Führerbegleitbrigade

The ''Führerbegleitbrigade'' (FBB: Führer escort brigade) was a German armoured brigade and later an armoured division (''Panzer-Führerbegleitdivision''), in World War II. It grew out of the original ''Führer-Begleit-Battalion'' formed in 1939 to escort and protect Adolf Hitler at the front. It was formed in November 1944 and destroyed in April 1945.

The ''Führer-Begleit-Battalion'' (FBB), 1939–1940

Before the 1 September 1939 attack on Poland, Adolf Hitler's personal military bodyguard came from two distinct, independent units based in Berlin: the Chancellery Guards, originally assigned by the army, and then the ''Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler'' (SS bodyguard regiment Adolf Hitler; LSSAH), which replaced the Chancellery Guards. When hostilities started, Hitler ordered the LSSAH to participate in the campaign against Poland, leaving him with no large military type of bodyguard formation (a small contingent of the ''Leibstandarte'', remained stationed in Berlin).

By that time, an army infantry instructor, Erwin Rommel, came to Hitler's attention. Rommel was promoted to ''Generalmajor'' on 23 August 1939 and Hitler saw to it that Rommel was appointed in charge of a new battalion being organized to function as his personal escort to the front. This led to the formation of the FBB in 1939. It had the task of protecting Hitler's military headquarters and accompanying him when visiting battlefronts. It also was responsible for all luggage that travelled with Hitler and his staff. Prior to the invasion of France and the Low Countries, Rommel left the FBB to take command of the army's 7th Panzer Division.

The ''Führerbegleitabteilung, Panzergrenadierdivision'' "''Großdeutschland''"

With the expansion of the elite ''Großdeutschland'' Infantry Regiment into a division on 3 March 1942, the number of subunits under its control was expanded. Among these subunits was a new ''Führerbegleit''-unit, as well as another unit with ''Führer'' in its name, the ''Führergrenadierabteilung''.. Although the new ''Führerbegleit''-unit had practically the same purpose as the original and still-existing ''Führerbegleit'' battalion, and was approximately the same size, it was different from the FBB in that it was motorized. The newer unit was further distinguished by nomenclature: it was known as the ''Führerbegleitabteilung'' (FBA: ''Führer'' escort detachment). This is because battalion-sized ''Wehrmacht'' (and even ''Waffen-SS'') ground units were designated according to class, with ''Abteilung'' for motorized, mechanized, armoured, or self-propelled battalion-sized units controlled by a battalion headquarters, and ''Bataillon'' for infantry units.

As a result of its transfer to the ''Großdeutschland'' (GD) division, the detachment—by now incorporating a heavy battery from ''Flak-Regiment'' "Hermann Göring", First Paratroop Panzer Division Hermann Göring—was moved to the eastern front, with headquarters in Hitler's ''Wolfschanze''. Parts of the GD were used to expand the FBA until it eventually served as GD's replacement and reserve battalion.

The FBA saw action along with the rest of ''Großdeutschland ''Panzer-Grenadier-Division'' in its campaigns on the eastern front. Although not permanently attached to the division and composed mainly of an ''ad hoc'' collections of several units, the FBA and its successors would retain the traditional helmet insignia of its parent division, and when sub-units of the ''Großdeutschland'' division were being expanded to bring GD to corps strength ( Panzerkorps ''Großdeutschland''), the FBA was enhanced to brigade strength as well.

While the FBA was being refitted for service on the eastern front, Hitler ordered it to head west in 1944, along with most of its vehicles and personnel, to prepare for the Ardennes counter-offensive, for which it would be expanded into a brigade.

''Führerbegleitbrigade''

Radically upgraded for the Ardennes Offensive ("Operation ''Wacht am Rhein''") to provide ''General der Panzertruppe'' Hasso von Manteuffel's Fifth Panzer Army with additional firepower, the ''Führerbegleitbrigade'' was formed from elements of the FBA, ''Panzerkorps Großdeutschland'', Hitler's personal army guard detail, and the mobile artillery from Hitler's ''Wolfschanze'' headquarters. This unit was placed under the command of Oberst (colonel) Otto Remer as a reward for his successfully foiling of a critical part of the 20 July 1944 assassination attempt of Hitler and attempted military coup against the Nazi leadership in Berlin.

The new FBB was essentially a restructured tank brigade, with units created from whatever excess personnel were available. Its combat strength included long-barrelled Panzer IVs and the turretless assault guns of the ''Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung'' 200, two organic ''Panzergrenadier'' (mechanized infantry) battalions, the 928th Bicyclist Battalion, and a self-propelled artillery battalion with 105-millimeter ''Wespe'' and 150-millimeter ''Hummel'' artillery pieces.

Committed to the front on 18 December 1944 as part of Fifth Panzer Army's XLVII. ''Panzerkorps'', the FBB saw action against the US Army 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne.

On 26 January 1945 the FBB was ordered to expand and form the ''Führerbegleitdivision''.

''Führerbegleitdivision''

When the ''Großdeutschland'' Division was expanded to ''Panzer'' Corps ''Großdeutschland'', its subordinate units were expanded to bring GD to corps status.

As part of this drastic reorganization, the FBB was detached from army control, expanded by incorporating elements of the FGB and ''Panzergrenadier-Division Großdeutschland'', and redesignated the ''Führer-Begleit-Division'' (FBD); at the same time, its sister formation, the ''Führergrenadierbrigade'', was also upgraded to divisional status and renamed the ''Führer-Grenadier-Division'' (FGD). Both "''Führer''" divisions were put in the OKH (''Oberkommando der Heere'': the army high command), reserve until committed to the eastern front.

Commanded by Otto Remer, now a major general, the FBD and FGD served in local counterattacks and later assumed fire-brigade roles for attempts to prevent major Soviet breakthroughs.

The FBD and FGD were sent to the eastern front to help defend the Vistula front against massing Red Army forces during the Upper Silesian Offensive.Gunter, Georg. ''Last Laurels, The German Defense of Upper Silesia Jan-May 1945'', Helion & Company, 2002. It was trapped and finally destroyed in the Spremberg pocket in April 1945, the survivors surrendering to the Americans.

Orders of Battle

''Führerbegleitabteilung, Panzergrenadierdivision ''Großdeutschland (1941)''

''Führerbegleitbrigade, Operation Wacht-am-Rhein'' (December 1944)

''Brigadestabskompanie'' (headquarters company)
* ''Stabszug'' (headquarters platoon) - Sd.Kfz. 251/1 armoured cars
* ''Aufklärungszug'' (reconnaissance platoon) - Armed with MP-40 and StG44
**Sd.Kfz. 250/1 armoured cars
* ''Aufklärungszug'' (reconnaissance platoon) - as above
** ''Volkswagen'' and ''Kübelwagen'' cars
*''Flakzug'' (anti-aircraft platoon) - 3 x 37mm ''Flakpanzer IV Ostwind'' self-propelled flak vehicle

See also

* ''SS-Begleitkommando des Führers''
* ''Reichssicherheitsdienst''

References

Notes

Bibliography
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fuhrer-Begleit-Brigade
Military units and formations established in 1939
Brigades of the German Army in World War II
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945