Michaelis, R.. Kampfauftrag Bewährung - Das SS-Fallschirmjägerbataillon 500/600 - Der Einsatz an der Oder und in Mecklenburg

In the 4th volume of the Quadrology on the history of the SS-Fallschirmjäger-Bataillon 500/600, its use in 1945 will be described. Since the SS paratroopers were subordinated to Army Group "Weichsel", the formation and subsequent deployment of the ad hoc newly formed Army Group in the immediate area of the SS paratroopers will also be documented. The fighting in 1945 was mainly characterised by improvisation. Appointed commander-in-chief of Army Group "Vistula", Reichsführer-SS Himmler managed to close a front gap of several hundred kilometres within a short period of time.

However, most of the troops supplied were so-called "Gneisenau units", "Volkssturm", "Alarm battalions" or "Versprengten-Kompanien", which were barely trained and equipped and thrown to the front. One exception was the SS paratrooper battalion 600, which had a high level of combat strength and morale until the very end. Accordingly, it was deployed at particularly
important strategic points. These included, for example, the bridgeheads "Schwedt" and "Zehden".

The history of the SS Paratrooper Battalion 600 in 1945, which is now available, is supplemented by reports from former members and contemporary witnesses. Many largely unknown photographs and documents enrich the book, which, with its numerous original maps and sketch maps, gives a good overview of the development of the situation of Army Group "Vistula" in general and the deployment of SS Paratrooper Battalion 600 in particular.

The battalion, which had originally been intended as a probationary unit of the Waffen-SS, had developed into an exceptional unit despite, or perhaps precisely because of, the composition of its members.