34th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland

34th SS Volunteer Division "Landstorm Nederland"
Unit insignia
Active	1943–1945
Country	Germany
Allegiance	NSB
Branch	Waffen-SS
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Engagements	Western Front Battle of Normandy Operation Market Garden Ardennes Offensive Western Allied invasion of Germany
Commanders
Notable commanders	Martin Kohlroser

The 34th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division "Landstorm Nederland" (German : 34. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Landstorm Nederland") was a World War II infantry division in the Waffen-SS, the combat wing of the German Nazi Party. It was formed by converting the SS Volunteer Brigade Landstorm Nederland into a division. It was composed of volunteers of Dutch background under the command of German officers; its strength never reached more than that of a brigade.^{[ citation needed ]}

Operational history

Upon the Operation Market Garden landings in September 1944, the unit came under the command of Hans Rauter in the newly formed Kampfgruppen Rauter along with the Wachbataillon Nordwest and a regiment of the Ordnungspolizei (Order Police). Rauter was said to be proud of his Dutch 'Germanic SS'. ^[1]

The unit fought various actions on the Eastern and Western fronts. It took part in fighting in the Netherlands, then Pomerania, and then in the Battle of the Seelow Heights where it was destroyed.^{[ citation needed ]}

Organization

The division consisted of the following. ^[2]

• Division HQ
• SS-Feldersatz-Battalion 60
• Grenadier-Regiment 1
• SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 83 (3rd Dutch)
• SS Volunteer Grenadier Regiment 84 (4th Dutch)
• SS Artillery Regiment 60
• SS Panzerjäger Battalion 60
• SS Pionier Company 60
• SS Signals Company 60
• SS Veterinary Company 60
• SS Field post Department 60
• SS Medical Company 60

List of commanders

The following were the commanding officers of the division. ^[2]

• SS-Oberführer Viktor Knapp (11 May 1943 – 1 April 1944)
• SS-Obersturmbannführer Deurheit (1 April – 5 November 1944)
• SS-Standartenführer Martin Kohlroser (5 November 1944 – 8 May 1945)

See also

• List of Waffen-SS divisions
• List of SS personnel

References

Footnotes

1. Beevor 2018, p. 48.
2. Baxter 2023, pp. 153–154.

Bibliography

• Baxter, Ian (2023). Waffen-SS Dutch & Belgian Volunteers. Pen and Sword. ISBN   978-1-39908-762-9.
• Beevor, Antony (2018). Arnhem: The Battle for the Bridges, 1944. Penguin Books. ISBN   978-0-670-91867-6.