16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS
| 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS | |
|---|---|
Unit insignia
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| Active | 1943–45 |
| Country |
 Nazi Germany
|
| Branch |
 Waffen-SS
|
| Type | Panzergrenadier |
| Size | Division |
The 16th SS Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS was a motorised formation in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II.
Formed in November 1943 when Volksdeutsche recruits were added to the Sturmbrigade Reichsführer SS, which was used as the cadre in the formation of the new division. A Kampfgruppe ("combat group") from the division fought at the Anzio beachhead, while the rest of the division took part in the occupation of Hungary. It fought in Italy as a division from May 1944, until being transferred to Hungary in February 1945.
On June 27, 1944, the 16th SS-Panzer Grenadiers command post in San Vincenzo, Italy was overrun by the U.S. 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, 34th Infantry Division (Red Bulls). The command post was a town centre apartment which had been commandeered; when the owners returned to their apartment they found a signed large leather bound Stielers Handatlas which had been left behind.
In late summer 1944, a part of this division, SS-Panzer-Aufklärungsabteilung 16 (Reconnaissance Battalion 16), commanded by Major Walter Reder, was withdrawn from engagement with the American 5th Army then advancing on the Gothic Line to deal with an Italian Communist partisan unit, the Red Star Brigade (Brigata Stella Rossa). Operating out of a mountain complex centered on Monte Sole, just Southeast of the town of Marzabotto, and sitting astride communications to Bologna, the Red Star was seen as a significant threat to the German rear, both in terms of cutting communications and obstructing a possible route of retreat. Major Reder successfully completed his assignment and destroyed this guerrilla force. In August 1944 alone, in the Versilia and Lunigiana areas of Tuscany, there were three large massacres. 560 civilians were massacred at Sant'Anna di Stazzema on August 12, 159 at San Terenzo Monti on August 17 and 173 civilians murdered at Vinca starting August 24. All three of these reprisals were carried out by the 16th SS Panzer Grenadier Division.
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