Brandenburger: Wartime Photographs of Wilhelm Walther

by Anthony Rogers

Overview

In March 1940, Oberleutnant Wilhelm Walther transferred from Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5, an armored reconnaissance unit, to Bau-Lehr-Bataillon z.b.V. 800 – forerunner of what would soon be known as the ‘Brandenburger’. Two months later, he led a commando action in the Netherlands and became the first of his unit to be awarded the Ritterkreuz (Knight’s Cross). By May 1944, Walther was an Oberstleutnant and an experienced regimental commander in what had evolved as the Division ‘Brandenburg’. He would eventually join Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny’s SS-Jagdverbände as Chief of Staff, before seeing out the last days of the war with the short-lived Schutzkorps Alpenland.

More than 200 images, together with English captions, portray the life and times of this career officer, from the German annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, to operations in Russia, Greece and the Balkans during 1941–44.

In comparison with other units of the Second World War, relatively little has been published about Germany’s commando forces. This is hardly surprising, considering the paucity of source material available and the air of mystery and intrigue still surrounding this specialist formation.

This unique collection of rare images was sourced from the photograph album of Wilhelm Walther and is sure to appeal to all with an interest in the war in the West and on the Eastern Front, as well as to militaria collectors, modelers and reenactment groups.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784387150
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	03/10/2022
Series:	Images of War
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.60(h) x (d)

About the Author

Anthony Rogers is a military historian and author, known for his books detailing events in
and around the Mediterranean during the Second World War.

Table of Contents

Introduction and Acknowledgements 7

Wilhelm Walther and the 'Brandenburger' 11

Chapter 1 1931-39 17

Chapter 2 1940 51

Chapter 3 The Balkans: 1941 55

Chapter 4 Russia: 1941-48 69

Chapter 5 Russia: 1948-43 87

Chapter 6 Greece: 1943-44 119

Chapter 7 Albania and Yugoslavia: 1944 139

Chapter 8 Comrades in Arms 147

Chapter 9 Hie guet Brandenburg allewege 153

Appendix Wilhelm Walther's Service Record 157