SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers

SS-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie
SS-Kriegsberichter-Abteilung
SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers"

The SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers" was a German Waffen SS war correspondent formation which reported on the actions of all Waffen SS combat formations, seeing action in all major theatres of war with the exception of North Africa.

Unit History

The SS-Kriegsberichter-Kompanie (SS War Reporter's Company) was established in January 1940, it's original formation being four platoons of war correspondents and their support staff. The platoons were able to operate independent of each other, each equipped with still and movie cameras to enable to units to visually document the actions of Waffen-SS men in combat.

The company was placed under the command of ex-Allgemeine SS Standartenführer Günter d'Alquen. Upon his transfer to the Waffen-SS, d'Alquen was given the rank of "Waffen-SS Hauptsturmführer der Reserve". d'Alquen would command the unit throughout its existence, ending the war as an "Waffen-SS Standartenführer der Reserve".

Soon after its formation, one platoon was attached to each of the four Waffen-SS combat formations. These platoons were to remain attached to their respective formations throughout the campaigns in France and the Low Countries, reporting on the actions of the SS combat formations during the campaign.

The platoons remained attached to the SS combat units during the campaign in the Balkans, taking many famous photographs, including that of SS-Standartenführer Kurt Meyer at the battle for the Kleisoura Pass.

By August 1941, the number of Waffen-SS formations had increased, and so the SS-Kreigsberichter-Kompanie was increased in size as well, becoming the SS-Kreigsberichter-Abteilung. As an Abteilung, the unit had several more war correspondent units attached to it, enabling it to cover the actions of all the Waffen-SS formations in the field.

As the number of SS combat formations increased, so did the number of correspondents required. In December 1943, the unit was enlarged to regimental size, and renamed SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers". The honour title "Kurt Eggers" referred to the SS War Correspondent and editor of the SS Magazine Das Schwarze Korps who had been killed earlier in the year, while reporting on the "Wiking's" battles near Kharkov.

Many of the "Kurt Eggers" photographers, movie cameramen, writers, broadcaster and recorders were foreign volunteers, and most were multilingual. Several formations within the Standarte were formed to gather information for occupied or allied countries, and these sub-units were generally staffed by volunteers of the relevant nationality. At least two U.S. citizens, several British and a New Zealander served with the Standarte throughout the war.Fact|date=September 2007

Order of Battle: SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers", January 1944

* Stab der Standarte
* Abteilung Verwaltung
** Unterkunftsverwaltung
* Gruppe Wort
** Verbindungsführer Presse
* Gruppe Bild
** Referat Bildtechnik
** Referat Bildschriftleitung
** Referat Bildarchiv
* Gruppe Rundfunk
** Referat Rundfunkstechnik
** Referat Rundfunksendung
* Abschnitt Russland-Nord
* Abschnitt Russland-Süd
* Abschnitt Lettland und Lettische Einheiten
* Abschnitt Südost
* Abschnitt West
* Sonderunternehmen Südost
* Kommando Oslo
* Kommando Kopenhagen
* Kommando Frankreich
* Kommando Brüssel
* Kommando Südost
* Kommando Adria
* Ersatz-Kompanie
** Ausbildungsgruppe
* Gruppe Kampfpropaganda
** 2 x SS-Kampfpropaganda Zug
* Sonderunternehmen "Südstern"
** "Skorpion Ost"
** "Skorpion West" (Ober-Rhein)
** Unternehmen "Wintermärchen"

References

* Pipes, Jason. " [http://www.feldgrau.com/ss-st-ke.html SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers"] ". Retrieved May 31, 2005.
* Wendel, Marcus " [http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=2008 SS-Standarte "Kurt Eggers"] ". Retrieved May 31, 2005.

ee also

* Waffen-SS, War correspondent
* Regiment, Military unit
* Wehrmacht, List of German military units of World War II