StuG 40 of Waffen SS 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen

The 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” was an elite armored division of the Waffen-SS, formed in February 1943 in Berlin-Lichterfelde as a Panzer Grenadier Division and later upgraded to a Panzer Division. It was named after the Hohenstaufen dynasty, which had ruled the Holy Roman Empire during the medieval period. The division fought in several of the most significant battles of World War II, both on the Eastern and Western fronts.

Formation and Structure

The division was initially formed as the 9th SS Panzer Grenadier Division, and its full establishment was completed in January 1944. It was re-designated as the 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” on October 22, 1943. The division was part of the II SS Panzer Corps, alongside the 10th SS Panzer Division “Frundsberg”, with which it often fought.

The division’s structure by the end of 1943 included:

SS Panzer Regiment 9 (two battalions)
SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 19 (three battalions)
SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 20 (three battalions)
SS Panzer Artillerie Regiment 9 (four battalions)
SS Panzer Aufklärungs Abteilung 9 (reconnaissance)
SS Flak Abteilung 9 (anti-aircraft)
SS Sturmgeschütz Abteilung 9 (assault guns)
SS Panzerjäger Abteilung 9 (tank destroyers)
SS Nachrichten Abteilung 9 (signals)
SS Pioniere Bataillon 9 (engineers)
Additional divisional HQ, services, and support units.

Combat History

Eastern Front: Ukraine (1944)

In March 1944, the 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” was transferred from Ypres in Belgium to Ukraine. Along with the 10th SS Panzer Division “Frundsberg”, it was sent to the Tarnopol sector to counter Soviet advances. This was part of the effort to stabilize the Eastern Front after a series of Soviet offensives had put German forces in crisis.

Western Front: Normandy (June 1944)

After the division’s involvement in Ukraine, it was ordered to move westward in June 1944 to support the German defense against the Allied landings in Normandy. The II SS Panzer Corps, which included Hohenstaufen, entered action in Normandy on June 29, 1944, fighting in the brutal battles around Caen and the Falaise Pocket. The division suffered significant losses during these engagements but remained a formidable force.

Arnhem and Operation Market Garden (September 1944)

After the defeat in Normandy, the division was refitted in the Netherlands. When Operation Market Garden, the Allied airborne assault aimed at securing key bridges across the Rhine, was launched in September 1944, the 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” played a crucial role in defeating the British 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem. The division’s swift and effective counterattacks contributed to the failure of the operation, particularly in the capture of the Arnhem bridge.

Ardennes Offensive (December 1944)

In December 1944, the division was part of the Sixth SS Panzer Army, which spearheaded the Ardennes Offensive (the Battle of the Bulge). This last major German offensive aimed at breaking through the Allied lines in the Ardennes Forest and capturing the Belgian port of Antwerp. Although initially successful, the offensive was ultimately a failure, and Hohenstaufen was forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses.

Hungary and Final Battles (1945)

In February 1945, the 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” was moved to Hungary as part of the Sixth SS Panzer Army, where it fought alongside the 1st, 2nd, and 12th SS Panzer Divisions. This deployment was part of an attempt to relieve German forces trapped in Budapest and to defend the region against the advancing Red Army.

The division continued fighting through the spring of 1945, eventually retreating into Austria, where it surrendered to American forces in May 1945 near Steyr.

Key Reorganizations and Events

March 1944: The division was sent to Ukraine to help stabilize the Eastern Front, following Soviet breakthroughs.
June 1944: It fought in Normandy, suffering significant losses but remaining an important defensive unit.
September 1944: The division played a key role in the Battle of Arnhem, successfully countering Operation Market Garden.
December 1944: It participated in the Ardennes Offensive, once again facing heavy combat.
February 1945: Transferred to Hungary as part of a last-ditch effort to halt the Soviet advance.
May 1945: Surrendered to American forces in Austria.