Sonderkommando Totenkopf

[Andy Mitchell]

The above unit appears on several occasions in Air 20/40 -2687 as follows (below is my interpretation of the notes found in the Air 20/40 documents):-

14 Apr 1945 – Luftwaffenkommando West ordered 7 JagdDiv to establish Sonderkommando Totenkopf under command of a former commander of (F)./123. Personnel (volunteers) drawn from Heere and Luftwaffe to operate as pilots, panzerfaust operators and demolition men, Fi 156 aircraft to be used for this. Operations would be carried out to the rear of the Allied front lines and consist of attacks against: installations, bridges, troop / supply columns, tanks, locomotives etc.(1)(Appears that the plan for the use of this unit was given the codename “Meredith”)

18 Apr 1945 – 15 personnel for “Meredith” to standby for deployment.(2)

25 Apr 1945 – Orders issued – Ten Fi 156 aircraft to hamper enemy supplies, attack tanks and blow up bridges with two men from each aircraft. Additional task for two Fi 156 aircraft to block road and rail links between Rottwiel and Tuttlingen. men to return in two days.(3)
Of five aircraft which eventually took off for the above operation, four returned (two slightly damaged) and one was recorded as missing.(4)

26 Apr 1945 – 9 Fi 156 aircraft took off between 0145 and 0230 hours, each carrying a demolition party of two men. They were to land in the vicinity of Dillingen. Four aircraft returned, landing between 0415 and 0435 hours. Recce sorties confirmed that bridges near Guensburg had been blown up. 5 aircraft failed to return.(5)

28 Apr 1945 – Intended operations for 29 Apr, hampering enemy supplies in S.E. Germany using 5 Fi 156 aircraft. After this fuel stocks exhausted. Detatchment to be disbanded.(6)
Three Fi 156 aircraft took off, none returned.(7)

==References==

1 - Ultra T523/110
2. - Ultra T524/23
3. - Ultra T530/14
4. - Ultra T530/17
5. - Ultra T532/45 summary does not contain direct reference to Totenkopf, however activities similar to this credited to Totenkopf.
6. - Ultra T537/21
7. - Utlra T537/11

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Questions

(a) Has anyone come across any other references to this unit.
(b) Has anyone seen references to "Meredith"
(c) Who was the "commander" of (F)./123 who was put in charge of this Kdo/operation?
(d) I have translated "Special Detachment Totenkopf" as Sonderkommando Totenkopf - is this a correct assumption or, if not, what should be the correct name for the unit?
(e) Does anyone know which units the Fi 156 aircraft would have been sourced from?

I look forward to your thoughts, suggestions and corrections to the above.