We continue the serie about the SS-Standort Dachau which existed between 1933 and 1945.
May 16, 1938
By order of the SS Main Office, the SS Medical School Dachau was to be opened with effect from May 16, 1938 “for the training of medical students of the barracked SS”.
(BA-MA N 756 Wolfgang Vopersal, SS Medical School Dachau, n.d., 2 pages, here p.1, see also BA-MA N 756 Wolfgang Vopersal, SS Lazarett Dachau, n.d., 2 pages, here p.1, according to the circular of the SS-FHA from April 22, 1941 there were medical schools in Berlin, Dachau and Prague see also Hermann Kaienburg, The military and economic location of the SS in the Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg concentration camp site, series of publications by the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation, Vol.16, Metropol-Verlag , Berlin, 2006, pp.274-275, see also notes 326-328)
As a result of the overcrowding of all the accommodation rooms in the Dachau training camp with recruits from Austria, the first course was postponed and only began in the early summer of 1938. It lasted 6 months.
The school was affiliated with the SS Hospital Dachau, whose chief physician also ran the school according to the instructions of the SS Medical Office in the SS Main Office.
The permanent staff provided the SS standard “Germany” as well as the SS medical squadron SS-TV Dachau and the SS medical squadron SS-VT Munich.
The SS medical office regulated the identification of the teachers. The costs of the school were proportionally borne by the budget of the SS-Verfügungstruppe and the SS-Totenkopfverbandes. The students formed both units of the armed SS.
(BA-MA N 756 Wolfgang Vopersal, SS Medical School Dachau, undated, 2 pages, here p.1)
In the summer of 1938, the national method of counting the Sturmbanne was abolished; since then, the three Sturmbanne have had the numbers I, II and III, and the hundreds have had the numbers 1 – 12.
For the Hundreds, the time of the renaming is not entirely certain; the new numbering can be proven, among other things, for the 2nd Totenkopfstandarte in mid-1939 at the latest.
(Hermann Kaienburg, The military and economic location of the SS in the Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg concentration camp site, series of publications by the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation, vol. 16, Metropol-Verlag, Berlin, 2006, p. 163, note 125)
September 00, 1938
The I. and II. Sturmbann of the SS-T-St. 1 were deployed to the Ascher Zipfel in Czechoslovakia in September 1938. (Klietmann, Waffen SS, pp. 345-346, see also A.Mollo, Vol.4)
The I.-III./1.SS-Totenkopfstandarte “Oberbayern” were deployed in Ascher Zipfel (Czech Republic) to support the Sudeten German Freikorps “Henlein” before the Munich Agreement was concluded in September 1938. (Michaelis, Waffen-SS, Mythos, p. 309)
At the end of September 1938, before the occupation of the Sudetenland, which only took place zone by zone from the beginning of October 1938, Stubaf stood. Deisenhofer with his young men of the II. Sturmbann/1.SS-T-Sta.”Obb.” in the Asch area as the 2nd SS Battalion of the Sudeten German Freikorps and secured the Antonienhöhe in front of Franzensbad without any significant combat operations in order to prevent reprisals by the Czech army against the rebelling Sudeten German population. …
The Btl. Deisenhofer then took part in the military occupation of the German-populated area ceded to the German Reich as part of the army. (EG. Krätschmer, RK-Betrager, p. 314)
October 2, 1938
The SS-Sturmbann “N” took part in the invasion of the Sudetenland on October 2, 19438 – reinforced by an artillery department of the army and under the command of the VII Army Corps. He was assigned to the Neuern (Nyrsko) area and had the task of securing the demarcation line.
(Otto Weidinger, Division Das Reich, Volume I, Munin, 1967, p. 91)
November 1, 1938
On November 1, 1938, the SS-Sturmbann “N” began to be reorganized into a motorcycle battalion.
Subordination to the official supervision of the “Germany” standard was abolished. With the previous IV Sturmbann SS-“D”, which was also reorganized into a motorcycle rifle battalion, SS-“N” became the regimental staff z.b.V. under SS staff. Walter Krüger subordinated.
The Sturmbann “N” was supposed to form the SS Motorcycle Rifle Battalion I in the regiment.
(Otto Weidinger, Division Das Reich, Volume I, Munin, 1967, pp. 91, 106)
Further construction work was planned for 1939/40, including the completion of barracks and garages for the SS-Totenkopf-Standarte “Oberbayern” and of SS accommodation and farm buildings for the KL headquarters.
Furthermore, the construction of a new SS hospital and a clothing office was planned, both with the location name “Munich-Dachau”.
(Kaienburg, Wirtschaft, p. 122, see also note 17 Pohl to the Reich Ministry of Finance dated January 12, 1939 with 4 pages of appendix (list of planned buildings), BAB R 2.12 172)
March 12, 1939
In March 1939, the 1st SS Totenkopf Standarte “Oberbayern” was used in the occupation of the Czech Republic. (Michaelis, Waffen-SS, Mythos, p. 309)
Participation of the 2nd Motor Vehicle Company in the occupation of the rest of the Czech Republic: alarm in the evening, drive via Pilsen to Brno; Stay about 1 week, return via Vienna. (R. Messering, My Defense…)
During the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia in March 1939, the II. Stuba.der Sta., Stubaf. Deisenhofer, via Pilsen, Prague and Iglau to Brno and only returned to his home garrison six months later. (EG. Krätschmer, RK-Betrager, p. 314)
Helmut Büch: “… In March 1939 I took part in the invasion of Bohemia and Moravia with our unit. Our 11th company is then in Brno for a while…” (H. Büch, In 80 Close Combat Days, p. 12)
The SS-Sturmbann “N” did not take part in the invasion of Bohemia-Moravia in March 1939 because of the ongoing reorganization.
(Otto Weidinger, Division Das Reich, Volume I, Munin, 1967, p. 91)
June 10, 1939
From June 10, 1939, the Kradschützen-Sturmbann “N” in the SS training camp began to be reorganized into an anti-tank department.
This meant that the Sturmbann SS-“N” had practically ceased to exist.
The tradition and with it the battalion flag of SS-“N” was taken over by the Anti-Tank Department/SS-VT.
Ellwangen was chosen as the future location.
(Otto Weidinger, Division Das Reich, Volume I, Munin, 1967, p. 91, there “July 10, 1939”, p. 111)
August 11, 1939
On August 11, 1939, the Panzer-Abwehr-abteilung/SS-VT, which only consisted of tribes, moved from the SS training camp to Ellwangen, where it was temporarily disbanded at the end of August 1939.
(Otto Weidinger, Division Das Reich, Volume I, Munin, 1967, p. 112)
August 25, 1939
With the mobilization, the connection between the 1st SS Totenkopf Standarte and the KL Dachau nominally ends.
An “SS-Totenkopf-Wachsturmbann” was formed for guarding from members of the “Police Reinforcement”, whose members had been trained for this purpose over the past few years and some had already been called up for various occasions (e.g. 1938).
The strength of this watch tower spell undergoes various changes during the war, and the composition also changes constantly.
September 20, 1939
The head of the SS main office in Berlin, September 20, 1939
Re: Handover of the SS training camp Dachau to the SS-Totenkopfstandarte “Oberbayern”
…
- With effect from October 1, 1939, the accommodation of the SS training camp Dachau will be handed over to the SS-Totenkopfstandarte “Oberbayern” for use and administration, unless this has already happened.
… - The commandant’s office of the SS training camp Dachau was dissolved with effect from October 1, 1939.
It has to complete its processing work by December 31, 1939. A decision will be made regarding the subsequent use of the SS leaders and SS sub-leaders who become free.
… - The administration of the SS training camp Dachau will remain in its current form for the time being. From October 1, 1939, it reports directly to the head of the SS Administrative Office
- The Commandant Building,
the hospital facility,
the district heating plant,
the weaponry,
the gardening,
the driver’s home,
the fittings forge,
the motor pool and
The community center with cinema remains initially subordinate to the SS Administrative Office and is managed by it.
… - The handover of the above-mentioned buildings and facilities must take place on September 29, 1939 at 9 a.m. by the commandant of the SS training camp Dachau to the head of the SS administrative office and to the leader of the SS-Totenkopfstandarte “Oberbayern”.
The head of the SS Haupt Office, signed Heißmeyer, SS Obergruppenführer
(T175 R40 picture 251 – 252)
From the end of September to December 1939, the SS Totenkopf Division was formed in Dachau. During this time, all accommodations were apparently occupied exclusively by parts of this division.
September 27, 1939
Between September 27, 1939 and February 18, 1940, the prisoners were transferred to other camps. Meanwhile, 7,000 members of the SS Totenkopf units were trained in Dachau. The prisoners were relocated: 2,138 to Buchenwald, 1,600 to Mauthausen, 981 to Flossenbürg. Only a work detail of around 100 prisoners remained in the camp.
October 20, 1939
From October 20, 1939, the SS Totenkopf Rekrüten Standarte was formed for newly drafted recruits of the SS Totenkopf units.
I. Sturmbann Dachau with tribes IV./IT SS-Ostubaf. Ernst Deutsch
II. Sturmbann Dachau with tribes V/IT SS-Hstuf. Kurt Laurar
III. Sturmbann Weimar with Trunks IV/2T SS-Ostubaf. Dr. Rudolf
Jacobsen
IV. Sturmbann Weimar from 2 Res.Kp. d. 3T SS-Hstuf. Heinrich Heinke
Initially, only a 1st and 2nd rifle company and a 4th (MG) company were set up per Sturmbann.
The II. Sturmbann is sometimes also referred to as the IV./5.SS-T Standarte.
The commander of this standard will be the previous commander of the 6th SS-T standard in Prague, SS-Oberführer Julian Scherner
(Marten van Dijken, SS-Totenkopfverband, self-published 2017, p. 98)
In December 1939 at least the III. Sturmbann appears to have come to Dachau.
Until the standard was disbanded in April 1940, at an unknown point in time
I. Sturmbann to Klagenfurt, the
II. Sturmbann relocated to Stralsund
III. Sturmbann was still in Dachau, the location of the
IV. Sturmbann is not yet known (June 14, 2018).
November 29, 1939
Order to relocate the SS-T Division from Dachau (and other locations) to the Heilbronn area (see also Vopersal, Soldiers, Fighters, Comrades, Volume 1, p. 45)
December 00, 1939
The SS Medical School Dachau was part of the General SS until November 15, 1939, but by order of the SS Main Office on November 16, 1939 it became part of the armed SS and was subordinated to the corps doctor of the armed SS.
(BA-MA N 756 Wolfgang Vopersal, SS Medical School Dachau, undated, 2 pages, here p.1)
According to the “Personnel Order for Leaders of the SS San. Corps (in the original) of the Armed SS” from the head of the SS Personnel Main Office, SS-gruppenführer Schmitt (undated, probably October 1939, copy from NS 24-71 in the possession of the author. , possibly a draft, as handwritten changes were added), “with effect from October 10, 1939 … the following distribution of doctors, dentists and pharmacists in the armed SS occurred: …
In the “autumn of 1939,” although no exact date is known yet, a “circulatory testing center” was set up at the SS hospital in Dachau.
(BA-MA N 756 Wolfgang Vopersal, SS Hospital Dachau, undated, 2 pages, here p.1)
From December 1939 (?) the SS Medical School Dachau took over the training of medical ranks and stretcher bearers for the reinforced SS Totenkopf standards until September 1940. The courses lasted 2 months.
(BA-MA N 756 Wolfgang Vopersal, SS Medical School Dachau, undated, 2 pages, here p.1 below – 2 above)
1940
January 1, 1940
The SS-owned company “German Equipment Works” takes over the workshops and businesses that were established within the KL (locksmith shop, carpentry shop, saddlery…)
https://web.archive.org/web/20070311021032/http://www.km.bayern.de/blz/web/300017/chronik.asp
February 19, 1940
Alex Piorkowski became commander of KL Dachau until September 1942
https://web.archive.org/web/20070311021032/http://www.km.bayern.de/blz/web/300017/chronik.asp
March 16, 1940
With effect from March 16, 1940, the previous “SS Circulation Testing Center Dachau” was expanded into a health and usage testing center (G. and V. testing center). The staff for this office was provided by the SS-TV (E) inspection at the SS main office.
(BA-MA N 756, Wolfgang Vopersal, G.u.V.-Prüfstelle Dachau, undated, 1 page)
The head doctor of the SS hospital in Dachau, the SS Sturmbannführer Dr. med., served as the commander. Fahrenkamp.
(BA-MA N 756, Wolfgang Vopersal, G.u.V.-Prüfstelle Dachau, undated, 1 page)
April 24, 1940
The RFSS – The General Inspector of the various SS-Totenkopfstandarten, No. 12/40 gKdos,
Berlin d. April 24, 1940
Re: Relocation of SS-T.-Standarten and SS-T.-Bataillons of the discontinued SS-Totenkopfstandarten
1.) … As III. Btl is subordinated to the 6th SS-T standard and the II. Btl (Stralsund) to the SS-T recruit standard….
2.) … The 1st Battalion (Klagenfurt) is subordinated to the SS-T Recruit Standard (the 7th SS-T Standard) as a further battalion. ….
3.) A 14th SS skull and crossbones standard is set up, which is intended for Denmark (probable location: Copenhagen).
It is composed of:
II./9.SS-T standard
III./6.SS-T standard
IV./ SS-T recruit standard
….
4.) A 16th SS skull standard will be re-erected. It is composed of:
III./SS-T. recruit standard Dachau
Rest I. and Rest IV./SS-T recruit standard
These two battalions will be replenished through supplementation.
Location: Prague (accommodations of the 6th SS-T Standard)
SS Standartenführer Herrmann (previously a police colonel) takes over the leadership of the standard. He received further instructions orally. The advance command of the III./SS-T recruit standard is to be marched immediately to Prague (orally in advance on April 23, 1940).
..,
7.) The I. and II.SS-ArtErsAbt, SS-Stubaf. Heldmann, and the IG-ErsKp are relocated from Oranienburg to Dachau after they have been transported away.
The above-mentioned units are to be marched to Dachau on April 24, 1940.
(Hausser, soldiers like others, p. 270 ff)
The relocation of the artillery replacement departments was related to Eicke’s attempt to separate the replacement units of the Totenkopf Division from those of the Totenkopf Standards. To manage his replacement formations, Eicke had created a new command staff in Dachau under the name “Inspector of the Replacement Units of the Totenkopf Division”, which now withdrew all replacement units assigned to the division from Oranienburg, the headquarters of the Totenkopf Standards.
(Hermann Kaienburg, The military and economic location of the SS in the Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg concentration camp site, series of publications by the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation, vol. 16, Metropol-Verlag, Berlin, 2006, p. 228)
May 6, 1940
Apparently on May 6, 1940, the SS Dachau location headquarters was formed. Their leader was the
SS-Ostubaf., Standarten-, Oberführer Dr. Rudolf Pfannenstiel 06.05.40 – (20.04.42)
(until August 1, 1943?)
May 8, 1940
Rgt. Daily order 1/39 of the commander of the replacement units of the SS-T Division from October 27, 1939:
Still in Breslau as “I. and II./E SS-TV” was reclassified with effect from October 27, 1939 and became
“Staff replacement units of the SS Totenkopf Division”
renamed.
(Marten van Dijken, The SS Death’s Head Associations 1933 – 1933, A Documentation, Volume II 1937 – 1939, self-published 2016, p.154, copy in the van Dijken archive)
The previous commander of the I. and II./E SS-TV, Erwin Reitz, who was promoted to SS-Obersturmbannführer on August 25, 1939, was appointed commander of the replacement units of the SS-Totenkopf Division.
(Marten van Dijken, The SS Death’s Head Associations 1933 – 1933, A Documentation, Volume II 1937 – 1939, self-published 2016, p. 154, there also photo Erwin Reitz)
In March 1940 “to handle all replacement matters of the SS-T-Div. in direct agreement with the commander of the SS-T-Div.” (Div.Order SS-T-Div./Kdr. dated March 28, 1940 regarding: Regulation of the replacement system) the office of the “Inspector (E) of the replacement units of the SS-Totenkopf-Division” based in Oranienburg near Berlin (until 7.5.40, then from 8.5.-11.5.40 Dachau near Munich).
This new office was responsible, among other things, for:
a) the replacement position of teams, clothing, equipment and equipment for the field units of the SS-T-Div
b) the compilation of replacement transports
c) the equipment of the marching units going to the front
d) the formation of a convalescent company
i.e. for all replacement matters of the SS-T Division. The department was also responsible for a uniform and new system
To manage the replacement units of the SS Death’s Head Division, Theodor Eicke had set up a new command staff in Dachau under the name “Inspector of the Replacement Units of the Death’s Head Division”, which now withdrew all replacement units assigned to the division from Oranienburg – the headquarters of the Totenkopf Standards.
(Hermann Kaienburg, The military and economic location of the SS in the Sachsenhausen-Oranienburg concentration camp site, series of publications by the Brandenburg Memorials Foundation, vol. 16, Metropol-Verlag, Berlin, 2006, p. 227 below – 228)
SS brigade leader Kurt Knoblauch is supposed to be there for a while
01.05.40 – 01.06.40 Inspector of the SS Totenkopf replacement units and commander of the
Replacement troop units of the SS Division “Totenkopf
01.06.40 – 24.12.40 1st General Staff Officer Ia of the SS Division “Totenkopf”
12/24/40 – 01/07/41 Commander of the Waffen-SS “West” (The Hague)
07.01.41 – 07.04.41 Commander of the Waffen-SS “Nordwest” (The Hague)
have been.
(Andreas Schulz, Günter Wegmann, Dieter Zinke, Generals of the Waffen-SS and Police, Volume 2, Biblio 2005, p. 537)
SS Standartenführer Wilhelm Bittrich is said to be from
15.06.40 – 00.00.00 Commander of the replacement troops of the SS-V and T-Division
have been.
(Kurt Mehner, Waffen-SS and Order Police, Norderstedt, 1995, p. 283)
June 00, 1940
In June 1940 the two SS-T-Art.Ers.Abt. I and II were combined in Abt I as “SS-T-Art.Ers.Abt”.
In addition to providing replacements for the SS-T-Art.Rgt, the department also provided personnel for the establishment of the lei in September 1940. Field howitzer battery for the SS-T-St.”K” in Norway.
End of Part 4. More will come
Author Roland Pfeiffer some images Georg Schwab
