"SS-Obersturmbannführer Kumm was awarded the Iron Cross Second and First Class as well as the Infantry Assault Badge during the
Western campaign. During the campaign against Russia, Kumm has
particularly distinguished himself in his new role as commander of the
SS-Regiment ‘Der Führer’. He has done so through having a major share in
both the swift forward advance of the SS-Division ‘Reich’ as well as in
the destruction of strong Russian forces in the pocket northeast of Kiev. At 06:00 on the 04.09.1941 the reinforced Regiment ‘DF’ attacked from
Awdejewka towards the southwest. By pushing forward the lead Bataillon
in an unflinching advance the regimental commander was able to capture
the important bridge at 13:30 near Rudnja already at 13:30, and also the
heights southwest of Rudnja a short time later. This was in spite of
strong enemy activity on the flanks, which Kumm swiftly dealt with by
deploying other forces as a shield. Through a swiftly brought-up
exploitation unit it was possible to smash a strong enemy march column
in Tschernotitschi as it was getting dark. 320 prisoners were captured
as well as 15 guns and a large number of vehicles, horse-drawn wagons
and equipment. On the 15.09.1941 the Regiment ‘Der Führer’ had the mission of
advancing from Itschnja to Priluki, and capturing Priluki itself. The
Regiment had to conduct 3 attacks against a toughly defending enemy, and
by dusk it had reached the southern edge of Kolessniki.
As a result of deploying strong reconnaissance during the following
night it was possible to recognize the disengagement of the enemy at
01:00, and capture the northern part of Priluki in the early morning
hours with a swift pursuit thrust. In the process an endless column with
all sorts of weaponry was smashed. 1400 prisoners were captured. 18
artillery pieces, 4 anti-tank guns, 30 mortars along with uncounted
numbers of vehicles, horse-drawn wagons, horses and equipment was
captured or destroyed. This success is thanks to the actions of SS-Obersturmbannführer Kumm,
who decided to conduct his nighttime reconnaissance even though his
troops were totally exhausted.
The attack of a Russian column of about 200 men (from the west flank)
against the Regimental command post was repulsed with bloody losses by
SS-Obersturmbannführer Kumm and his handful of hastily assembled
messengers and ordnance officers. It did not interfere with the
Regiment’s abilities to command. On the 22.09.1941 the Regiment received a new mission while it was
taking part in a counterattack against a Russian relief thrust east of
Romny. It was to encircle the Russian 5th Cavalry Division (reinforced
by tanks) by launching a thrust from Korowinzy to the south.
In just two hours the regimental commander was able to reorient his
regiment (which had previously been fighting along a front to the east
with all heavy weapons and artillery) 90 degrees and commence the attack
towards the south. Following a hard village battle in Ssakunowo the
Regiment crushed major elements of the 5th Cavalry Division. Over 1000
enemy dead were counted after the engagement was concluded. The
quantities of weapons and equipment captured can no longer be counted,
as the Regiment immediately had to reassemble after the battle and begin
marching to be employed for new tasks by the Division.
In the intervening days the Regiment ‘Der Führer’ has been constantly
either on the march or engaged in combat. In this time it has mostly
marched on foot due to the often completely muddied roads, sometimes
during the night, so as to continue the pressure on the enemy. In this
regard it has succeeded in staying on the enemy’s heels, and during the
time period 04.09.-23.09.1941 the Regiment captured or destroyed:
9466 prisoners
123 guns
17 anti-tank guns
40 mortars
24 tanks (including several 52 ton tanks)
Unquantifiable numbers of vehicles, horse-drawn wagons and equipment
This success is thanks to the personal bravery and tireless energy of the young regimental commander. During this time the Division was subordinated to the XXXXVI Panzer-Korps." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on 16 February 1942 as SS-Obersturmbannführer and commander of SS-Regiment (motorized) "Der Führer".
9466 prisoners
123 guns
17 anti-tank guns
40 mortars
24 tanks (including several 52 ton tanks)
Unquantifiable numbers of vehicles, horse-drawn wagons and equipment
This success is thanks to the personal bravery and tireless energy of the young regimental commander. During this time the Division was subordinated to the XXXXVI Panzer-Korps." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross citation, awarded on 16 February 1942 as SS-Obersturmbannführer and commander of SS-Regiment (motorized) "Der Führer".
"On the 11.02.1943 the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’ received the mission
to attack an enemy force located south of Merefa that was firmly
positioned among the hill and ravine covered terrain. The enemy had
brought numerous heavy weapons into position, including powerful
anti-tank guns. In the sector the Regiment was attacking the enemy
infantry strength was determined to be about 7 battalions strong. The
Regiment would however enjoy support from the Panzer-Regiment of the
SS-Pz.Gren.Div. ‘Adolf Hitler’.
The orders were: ‘Eject the enemy along the railway and in Borki with Panzer support.’
As such after the first attack objective was reached (the high ground
along the line Hills 172.3, 161.8 and 160.3) the Panzer-Regiment was to
conducting a wide-reaching thrust into the left flank of the enemy in
order to lay the foundation for throwing back the much superior enemy. The Regiment reached the first attack objective and held up in jump-off
positions for the continued attack against the railway line and Borki. The enemy put up heavy defensive fire with all available weapons, making
a forward advance impossible for the time being. Thus the Panzer thrust
had to bring about a decisive result. However this did not come to
pass, as the Panzer-Abteilungen could not dislodge the enemy that had
dug-in near Dahgun, and the attack had to be broken off.
The regimental commander, observing from the foremost line, realized
that action now had to be taken in order to not let victory slip away.
Through a thrust towards Borki it would be possible to cut off and
destroy strong enemy units. Therefore the regimental commander decided to attack without Panzer
support. Through the particularly skillful deployment of the Bataillone
by the commander, the Regiment succeeded in ejecting, pursuing and
destroying the enemy. The railway line was reached, and with it the
enemy’s retreat and supply route was captured. The enemy elements
cut-off by this maneuver were destroyed in the course of the subsequent
operations.
As a result of his independent decisive to attack the overwhelming enemy
without Panzer support, in addition to his personal intervention,
SS-Obersturmbannführer Kumm succeeded in laying the groundwork for the
destruction of the cut-off enemy. On the 16.02.1943 the SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’ had the following
order: ‘Regiment must reach Jefronowka and make contact with Kampfgruppe
Meier’. By this the elusive enemy could be caught in a pincer movement
and destroyed. The III.(SPW)/SS-Pz.Gren.Rgt. ‘Der Führer’ commenced its
movement and noticed that only weak enemy units were moving to
Jefronowka, with the bulk of their forces instead retreating towards the
southeast.
Thus the regimental commander decided to deviate from his mission.
Instead of only attacking Jefronowka, he would instead pursue and
destroy the larger enemy forces as well. The regimental commander gave the following order: ‘Follow the clearly recognizable enemy tracks, then fix and destroy them.’
Success made itself known a day later, when the offensive group
(consisting of the SPW Bataillon and a Panzer-Kompanie) eliminated one
enemy Regiment. 20 guns, numerous mortars and heavy machine guns, 30
anti-tank guns, flamethrowers and numerous dead were the confirmation
that this deviation from the original orders was justified. The pursuit
of this enemy had brought success. Over the course of these two decisive actions, and during the entire
thrust as far as Bereka, a constant battle was fought not only against
the enemy but also against snow and the terrain.
This success by the Division can be credited to Kumm’s iron will to
advance and his continual presence among the foremost attack spearheads.
Equally important was his correct analysis of unexpected situations and
the corresponding decisions concerning the employment of available
units. The achievements brought about by the leadership and the troops
themselves were extraordinary." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves citation, awarded on 6 April 1943 as SS-Obersturmbannführer and commander SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment "Der Führer". "During the course of the Balkan withdrawal the 7.
SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division ‘Prinz Eugen’ managed to withdraw to
the Nisch bridgehead as planned following heavy combat with strong enemy
forces in the area around Leskovac—Bela-Palanka (against 6 Bulgarian
infantry divisions and 1 tank brigade) and Zajecar (against 3 Soviet
divisions). The swift evacuation of the wounded (700), supply equipment,
and ground facilities (headquarters, airbases and Flak) was necessary. The evacuation route Brigadeführer Kumm intended to use leading
northwards via Aleksinac was already blocked by strong Russian forces
north of Aleksinac. The only available weak forces (1 Bataillon) were
unable to reopen the route on the 12.10.1944. Connection to the Korps no
longer existed. Consequently the divisional commander decided to allow
these motorized column to escape towards the west via Mramor—Prokuplje.
The Nisch bridgehead had to be held until the 14.10.1944 against hotly
pursuing enemy forces, as the destroyed Morava bridge only completed
repairs at midday on the 13.10.1944 and the approx. 1000 vehicles could
only be fully led through at 09:00 on the 14.10.1944 due to the bad
weather. The horse-drawn units were placed behind the motorized columns. At around 10:45 a Bulgarian division (reinforced by a tank brigade)
attacked the retreat route here from the south with their main effort
along the left wing in the Merosina area (they started at 08:00
according to the Divisional command post). Gruppe Gabelmann, positioned
as security to the south with 3 Luftwaffe-Kompanien, was totally
dispersed.
Brigadeführer Kumm immediately assembled all available troops (some 40
men with 3 light MGs), and with them held the southern edge of Merosina.
An ordered relief attack by elements of the II./13 from the southern
edge of Nisch into the flank of the enemy did not come to fruition, as
the Bataillon itself was attacked by strong enemy forces with tank
support. The vehicle column was fully shot up by anti-tank guns, tanks
and artillery, its drivers and supply troops being totally scattered.
However the brave resistance by the divisional commander and his handful
of men held off the enemy long enough for the vehicles carrying the
wounded as well as other elements of the motorized columns to pull out
to the west and later to Pristina.
At around 13:00 the enemy had blocked the road along both sides of
Merosina with tanks, and had penetrated into the village itself with
infantry. After running out of ammunition the Brigadeführer decided to
get out of there. Along with his troops he broke out of the village and
reached the command post of the Regiment 13. From here he ordered the
Bataillone to pull out of the Nisch bridgehead, and for the assembly of
all available elements of the Division at Dudulajce. The retreat and the
reassembly went according to plan, with the artillery also being taken
along.
Due to a lack of ammunition and heavy weapons the divisional decided to
avoid major engagements and instead cross over the ridge of the
Jastrebac mountain. He intended to break through the partisan forces
along the way and once again make contact with friendly forces in the
Ibar valley. After an extremely difficult mountain march with about 4000
men and 1100 horses (in which sufficient food and fodder was
unavailable) the Ibar valley was reached on the night of the
20./21.10.1944, and friendly contact was established in the Usce—Bare
area. Through this bold undertaking Brigadeführer Kumm managed to
extract his troops from the jaws of a far superior enemy, and remain in
control of a combat-capable formation.
From the 24.10.-27.11.1944 the Division (along with additional combat
elements of the General-Kommando F.W. Müller) held the bridgehead at
Karljevo, and in doing so enabled the withdrawal of several divisions as
well as large quantities of supplies.
Retreating via Cacak, Brigadeführer Kumm took over the Ljubovija
bridgehead on the 05.12.1944. Thereafter he held the bridgehead (and
with it the road to Rogacica) open until the 15.12.1944. Starting on the
10.12.1944 the Division found itself all alone on the eastern bank of
the river after the destruction of the Drina bridge. On the 22.12.1944
the Division reached Bijeljina following hard combat with partisans, and
in doing so made contact with the divisions of the XXXIV. Armee-Korps.
Already in the days afterwards the divisional commander began an
operation to clear the Drina—Save triangle. With swift thrusts the
partisan forces located there (4-5 of Tito’s divisions, some of which
were already there and some of which were in the process of crossing the
Drina from the eastern bank) were scattered. They were pushed back
either across the Drina or into the mountains towards the west.
During an attack on the 03.01.1945, launched from the Otok area under
the command of Brigadeführer Kumm, the 21st Tito Division was engaged in
the Komletinci—Nijemci area. With only minimal friendly losses, the
enemy division was destroyed following a series of powerful strikes. High losses were inflicted, and numerous light and heavy weapons fell
into our hands.
During a further attack on the 17.-18.01.1945, following a breakthrough
of enemy positions at Sotin, Brigadeführer Kumm and his men succeeded in
capturing Opatovac, Lovac, Tovarnik and Sid in a swift advance. Once
again heavy losses in men and material were inflicted on the enemy." from his Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords citation, awarded on 17 March 1945 as SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor of the Waffen-SS and commander of the 7. SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division "Prinz Eugen".
Another deadly enemy elite,
Brian
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