5th SS Wiking Division-From Rostov-on-Don to Kharkov

The 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking was one of the elite Panzer divisions of the thirty eight Waffen SS divisions. It was recruited from foreign volunteers, from Scandinavia, Finland, Estonia, The Netherlands, and Belgium under the command of German officers. During the course of World War II, the division progressed from a motorised infantry division to a Panzer division and served on the Eastern Front during World War II.

After the success of the Infanterie-Regiment (mot.) Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, SS-Verfügungstruppen-Division and the SS-Division Totenkopf during the early war campaigns in Poland and the West, it was decided to expand the number of Waffen SS divisions. Due to the influx of foreign volunteers, particularly from Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway, a decision was made to form a volunteer division of the Waffen SS under the command of German officers.

This unit, originally organized as the Nordische Division (Nr.5), was to be made up of Nordic volunteers mixed with ethnic German Waffen SS veterans. To this end, the SS Infantry Regiment Germania in the SS Verfügungstruppe Division was transferred in late 1940 and used as the cadre for a new division . In December 1940, the new SS motorized formation, was to be designated SS-Division (mot.) Germania. but during its formative period, the name was changed, to SS-Division (mot.) Wiking. in January 1941. SS Division Wiking was in a position to launch an assault to capture the vital city of Grozny. Working in cooperation with General der Panzertruppen Traugott Herr's 13.Panzer-Division, a plan was arranged to capture the city. During this operation, SS Division Wiking lost over 1,500 men. Several combat units were reduced to only dozens of men, and as a veteran later wrote, "Casualties weren't counted any more, just men left alive." In late November 1942 the division was redesignated the 5th SS Panzergrenadier Division Wiking..[6] By now the division had gained a reputation as an elite formation. In early 1943, the division was ordered to fall back to the Ukraine south of Kharkov, recently abandoned by Paul Hausser's II.SS-Panzerkorps, and now the scene of fierce fighting for its recapture. Erich von Manstein, the new commander of Army Group South, threw 5 SS Wiking and the 11th Panzer-Division into action against the Soviet Mobile Group Popov, which was threatening to break through to the vital rail line. 5 SS Wiking had great difficulty dealing with the armour heavy Soviet formation. The Panzergrenadier regiments of 5 SS Wiking were exhausted and understrength from the fighting in the Caucasus, and the Panzer Battalion lacked sufficient armour to counter the Soviet force. Despite this, the division held off the Soviet assault, protecting the vital rail line and helping bring about the destruction of Mobile Group Popov. After the recapture of Kharkov, 5 SS Wiking was pulled out of combat to be refitted as a Panzergrenadier division.

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[SkadTheReaper]

5th SS Panzer Division Wiking is my favorite SS div. :D

[specops24th]

@SkadTheReaper The 5th SS Wiking was tough indeed...My favorite SS Divisions was the 1st LSSAH, and the 3rd SS Totenkopf, they too were elite, and tough. The 3rd SS Totenkopf fighting mostly on the Eastern Front, in some of the most harsh combat in WWII. They gained my further respect when they was encircled for months in the Demjansk Pocket. The unit suffered huge losses, 80% of it soldiers died,but, a small company broke off to hold the pocket further away,& the Div. made it to German lines.

[MultiLordSam]

my heroes, they fight for my freedom, i wish i could join them too

[Samseal16]

@specops24th My favorite SS division is probably the 12th ss hitlerjugend, they were just my age fighting for their live in brutal combat far from home. Yet they showed such bravery, In the battle for Caen, a city in which allied commanders thought would fall in 1 or 2 days-took a month to capture. This incredible feat was accomplished by the 12ss jugend defenders. Not to mention they inflicted so many allied casualties that generals thought they might not have any reserves! Brave lads indeed.14