Updated by

Dr.Chuang

on 18/07/2021

Created by

Dr.Chuang

on 16/2/2020

Panzer Lehr's Panzergrenadier

Totenkopf's Panzergrenadier

SS Langemarck

Göring's kradschützen

SS KG Peiper

Panzer-Brigade 107

Panther on the Oder

38(t) Recon Tank in Hungary/Czech

10 February 1945, SS-Obersturmbannführer Léon Degrelle (aged 39) received an order from XXXIX Panzerkorps to send a company to Krüssow (Kurcewo in Poland at present) which was defended only by a few Volkssturm units (1). Unfortunately, Russian troops (possible 75th Guards Infantry Division of 12th Guards Tank Corps) had already occupied Krüssow (Kurcewo in Poland at present) (2).

12 February 1945, Krüssow (Kurcewo in Poland at present), the 5th company under the command of SS-Untersturmführer Henri Rue (aged 25)/II. battalion/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 69 arrived just at the same time when the Russian tanks (possible 75th Guards Infantry Division of 12th Guards Tank Corps) arrived and the 5th company was beated back across the tribute of River Ihna (River Lazy Inha). SS-Untersturmführer Henri Rue (aged 25) organized the defense on the right bank of River Lazy Inha and telephoned SS-Obersturmbannführer Léon Degrelle (aged 39) about his plan then he led the counterattack against Russian tanks and was killed before his men by the wall of Krüssow (Kurcewo in Poland at present) (1, 3, 4).

13 February 1945, Krüssow (Kurcewo in Poland at present), the XXXIX Panzerkorps tried another effort to retake the village with tank and air support. But all the effort failed again (1). The 4. SS-Polizei-Panzergrenadier-Division was also released by 9.Fallschirmjäger-Division and transferred to south of River Ihna on the left flank of 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Wallonien" for impending offensive (5, 6).

Reference:

1. Degrelle, Léon. Campaign in Russia: The Waffen SS on the Eastern Front, p283. Institute for Historical Review, 1985.

2. Landwehr, Richard; Roba, Jean-Louis; Merriam, Ray. The "Wallonien": The History of the 5th SS-Sturmbrigade and 28th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division, p35. Hoosick Falls, NY: Merriam Press Military, 2012.

3. For more infomration about Wallonien officers please refer to Grégory Bouysse's Encyclopedia of the New Order - Special Issue - Wallonia (Part I)/Lulu.com.

4. Borowski, Tomasz. Last Blood on Pomerania: Leon Degrelle and the Walloon Waffen SS Volunteers, February-May 1945, part 3. Warwick: Helion and Company, 2016. According to this book the commander who died before his men was SS-Untersturmführer Rudi Bal (aged 34) but he was the acting commander of 3rd company/I. battalion/SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Regiment 70 and he was killed at Lübow on 6 March 1945 (3).

5. Urbanke, Axel. Endkempf: um das Reichsgebiet 1944/1945 Ostfront, p36. Bad Zwischenahn: Luftfahrtverlag- Start, 2017.

6. Michaelis, Rolf. Die Panzergrenadier-Divisionen der Waffen-SS, p54. Eggolsheim: Dörfler Verlag, 2011.

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