Published: 24 December 2010
Last Updated: 01 June 2013
The 27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Langemarck (flämische Nr. 1) was formed 19 October 1944 when 6. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade Langemarck was upgraded to a division by the addition of manpower from the Flemish collaborators from Vlaamsche Wacht and other organizations who had retreated from Belgium along with the German forces.
It fought on the eastern front and participated in the fighting at Narva. It continued to fight the soviet forces as it was forced back into Germany and the division surrendered at Mecklemburg though some parts participated in the battle of Berlin.
Lineage
SS-Freiwilligen-Legion-Flandern (July 1941 – May 1943)
SS-Sturmbrigade Langemarck (May 1943 – Oct 1943)
6. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade Langemarck (Oct 1943 – Oct 1944)
27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Langemarck (flämische Nr. 1) (Oct 1944 – May 1945)
Commander
SS-Obersturmbannführer Conrad Schellong (19 Oct 1944 – ? Oct 1944)
SS-Standartenführer Thomas Müller (? Oct 1944 – 2 May 1945)
Chief of Staff
SS-Sturmbannführer Heinz Hufenbach (? Nov 1944 – ? May 1945)
Quartermaster
SS-Sturmbannführer Kurt Willamowski (? – ?)
Area of operations
Poland & Pomerania (Sep 1944 – May 1945)
Manpower strength
Dec 1944 7.000
Honor titles
Langemarck is a Belgian town in Western Flanders, whose name was made famous in WW I by the charge of German regiments mostly composed of young war volunteers on 11 November 1914, which was heavily exploited propagandistically both in WW I and during the Third Reich. The name was adopted as this division was largely made up of Flemish volunteers.
Order of battle
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 66
– I./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 66
– II./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 66
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 67
– I./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 67
– II./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 67
SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 68
– I./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 68
– II./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 68
SS-Artillerie Regiment 27
SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 27
SS-Nachrichten Abteilung 27
SS-Pionier-Bataillon 27
SS-Div.Versorgungs-Regiment 27
SS-Feldersatz-Bataillon 27
SS-Sanitäts-Abteilung 27
Verwaltungs-Kompanie
Propaganda-Kompanie
Kampgruppe Schellong
Officers serving in the Einsatzgruppen and Concentration Camps
Concentration Camps 5
(includes officers serving in the Einsatzgruppen or Concentration Camps either prior to or after service in this unit)
Insignia
The “Langemarck” cuff title was authorized for this unit, but “Frw. Legion Flandern”, “Freiw. Legion Flandern”, “Legion Flandern” and “Flandern” cuff titles were also used.
A collar insignia with a trifos (three-legged swastika) was used as well as the normal SS runes.
(Courtesy of Carl Evans)
Sources used
John R. Angolia – Cloth insignia of the SS
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
Kurt Mehner – Die Waffen-SS und Polizei 1939-1945
Marc J. Rikmenspoel – Waffen-SS Encyclopedia
George H. Stein – The Waffen-SS: Hitler’s Elite Guard at War 1939-1945
Frank Thayer – SS Foreign volunteer collar insignia and their reproductions (in The Military Advisor, Vol 4 No 2)
Gordon Williamson & Thomas McGuirl – German military cuffbands 1784-present
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
Allen Brandt – The Last Knight of Flanders
Richard Landwehr – Lions Of Flanders
Aline Sax – Voor Vlaanderen volk en Führer
Jonathan Trigg – Hitler’s Flemish Lions
A. Van Arendonck – Vlamingen aan het Oostfront
Pieter Jan Verstraete – August Claes: Symbool van de Oostfrontgemeenschap
Jan Vincx – Vlaanderen in Uniform 1940-1945
