Einsatzstaffel der Deutschen Mannschaft(English)

Einsatzstaffel der Deutschen Mannschaft

Autor:   Kresimir Music

With the formation of Independent state of Croatia, Volksdeutche militia was raised within German minority called Einsatzstaffel der Deutschen Mannschaft (ES d. DM ).
ES d DM was officially part od Ustaše army, but in reality it was independent force.
Most of solidiers were from Slavonia and Srijem(Syrmia) where Volskdeutschers mostly lived.
On 31.07.1941 an order regulating formation of   ES d.DM was issued by Poglavnik , by then already  1000 of the fittest young Volksdeutsche men  had joined Reich's Waffen SS.

Structure of   ES d.DM in the beginning od 1942 :

(name of unit ,  date and place of formation , Number of Men in unit

Stab : Einsatzstaffel der Deutsche Mannschaft (ES d. DM) - 8.1941 Osijek - 500 men
Verfügungsbataillon ES der DM "Prinz Eugen"- 11.1941 Osijek - 2000 men in 1942.
1. Bereitschaftsbataillon ES der DM "Ludwig von Baden" - 3.1942 - 745 men
(this battalion is firstly stationed in Slavonia later it protects Volksdeutsche enclave Windhorst in western Bosnia near Banja Luka( today Nova Topola ,Bosina)

2. Bereitschaftsbataillon ES der DM "General Laudon" - 3.1942 Osijek - 360 men
3. Bereitschaftsbataillon ES der DM "Maximilian Emanuel von Bayern" -9.1942 Virovitica-475 men
4. Ersatzbataillom der ES – 1.1943 Osijek , 280men


Also some smaller units were formed:
Freiwillige Kompanie Ruma - 6.1942 , 124men
Radschutzenzug z.b.V - 2. 1943 Osijek , 70men

In  6.1942 a Railway protection battalion was raised in Vinkovci with 1400 Volksdeusche men. Unit was reformed in 9.1942 when it was split to form Railway protection battalions XI, XII and XIII of Domobran army(Domobranstvo). (see also under  German-Croatian police)

By 5.1943 men of  ES der DM are transfered to Waffen ss and German-Croatian police .Only a token force of  ES der DM remains, Command guard in Osijek and Zagreb and military band,  in total 120 men

One battalion of Domobranstvo was formed from Volksdeutsche , 1 battalion of 16.infantry regiment.

In 1.1942 it become 1.hunting battalion(1 lovačka bojna ) with 700 men . It was split to form two battalions 738 and 750  in 6.1943 , which become parts of same numbered regiments of 118.Jager division of Wehrmach.

Volksdeutche also manned  4. Batterie Artillerie-Abt. 668  of 718.inf.divisom ,it was raised in 5.1942 in Ruma ,Syrmia with 168 soldiers .  Feldpostnummer of  Art.Abt. 668 : 43520

Volksdeutscher also served in State labour service (Državna radna služba -DRS) , they man two companies 411 and 412 ,totaling 410 men.


Volksdeutschers served in all armies and serviced present in Croatia  : in  Ustaša army  ( ES der DM ) , Domobranstvo(Croatian army), Wehrmacht , Waffen SS, German-Croatian Police, DRS and Organisation Todt.


Members od ES der DM  and volksdeutche members of Domobranstvo use Croatian state postal service as  Feldpost service , traveled letters are preserved . Civil postal service was probably used in communication with Croatian state and military authorities, and most likely German Feldpost service was used in communication with  Germany military authorities.