“Hitlerjungen” 12th SS-Division:
Leutnant, 12 SS. Hitlerjugend, Feldgrau Jacket (part of a set):
HJ. Div. 1st Lieutenant, Over Coat (Part #2 of set):
12. SS-Panzer Division, NCO, 44-Dot / Pea-Camouflaged Wrap & Trousers:
Fighting in Normandy, the Ardennes, and Hungary, this NCO lasted until the end of the war. An old timer he has the Infantry Assault badge showing that he was a grenadier before volunteering for tank training, most likely with the 1st SS Panzer Division.
He has fought in over 25 tank engagements winning the Panzer Assault badge in silver with number 25. Wounded several times he has been awarded the Black Wound Badge. He has been on the front since the invasion of Russia which is shown by the Ost Front ribbon in the buttonhole just under the Iron Cross 2nd Class.
He has also been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class, possibly for the leadership of the young soldiers in his command in Normandy. The uniform is the late pattern SS camouflage, normally called 44 Dot by collectors.
His rank is shown by both collar insignia and shoulder boards, The rose color is the branch color of all armored units. He has used an officer-quality BEVO eagle and collar insignia to dress up his jacket fitting his senior NCO status. The divisional cuff title is the standard issue BEVO awarded after the division has fought in Normandy.
12th SS Division, NCO / ‘Italian-Camouflage Coveralls:
Ritterkreuzträger SS-Standartenführer, Kurt Meyer, 12. SS-Division “Hitlerjüngend”:
In the Summer of 1943, Hitler declared the formation of the 2. SS-Division “Hitlerjüngend” filled with members of the “Hitler Youth”, all 17-year-olds. The division commanding officers were to come from the 1st SS-Panzer-Division “LSSAH”, which was commanded by SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Witt.
Meyer was selected to lead the young Grenadiers of SS-Panzergrenadier -Regiment 25, and he was promoted to SS-Standartenführer on 21 June 1943. Kurt Meyer was present when they were training at Beverloo in Belgium and in early 1944, the Hitlerjüngend was moved to Hasselt in anticipation of the Allied Invasion.
On June 6, 1944, the Allies launched the amphibious invasion of France, after much confusion, the Hitlerjüngend advanced towards Sword Beach until they were halted by fierce Naval gunfire and Aerial bombardment, as well as anti-tank fire, they were ready for combat by 2200 on the 7th of June. Setting up hid command post in the Ardenne Abby, whose tall towers gave an excellent view across the rolling hills of Normandy.
The following days would see heavy, and furious fighting there, over the next two weeks the regiment would suffer badly, And the German youth bleed. They would fight hard in the battles at Carpiquet Aerodrome and back through the villages of Contest, Buron, and Authie.
On the 14th of June, SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Witt was killed when British Naval Gunfire destroyed his command post, Meyer as the next highest-ranking officer, was promoted to divisional commander, at 33 years of age, he was the youngest of the German divisional commanders of the war.
Meyer managed to hold the line North of Caen in spite of several British and Canadian offensives. By July 4th the division was reduced to a weakened battle group. Despite this Meyer still clung to the Carpiquet Airfield while wave after wave of Allied troops and tanks tried to wrestle it from his grasp.
By 9 July, Meyer realized that reinforcement was not coming and that he had to withdraw his division or clearly it would be annihilated. On 10th June, despite orders by Hitler of “NO Retreat”, Meyer ordered the Hitlerjüngend to be pulled back Orne River, abandoning Caen to the Allies. In just over a month of fighting the Hitlerjüngend had been reduced from some 22,000 men to just under 5000 which had to be evacuated from the Falaise Pocket.
On the 27th of August, he became the 91st soldier to be awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak-Leaves. Meyer with the remnants of his youth division joined in the retreat across the Seine River and into Belgium.
On 6 September 1944, in the town of Durnal near Namur in Belgium, wounded and trapped he was captured by partisans and handed over to the American Forces. Because he was missing in action and presumed dead he was retroactively promoted to Brigadefuhrer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS effective September 1.
Near the Ardenne Abby Kut Meyer had changed into what is commonly called the “Normandy pattern SS-Camouflauge”, his m43 style bluse has squared pocket flaps, pleated pockets, and what appear to be Zeltbahn buttons.
