Sich.Rgt. 1

Sicherungs Regiment 1

Sicherungs units were not intended for regular combat. Rather they were supposed to keep occupied areas under control and perhaps participate in anti-partisan operations. The Sich.Rgt. 1 did however find it self in the path of Pattons troops advancing eastwards. Hence it became involved in serious combat.

The regiment had been created in 1942 by renaming the Wach-Rgt. Paris 1.¹ It seems to have remained in the Paris area until August 1944, when it was sent to the west. The regiment consisted of three battalions, each with four companies.² According to the organization chart two of the battalions were motorized and one was equipped with bicycles.³ What vehicles the battalions were equipped with is unknown, but it may well have been commandeered buses or other civilian vehicles. The regiment had an anti-tank company with twelve 3,7 cm AT guns and it also had a company with twelve French Panhard arnoured cars.⁴ Thus it was very well equipped for being a security unit.

On 5 August the regiment was located at Le Mans.⁵ Eight days later the regiment was subordinated to 352. Inf.Div. and fighting in the La Loupe area.⁶ At this time the regiment was also known as "Sperrgruppe von Kräwel".

The II./Sich.Rgt. 1 was located near Rambouillet on 17 August.⁷

It seems that the I. and II. Btle. remained subordinated to 352. Inf.Div. until the retreat across the Seine.⁸ One battalion (the III.) seems to have been employed further to the west, under 81. Korps.⁹

The regiment was disbanded on 2 October 1944.¹⁰ Probably most of its remaining personnel had already been absorbed by other units by that date.

1

G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).

2

LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Anlagen, Gliederung Sich.Rgt. 1, T314, R1593, F000970.

3

Ibid.

4

Ibid.

5

LXXXI. A.K., Lagekarte 5.8.44, T314, R1594, F000005.

6

Ziegelmann, MS # B-741, p. 8.

7

Ibid, p. 9.

8

Ibid, pp. 10-13.

9

See Lagekarten 81. A.K., T314, R1594, F000005ff.

10

Tessin, op. Cit.

1	G. Tessin, Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht und Waffen-SS (Mittler & Sohn, Frankfurt am Main and Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1966-1975).
2	LXXXI. A.K. Ia, Anlagen, Gliederung Sich.Rgt. 1, T314, R1593, F000970.
3	Ibid.
4	Ibid.
5	LXXXI. A.K., Lagekarte 5.8.44, T314, R1594, F000005.
6	Ziegelmann, MS # B-741, p. 8.
7	Ibid, p. 9.
8	Ibid, pp. 10-13.
9	See Lagekarten 81. A.K., T314, R1594, F000005ff.
10	Tessin, op. Cit.