Brandenburgers
The Brandenburgers (German: Brandenburger) were members of Nazi Germany's Wehrmacht special forces unit during World War II.
| Battalion – December 1939 Division – February 1943 – March 1944 Panzergrenadier-Division – 1944–1945. | |
|---|---|
Division "Brandenburg" Vehicle Insignia | |
| Active | 1939–1945 |
| Country | Nazi Germany |
| Branch | German Army |
| Type | Special forces |
| Size | Company (initial) Division (at peak) |
| Part of | Abwehr |
| Garrison/HQ | Stendal Friedenthal |
| Nickname(s) | 'Brandenburg' |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Theodor von Hippel Adrian von Fölkersam |
Originally, the unit was formed by and operated as an extension of the military's intelligence organ, the Abwehr. Members of this unit took part in seizing operationally important targets by way of sabotage and infiltration. Being foreign German nationals who were convinced Nazi volunteers, constituent members had lived abroad and were proficient in foreign languages as well as being familiar with the way of life in the area of operations where they were deployed.
The Brandenburg Division was generally subordinated to the army groups in individual commands and operated throughout Eastern Europe, in northern Africa, Afghanistan, the Middle East and in the Caucasus. In the later course of the war, parts of the special unit were used in Bandenbekämpfung operations against partisans in Yugoslavia before the division was reclassified and merged into one of the Panzergrenadier divisions in the last months of the war. They committed various atrocities in the course of their operations.