IN FINLAND 1943 - 1944

SS-Skijäger-Kompanie (der Ordnungspolizei) "Norwegen"

SS-Skijäger-Kompanie "Norwegen" (SS-Skijeger Kompanie "Norge") was formed at Bad Tölz, Germany in winter 1943. It was the special long-range ski-patrol unit intended to replace Finnish patrol units and its about 120 Norwegian volunteers were all good skiers. In late March company was moved to Finland and on 5.4.1943 it was subordinated to SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung "Nord" of SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord".

Company was initially led by Danish-born Norwegian SS-Obersturmführer/SS-Hauptsturmführer (?) Gust Jonassen who was killed very soon on 26.5.1943 after stepping a mine. He was succeeded by Norwegian SS-Hstuf. Frode Halle. Company was organized as follows:

Gruppe Führer
..... Kompanie-Trupp

I - III Skijäger-Zug
..... Zug-Trupp
..... 1. - 3. Ski-Gruppe
..... Zug-Staffel

Granatwerfer-Trupp

(supply units)

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Freiwilligen SS-Skijäger-Bataillon "Norwegen"

In July 1943 volunteer company was taken away from the front for expanding it to Freiwilligen SS-Skijäger-Bataillon "Norwegen". New unit was independent battalion within 6. SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord" initially led by German SS-Sturmbannführer Richard Benner and between March 1944 - January 1945 SS-Hstuf. Frode Halle again.

At the beginning of the year 1944 battalion strength was about 700 men but the heavy fights dropped it to about 300 men by the end of June. In July and August 1944 battalion was in rest and received supplements for example from SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt."Norwegen" and 200 men from norway. Battalion was not entirely manned by Norwegians, there were also Swedish, Danish and later even Finnish volunteers and a handful of German NCOs and officers. Most volunteers were the members of the Nazi organizations of their home countries.

Battalion was organized as follows:

Stab u.
Stabskompanie Ostuf. Rolf Uglestad

1. Skijäger-Kompanie
Ostuf. Sophus Kahrs KIA, Ostuf. Willi Amundsen, 8.44- Ostuf. Arnfinn Vik
(Detached temporarily in June 1944)

2. Skijäger-Kompanie Ostuf. Martin Skjeftad

3. Skijäger-Kompanie
Hstuf. Fritz Grondt (?.6.44 WIA, Ger), acting ?.6-26.6.44+ Ustuf. Axel Steen

(supply units)

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Battalion was "light" and lacked heavy weapons company. In August 1944 battalion was joined by a police company, 3. Politie Kompanie, led initially by Aage Berg for a short while and then Oscar Rustand. Company was composed of about 150 older apolitical Norwegian volunteers. It was disbanded in December 1944.

In autumn 1944 SS-Skijäger-Bataillon "Norwegen" partsipated in the so called Lapland War against Finns who according to Interim Peace agreement with USSR had to drive German troops away from Northern Finland. In late 1944 battalion was transferred to Oslo, Norway for reforming into independent security police battalion and was re-named as SS-Ski-Bataillon 506 (mot.). Eventually battalion had six companies and its strength was about 1.200 men. It stayed in Norway for the rest of the war.
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Sources: SCHFR, Volunteer Norwegians in the Wehrmacht and SS Internet page by Bjørn Jervås,
Norwegian Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht in WWII Internet page from Feldgrau site by Marc Rikmenspoel
and Jason Pipes (Note: the story told about the destruction of the Finnish town Rovaniemi is untrue.)