Published: 24 December 2010
Last Updated: 07 April 2012
The 26. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Hungaria (ungarische Nr. 2) as formed in 1944 and consisted of Hungarian and Rumanian volunteers. It was still forming when it war forced to withdraw to Austria apart from a battle group that was sent to Brno in Czechoslovakia.
It surrendered to the US forces at the Attersee 3-5 May 1945.
Commander
SS-Sturmbannführer Rolf Tiemann (? Nov 1944 – ? Nov 1944)
SS-Oberführer Zoltan Pisky (? Nov 1944 – ? Jan 1945)
SS-Oberführer Ladislaus Deak (? Jan 1945 – ? Jan 1945)
SS-Oberführer Berthold Maack (29 Jan 1945 – 19 Mar 1945)
SS-Gruppenführer Josef Grassy (21 Mar 1945 – 8 May 1945)
Chief of Staff
SS-Hauptsturmführer Janos Zoltay (? – ? Jan 1945)
SS-Sturmbannführer Rolf Tiemann (1 Mar 1945 – ?)
Quartermaster
SS-Obersturmführer Max Puhlmann (1 Mar 1945 – ?)
SS-Hauptsturmführer Georg Meyer (? – ?)
Area of operations
Hungary (Nov 1944 – May 1945)
Manpower strength
Dec 1944 13.000
Honor titles
“Hungaria” means, of course, “Hungary”. Other sources state “Gömbös” as the division’s name, after the Hungarian fascist premier Gyula Gömbös (1886 – 1936).
Order of battle
Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 64 (1)
Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 65 (1)
Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 85
Waffen-Artillerie-Regiment der SS 26
SS-Füsilier-Bataillon 26
SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 26
SS-Pionier-Bataillon 26
SS-Nachrichten-Kompanie
Officers serving in the Einsatzgruppen and Concentration Camps
Concentration Camps 3
(includes officers serving in the Einsatzgruppen or Concentration Camps either prior to or after service in this unit)
Footnotes
1. A third battalion was created in the infantry regiments in February 1945 when additional Hungarians were added to the division. These men were orginally assinged to planned Waffen-SS units that were not realized.
Sources used
Georges M. Croisier – Waffen-SS (PDF)
Terry Goldsworthy – Valhalla’s Warriors: A history of the Waffen-SS on the Eastern Front 1941-1945
Dr. K-G Klietmann – Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation
David Littlejohn – Foreign Legions of the Third Reich, vol 3
Kurt Mehner – Die Waffen-SS und Polizei 1939-1945
Antonio J. Munoz – Teutonic Magyars: Hungarian volunteers in the Waffen-SS (in The Hungarian Army and its military leadership in World War II by Andris J. Kursietis)
Leo W.G. Niehorster – The Royal Hungarian Army 1920-1945
Marc J. Rikmenspoel – Waffen-SS Encyclopedia
Gordon Williamson – The Waffen-SS: 24. to 38. Divisions and Volunteer Legions
Mark C. Yerger – Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, corps and divisional leaders of a legend (2 vol)
Reference material on this unit
A.G. Payer – Armati Hungarorum
