SS Fallschirmjager Penal Regiment

[big ned]

Don't know what that means Ned ? The book by Rolf Michaelis is essential for a history of this unit !!!

Hi Paul,

You state that the battalion was formed from a 'penal unit' ( Bewahrungs-Soldaten). This is NOT a penal unit but a DISCIPLINARY unit. The Dirlewanger division was formed with elements of penal units,(Murderers, rapists, theives and deserters).

Bewahrungs-soldaten were merely disciplinary cases,(Late for guard duty, asleep on guard duty, listening to the BBC home service etc.) that were frowned upon by the draconian SS rules.

It should also be pointed out that some of the troops in the battalion were W-SS VOLUNTEERS, not drafted serious criminals as you describe with the word 'penal' or as behwarungs-soldaten, which are mere 'defaulters' in my book.

I'm sure that if any survivors of this battalion are still out there alive they will not be happy with you description of them as a 'penal battalion', and that is why i stand by my previous post.

Regards, Ned.

[Woolgar]

Seen the book on Amazon, thanks for your comments guys.

Looks like a great subject

Nick

[Paul D]

Hi Paul,

You state that the battalion was formed from a 'penal unit' ( Bewahrungs-Soldaten). This is NOT a penal unit but a DISCIPLINARY unit. The Dirlewanger division was formed with elements of penal units,(Murderers, rapists, theives and deserters).

Bewahrungs-soldaten were merely disciplinary cases,(Late for guard duty, asleep on guard duty, listening to the BBC home service etc.) that were frowned upon by the draconian SS rules.

It should also be pointed out that some of the troops in the battalion were W-SS VOLUNTEERS, not drafted serious criminals as you describe with the word 'penal' or as behwarungs-soldaten, which are mere 'defaulters' in my book.

I'm sure that if any survivors of this battalion are still out there alive they will not be happy with you description of them as a 'penal battalion', and that is why i stand by my previous post.

Regards, Ned.

Ned i used the word Penal as a direct quote from the book where he describes the formation of the unit where many of the men came from the SS and Polizei Penal camp Danzig / Motzkau, which was effectively the SS Prison for all types of offenders guilty of serious crimes or disciplinary offences.

Essentially they were soldiers who were within the SS Penal system.

Over the years i have contacted , interviewed amd met over 800 German veterans including some from the SS Fallschirmjager including one of the commanders SS Sturmbannfuhrer Siegfried Milius so personnaly from this experience i don't think that they would be particulary be bothered by the use of Penal or disciplinary but that's my opnion only,

regards

Paul

[Schachbrett]

Not all soldiers (from '44), only the soldiers which were on probation were not allowed to wear ss insignia and medals. I have the book from Michaelis (it's in german). They were used in more mission than in croatia "Rösselsprung". Here some information about commanders and history.

Br Pzb14

Of course they had many more battles. I sad the one I know, and for which I think is the most important. But I didn't know that some soldiers were allowed to wear insignia. Well, you learn something every day!

[big ned]

Thanks for your reply Paul, i understand and acknowledge your opinion.

Regards, ned.

[pzb14]

Hi Paul,

You state that the battalion was formed from a 'penal unit' ( Bewahrungs-Soldaten). This is NOT a penal unit but a DISCIPLINARY unit. The Dirlewanger division was formed with elements of penal units,(Murderers, rapists, theives and deserters).

Bewahrungs-soldaten were merely disciplinary cases,(Late for guard duty, asleep on guard duty, listening to the BBC home service etc.) that were frowned upon by the draconian SS rules.

It should also be pointed out that some of the troops in the battalion were W-SS VOLUNTEERS, not drafted serious criminals as you describe with the word 'penal' or as behwarungs-soldaten, which are mere 'defaulters' in my book.

I'm sure that if any survivors of this battalion are still out there alive they will not be happy with you description of them as a 'penal battalion', and that is why i stand by my previous post.

Regards, Ned.

Agree on that , sry my english is not that good to differntiate between such words. It was just a hint to see this book. Of course you are right, also volunteers of LSSAH and other SS units were seen at 500/600 - not only "Bewährungssoldaten".
And I also agree that the history on this very intersting unit cannot be written within a few lines.

Br Pzb14