TEXT: German 1st SS Panzer Division            December, 1944 
          Though short on tanks, the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler (LAH) division contained an extra battal-
  ion of infantry in each of its two infantry regiments.  The 1st SS Panzer division was organized into four 
  specialized kampfgruppes for this battle, each named for its commander, and they are presented as fol-
  lows, along with their objectives: 
  Kampfgruppe Peiper 
  x 6 
  II/1 SS 
  Panzer 
  Regiment 
   
  x 6 
  x 6 
  501st 
  Heavy 
  Panzer  
  Battalion 
  (attached) 
  III/2 SS 
  Panzer 
  Grenadier 
  Regiment 
  x 3 
  84th 
  Flak 
  Battalion 
  (attached) 
   
  x 3 
  x 2 
  x 2 
  x 2 
  I SS 
  Panzer 
  Pioneer 
  Battalion 
  (-) 
   
  x 3 
  13/2 
   Panzer 
  Grenadier 
  Battalion 
   
          Kampfgruppe Peiper was probably the most famous and controversial German formation of the 
  Ardennes battle.  It contained all the tanks from the division along with an attached battalion of King 
  Tiger tanks.  This formation was intended to be the “tip of the spear” in the drive to the Meuse River.  
  Peiper was so unhappy at 3rd Fallshirmjager’s engineers progress at building bridges that he sent his 
  own engineers forward to finish the job.  Fuming, he finally got his force moving almost 10 hours after 
  the start of the battle.  Peiper pushed his column forward relentlessly and his successes included captur-
  ing a 50,000 gallon fuel dump at Bullingen, which he used to refill his panzers.  His opposition consisted 
  of small scattered groups of Americans which he easily pushed aside.  Unfortunately, Peiper experi-
  enced much trouble advancing his kampfgruppe on the narrow winding roads. What should have been a 
  10 mile column straggled out over 20 miles in length.  Peiper eventually fought his way to Staumont, 
  where he ran into serious trouble against the 30th Infantry and CCA and CCB of the 3rd Armored Divi-
  sion.  His kampfgruppe was cut off there and became desperately low on supplies.  On Christmas day 
  Peiper led about 1000 men on foot back to German lines, having abandoned all their vehicles and heavy 
  equipment. 
          This group was also responsible for the massacre of nearly 80 American prisoners near a crossroads 
  outside of Malmedy as well as the murders of various groups of civilians during this campaign. 
  x 2 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  I/1 SS 
  Panzer 
  Artillery 
  Regiment 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  By Greg Moore 
  gregpanzerblitz.com 
  Revised October, 2009 
  x 6 
  x 3 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 13 
  x 1 
  x 4 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  
  x 4 
  1st SS 
  PanzerJager 
  Battalion 
   
  x 3 
  x 3 
          Kampfgruppe Hansen contained a full regiment of SS troopers with a bit of artillery.  Armor sup-
  port consisted of Pz IV/70’s in the PanzerJager Battalion.  Their job was to advance on a road to the 
  south of Peiper so as to broaden the front and protect the southern flank.  Their progress was slow as 
  they got stuck behind the horse drawn artillery of the 3rd Fallshirmjager Division at the beginning.  The 
  high water mark for Kampfgruppe Hansen consisted of a failed attempt to recapture Stavelot from the 
  Americans, thus helping to seal the fate of Kampfgruppe Peiper. 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  II/1 SS 
  Panzer 
  Artillery 
  Regiment 
  x 1 
  Kampfgruppe Hansen 
  1st SS 
  Panzer 
  Grenadier  
  Regiment 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 13 
  x 1 
  x 4 
  x 3 
  I 
  Battalion 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 12 
  x 1 
  x 4 
  x 1 
  II 
  Battalion 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 12 
  x 1 
  x 4 
  x 1 
  III 
  Battalion 
  
  x 3 
  1st SS 
  Panzer 
  Flak 
  Battalion 
   
  x 3 
  1st SS 
  Panzer 
  Pioneer 
  Battalion 
  (-) 
  x 6 
  x 3 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  x 2 
  x 2 
  Kampfgruppe Sandig 
  2nd SS 
  Panzer 
  Grenadier  
  Regiment 
  (-) 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 13 
  x 1 
  x 4 
  x 3 
  I 
  Battalion 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  x 3 
  x 3 
  1st SS 
  Panzer 
  Nebelwerfer 
  Battalion 
  III/1 SS 
  Panzer 
  Artillery 
  Regiment 
          Kampfgruppe Sandig contained two battalions of infantry and the heavy artillery of the regiment.  
  This formation acted as a reserve and was to follow behind Peiper and Hanson (on both roads) and pro-
  vide support where needed. 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 13 
  x 1 
  x 4 
  x 3 
  II 
  Battalion 
  x 3 
  
  2nd 
  Panzer 
  Recon 
  Battalion 
  x 3 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 2 
  x 5 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  x 3 
  Kampfgruppe Knittel 
  x 1 
  x 1 
  II/1 SS 
  Panzer 
  Artillery 
  Regiment 
  6/1 SS 
  Panzer 
  Pioneer 
  Battalion 
  x 3 
  x 3 
          Kampfgruppe Knittel consisted of a reinforced recon battalion.  Its job was to loiter behind the 
  spearhead until a breakthrough had been achieved and then to race forward and seize and hold bridges 
  for the main force.  In the end, the breakthrough was never achieved and this formation never got to 
  achieve the glory they had hoped for. 
  x 4 
  x 1 
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Panzer Leader & Panzer Blitz/1944 Battle of the Bulge/1stSSPanzerDec44.pdf