SS-Jäger-Bataillon 502 (502nd SS Light Infantry Battalion) was a special forces unit of Nazi Germany's SS from 1943-1944.
Formed in June 1943, the unit was commanded by Otto Skorzeny and was based at Schloß (chateau) Friedenthal just north of Berlin in Sachsenhausen by Oranienburg, consisting originally of the three hundred members of the former (Provisional Special Unit Friedenthal) SS-Sonderverband z.b.V. Friedenthal (this was their official name until April 1944, then it was SS-Jäger-Bataillon 502 ) and Sonderlehrgang z.b.V. Oranienburg. After an unsuccessful attempt to train members of an SS penal facility, Skorzeny obtained permission to recruit volunteers from the Wehrmacht, and 100 SS personnel, 50 Luftwaffe and 150 Army personnel were admitted, allowing the formation of a headquarters company and two line companies. An intensive training programme was instituted.
They were later placed on standby for several operations that never took place, including a proposed kidnapping of Philippe Pétain.
In February 1944, a third company was formed from mainly Flemish and Dutch personnel with Hauptsturmführer Hoyer as its commanding officer. In the same month, No. 1 and 2 companies of the battalion went to the Kurmark troop training area for four weeks intensive training, after which they saw combat on the Eastern Front for over a month.
On 20 July 1944, No. 1 Company was deployed in Berlin, briefly occupying the Bendlerblock after the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler.
In August 1944, fifty members of the unit carried out Operation Landfried in Romania, destroying road and railway bridges in an attempt to delay the Soviet advance. This mission was commanded by Walter Girg.
In September 1944, SS-Jäger-Bataillon 502 was dissolved and its personnel absorbed into a new battalion, SS-Jagdverband Mitte.
502nd, jäger, battalion, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, ju. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 502nd SS Jager Battalion news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message SS Jager Bataillon 502 502nd SS Light Infantry Battalion was a special forces unit of Nazi Germany s SS from 1943 1944 Formed in June 1943 the unit was commanded by Otto Skorzeny and was based at Schloss chateau Friedenthal just north of Berlin in Sachsenhausen by Oranienburg consisting originally of the three hundred members of the former Provisional Special Unit Friedenthal SS Sonderverband z b V Friedenthal this was their official name until April 1944 then it was SS Jager Bataillon 502 and Sonderlehrgang z b V Oranienburg After an unsuccessful attempt to train members of an SS penal facility Skorzeny obtained permission to recruit volunteers from the Wehrmacht and 100 SS personnel 50 Luftwaffe and 150 Army personnel were admitted allowing the formation of a headquarters company and two line companies An intensive training programme was instituted In September 1943 sixteen members of this unit took part in the Gran Sasso raid which resulted in the rescue of deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini They were later placed on standby for several operations that never took place including a proposed kidnapping of Philippe Petain In February 1944 a third company was formed from mainly Flemish and Dutch personnel with Hauptsturmfuhrer Hoyer as its commanding officer In the same month No 1 and 2 companies of the battalion went to the Kurmark troop training area for four weeks intensive training after which they saw combat on the Eastern Front for over a month On 20 July 1944 No 1 Company was deployed in Berlin briefly occupying the Bendlerblock after the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler In August 1944 fifty members of the unit carried out Operation Landfried in Romania destroying road and railway bridges in an attempt to delay the Soviet advance This mission was commanded by Walter Girg In September 1944 SS Jager Bataillon 502 was dissolved and its personnel absorbed into a new battalion SS Jagdverband Mitte Development editSonderlehrgang z b V Oranienburg 18 April 1943 16 June 1943 Sonderverband z b V Friedenthal 16 June 1943 17 April 1944 SS Jager Bataillon 502 17 April 1944 10 November 1944 SS Jagdverband Mitte 10 November 1944 8 Mai 1945 150 SS Panzer Brigade November 1944 25 28 December 1944 Division Schwedt Kampfgruppe Sperrverband Skorzeny 31 January 1945 3 March 1945 References editO Reilly Terence 2008 Hitler s Irishmen Mercier Press ISBN 978 1 85635 589 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 502nd SS Jager Battalion amp oldid 1141616520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
