For the Homeland: The 31st Waffen-SS Volunteer Grenadier Division in World War II

by Rudolf Pencz

Overview

• Groundbreaking history of a rarely covered German unit • Numerous eyewitness reports from members of the division • Detailed maps to illustrate the division's actions Composed of ethnic Germans living in Hungary, the 31st Waffen-SS Volunteer Grenadier Division fought against the Red Army in Hungary starting in late 1944. Early the next year, it was sent to Silesia for the final battle southeast of Berlin, where it surrendered in May.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811735827
Publisher:	Stackpole Books
Publication date:	12/16/2009
Series:	Stackpole Military History Series
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Rudolf Pencz lives in Hungary.

Table of Contents

List of Maps and Map Key vii

Foreword ix

Introduction x

1 Beginnings of the 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division 1

2 23rd Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS 'Kama' (Croatian Nr 2) 3

3 Waffen-SS Recruiting in Hungary 1944 8

4 Order of Battle of the 31st SS Division 12

5 Developments at the Front and the Situation with Partisan Units in the Batschka 35

6 Evacuation of the Batschka Germans and the Withdrawal of the 31st SS Division 42

7 Battles in the Batschka and Kampfgruppe Syr 52

8 The Unprepared Division is Brought Up to Secure the Danube 57

9 The Battle for the Enemy Bridgeheads, 7-25 November 1944 70

10 Defensive Battles in Southern Hungary, 26 November-6 December 1944 93

11 The Division Is Withdrawn from the Front 124

12 Rest and Refitting in the Lower Steiermark 133

13 Transport of the Division to Silesia 145

14 Deployment of the Division in the Jauer Area, March 1945 156

15 Deployment of the Division in the Strehlen Area, April 1945 171

16 The Surrender and Retreat of the 31stSS Division 189

17 The 'Great Death' of the Division 199

18 What Became of Them? 221

19 The Reserve Units of the Division and Their History 234

20 The Heimatschutz of the Ethnic Germans in Hungary 238

Appendices

I Officer List of the 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division 243

II Explanation of Geographical Names and Gazetteer 249

Glossary 253

Bibliography 256

Index 259