16th RFSS Unit Formation & History
16th SS-PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION "RFSS"- Unit Composition.
Begleit Btn. "REICHSFUHRER-SS"
Sturmbrigade "REICHSFUHRER-SS"
16th SS-Panzer Grenadier Division "REICHSFUHRER-SS"
15th May 1941.. Begleit Bataillon "REICHSFUHRER-SS"
14th February 1943.. Sturmbrigade "REICHSFUHRER-SS"
3rd October 1943.. SS-Sturmbrigade "REICHSFUHRER-SS" (16.)
22nd October 1943.. 16th SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "REICHSFUHRER-SS"
14th February 1945.. Auffrischungsgruppe 13. SS-Div., "Erganzungs-staffel 13. SS-Pz.Gren.Div.
DIVISIONAL STRENGTH
31 Dec 1943.. 203 officers.. 1191 NCO's.. 11326 EM (12720 total)
30 Jun 1944.. 369 officers.. 1984 NCO's.. 11865 EM (14218 total)
10 Aug 1944.. 368 officers.. 2089 NCO's.. 12226 EM (14683 total)
31 Dec 1944.. 395 officers.. 2262 NCO's.. 11566 EM (14223 total)
31 Jan 1945.. 382 officers.. 2188 NCO's.. 11186 EM (13756 total)
28 Feb 1945.. 381 officers.. 2270 NCO's.. 10989 EM (13640 total)
DEPLOYMENT
Jun 1941-Mar 1943: SOVIET UNION
Apr 1943-Oct 1943: CORSICA
Nov 1943-Jan 1944: AUSTRIA, SLOVENIA ?
Jan 1944-Mar 1944: ITALY
Mar 1944-Apr 1944: HUNGARY
Apr 1944-Feb 1945: ITALY
Feb 1945-Mar 1945: HUNGARY
Mar 1945-May 1945: AUSTRIA
On 3rd Oct. 1943, Hitler ordered that 2 new Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Divisions be raised, "REICHSFUHRER-SS" and "GOTZ VON BERLICHINGEN". To be numbered the 16th and 17th, respectively. On the same day, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th SS Panzer Korps were created. RFSS and 9th SS-Pz.Div. "HOHENSTAUFFEN" comprised the 4th SS-Panzer Korps. Not since the creation of the 12th SS-Panzer Div. "HITLER JUGEND", had German formations been raised for the Waffen-SS. The 13th Waffen-Gerbirgs Div.-SS "HANDSCHAR" was drawn from Yugoslavians, 14th Waffen-Grenadier Div.-SS "GALIZIEN(nr.1)" was comprised of Polish and West Ukrainian troops and 15th Waffen-Grenadier Div.-SS "LETTISCHE(nr.1)" was a Latvian formation. The 13th, 14th and 15th SS-Divisions had therefore been based upon foreign 'volunteers'. As a result, the raising of RFSS and GVB constituted a significant development within the German Armed Forces in 1943.
16th SS-PANZER GRENADIER DIVISION "RFSS"- Unit History
The origin of the 16th SS-Pz.Gren.Div. lay in the creation of the "Begleit-Bataillon REICHSFUHRER-SS" within Himmler's Headquarters Staff- "Kommandostab RFSS" on May 15th 1941, at SS-Kaserne Barracks, Oranienburg. Hitler, in February 1943, ordered that the Himmler Begleit Btn, having proved itself, during 1941 and 1942, on the Russian Front, be upgraded to the status of an Assault Brigade. Thus "Sturmbrigade REICHSFUHRER-SS", was posted to Corsica, during the summer of 1943. The Sturmbrigade received 10 x MARDER self-propelled anti-tank guns, in July for the Panzerjaeger kom. Another 10x MARDER's were delivered in September, 1943. SS-Brigadefuhrer Max Simon, Knight's Cross winner from 1st SS-Infanterie-Rgt., 3rd SS-"TOTENKOPF" Pz.Div., became commander of the new division on 16th October.
The SS-FHA order of 22nd October officially numbered "RFSS" as the 16th Division of the Waffen-SS, containing the 35th and 36th Infanterie Rgt's. Formation began at Baden, 15 miles south of Vienna, and in Ljubjana Slovenia, during Oct 1943. On 15th Nov. the divisional elements were raised by taking the Sturmbrigade from Corsica as a nucleus, and adding an SS training Btn. (SS-Ausb.Btn.z.b.v.) of 8x companies, Kradschutzen kompanien from SS-Pz.Gren. Rgt's 19 and 20 of the 9th SS-Panzer Div. "HOHENSTAUFFEN", plus companies from SS replacement units.
Also raised in November was:
SS-Artillerie Rgt.16
SS-Flak Abt.16
SS-Nachrichten Abt.16(mot.)
SS-Divisions Nachschubfuhrer 16
SS-Divisions Nachschubtruppen 16
SS-Feldpostamt 16
SS-Panzer Instandsetzungs Abt.16
SS-Wirtschafts Abt.16
SS-Sanitats Abt.16
SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 16
SS-Feldersatz Btn.16
SS-Ersatz Staffel 16
The armoured and anti-tank elements of "RFSS" received their weapons at this time. SS-Panzer Abt.16.Equipped with Sturmgeschutz STUG-III F (self propelled assault gun). SS-Panzerjäger Abt. 16./SS-STUG Abt.16. One Kompanie equipped with PAK-40 (75mm AT gun), two Kompanies equipped with Sturmgeschutz STUG-III F, in addition to the PzJg Marder's remaining in service.
SS-Panzer Aufklarungs Abt.16 formed 12/11/43. Created from15 Kradschutzen Kom./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.2/9th SSPz.Div. "HOHENSTAUFFEN". In December 1943 "RFSS" was under command of the 51st Army Korps, 14th Army, Army Group C. Training continued into early 1944. SS-Pioneer Btn.16.(mot.) formed 15/1/44. On January 22 Allied forces launched 'Operation Shingle'- amphibious assaults NE of Anzio, and SE of Nettuno, south of Rome by the US 5th Army, and British 8th Army. An SS-Kampfgruppe of "RFSS" troops was directed from northern Italy to join the 14th Army in order to contain the Bridgeheads. The 16th SS Kampfgruppe fought at Anzio and Nettuno along with elements of the 29th Waffen-Grenadier Div.
The 16th SS-Kampfgruppe, comprised: Kompanies.2, 5, 7 and 8 of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.35 2nd Btn. SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.36 Elements of SS-Flak-Abt.16 Elements of SS-Panzerjäger Abt.16/SS-STUG Abt.16
The 14th Army's defence lasted until 3/4/44, and the Southern Italy "RFSS" Kampfgruppe returned north to rejoin the rest of the 16th SS Division on 3/9/44. In September 1943 a contingency to thwart the possible desertion of Hungary from the Axis alliance was planned, named "Operation Margarethe". With the RKKA close to the Hungarian frontier, in early 1944, Hitler launched Margarethe, with 3 Waffen-SS divisions. However "RFSS" was largely occupied in the Anzio/Nettuno Bridgeheads at the time, so only 3 Btn's were mobilized for the operation. To strengthen "RFSS", the SS-Panzer Grenadier "Lehr" Rgt. was brought from the SS-Pz.Gren. Schule at Prosetschnitz, and was permanently added to the "RFSS" division. Also joining the Hungarian "RFSS" Kampfgruppe was the new "Begleit Btn. REICHSFUHRER-SS". This formation was raised when the original Himmler Begleit Btn was upgraded to the "Sturmbrigade REICHSFUHRER-SS".
In addition to the units detached and serving in the Kampfgruppe, south of Rome, other elements of the 16th SS-Division were deployed in Italy at the time. 6kom. and 14kom. From SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.35 were based at Mussolini's HQ, Lake Garda. The RSI HQ was established after Mussolini's rescue from Gran Sasso, and was guarded by an Italian SS-Legion. Further elements were located in the Balkans-1st Btn. of the newly attached SS-Panzer Grenadier Lehr Rgt., along with Divisional supply elements, SS-Sanitat Abt.16, SS-Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 16 were situated in the Carpathian Mtn's.
As a result of these dispositions, it was a reinforced, yet dispersed 16th SS-Pz.Gren.Division that marched in March 1944 through Baden, Austria to deploy in Hungary. RFSS was joined by the 18th SS-Pz.Gren.Div. "HORST WESSEL" and 8th SS-Cavalry Div. "FLORIAN GEYER". 16th SS Pz.-Gren. Div. occupied Debrecen, under the command of C-in-C 'East Hungarian Occupation Zone', Army Group SW. During this period, "RFSS" was required to relinquish troops and vehicles to 3rd SS-Panzer Div. "TOTENKOPF". The personnel transferred were replaced by racial Germans from Hungary.
In April 1944, the elements stationed in Italy returned to 16th Divisional HQ , resulting in the entire 16th SS-Pz.Gren. Division being united for the first time. Although the conflict in Hungary continued, the advance of the Allies in Italy required further attention. The US 5th and British 8th Armies had broken out of the Anzio-Nettuno Bridgehead, in May and had advanced along the Liri Valley.
Axis forces everywhere had been forced north 150 miles, to the Arno River zone. The retreat halted, and a new fortified position was established, through the passes and mountains of the Apennines, known as The Green Line (Gothic Line).This defensive line was 15 to 30 miles in depth, north of the Arno River, from the Ligurian Sea, incorporating Pisa, Bologna and Florence, continuing to the Adriatic coast.
The problems faced by Allied units in attempting to overcome the stubborn defence of the Green Line was compounded by "Operation Overlord" on June 6, and "Operation Anvil/Dragoon" in August- The amphibious landings in Normandy and Southern France. Allied Forces lost 7 US and 4 Free French Divisions to the Invasion of France, leaving the remainder to deal with an increasingly difficult theatre of operations. The Allied 15th Army Group, commanded by Fm. Alexander, was composed of Gen. Clark's 5th Army of 6 US Army divisions, and Gen. Leese's 8th Army of 2 Polish, 2 Canadian, 11 British and Commonwealth Army divisions. Axis forces- Army Group C was commanded by Fm. Kesselring. On the western line was Gen Lemelsen's 14th Army of 10 divisions, facing the US 5th Army. On the eastern section of the Green Line was Gen. Vietinghoff's 10th Army of 12 divisions. The "Ligurian Army" and "Adriatic Command" held another 4 divisions.
"RFSS" was transferred to the Italian Front in order to stem the British 8th Army. "RFSS" was sent south from Parma to Grosseto, on the West coast. In May 1944, "RFSS" was listed as a reserve unit, under OKW, Army Group F. Allied forces broke out of the Anzio-Nettuno Bridgehead in May, taking Rome by June 4. In June and July, "RFSS" served as part of 75th Army Korps, A. Abt. Zangen, Army Group C, in Liguria. SS-Panzer 'Lehr' Bde. (formerly a regiment) became an official element of "RFSS" in June 1944. It was joined by the new Reichsfuhrer-SS Begleit Btn., which replaced the 2nd Btn. of SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.35, within the Division. On July 15 SS-Wirtschafts Abt.16 was remaned SS-Verwalttungstruppen Abt.16.
At this time "RFSS" had withdrawn north of the Arno and was attempting to contain the British 8th Army. "RFSS" fought 8th Army forces at Siena, and Leghorn, withdrawing to take up a new defensive position on the Ligurian Coast. The 16th-SS was reinforced at this time by the 3rd kom. 504th Heavy Panzer Btn. The Tiger tanks of 3/504 joined the 16th-SS Sturmgeschutz Btn in securing the Pisa area.
16th SS embarked on no offensive operations for the remainder of 1944. After the defence of Carrara, "RFSS" withdrew NE to Bologna, across the Apennines Tosco-Emiliano Mtn's. In the Apennines, south of Bologna, "RFSS" engaged in Anti-Partisan Operations. Italian Partisans had became very active in the Apennines during the summer of 1944, inflicting losses in the hundreds upon German and Italian RSI forces. As a result, "RFSS" found itself under regular attack by Mountain Partisan groups. SS-Sturmbahnfuhrer Walter Reder's armoured recon group, SS-Panzer Aufklarungs Abt.16, advanced upon Sant'Anna di Stazzema village in Versilia where one of the 'Garibaldi' Brigades was based. The 16th SS troops are reported to have set fire to neighboring Farnocchia, before turning to raze Sant'Anna and kill a number of citizens. "RFSS" is also accused of killing a further 120 civilians later in Padule di Fucecchio. However, Reder was acquitted by a military court in Bologna for the alleged murders.
SS-Sturmbahnfuhrer W.Reder had lost his left arm during the recapture of Kharkov, in March 1943. On 28/3/43 Reder was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, as an SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer and CO of 1Abt./SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt.'Totenkopf'/SS-Pz.Div. 3 "TOTENKOPF". SS-Pz.Aufklarungs Abt.16 and other 16th SS troops attacked mountain positions of the "Lunnense" Partisan Brigade on 24 Aug 1944, followed by an advance upon the Marzabotto area in September. Large numbers of Partisans were killed, and claims were made that between 270 and 1830 civilians were also casualties in the operation.
On 25th August 1944, the Allies launched "Operation Olive", a campaign aimed at the Green Line and Bologna, from the Ligurian to the Adriatic Seas. The first defensive line, north of the Arno River, consisted of the 14th Army, in the east, and the 10th Army in the west. In the 14th Army/14th Pz.Korps sector, on the Ligurian Coast was the 20th Luftwaffe Field Div., south of La Spezia, next to the 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Div., holding the Pisa-Lucca zone. West of Florence was the 65th Inf. Div. In the 14th Army/1st FJ Korps, the 362nd Inf. Div. and 350th Inf. Div. flanked the 4th FJ Div. holding Florence. Phase 1 of "Olive" was a thrust by the British 8th Army- Polish 2nd Corps, Canadian 5th Armoured Corps and British 5th Corps, including the NZ 2nd Div. and 3th Indian Div., on the 10th Army sector of the Adriatic Coast, to Rimini.
The second Phase featured the US 5th Army assault on the 14th Pz.Korps and 1st FJ Korps on September 10. The US 4th Corps and British 13th Corps attacked the 4th FJ Div. defending Florence, while US Task Force 45 and 1st Armoured Div. of US 4th Corps assaulted the 16th "RFSS" sector. The Allied plan was to drive to Bologna, through the Futa Pass. The Axis forces fell back north of the forward Arno River positions, to the main defences of the Green Line. Initial resistance in the forward eastern position was light, but the Allies, even with a 3:1 advantage in troops were seriously hampered by the 14th Pz.Korps dug-in defence of the hills. Gen.Clark sent US 2nd Corps to attack Imola, via the 14th Pz.Army and 10th Army boundary, and on October 10, 1944 the Battle for The Livergnano Escarpment began. Livergnano Escarpment was a 10 mile line of east to west mountain peaks, dominated by Monte della Formiche, that constituted the strongest natural defence of the German line in the Apennines. Here Fm. Kesselring committed both the 4th FJ Div. and the 16th SS Pz-Gen. Div. together to prevent the Allies from breaking through to the Po Valley. The German line consisted of the 95th Inf. Div. on the far right, followed by "RFSS", then 4th FJ Div., 65th Inf. Div, 362nd Inf. Div. and 98th Inf. Div. in the 1st FJ Korps/14th Army sector.
The 6th SA Armoured Div.of US 4th Corps, and 1st Armoured, 91st Div. and 34th Div. of US 2nd Corps attacked on the boundary of the 16th SS Div. and 4th FJ Div. The resulting combat was particularly fierce, even for Italy. The Allies unleashed "Operation Pancake", as a result, which threw air strikes of Fighter Bombers, Medium and Heavy Bombers from The Mediterranean Allied Tactical and Strategic Air Forces against the German positions. US 85th Div. took Monte della Formiche and US 91st Div. outflanked the Escarpment, forcing the German defending units to fall back on the 13th October. US 2nd Corps advance was halted, however, 10 miles south of Bologna due to heavy resistance. On 24th October Max Simon left the 16th to assume command of 13th SS Panzer Korps, being replaced by SS-Oberfuhrer Otto Baum on 1st November.
Fm.Alexander ordered another attempt at Bologna. Fm.Kesselring drew the 94th Inf. Div. and 16th SS Pz.-Gren. Div. from reserve, and deployed them to defend the new position against an attack from the US 2nd Corps. The assault on 16th October by the US 34th Div. was halted by fierce defence by the 16th SS. The US 91st Div. and US 1st Armoured Div. reinforced the 34th, and resumed the attack. Once again the offensive was stopped by heavy fire from "RFSS"and the 94th Div. The US 85th Div. gained ground on the flank, but Kesselring reinforced the "RFSS" and 94th Inf. Div. with the 29th Panzer Grenadier Div. and 90th Panzer Grenadier Div. On 27 October, Supreme Allied CO of MTO, Gen.Wilson ordered an end to operations. During 10 Sep-26 Oct, US 2nd Corps suffered 15,000 casualties, with US 88th Div. alone losing 5,000. British 8th Army suffered 14,000 casualties.
During November 1944, the 1st Parachute Korps came under 10th Army/Army Group C, while defending in the Apennines. In January and February 1945, "RFSS" was part of 75th Panzer Korps, 14th Army/Army Group C. Gen.Vietinghoff replaced the injured Kesselring, in command of Army Group C, and began a build up of Axis Forces, including the Italian "Monte Rosa" and "San Marco" Marine Divisions. The 26th Panzer, 5th Gebirgsjager and 16th SS Pz.Gen Div. were added to launch "Operation Wintergewitter", an attack on the US 92nd Div./4th Corps, 20 miles north of Lucca. The battle reached a peak during the fight at Barga, with the US 1st Armoured, 34th and 8th Indian div.'s reinforcing the besieged 92nd US Div. After 4 days of intense combat, the Axis offensive was stopped by combined armoured and air strikes.
After "Wintergewitter", 16th SS Panzer-Grenadier Div. moved out of the Apennines, heading NE, crossing the Via Emilia, SE of Bologna, taking up a position SW of the Valli di Comacchio Lake, near Lavezzola, Fusignamo and Alfosine. "RFSS" was slated to join the 6th SS-Panzer Army in Hitler's 1945 offensive in Hungary, on the shores of Lake Balaton(Plattensee). In order to confuse enemy Intelligence, "RFSS" was withdrawn from the Italian Front in disguise. As from 14/2/45 the 16th was referred to as either "Auffrischungsgruppe 13" and "Erganzungsstaffel 13 SS-Pz.Gren.Div.". The 16th SS-Panzer Grenadier Division had been a very effective formation during the defence of Italy, and its removal from the Front was considered a major potential propaganda/morale boost for the Allies. RFSS moved north to Ferrara, and was transported by rail, through Padua, to the Nagykaniscza area of Hungary. The SS-Pz. Jager Abt.16/SS-STUG Abt.16 was detached in February and sent to SS-Tr.Ub. Pl. "KURMARK" for the 32nd SS-Pz.Gren.Div., being renamed SS-Pz.Jager Abt.32.
On 4th February Woehler proposed an offensive to placate Hitler's concerns of Red Army advances into Hungary, and threatening Budapest. A thrust to the south east from the Balaton and Velencze Lakes would place a buffer between Soviet Forces and the Nagykaniza oil fields. The Hungarian campaign, "Operation Spring Awakening", was launched by Army Group F at midnight on March 5th 1945 along both shores of Lake Balaton, employing the 1st, 2nd and 4th SS-Panzer Korps, with "RFSS" deployed in the southern Lake zone. The operation was directed against The Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front, commanded by Tolbukhin, including 6th Guards Tank Army, 4th and 9th Guards Armies, 27th and 26th Armies, and 1st Bulgarian Army. Facing the German forces on the southern Lake Balaton sector was the Soviet 57th Army. The operation was hampered by warm weather and deep mud. The Soviets had heavily mined the approaches, and prepared artillery and anti-tank areas between Balaton and the Danube. By the 8th march, German forces penetrated a number of Soviet defensive lines, up to 20 miles, forcing Tolbukhin to commit all reserves. The 10th march saw a change of weather, with snow, rain and sleet. Soviet resistance stiffened, and the offensive slowed on the Sarviz and Sio canal sectors. The offensive bogged down by the 12th, only 5 miles of ground had been made.
On the afternoon of the 16th march, STAVKA launched the Soviet counteroffensive, in snow and fog, minus effective armour and air support. The Soviet 3rd Ukrainian Front attacked 4th SS-Panzer Korps, and the south flank of the 3rd Hungarian Army, on the Velencze lake and Bicske zone. Army Group South halted further attacks east of Sarviz canal. On 18th march Tolbukhin's 9th and 4th Guards Armies broke through 4th SS-Panzer Korps between Valancze and Mor. Woehler directed 6th SS-Panzer Army north, which maneuvered between the lakes. The 6th Guards Tank Army attacked towards Lake Balaton on the 20th, with the German 6th Army being encircled by the 21st. The surrounded pocket was forced to find a way out, between the lake and the Russians. 4th SS-Panzer Korps was effectively dissolved during the breakout. 6th Army was suffering from 'pocket' psychosis, according to a report from Balck, with 6th SS-Panzer Army unable to adjust to the new developments. Guderian called for a halt to the offensive. Balck described a loss of faith in the leadership, and a fear of encirclement, stemming from Stalingrad, Korsun and Budapest.
The offensive failed and was effectively concluded by late march. The 16th SS-Pz.Gren. Division then formed part of 22nd Gebirgs Army Korps, 2nd Army/Army Group South. Under constant attack by the Red Army, the Division withdrew West towards Unterstiermark in Southern Austria. "RFSS" was divided by the front, some of the "RFSS" Infantry and Artillery troops surrendering South of the Drau River. The remainder continued to resist, being strengthened by Wehrmacht troops retreating from Yugoslavia. "RFSS" then withdrew past Marburg an der Drau, South of Graz, through Eibiswald and Koflach to the Klagenfurt zone. During the final weeks of April and May 1945, the 16th SS Div. became an element of the 1st Kavallerie Korps, 2nd Panzer Army/Army Group South. On 3rd April 1945, "RFSS" was reinforced by 4 battalions of Luftwaffe draftees. During May parts of the 16th surrendered to the British west of Graz, while others fell into US captivity NW around Radstadt.
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