| 38th SS Division Nibleungen | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the 38th SS Division Nibelungen |
|
| Active | March - May, 1945 |
| Country |  Nazi
Germany |
| Allegiance | Adolf Hitler |
| Branch |  Waffen SS |
| Size | Division |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Richard Schulze-Kossens |
The 38th SS Division Nibelungen. was formed in March 1945 from the staff and students of the SS-Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. It was first given the title of the SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz Division, but was renamed to the SS-Division Junkerschule and finally to the 38th SS Grenadier Division Nibelungen this final name was selected, by the commander of the cadet school Richard Schulze-Kossens. The name Nibelungen comes from German mythology, which was the name of a lineage of dwarves, who were defeated by Siegfried. [1] [2]
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The Division never consisted of more than around 6,000 men, the strength of a normal Brigade. [1][2]
Alongside the men of the Junkerschule, the division also received some additional units, one being the SS special use Begleitkommando-SS and two Zollgrenzschutz (Customs Border Guards) battalions , soldiers from the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord , a company from 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen, officers from the 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian) and a battalion of Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth). [1][2]
The first Divisional commander was Richard Schulze-Kossens, who at the time was the Commanding officer of the SS-Brigade Nibelungen and the Junkerschule at Bad Tölz. [1][2]
He was followed by Martin Stange on 12 April, (Heinz Lammerding and Karl von Oberkamp were also assigned as commanders, but never took up the post). [1][2]
The division had 2 Grenadier regiments, the 95th SS Grenadier Regiment, under the command of Obersturmführer, Markus Faulhaber and 96th SS Grenadier Regiment which was commanded by Obersturmführer (First Lieutenant) Walter Schmidt. [1][2]
The divisions 38th Panzerjäger (Tank Hunter) Battalion received the majority of its men from the Prinz Eugen division and officers from Nord. [1][2] The Abteilung (detatchment) received about 10 Jagdpanzer 38(t) tank destroyers shipped on April 15, it also had some 75 mm towed PaK 40 anti-tank guns (the Abteilung served under 17. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Götz von Berlichingen from 17 to 24 April, until it came under its parent division).
The 38th SS division was ready for battle on 24 April 1945, when it entered the ranks of the XIII SS Army Corps on the Danube river Front, facing the American forces on the southern bank of the river. [1][2]
The Nibelungen was supposed to hold the Corps right wing from Vohburg to Kelheim, but the line was too long for the Divisions strength, so they retreated to a new front on 26 April, which it held until the 28th. [1][2]
On 29 April they had to retreat again across the Isar river to a new position south of Landshut , while coming under strong pressure on its flanks. [1][2]
The next day the Division retreated again, this time to a defensive line northwest of Pastetten and on 1 May they had to withdraw for almost 20 km to Wasseburg. [1][2]
The U.S. 20th Armored Division then breached the division front on 2 May, forcing the Nibelungen to retreat again to Chiemsee. [1][2]
The remains of the division regrouped on 4 May and established a new line west of Oberwoessen, and surrendered to the American forces on 8 May 1945. [1][2]
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