|
The 12th SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" was a German Waffen SS armoured division of World War II. It was one of only two German divisions to carry Hitler's name and was formed as an extension of 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler".
The 12th SS was remarkable because the motorized infantry of its two Panzergrenadier regiments were drawn entirely from members of the Hitler Youth born in 1926.
Formation and Training
Hitler decided to create a Hitlerjugend division in 1943. The initial concept was to create a Panzergrenadier (mechanized infantry) division but by the end of 1943 this was revised to a full Panzer division. 8,000 HJ recruits entered basic training on May 1st 1943. The Division's officers, NCOs and specialists were taken from the 1st SS Panzer Division, a highly experienced formation with a good record on the Eastern Front.
Advanced training took place at Beverloo in Belgium. Instructors, most of whom were veterans, adopted an unusual training regime. Drill was almost totally replaced by realistic combat exercises and physical training took the form of games and sport. This, combined with the HJ's fanatical commitment to the Nazi cause, meant a the Division had exceptionally high morale.
Normandy Campaign
At the start of June 1944 the Division was declared ready for combat operations. The Division's tank strength at complement was 81 Panther and 104 Panzer IV tanks. The Division was also equipped with Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyers, 3 prototype Wirbelwind flak vehicles, along with a number of 20mm, 37mm and 88mm flak guns, Hummel, Wespe and sIG 33 SP guns and regular tube artillery.
However, its tank destroyer unit, SS-Panzerjägerabteilung 12, was not ready for action and was understrength in Jagdpanzer IV.
The 12th was one of the first Panzer units into action, attacking British and Canadian units landed at Gold, Juno and Sword beaches shortly after D-day. It participated in the bitter fighting around Caen and took heavy casualties.
The Hitlerjugend Division escaped in disarray from the Falaise pocket and reformed in Belgium.
Battle of the Bulge
The Hitlerjugend Division was part of the 1st SS Panzer Corps, the lead German formation in the Battle of the Bulge.
Frühlingserwachen
The Hitlerjugend Division took part in the Frühlingserwachen.
End of War
External links
| 
