Danish Troops in Occupied Germany Jever, Oldenburg. Itzehoe

The Danish command in Germany

On 7 October 1949 Colonel Bjerregaard at a parade in Jever took over his future command , "The Danish HQ in Germany", replacing "The Danish Brigade in Germany" and was about 1,000 men. It was still stationed in Jever in the former Brigade area. 1st November 49 he departed on a recce to the old Danish garrison, Itzehoe in Holstein, prior to taking over the barracks following the Norwegian (Germany) Brigade. The other elements moved up during December and January. On 24 January 1950, the HQ was finally established in Itzehoe, which remained the Danish garrison town until it was dissolved in 1958. In 1951, the strength was reinforced with an engineer company. Later came a Staff/Admin support company. The Brigade and later the Force HQ had originally been sent to Germany as occupation forces, but the task changed over the years. In January 1951 the Danes became part of the standing NATO force in Northern Germany, Allied Land Forces Schleswig-Holstein, (ALF SH), was subject to General Eisenhower command. The head of the Norwegian (Germany) Brigade had command of ALF S-H. After the Norwegian Brigade's withdrawal in 1953 command passed to the post of the chief of "The Danish command". ALF S-H had headquarters in Rendsburg, where a small detachment from the HQ was stationed. In 1952, West Germany achieved sovereign state status and shortly after joined NATO. Thus the Danish HQ occupation duties terminated.

By the end of March 1958 the Danish Command departed Itzehoe for Denmark. A historical epoch had ended. http://www.jdrhistorie.dk/64399028

Paddy

Thank you

Buried somewhere in the original BAOR Locations site, which is frozen for reasons beyond the current management's control, is a more detailed account of the complete Danish Brigade deployment in Germany from arrival in Friesland in 1947 to departure from Itzehoe in 1958. The Danes and Norwegians had very limited Armour capability and expertise. The British Armoured Car Regiment stationed in Neumunster (a number of contributors to this site served there) provided this requirement.

Below is taken from 7th Armoured Division Historical Records, the infantry battalions, reece squadron and engineer company changed every few months, the other units remained and personnel were changed over

5 July 1947 – Danish Infantry Brigade Group from Denmark command 7th Armoured Division

Responsibility for Landkreis Aurich – Landkreis Norden – Landkreis Norden – Landkreis Friesland

Order of Battle
HQ Danish Infantry Brigade Group – Jever
HQ IX Infantry Regiment – Aurich
Reece Squadron Guards Hussar Regiment – Aurich – to Oldenburg 10 Jan 48
IV Field Artillery Regiment – Wilhelmshaven
Infantry Battalion – Varel
Infantry Battalion – Aurich
Infantry Battalion – Jever
Field Engineer Company – Aurich
Signals Detachment – Jever
Company Supply & Transport – Jever
Supply Depot – Heidemühle
Brigade Supply Depot – Jever
Brigade Medical Detachment – Jever
Camp Reception Station – Aurich
Military Hospital – Oldenburg
Brigade Workshops – Jever
Pay Office – Jever
Military Police Detachment – Jever
Welfare Detachment – Jever

13 Feb 48 – to command Hannover District with additional responsibility for Landkreis Oldenburg

1 Nov 49 – to command Hamburg District

Steve

Thank you, as we have often discussed life is full of contradictions, from my research based mainly on Danish sources, I have an Infantry Battalion in Delmenhorst not Varel (but this could explain the existence of envelopes post marked Varel) and the Armoured Squadron provided by the Jutland Dragoons also in Delmenhorst as part of the initial Brigade size deployment..

JPW

As always depends on which file you look in, no mention of Delmenhorst on the initial deployment ORBAT or later, there is a squadron of 3 Jutland Dragoons mentioned on the 24 Sep 48 ORBAT but in Oldenburg, as you know the Historical Records are not consistent, therefore only showed the initial deployment, as everything needs a second read, Delmenhorst was home to the 11th Hussars Mar 47 to Feb 48 but was also a transit camp there probably used the Danes