Kampfgruppe Weidinger

Kampfgruppe Weidinger (2nd SS Panzer Division)
Active June–July 1944
Country Germany
Branch Waffen-SS
Type Mechanised Infantry Battlegroup
Role Rapid Assault Force
Size Roughly Brigade/Regimental Strength
Disbanded Returned to regular organisation of 2nd SS Panzer Division after Operation Epsom
Commanders
Officer Commanding SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger
(4th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer")
Kampfgruppe Weidinger
Part of 2nd SS Panzer Division 'Das Reich'
Commanders SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger
Operations Counter-attack against British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division
Victories Prevented further expansion of British Odon bridgehead.

Kampfgruppe (or Battlegroup) Weidinger was a formation from the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" that was formed to support the attack of II SS Panzer Corps at the tail end of Operation Epsom in the Normandy Campaign. It took its name from the commander of the 4th SS Panzer-Grenadier Regiment "Der Führer", SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger.

History

The Kampfgruppe was based around the forwardmost units of the 2nd SS Panzer Division in Normandy and was seconded to the I SS Panzerkorps on 26 June 1944.[1] It assaulted the positions of the British 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division around the village of Rauray between 28 June and 1 July 1944. Although it was ultimately unsuccessful in penetrating the British lines, it prevented the 49th Division from continuing to advance southwards from Rauray. The kampfgruppe subsequently returned to the operational command of the 2nd SS Panzer Division.

Order of Battle[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Meyer,p.409
  2. ↑ Meyer, ibid

Bibliography

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 1/9/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.