FMP - SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18

Polizei-Regiment 18 (Pol.Rgt 18) was formed on 23.5.1942 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen for police and anti-partisan duties in occupied areas in the East and Balkan. Regiment was composed of former Polizei-Bataillon 302 (I Bataillon, from Munich), 312 (II Bataillon, from Innsbruck) and 325 (III Bataillon). Each battalion with four Polizei-Kompanien had about 1.200 men. Regiment Kommandeur between 25.5.1942 - 8.1943 was SS-Standartenführer und Oberst der Schutzpolizei Hermann Franz.

Regiment was reinforced with Gebirgs-Artillerie-Abteilung and other special units and in fact its composition was close to a small brigade with the total strength of about 4.800 men. After forming and training period in Germany regiment fought in Yugoslavia against partisans.
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SS-Pol.Geb.Jg.Rgt 18 in Northern Finland

In turn 1942/43 regiment was shipped to Hanko, Southern Finland, where it arrived between 25.12.1942 - 2.1.1943 by ships. I Bataillon was moved to Oulu, Northern Finland, by trains on 30.12.1942, II Bataillon on 1.1. and III Bataillon by 3.1.1943. So far I have not find information if the other parts of the regiment also arrived in Finland.

Polizei-Regiment 18 was initially held in reserve under the command of OKH. In February 1943 it together with other 37 such units received the prefix "SS" and became SS-Polizei-Regiment 18. Unit was re-named second time on 23.5.1943 and became now SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18. It was the only SS-Polizei unit to receive "Gebirgsjäger" status and its soldiers had right to bear Edelweiss badge of the German mountain troops [Gebirgstruppen] on their left sleeve.

Organization of the regiment was as follows (Battalion Commanders during the period in Finland):

Stab

I Bataillon Oberstleutnant der Schupo Hans Hösl
..... Stab
..... 1. - 4. Kompanie

II Bataillon Major der Polizei Zuehlke (Zühlke?)
..... (similar to I Bataillon)

III Bataillon Hauptmann der Polizei Spann
..... (similar to I Bataillon)

Kavallerie-Schwadron *

Nachrichten-Kompanie *

schwere Infanterie-Geschütz-Kompanie * [6x 150 mm sIG 18]

Polizei-Gebirgs-Artillerie-Abteilung *
SS-Sturmbannführer und Major der Gendarmerie Wilhelm Braun
..... Stabsbatterie
..... 1. Batterie [4x 75 mm mountain cannon]
..... 2. Batterie [4x 75 mm mountain cannon]
..... 3. Batterie [4x 75 mm mountain cannon]

* Note: not sure if in Finland in 1943.

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Germans waited for the similar Soviet spring attack in the North like in 1942. At the beginning of March 1943 regiment was given to disposal of German XVIII Gebirgs-Armee-Korps which was in defence at Kiestinki - Uhtua area. Regiment was initially under intensive training but on 7.4.1943 was placed to defend the sector between 7. Gebirgs-Division and SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord". Regiment was on the front until 10.7.1943.

When the supposed Soviet attack seemed more and more unlikely regiment was urgently moved back to Oulu during July and shipped to Germany by 31.7.1943. In August 1943 it was moved to Greece and it fought later in Balkan area against the partisans and also against Soviet troops until the end of the war suffering very heavy losses.
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Sources: SCHFR, Pieces of information from the Internet page about SS-Polizei-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 18,
Axis History (discussion) Forum, JATHI