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Description
11th SS Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"

Established in February 1943, this was an attempt by the Germans to set up an international SS Division manned and commanded by foriegn volunteers. Although the elite Wiking Division had a considerable number of foriegn troops in its ranks, the senior NCO's and officiers were preodominantly German. In Nordland, the Germans hoped to utilise a far greater proportion of foriegn volunteer senior ranks. Considerable use was made of the remnants of the disbanded Germanic legions in staffing the division, and it certainly carried the widest range of nationalities to be found in any single Waffen-SS division. By the end of the war. Danes, Dutch, Norwegians, Estonians, Finns, French, Swedish, Swiss and even British volunteers had either served in the division or been attached to it.

By the autumn of 1943 the division was training in Croatia, and in January 1944 was judged to be ready for combat. It was attached to Army Group North on the Eastern Front in an unsucessfull attempt to prevent the Red Army from breaking the siege of Leningrad. It also took part in the Battle of Narva (early 1944), where it suffered heavy casualties (so many volunteer units saw action at Narva that it became known as the 'Battle of the European SS').
In September 1944, over a period of just four days, the division undertook a forced march from Narva to Riga, where its arrival prevented the encirclement of the German 18th Army by Soviet forces. As the Red Army's advance continued, Nordland slowly withdrew into the Courland Pocket, fighting doggedly all the way, from where it was evacuated to Germany in early 1945. It saw heavy fighting around Danzig, Stettin and Stargard, before becoming part of the force defending Berlin. The division was finally destroyed in the battle for the city in April/May 1945.

Nordland was a full-strength, well-equipped unit which included a powerful armoured element: SS Panzer Abteilung 11 Herman von Salza. Overall, it aquitted itself well in action and was one of the better non-German SS divisions. This is reflected in the total of 30 Knight's Crosses awarded to its members, ranking it fifth in the table of Waffen SS units in terms of Knight's Cross awards.
The division was initially commanded by SS-Obergruppenfueher Fritz von Scholz, holder of the Swords and Oakleaves, who was killed in action on 28 July 1944 near Narva. Command then passed to SS-Bridgefueher Joachim Ziegler, who fell in Berlin on 2 May 1945.

Soldiers of the division wore a special collar patch showing a so-called called curved swatiska (Sonderrad). The members of SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 23 wore the title Norge, members of the SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 24 the title Danmark, and members of SS Panzer Abteilung 11 the title Herman von Salza. All other members of the division wore the title Nordland. Generally speaking, soldiers of the division also wore their own particular national arm shield.

The Division was formed to combine all the Scandinavian and Dutch volunteer formations, but the Dutch did in the end not end up in Nordland, instead it contained a majority of volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) and a minority of Scandinavians.

It was sent to Croatia Sep 1943 for training where it was also used to fight partisans. It was sent to the Oranienbaum front near Leningrad Nov and Dec 1943 and suffered heavy losses during the Soviet offensive in Jan 1944, fighting on the Luga River and at Narva before retreating to the Tannenberg Line July 1944 where it remained until Sep 1944 when it retreated into Latvia seeing action in the Kurland battles.

It was transferred to Pomerania Feb 1945 where it fought until 19 Mar when it was evacuated and sent to the Oder front. Much of the surviving parts of Nordland was caught up in the battle for Berlin and only a few suvivors managed to break out of the city.

The surviving elemets of the divisions surrendered to the allies at the Elbe river.

The honor title "Waräger" was suggested for this division, but Adolf Hitler decided against that name in favour of Nordland.

Lineage
Kampfverband Waräger (Feb 1943)
Germanische-Freiwilligen-Division (Feb 1943 - Apr 1943)
SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11 (Germanische) (Apr 1943 - July 1943)
11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Freiwilligen-Division Nordland (July 1943 - Oct 1943)
11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland (Oct 1943 - May 1945)

Commanders
SS-Brigadeführer Franz Augsberger (22 Mar 1943 - 1 May 1943)
SS-Gruppenführer Fritz Scholz (1 May 1943 - 27 July 1944)
SS-Brigadeführer Joachim Ziegler (27 July 1944 - 25 Apr 1945)
SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg (25 Apr 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Chief of staff
SS-Hauptsturmführer Kille (22 Mar 1943 - 1 Apr 1943)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Helmut von Vollard-Bockelberg (1 Apr 1943 - ? 1944)
SS-Sturmbannführer Rüdiger Weitzdörfer (? 1944 - 1 July 1944)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Erich von Bock und Polach (? Oct 1944 - Mar 1945)
SS-Obersturmbannführer HErbert Wienczek (? Mar 1945 - ? May 1945)

Quartermaster
SS-Sturmbannführer Gerhard Noatzke (1 Apr 1943 - ? 1944)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Joachim Tiburtius (? 1944 - 1 Mar 1945)

Area of operations
Poland & Croatia (Mar 1943 - Jan 1944)
Eastern front, northern sector (Jan 1944 - Feb 1945)
Northeastern Germany (Feb 1945 - Ap 1945)
Berlin (Apr 1945 - May 1945)

Manpower strength
Dec 1943 11.393
June 1944 11.749
Dec 1944 9.000

Knight's Crosses Awarded

28

Order of battle

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 23 Norge

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 24 Danmark

SS-Panzer Abteilung 11 Herman von Salza

SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 11

SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs Abteilung 11

SS-Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 11

SS-Panzerjager Abteilung 11

SS-Nachrichtung Abteilung 11

SS-Pionier Battalion 11

SS-Nachrichtung Abteilung Truppen 11

SS-Nachschub Truppen 11

SS-Instandsetzungs Abteilung 11

SS-Wirtschafts Abteilung 11

SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 11

SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 11

SS-Feldersatz-Battalion 11

SS-Bewährungs-Kompanie 11

SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 11

SS-Werfer-Battalion 521

SS-Jäger-Regiment 11

*The Artwork is not mine, although, i dont know the autor......

*This is my inaugural post, i hope all National Sozialistische followers and belivers (like me) enjoy it.....

*My English is P00R, so... excuse me if i wrote anything wrong.......

Description
11th SS Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division "Nordland"

Established in February 1943, this was an attempt by the Germans to set up an international SS Division manned and commanded by foriegn volunteers. Although the elite Wiking Division had a considerable number of foriegn troops in its ranks, the senior NCO's and officiers were preodominantly German. In Nordland, the Germans hoped to utilise a far greater proportion of foriegn volunteer senior ranks. Considerable use was made of the remnants of the disbanded Germanic legions in staffing the division, and it certainly carried the widest range of nationalities to be found in any single Waffen-SS division. By the end of the war. Danes, Dutch, Norwegians, Estonians, Finns, French, Swedish, Swiss and even British volunteers had either served in the division or been attached to it.

By the autumn of 1943 the division was training in Croatia, and in January 1944 was judged to be ready for combat. It was attached to Army Group North on the Eastern Front in an unsucessfull attempt to prevent the Red Army from breaking the siege of Leningrad. It also took part in the Battle of Narva (early 1944), where it suffered heavy casualties (so many volunteer units saw action at Narva that it became known as the 'Battle of the European SS').
In September 1944, over a period of just four days, the division undertook a forced march from Narva to Riga, where its arrival prevented the encirclement of the German 18th Army by Soviet forces. As the Red Army's advance continued, Nordland slowly withdrew into the Courland Pocket, fighting doggedly all the way, from where it was evacuated to Germany in early 1945. It saw heavy fighting around Danzig, Stettin and Stargard, before becoming part of the force defending Berlin. The division was finally destroyed in the battle for the city in April/May 1945.

Nordland was a full-strength, well-equipped unit which included a powerful armoured element: SS Panzer Abteilung 11 Herman von Salza. Overall, it aquitted itself well in action and was one of the better non-German SS divisions. This is reflected in the total of 30 Knight's Crosses awarded to its members, ranking it fifth in the table of Waffen SS units in terms of Knight's Cross awards.
The division was initially commanded by SS-Obergruppenfueher Fritz von Scholz, holder of the Swords and Oakleaves, who was killed in action on 28 July 1944 near Narva. Command then passed to SS-Bridgefueher Joachim Ziegler, who fell in Berlin on 2 May 1945.

Soldiers of the division wore a special collar patch showing a so-called called curved swatiska (Sonderrad). The members of SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 23 wore the title Norge, members of the SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 24 the title Danmark, and members of SS Panzer Abteilung 11 the title Herman von Salza. All other members of the division wore the title Nordland. Generally speaking, soldiers of the division also wore their own particular national arm shield.

The Division was formed to combine all the Scandinavian and Dutch volunteer formations, but the Dutch did in the end not end up in Nordland, instead it contained a majority of volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) and a minority of Scandinavians.

It was sent to Croatia Sep 1943 for training where it was also used to fight partisans. It was sent to the Oranienbaum front near Leningrad Nov and Dec 1943 and suffered heavy losses during the Soviet offensive in Jan 1944, fighting on the Luga River and at Narva before retreating to the Tannenberg Line July 1944 where it remained until Sep 1944 when it retreated into Latvia seeing action in the Kurland battles.

It was transferred to Pomerania Feb 1945 where it fought until 19 Mar when it was evacuated and sent to the Oder front. Much of the surviving parts of Nordland was caught up in the battle for Berlin and only a few suvivors managed to break out of the city.

The surviving elemets of the divisions surrendered to the allies at the Elbe river.

The honor title "Waräger" was suggested for this division, but Adolf Hitler decided against that name in favour of Nordland.

Lineage
Kampfverband Waräger (Feb 1943)
Germanische-Freiwilligen-Division (Feb 1943 - Apr 1943)
SS-Panzergrenadier-Division 11 (Germanische) (Apr 1943 - July 1943)
11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Freiwilligen-Division Nordland (July 1943 - Oct 1943)
11. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland (Oct 1943 - May 1945)

Commanders
SS-Brigadeführer Franz Augsberger (22 Mar 1943 - 1 May 1943)
SS-Gruppenführer Fritz Scholz (1 May 1943 - 27 July 1944)
SS-Brigadeführer Joachim Ziegler (27 July 1944 - 25 Apr 1945)
SS-Brigadeführer Gustav Krukenberg (25 Apr 1945 - 8 May 1945)

Chief of staff
SS-Hauptsturmführer Kille (22 Mar 1943 - 1 Apr 1943)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Helmut von Vollard-Bockelberg (1 Apr 1943 - ? 1944)
SS-Sturmbannführer Rüdiger Weitzdörfer (? 1944 - 1 July 1944)
SS-Obersturmbannführer Erich von Bock und Polach (? Oct 1944 - Mar 1945)
SS-Obersturmbannführer HErbert Wienczek (? Mar 1945 - ? May 1945)

Quartermaster
SS-Sturmbannführer Gerhard Noatzke (1 Apr 1943 - ? 1944)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Joachim Tiburtius (? 1944 - 1 Mar 1945)

Area of operations
Poland & Croatia (Mar 1943 - Jan 1944)
Eastern front, northern sector (Jan 1944 - Feb 1945)
Northeastern Germany (Feb 1945 - Ap 1945)
Berlin (Apr 1945 - May 1945)

Manpower strength
Dec 1943 11.393
June 1944 11.749
Dec 1944 9.000

Knight's Crosses Awarded

28

Order of battle

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 23 Norge

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 24 Danmark

SS-Panzer Abteilung 11 Herman von Salza

SS-Panzer Artillerie Regiment 11

SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs Abteilung 11

SS-Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 11

SS-Panzerjager Abteilung 11

SS-Nachrichtung Abteilung 11

SS-Pionier Battalion 11

SS-Nachrichtung Abteilung Truppen 11

SS-Nachschub Truppen 11

SS-Instandsetzungs Abteilung 11

SS-Wirtschafts Abteilung 11

SS-Kriegsberichter-Zug 11

SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 11

SS-Feldersatz-Battalion 11

SS-Bewährungs-Kompanie 11

SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 11

SS-Werfer-Battalion 521

SS-Jäger-Regiment 11

*The Artwork is not mine, although, i dont know the autor......

*This is my inaugural post, i hope all National Sozialistische followers and belivers (like me) enjoy it.....

*My English is P00R, so... excuse me if i wrote anything wrong.......