37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division Lützow explained

Unit Name:37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division ‘Lützow’
Native Name:German: 37. SS-Freiwilligen-Kavallerie-Division ‘Lützow’|
Dates:February – May 1945
Branch: Waffen-SS
Type:Cavalry
Motto:"Meine Ehre heißt Treue!"
Size:Division
Battles:
Notable Commanders:SS-Standartenführer Waldemar Fegelein (26 February 1945 – March 1945)
SS-Standartenführer Karl Gesele (March 1945 – May 1945)[1]

37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division "Lützow" (German: 37. SS-Freiwilligen Kavallerie-Division "Lützow")[2] was a German Cavalry division of the Waffen-SS during the Second World War. It was formed in February 1945 from the personnel and equipment of the 8th SS Cavalry Division and the 22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division. In addition to this, many under-age German, Hungarian and 'Volksdeutsche' helped make up the division. The division was intended to have three cavalry regiments comprising two battalions each, however, due to the inadequate amount of men and equipment it could only field two understrength regiments as its main combat units. The division was initially commanded by SS-Oberführer Waldemar Fegelein until March when he was replaced by SS-Standartenführer Karl Gesele. The unit saw action against the Soviets as a part of the 6th Panzer Army during the final weeks of the war, before surrendering to Americans in Austria in May 1945. It was named after the Prussian general Adolf von Lützow.

Organization

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Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Bishop, Chris. The Essential Vehicle Identification Guide - Waffen-SS Divisions 1939-1945, Amber Books Ltd. 2007, p 184.
  2. Official designation in German language as to „Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv“ in Freiburg im Breisgau, stores of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS.