9.SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen"
The 9.SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen" was a Panzer Division formed in 1943. They fought on several fronts of the war.
OVERVIEW
The 9. SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen" was a Tank Division of the Waffen-SS (Armed Protection Department) which answered directly to the German Nazi Leadership rather than to the German Army. As a result, Waffen-SS Divisions were raised and organized differently from typical Heer (Army) units. Because they answer directly to the Nazi Party rather than the government, most of the SS was filled with highly motivated troops. Some Waffen-SS Divisions were constructed by and for foreigners, and there were several Ukrainian, Hungarian, and other SS Divisions. While many SS Divisions and organizations committed crimes violating the humanity of their victims, this was largely on a case-by-case basis. The 9. SS-Panzer-Division, which fought on the eastern front - against the Soviet Union - and on the western front - against the Western Allies; the United States, the United Kingdom, and later the provisional government of the Fourth French Republic - was well known amongst the SS for their good treatment of POWs (Prisoners of War) and civilians. Despite this, because of the gruesome reputation of their organization, many SS soldiers were summarily executed by the Allies on both fronts, especially on the eastern front fighting against the Soviet Communists, regardless of their personal actions or reason for fighting.
Panzer IV Ausf. H Medium Tank of the 9.SS-Panzer-Division "Hohenstaufen"
15cm "Hummel" Artillery Tanks transported on a train behind a man driving a "Schwimmwagen" Amphibious Jeep, likely during preparations for Unternehmen: Wacht am Rhein in the winter, 1944.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
>> Deployment and Ukraine
Ripley, Tim (2004). The Waffen-SS At War: Hitler's Praetorians 1925-1945. Zenith Imprint.
>> Operation: Market Garden
Badsey, Stephen (1993). Arnhem 1944, Operation Market Garden. Osprey Publishing.
Goldman, William (1977). William Goldman's Story of a Bridge Too Far.
>> Unternehmen: Wacht am Rein
LoFaro G (2011). The Sword of St. Michael: The 82nd Airborne Division in World War II.
>> Final Hours and Post-War
Reynolds, Michael (2002). Sons of the Reich : 2nd SS Panzer Corps. Barnsley: Pen & Sword.
Brauner, Bluff (2011). Der Spiegel.
>> Primary Documentation
German History in Documents and Images (WEBSITE)
Russian Presidential Library ( WEBSITE)
>> Photography and Media
Deutsches Bundesarchiv ( WEBSITE )
9.SS Panzergrenadiers (WEBSITE)
>> Historical Review
J. Weiss
