29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS

Legione SS Italiana 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian)
Insignia of the 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian)
Active	1943 - 1945
Country	Italian Social Republic
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Branch	Waffen-SS
Size	Division
Nickname	"Italia"
Engagements	World War II Operation Shingle Piedmont

The 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian) or Legione SS Italiana was created on 10 February 1945 as the second SS-Division numbered 29. The first on the 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Russian), was disbanded. The new unit created in November 1943, was based on the Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1). The division is also called "Italia".

Background

The Kingdom of Italy on 8 September 1943 signed a truce with the Allies. In response, the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) and the Waffen-SS disarmed Italian troops unless they were fighting for the German cause. The new Italian Social Republic was founded on 23 September 1943 under dictator Benito Mussolini and this allowed Italians to be recruited for Waffen-SS. On 2 October 1943, Heinrich Himmler and Gottlob Berger devised the Programm zur Aufstellung der italienischen Milizeinheiten durch die Waffen-SS^[1] which was approved by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Training

In October 15,000 volunteers started training at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen, but 9,000 of them were unsuitable and released for training in Police units or for work.^[2] The soldiers wore Sig rune (SS Runes) on red rather than black, and the left sleeve had a Reichsadler, not with a swastika, but with fasces.

On 23 November 1943, 13 Miliz-Battalions pledged their loyalty before being moved to SS-Ausbildungsstab Italien under SS-Brigadeführers Peter Hansen who led them in a "bloody war among brothers"^[3] against partisans. The unit was commanded by SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff and called Italienische SS-Freiwilligen-Legion, but soon renamed 1. Sturmbrigade Italienische Freiwilligen-Legion.

Soon the unit was called Legionari in Italy, also in official reports.

Combat

In April 1944 three battalions fought against Allied bridgeheads of Anzio and Nettuno with surprisingly good results, for which Heinrich Himmler allowed them to wear SS-Runes on black rather than red. On 7 September 1944 renamed to Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS (italienische Nr. 1)^[4] under Generalkommando Lombardia of Heeresgruppe C. New recruits allowed the unit grow in December 1944 to 15,000 men. In Spring 1945 the Division under command by SS-Oberführer Ernst Tzschoppe as Kampfgruppe Binz fought against French units and Resistenza in Piemont.

On 30 April 1945 the last elements of the Division surrendered to US troops in Gorgonzola Lombardy.

Post-war

As with other former members of Nazi combat formations veterans of the Italian SS division found employ in the CIA-orchestrated organizations of illegal and clandestine political warfare in an "anti-communist" role. Several former Italian SS men (like Pio Filippani Ronconi) were involved with the deviated branches of Italian Secret Services and Stay-behind formations used to spread insecurity and terror among the general populace in the 60s and 70s (Strategia della tensione), to dissuade Italians from bringing left political parties to power.

This Post-war section does not include cites to authority for broad generalizations. As shown in the Discussion section of the cross-referenced article "strategic Della tensione" there is serious doubt about the truth of some of the statements.

Units

• Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment of the SS 81
  • I. Waffen-Grenadier Battalion
  • II. Waffen-Grenadier Battalion
  • III. Waffen-Grenadier Battalion

• Waffen-Grenadier-Regiment of the SS 82
  • I. Waffen-Grenadier Battalion
  • II. Waffen-Grenadier Battalion
  • III. Waffen-Grenadier Battalion

• Waffen-Artillery-Regiment of the SS 29
  • I. Artillery Battalion
  • II. Artillery Battalion

• Füsilier-Battalion 29 Debica

• Panzerjäger Battalion 29

• SS-Pionier-Company 29

• SS-Signal-Company 29

• SS-Reserve Battalion 29

• Officers Battalion

Commanders

SS-Brigadeführer Peter Hansen

• 13 November 1943 – March 1944: SS-Brigadeführer Peter Hansen
• March 1944 – September 1944: SS-Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff
• September 1944 – September 1944: SS-Brigadeführer Pietro Mannelli
• September 1944 – Oktober 1944: SS-Brigadeführer Christian Hansen
• Oktober 1944 – November 1944: SS-Standartenführer Gustav Lombard
• 9 November 1944 – January 1945: SS-Standartenführer Constantin Heldmann
• Januar 1945 – April 1945: SS-Oberführer Erwin Tzschoppe

See also

• Waffen-SS
• Grenadier
• Division (military)
• Wehrmacht
• List of German military units of World War II
• Pio Filippani Ronconi

References

• Stein, G (1966) The Waffen SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War 1939-1945. Cornel Uni. Press, London.

v d e — Waffen-SS Brigades — Panzer SS Panzer Brigade Gross SS Brigade Westfalen SS Panzer Brigade 150 Panzergrenadier SS Brigade Schuldt 4th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Brigade Nederland SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 49 SS Panzergrenadier Brigade 51 Sturmbrigade 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Wallonien 6th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade Langemarck Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS 8th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade France SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger S.S. Sturmbrigade R.O.N.A. Cavalry SS Cavalry Brigade Infantry 1 SS Infantry Brigade 2 SS Infantry Brigade 3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade SS Volunteer Grenadier Brigade Landstorm Nederland Waffen Grenadier Brigade of SS (Italian No. 1) Waffen Grenadier Brigade of SS Charlemagne (French No 1) Police Schutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling

v d e — The divisions of the Waffen-SS — Panzer 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler 2nd SS Division Das Reich 3rd SS Division Totenkopf 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend SS Heavy Panzer Battalions Panzergrenadier 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nordland 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen 18th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel 23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division Nederland Mountain 6th SS Mountain Division Nord 7th SS Volunteer Mountain Division Prinz Eugen 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) 21st Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Skanderbeg 23rd Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Kama (2nd Croatian) 24th Waffen Mountain (Karstjäger) Division Cavalry 8th SS Cavalry Division Florian Geyer 22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Division Maria Theresia 33rd Waffen Cavalry Division of the SS (3rd Hungarian) 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lützow 1st Cossack Division Infantry 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Galizien (1st Ukrainian) 15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian) 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian) 20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian) 25th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Hunyadi (1st Hungarian) 26th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Hungarian) 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Langemarck (1st Flemish) 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Wallonien 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS RONA (1st Russian) 29th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Italian) 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian) 30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Belarussian) 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division 32nd SS Volunteer Grenadier Division 30 Januar 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French) 34th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Landstorm Nederland 36th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS 38th SS Division Grenadier Nibelungen Police 4th SS Polizei Division 35th SS and Police Grenadier Division Deception Divisions 26th SS Panzer Division 27th SS Panzer Division