses of Mobile Group Popov halted the Soviet offensive which followed the Battle of Stalingrad and stabilized Manstein's front. After the recapture of Kharkov, 5 SS "Wiking" was pulled out of combat to be refitted as a Panzergrenadier division.

In 1943, Steiner, now a Gruppenführer, was transferred to command the III (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps, currently forming in Croatia. His replacement was Herbert Otto Gille. The remnants of the SS Regiment "Nordland", along with its commander Fritz von Scholz, were removed from the division and used to build the new 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland". The Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS was disbanded, as the agreed two years' service of the Finnish volunteers had ended. In an attempt to offset the loss of the Finns and the Nordland regiment, the newly formed Estonian volunteer unit Estonian Volunteer Panzergrenadier Bataillon "Narwa" was attached to the division.[citation needed]

Kursk: battles on the Mius

While the division was refitting, it was involved in minor skirmishes with partisans. The reorganization was completed by late June, and the division was moved to Izyum where it, along with the 23.Panzer-Division was to form the reserve force for Manstein's Army Group during the approaching Operation Citadel. While the operation was in effect, several Soviet formations attacked towards Orel and Kharkov simultaneously. The 5 SS "Wiking" was engaged against the forces near Kharkov.

Further to the south, on the Mius-Front, a major Red Army offensive, Operation Rumyantsev, threatened to break the German lines. 5 SS "Wiking" was joined by the 3rd SS "Totenkopf" Panzer Division and the 2nd SS Panzergrenadier Division "Das Reich" and sent to the Mius-Bogodukhov sector. The Soviets took Kharkov on 23 August and began advancing towards the Dnieper. In October, the division was pulled back out of the line, to be restructured as a panzer division, the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking.

Korsun Pocket

To bolster the strength of the division, the 5th SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" was attached to the division, under the command of Leon Degrelle. A second panzer Battalion was also ordered to begin forming in Germany.

On January 24, Red Army tank formations encircled the German forces of XLII and XI Army Corps near Korsun, including the division. During the battle of the Korsun-Cherkassy Pocket, 5 SS "Wiking" fought on the eastern side of the pocket. While General der Artillerie Wilhelm Stemmermann, the overall commander of the 'pocket', moved his forces to the west in readiness for an attempt to breakout, 5 SS "Wiking", along with the 5th SS Sturmbrigade were ordered to act as the rearguard.

After fighting near the town of Novaya-Buda, the 5 SS "Wiking" rearguard split up and began withdrawing under cover of darkness. Advancing through "Hell's Gate", the "Wiking" came under heavy fire. The division suffered heavy losses in men and materiel during battles in the Korsun Pocket. Afterwards, the 5th SS Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" brigade was withdrawn from the division.

Kovel encirclement

After a brief period of rest and refit, the 5 SS "Wiking" was sent to assist in the defence of Kovel. Gille's unit advanced towards the town and began setting up a defensive perimeter, which was soon encircled by the Red Army. The 2nd Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking", equipped with newly arrived Panther tanks, along with the 3rd Battalion, SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Germania", well equipped and up to strength, arrived at the front from Germany and began to form a relief formation.

8th Company, 2nd Battalion, SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking", under the command of Obersturmführer Karl Nicolussi Leck, broke the encirclement. After the relief force had established a corridor to the trapped forces, the withdrawal began. Unlike the previous encirclement at Korsun, the "Wiking" managed to escape with most of its equipment intact.

For his actions, Nicolussi Leck was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.[8]

Warsaw battles

Warsaw Uprising insurgents inspect war trophies including an armband with the "Wiking" name
A German SdKfz 251 armoured fighting vehicle of the "Wiking" Division captured by the Polish insurgents

In late-August 1944, the division was ordered back to Modlin Fortress on the Vistula River line near Warsaw where it was to join the newly formed Army Group Vistula. Fighting alongside the Luftwaffe's "Hermann Göring" Panzer Division, the division participated in the Battle of Radzymin. The German counterattacks brought the Soviet offensive to a halt and the front line stabilized for the rest of the year.

The division remained in the Modlin area, grouped with the 3 SS "Totenkopf" and the IV SS Panzer Corps. Gille was promoted to the command of the new SS Panzer Corps, and after a brief period with Oberführer Dr. Eduard Deisenhofer in command, Standartenführer Johannes Mühlenkamp, commander of the SS Panzer Regiment 5 "Wiking", took command. Heavy defensive battles around Modlin followed for the rest of the year, and in October, Mühlenkamp was replaced by Oberführer Karl Ullrich. Ullrich lead the division for the rest of the war.

In late-December 1944, the German forces, including IX SS Mountain Corps, defending Budapest were encircled and the IV SS Panzer Corps was ordered south to join Hermann Balck's 6th Army (Army Group Balck), which was preparing for a relief effort, codenamed Operation Konrad.

Budapest relief efforts

As a part of Operation Konrad I, the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking was committed to action on 1 January 1945, fighting alongside the 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf". Near Tata, the advance columns of the "Wiking" attacked the 4th Guards Army. The Soviet forces halted the German advance at Bicske, 28 kilometres from Budapest. Gille pulled the "Wiking" out of the line and moved it to the south of Esztergom, near the Danube bend.

The second relief attempt, Operation Konrad II, got under way on 7 January. The "Wiking" advanced south towards Budapest. By 12 January, the SS Panzergrenadier Regiment "Westland" had reached Pilisszentkereszt, 20 kilometres from Buda. Despite initial successes, the division was unable to exploit its breakthrough and was ordered to pull back and regroup.

A third attempt, Operation Konrad III, in cooperation with the III Panzer Corps, took place 100 kilometres to the south. It went underway on 20 January and achieved initial tactical success. The quick redeployment of more Red Army troops prevented a German breakthrough, turning the German forces back by 28 January. By the end of January, the 5 SS "Wiking" and the 3 SS "Totenkopf" had suffered almost 8,000 casualties, including over 200 officers.

On 13 February, Budapest capitulated, and the "Wiking" was ordered west to Lake Balaton, where Oberstgruppenführer 'Sepp' Dietrich's 6th SS Panzer Army was preparing for the Lake Balaton Offensive.

Final battles

After the failure of Konrad III, the 5 SS Division "Wiking" began defensive operations, falling back west of Budapest and moving into Czechoslovakia. Gille's corps was too depleted to take part in Operation Frulingserwachen near Lake Balaton, and instead remained as a support to the 6th SS Panzer Army during the beginning of the operation.

5 SS Division "Wiking" performed a holding operation on the left flank of the offensive, in the area between Lake Velence-Székesfehérvár. As Frühlingserwachen progressed, the division was engaged in preventing Soviet efforts at outflanking the advancing German forces. However, as the offensive stalled, the Red Army launched a major offensive, the Vienna Operation, on 15 March. Attacking the lines between the 3 SS "Totenkopf", stationed to the north of the "Wiking", and the Hungarian 2nd Armoured Division, contact was soon lost between these formations.[needs copy edit]

Balck recommended moving the I SS Panzer Corps north to prevent the encirclement of the IV SS Panzer Corps. However, it was too late. On 22 March, the Soviet encirclement of the "Totenkopf" and "Wiking" was almost complete. Desperate, Balck ordered 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen" to hold open the small exit. In the battle to hold open the Berhida Corridor, the "Hohenstaufen" suffered heavy casualties, but Gille's corps escaped.

On 24 March, another Soviet attack threw the IV SS Panzer Corps back towards Vienna; all contact was lost with the neighbouring I SS Panzer Corps, and any resemblance of an organised line of defence was gone. The "Wiking" withdrew further into Czechoslovakia. The division surrendered to the American forces near Fürstenfeld, Austria on 9 May.

War crimes

Members of the division's bakery column, led by Obersturmführer Braunnagel and Untersturmführer Kochalty, assisted Einsatzgruppe A in rounding up Ukrainian Jews. [when?] Witnesses report that the Jewish victims were forced to run a gauntlet formed by soldiers who would beat them as they passed, and when they reached the end of the gauntlet, Einsatzgruppen officers murdered them and their bodies were pushed into a bomb crater. The German 1st Mountain Division is also suspected of being involved. Between 50 and 60 Jews were killed in this manner, as a part of the larger Einsatzgruppe operation which resulted in over 700 murders.[9]

In addition historian Eleonore Lappin from the Institute for the History of Jews in Austria, has documented several cases of war crimes committed by members of the 5 SS Division "Wiking" in her work The Death Marches of Hungarian Jews Through Austria in the Spring of 1945.[10]

On 28 March 1945, 80 Jews from an evacuation column, although fit for the journey, were shot by three members of the Waffen SS division "Wiking" and five military policemen. On 4 April, 20 members of another column that left Graz tried to escape near the town of Eggenfeld, not far from Gratkorn. Soldiers from the 5 SS Division "Wiking" that were temporarily stationed there apprehended them in the forest near Mt. Eggenfeld and then herded them into a gully, where they were shot. On 7–11 April 1945, members of the division executed another eighteen escaped prisoners.[10]

Modern reports

In 2013 the NRK quoted "the first Norwegian [to publicly admit] that he participated in war crimes and extermination of Jews in Eastern Europe"[11] during World War Two, former soldier of the division, Olav Tuff, who admitted in 2013: "In one instance in Ukraine during the autumn of 1941, civilians were herded like cattle—into a church. Shortly afterwards soldiers from my unit started to pour gasoline onto the church and somewhere between 200 and 300 humans were burned inside [the church]. I was assigned as guard, and no one came out."[11]

The 2014 Norwegian book Morfar, Hitler og jeg (Grandfather, Hitler and I) quotes the diary of a division soldier from 1941-1943: "and then we cleaned a Jew hole".[12]

Josef Mengele

Main article: Josef Mengele
Josef Mengele in 1956. This picture was taken by a police photographer in Buenos Aires for Josef Mengele's Argentine identification document

The notorious Dr. Josef Mengele, served with the SS Division "Wiking" during its early campaigns. According to all accounts, he performed the duties of a combat medic, being awarded the Iron Cross for saving two wounded men from a tank. After being wounded himself, Mengele was deemed unfit for combat and was absorbed into the SS Nazi concentration camp system. Mengele was proud of his Waffen SS service and his front-line decorations. As the horrors of his crimes came to light, former personnel of the division attempted to have his name removed from its rolls.[13][page needed]

Commanders

Orders of battle

SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wiking", February 1943

  • SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Germania"
  • SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Westland"
  • SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Nordland" (Withdrawn 1943)
  • SS-Panzer-Abteilung "Wiking"
  • SS-Artillerie-Regiment "Wiking"
  • SS-Panzerjäger (anti-tank) – Abteilung "Wiking"
  • SS-Aufklärungs-(reconnaissance) – Abteilung "Wiking"
  • SS-Sturmgeschütz (assault gun) – Batterie "Wiking"
  • SS-Flak (anti-aircraft) – Abteilung "Wiking"
  • SS-Pionier (assault pioneer) – Battalion "Wiking"
  • SS-Nachrichten (military intelligence) – Abteilung "Wiking"
  • SS-Feldersatz (replacement) – Battalion "Wiking"
  • SS-Versorgungseinheiten (supply unit) – "Wiking"
  • Finnisches Freiwilligen-Battalion der Waffen-SS (Withdrawn 1943)

5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking", April 1944

  • SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 9 "Germania"
  • SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10 "Westland"
  • SS-Panzer-Regiment 5
  • SS-Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 5
  • SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Bataillon "Narwa" (Withdrawn 1944)
  • SS-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" (Withdrawn 1944)
  • SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5
  • SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 5
  • SS-Flak-Abteilung 5
  • SS-Werfer- (mortar) – Abteilung 5
  • SS-Panzer-Nachrichten – Abteilung 5
  • SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs – Abteilung 5
  • SS-Panzer-Pionier – Battalion 5
  • SS-Instandsetzungs (repair) – Abteilung 5
  • SS-Nachschub (supply) – Abteilung 5
  • SS-Wirtschafts-Battalion 5
  • SS-Sanitäts (field medical) – Abteilung 5
  • SS-Feldlazarett (field hospital) 5
  • SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 5
  • SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp (military police unit) 5
  • SS-Feldersatz-Battalion (replacement) 5

Manpower strength

June 1941 19,377
Dec 1942 15,928
Dec 1943 14,647
June 1944 17,368
Dec 1944 14,800

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Ripley, p. 51
  2. ^ McNab, pp. 167, 178
  3. ^ a b Ripley, p. 52
  4. ^ McNab, p. 167
  5. ^ Stein, p. 107
  6. ^ Ripley, p. 53
  7. ^ McNab, p. 178
  8. ^ Kurowski pp. 398–400
  9. ^ Masters of Death: The SS-Einsatzgruppen and the Invention of the Holocaust. p. 63 Richard Rhodes. Vintage; Reprint edition (Aug 12 2003)
  10. ^ a b Lappin
  11. ^ a b Olav Tuff (91): Vi brente en kirke med sivilister
  12. ^ Ei ny fortid [A new past] "Bestefaren Per Pedersen Tjøstland var frontkjempar i 5. SS Panzer-divisjon Wiking frå 1941–1943, og skreiv for bladet Germaneren. Hans eigne dagbøker og artiklar er ei hovudkjelde, men Jackson skriv at det er umulig å vite nøyaktig kva han var med på. Kanskje seier det sitt at han bruker uttrykket «så rensket vi et jødehull»"
  13. ^ Clifton

References

  • Clifton, Robert J (1985). "What made this man Mengele". The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  • Kurowski Franz (2004). Panzer Aces II. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-3175-8.
  • Lappin, Eleonore. "The death marches of Hungarian Jews through Austria" (PDF). yadvashem. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) pp. 25–26
  • McNab, Chris (2013). Hitler's Elite: The SS 1939-45. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1782000884.
  • Ripley, Tim (2004). The Waffen-SS at War: Hitler's Praetorians 1925–1945. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0-7603-2068-3.
  • Stein, George H (1984). The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War, 1939–1945. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0-8014-9275-0.
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