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Wehrmannschaft of the Steirischen Heimatbund

By Henry L. deZeng IV

Formed immediately following the German victory in Yugoslavia in Apri11941. Elements were
engaged against Partisan elements as early as 22 June 1941. Peak strength of this organization
(probably 1942-43) was 66,566 men, according to German sources, although a respected postwar
Yugoslav historian (Strugar, p.30) says it reached 85,000 at the end of 1941. A Slovenian historian
(Ferenc) says that during its course of existence, the Wehrmannschaft enrolled a total of 84,700 men in
Untersteiermark and 17,592 in Oberkrain, according to surviving German documents.

All males between 18 and 45 who belonged to the Steirischer Heimatbund, created 10 May 1941 under
SA-Oberfhrer Franz Steindl, and the Krntner Volksbund, created 24 May 1941 under Wilhelm
Schick, automatically were members of the Wehrmannschaft. Initially, the sole purpose of the
Wehrmannschaft was military training, i.e., drilling, weapons training and National Socialist political
instruction. Virtually all Volksdeutsche belonged to the two political organizations, and this is why the
membership number is so high in a region with a total population of only some 825,000.

The Wehrmannschaft is best characterized as being a garrison militia, although the men were well-
clothed in standard SA uniforms and brown RAD uniforms with SA badges and rank designations, and
mountain boots. The unit was well equipped with light arms and automatic weapons, and even had its
own light artillery battery.

The Wehrmannschaft was formed and controlled by the SA-Gruppe Sdmark, which had its
Verwaltungsstelle and Verwaltungs- Standartenfhrer in Marburg (Maribor). The commander of the
Wehrmannschaft was Gauorganisationsleiter and SA-Oberfhrer Franz Steindl. The Untersteiermark
and Oberkrain Wehrmannschaften were two distinctly separate organizations. Both were tactically
subordinated to the BdO Alpenland.

For reference purposes only, the Wehrmannschaft was under SA-Gruppe Sdmark (Kdr.: SA-
Brigadefhrer Orth), which was located in the Austrian portions of Steiermark and Krnten, although
elements were in Slovenia during April and May 1941, but then returned to Austria. SA-Gruppe
Sdmark order of battle on 1 December 1941:
SA-Gebirgsjgerbrigade 95
SA-Gebirgsschtzenstandarte 26
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 27
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 83
SA-Gebirgsjgerbrigade 96
SA-Gebirgsschtzenstandarte 3
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 138
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 188
SA-Gebirgsjgerbrigade 97
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 7
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 8
SA-Gebirgsjgerstandarte 17
(Note: the above units were purely German and located in Austria).

Organizationally, the Wehrmannschaft consisted of 13 regiments, of which 10 were in Untersteiermark


and 3 in Oberkrain. Organizational structure from inception to end: Standarten (Regiments),
Sturmbannen (Battalions) and Sturmen (Companies).

At the time of the invasion of Yugoslavia (early April 1941), the Wehrmannschaft in both
Untersteiermark and Oberkrain had 10,818 men. From April/May 1941 to September 1941, the
Wehrmannschaft functioned as auxil1iaries for the various Gendarmerie stations throughout
Untersteiermark and Oberkrain. It was not until June 1941 that they began to be formally organized
into SA-Wehrmannschaft companies. The men were recruited from the local Slovene population, and
were not all Volksdeutsche or Kulturbund Nazis.

By the end of June 1941, 10 Standarte of Wehrmannschaften were being formed in Untersteiermark.
Commander was SA-Standartenfhrer Franz Blasch, with HQ in Maribor. These were:
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Cilli-Ost (SA-Standartenfhrer Wolf) in Celje;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Cilli-West (SA-Standartenfhrer Wolf) in Celje;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Marburg-Stadt (SS-Sturmbannfhrer Rpschl?) in Maribor;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Marburg-Land (SA-Standartenfhrer Hans Mller) in Maribor;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Windischgraz in Slovenj Gradec;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Pettau-Nord in Ptuj;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Pettau-Sd in Ptuj;
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Luttenberg in Ljutomer
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Rann in Breice
Wehrmannschaftstandarte Trifail in Trbovlje

1.3.1943 all Standarte were grouped in two brigades:


Wehrmannschaftbrigade Cilli (Celje) / SA-Oberfhrer (promoted!) Ernst Drgert
Wehrmannschaftbrigade Marburg (Maribor) / SA-Oberfhrer Franz Blasch

These 10 Standarte with 307 Sturm and 84.700 men. On 11.9.1941 there were 99 Sturm in two
Standarte in Celje (Cilli) only which were delivered 990 guns with ammunition 10 guns per each
Sturm.

In Maribor two Fliegersturm were organized in November 1941.

In March 1942 Wehrmannschaft Motorstandarte with 19 Motorsturm was organized.

In April 1942 Wehrmannschaft Sonderstandarte with 15 Sturm was organized. It was later renamed into
SS-Wehrmannschaft Sonderstandarte.

These units were organized and activated within their own territory. Since April 1942 men from those
units were assigned to units organized for anti-partisan fighting across the boundaries of each
Standarte. In April-November 1942 such a unit was Wehrmannschaftsbataillon Sd. In December 1942,
alarm companies were organised of men from disbanded Wehrmannschaftsbataillon Sd.

1.3.1943 all Standarte were grouped in two brigades which were disbanded after 15.7.1943 when StHB
leader Franz Steindl took over command of Wehrmannschaft from Franz Blasch. Steindl grouped alarm
companies in alarm battalions Sd, West, Nord, Ost and Mitte. In september 1944 alarm companies
were re-organized in battalions I - IV due to reduced number of men caused by soaring cases of
desertions and avoiding call-ups.
In 1943 three Jagdkommando were organized for a limited period of six weeks.

The Wehrmannschaften in Oberkrain began forming at the end of June 1941 with SA-Brigadefhrer
Beck as Kommandeur and with HQ in Veldes (Bled). Its order of battle at end of 1941 was:
SA-Wehrmannschaftstandarte Krainburg (15 companies - 1,750 men) in Kranj;
SA-Wehrmannschaftstandarte (name unknown) (29 companies -2,500 men) in Radovljica;
SA-Wehrmannschaftstandarte (name unknown) (13 companies - 1,340 men) in kofja Loka;
SA-Wehrmannschaftstandarte (name unknown) (42 companies - 6,300 men) in Kamnik;
SA-Wehrmannschaftstandarte (name unknown) (15 companies - 1,800 men) in Mezia area.

All Wehrmannschaft regiments had a motorized company, an engineer company, a medical company
and a signal company.

The Wehrmannschaft in Oberkrain disintegrated by early 1942, because for one reason the Partisans
forces in Oberkrain were in much greater strength and much more active than in Untersteiermark. The
Wehrmannschaft organization in Untersteiermark did not disintegrate until the early spring of 1944,
because the Partisans had no strength in this area until the spring of 1943. In March 1944 and
coincident with the dissolution of the larger organization, the Regiment "Untersteiermark" in 28
companies was formed using Wehrmannschaft alarm battalions that were constructed from the
remaining pool of men. This Regiment fought against the Partisans to the end of the war in the area of
Maribor, Celje and Kamnik.

Units - Organizational Notes and Operational Employment of the Wehrmannschaft


Apr 42: Wehrmannschaftssturmbann Sd was raised in April 1942 with 2,500 men and employed
along the German-Italian border between Untersteiermark and the Italian-occupied Province of
Ljubljana.

Jun 42: the Oberkrainer Selbstschutz was formed in June 1942 in Celje area only. In November 1942
CdZ Uiberreither ordered Selbstschutz to be formed in Untersteiermark by gendarmerie commander.
Selbstschutz men were armed by arms belonging to Wehrmannschaft. Their task was local defence
only, hence the name. Selbstschutz remained until February 1945 when it was disbanded and
incorporated in Deutsche Volkssturm as the troops of the second call.

In February 1942 Gottscheer Selbstschutz with initially 900 men was formed in 37 villages of the area
near Sava and Sotla rivers, settled by Germans from Koevje (Gottschee) area and from Besarabia.
They were settled there after native Slovene population had been deported and their property
confiscated.

In Oberkrain (Gorenjska) Selbstschutz was organized in the same way as it was organized in
Untersteiermark.

Note that in Gorenjska (Oberkrain) Selbstschutz was not the same formation as Gorenjsko
Domobranstvo. Gorenjsko Domobranstvo was formed in the beginning of 1944 and expanded in
Autumn 1944. It was subordinated to KdS Bled. It is estimated that there were up to 3500 members of
Gorenjsko Domobranstvo. 350 of them were deserters from Wehrmacht whose documents were
arranged by gestapo just to get them join Gorenjsko Domobranstvo.

Selbstschutz was formed and led by the occupant who forced inhabitants of the occupied territory to
serve. Gorenjsko Domobranstvo was allowed to form of volunteers and was led by the occupant.
29 Sep 42: Wehrmannschaft-Btl. Sd with 7 companies was located in the area Trbovlje Prebold
Vransko - emenik. Between Nov 42 and Jan 43, Btl. Sd was disbanded and in its place
Wehrmannschaft-Alarm-Kpn. were created. Initially (Jan 43) there were 3 of these, but by Sep 43 the
number had increased to 10.

1943: four (4) additional Wehrmannschaftssturmbannen were raised in 1943 in Untersteiermark for
combat against the Partisans.

Autumn 43 II. Alarmkompanie Rann (Breice) was formed of men from III. Sturmbann of WM SS-
Sonderstandarte. It was commanded by SS-Hauptsturmfhrer (later SS-Sturmbannfhrer) Franz
Lindner. It was engaged in German offensive in October south of Radee and moved to Medijske
Toplice 3.11.1943. The company was disbanded 12.1.1944 and men were sent home.

late Oct 43: Wehrmannschaft-Btle. Ost (SA-Hauptsturmfhrer Egger) and West mobilized with a
total of 1,100 men in the area between Trbovlje and otanj.

3 Nov 43: Wehrmannschaft-Btl. Nord had 7 companies and was stretched out in garrisons running
along the road from Dravograd southeast to Vitanje.

13 Nov 43: Wehrmannschaft-Btl. Mitte mobilized to defend the area to the west and southwest of
Maribor, with locations in the Ruse martno Zree Vitanje area. Wehrmannschaft-Btl. Nord
was mobilized at about the same time, and was located around Slov. Bistrica.

29 Nov 43: mention of Wehrmannschaft 2. Alarm-Kp.Luttenberg in and around Gornji (NE Kamnik).

11.2.1944 Commander of Alarmbtl. Ost SA-Obersturmbannfhrer Egger was killed south of Slivnica
near Celje.

12.2.1944 On colonel Treeck's order Steindl with ten Wehrmannschaft alarm companies arrived by
train from Rajhenburg to Rimske Toplice to block the line Sevnica Rimske Toplice. While advancing
in Graanica valley toward Jurkloter he forced a group of children to walk in front of his men to
protect them from a possible partisan attack. Nevertheless, partisans opened fire near Jurkloter and
started a fierce fight ending with 9 KIA and 12 WIA Wehrmannschaft men. Children ran toward
partisans who sheltered them and bandaged three of them who were wounded

13 Mar 44: the Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark was ordered formed on 13 March 1944 by
Franz Steindl with 4 and later 5 Sturmbannen for guarding industrial establishments, towns and the
lines of communication (railroads and roads) and for use against the Partisans. Initial order of battle:
Regimentsstab in Slovenjgradec (Fhrungsstab) and Maribor (Verwaltungsstab)
I. Btl. Marburg (SA-Standartenfhrer Simon Kohlbacher) (10 companies) in and around Maribor,
II. Btl. Pettau (3 later 5 companies) in Ptuj and surrounding area,
III. Btl.Cilli (SA-Obersturmbannfhrer Wrndler) (4 later 7 companies) in Celje and surrounding
area,
IV. Btl.Rann (4 companies) in Breice (Rann) and surrounding area,

The Regiment was used to guard industrial, rail and road objectives and to assist the police in
operations against the Partisans. In Sep 44, the Regiment reduced the number of companies from 25 to
15, but at the same time 3 reserve companies were set up. Directly under the Regimentsstab were an
artillery battery, reconnaissance company, Gendarmerie school and the independent Alarm-Kp.
Trifail, the latter being located in Trbovlje. The Regiments disintegration and the gradual desertion
of its men to the Partisans is said to have begun in late spring 1944, just a few months after it was
formed.

11.4.44 II. Alarmkompanie Rann (Breice) was formed again and transported to Izlake where it stayed
until August 1944. Its commander SS-Sturmbannfhrer Franz Lindner was killed 17.5.1944 and was
replaced by SS-Hauptscharfhrer Brunno Rinner.

15-20 May 44: three battalions participated in anti-partisan Operation Anton I carried out in the
Podhorje between Slovenjgradec and Maribor.

23/24.6.44 During the night partisan ercer brigade (ercerjeva brigada) attacked Wehrmannschaft post
in Zree. The attack failed but I. Btl. commander SA-Standartenfhrer Simon Kohlbacher was killed.

23 Jul 44: partial list of locations -


Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark:
Stab III. Btl. in Mozirje/27 km NW of Celje
1. Kp. Cilli-Ost (154 men) in Reica/10 km SSW of Celje
2. Kp. Cilli-West (150 men) in Mozirje
3. Kp. Cilli-Ost (123 men) in Luce/44 km WNW of Celje
4. Kp. Cilli-Ost (127 men) in Ljubno/36 km WNW of Celje
Kp. Pettau (from II. Btl.) (161 men) in Gornji Grad/37 km WNW of Celje.

11/12.9.44 Partisan lander brigade (landrova brigada) with 488 men attacked Mozirje where the
headquarters, 1., 2. and 4. companies of the II. Btl. of Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark were
stationed in several buildings, altogether 276 men. 255 Wehrmannschaft men were captured, 12 were
killed, including the commander of II. Btl. SA-Standartenfhrer Helmut Wolf. Partisan losses were 5
killed and 40 wounded.

Nov 44 As the number of WM SS-Sonderstandarte was reduced to about 300 men the unit was attached
to Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark.

25 Sep 44: Hitler ordered the creation of the Volkssturm. Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark was
used as the formation staff for the Volkssturm in the Untersteiermark and provided the personnel from
former members of the Wehrmannschaft. Although this process did not really get under way until 1945,
eventually 49 Volkssturm battalions were subordinated to it, but these only existed on paper.

mid-Jan 45: a fifth battalion was added to Untersteiermark at about this time. By now each battalion
consisted of a Stab, 3 rifle and 1 heavy weapons company.

Mar 45: SA-Obersturmbannfhrer Swoboda commanded a Kampfgruppe consisting of the I., III. and
IV. Btle. of Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark which was deployed along the Mur River in
eastern Untersteiermark.

27 Mar 45: when the Red Army broke the German defense in Hungary on 27 March 45, what was left
of Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark was broken up, the battalions becoming Volkssturm
battalions, and these were moved into the threatened area east of Maribor, between the Mura and Drava
Rivers. The Regimentsstab for Steiermark was disbanded on 16 April 1945 and then the individual
battalions were destroyed in fighting with the Partisans one by one.

30 Mar 45: SA-Oberfhrer Franz Steindl, Kdr. of Wehrmannschafts-Rgt. Untersteiermark, reportedly


KIA at Rechnitz, a small village along the Austria Hungary border to the northeast of Graz, while
engaged in heavy fighting against Soviet forces.

Sources used:

Ferenc, Tone et al. Narodnoosvobodilna Vojna na Slovenskem 1941 1945. Third edition. Ljubljana:
Vojaki Zgodovinski Intitut Jugoslovanske Ljudske Armade in Intitut za Zgodovino Delavskega
Gibanja v Ljubljani, 1978.
Ferenc, Anton. Quellen zur Nationalsozialistischen Entnationalisierungspolitik in Slowenien 1941-
1945. Maribor, 1980.
Harriman, Helga Horiak. The German Minority in Yugoslavia, 1941-1945. Unpublished Ph.D.
dissertation. Oklahoma State Univ., 1973.
Karner, Stefan. Die Stabsbesprechungen der NZ-Zivilverwaltung in der Untersteiermark 1941-1944.
Graz, 1996.
Schweighofer, Franz. Die Wehrmannschaft des Steirischen Heimatbundes 1941-1945; in: Feldgrau
(Mitteilungen einer Arbeitsgemeinschaft), 9. Jahrgang 1961, Heft 5/1. Oktober 1961, pp.151-57.
Strugar, Vlado. Jugoslavija 1941-1945. Belgrade: Vojnoizdavaki Zavod, 1969.
Vojnoistorijski glasnik, issues from 1955.
[Vojnoistorijski institute]. Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilakom ratu
jugoslovenskih naroda.
Znidaritsch, Marjan, Joze Dezman and Ludvik Puklavec. Nemska Mobilizacija Slovencev v Drugi
Svetovni Vojni. Celje, 2001.

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