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Conversion
of Kradschuetzen in SS-Panzergrenadier Division before Operation Zitadelle.
The conversion of Kradschuetzen
in Waffen-SS was coupled with a serial reorganization of SS-Division (mot)
into SS-Panzergrenadier Division. LSSAH-Division (mot) was renamed as
SS-Panzergrenadier Division LSSAH on 24th November 1942 with the raising
of SS-Panzer Regiment 1 on 14th October 1942. The motorized reconnaissance
battalion has one armored car company, one light panzer grenadier company
equipped with SPW 250, two motorcycle reconnaissance companies equipped
with Schwimmwagen, and one motorized heavy company equipped with various
fire supportive vehicles at that time. The battalion was expanded to six
companies with one more light panzer grenadier company in 1943 and was
finally renamed as panzer reconnaissance battalion on 22nd October 1943.
SS-Wiking Division (mot) was renamed as SS-Panzergrenadier Division Wiking
on 9th November 1942 with the raising of SS-Panzer Regiment 5 on 28th
February 1942. The composition of motorized reconnaissance battalion at
that time was not clear.
Dissolution
of schnelle Schuetzen-Regiment in SS-Panzergrenadier Division before Operation
Zitadelle. The dissolution
of schnelle Schuetzen in Waffen-SS was coupled with a serial reorganization
of SS-Division (mot) into SS-Panzergrenadier Division. The
SS schnelle Schuetzen-Regiment Langemarck (SS fast rifle regiment Langemarck)
released its second battalion to form the second battalion of SS-Panzer
Regiment 2 on 14th October 1942 and SS-Reich Division (mot) was
renamed as Das Reich the next day. Finally the division was renamed as
SS-Panzergrenadier Division DAs Reich to fit its combat ability on 9th
November 1942. The SS fast rifle regiment Langemarck
had only one battalion but they distinguished themselves in the battle
of Kharkov in early 1943. The regiment was finally disbanded
after the battle of Kharkov and the first battalion was merged with motorized
reconnaissance battalion to form the new panzer reconnaissance battalion
in the summer of 1943. SS-Totenkopf Division (mot) was renamed as SS-Panzergrenadier
Division Totenkopf on 9th November 1942 with the raising of SS-Panzer
Regiment 3 on 14th October 1942. The SS schnelle Schuetzen-Regiment Thule
suffered heavy loss during the battle of Kharkov. The SS-Panzergrenadier
Regiment 1 Totenkopf absorbed the regiment and heritage the title as SS-Panzergrenadier
Regiment 1 Thule in the summer of 1943.
Conclusion.
The original idea for SS fast
rifle regiment was not known. It seems that the intention of the regiment
was to replace the pure motorcycle rifle units for rapid deploy but it
was redundant for SS-Division (mot) to have two 3-battalion regiments
plus one 2-battalion regiment. Besides
the regiment was equipped with new Schwimmwagen in each battalion and
maintenance for the new Schwimmwagen might be a heavy burden for the battalion.
Some documents point there were also plans for creating
SS fast rifle regiment in new SS panzer formations but the idea soon dropped
after the dissolution of existing SS fast rifle regiments in the east
front. More information is needed to build a whole view for these SS fast
rifle regiments.
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