Thread: German 'stomach' and 'ear' units
Let's continue examining Cross-Channel Attack's (CCA) take on the German troops. For 1950/1951 it was admirable, but as we have seen yesterday not all of it holds up.
Let's continue examining Cross-Channel Attack's (CCA) take on the German troops. For 1950/1951 it was admirable, but as we have seen yesterday not all of it holds up.
Now look at this sentence. The German use of stomach units has become (in)famous, but CCA correctly states that was just one division: the 70ID
The existence of ear and stomach units is a popular story, but it is seldom explored for what it really was.
On D-Day the 70ID did not really exist yet...
In the bigger picture it was very much an emergency formation in the summer (crisis) of 1944.
On D-Day the 70ID did not really exist yet...
In the bigger picture it was very much an emergency formation in the summer (crisis) of 1944.
Only its infantry regiments were formed using stomach units. The rest of the division appears to have been pretty normal. Its staff originated from the 165.Res.Div. which had had its troops taken from it during the summer as troops/replacements for other units.
As for stomach (Magenkranke) and ear (Ohrenkranke) units: the majority was (originally) not raised as front line units. Instead they were formed as rear area security battalions. [Exceptions were Gren.Btl.1201 and 1202]
In May 1944 six were used to form regiments for the 70ID
In May 1944 six were used to form regiments for the 70ID
As the war progressed, ear and stomach units were also raised as fortress units. This mainly happened in late 1944/early 1945 though
A number of these peculiar units faced allied forces in Brittany in August 1944. These had been brought up to reinforce the area after many of the regular troops in that sector had left. Incl. were: Sich.Btl.1220(M) and 1221(O), 1222(O). We can see them on their way in late June:
Both 1220 and 1222 were destroyed in the fighting in Brittany. 1221 evaded to Fortress Lorient and remained there until the German surrender.
[information presented here is based on Tessin, German records, allied intel and FMS]
[information presented here is based on Tessin, German records, allied intel and FMS]
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