SS Brigade Westfalen

The SS Brigade Westfalen was an adhoc unit composed of the men of the military training commands of the Paderborn area and the 507th Heavy Panzer Battalion. The unit was committed into battle in March 1945 in an unsuccessful attempt to stop American troops from encircling Army Group B in the Ruhr Pocket.

Assigned to lead the Brigade was Obersturmbannführer Hans Stern, who had won the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in 1941 while leading 3./Panzer-Regiment 11/6. Panzer-Division.

The Brigade consisted of two regiments that were named after their commanders. Regiment "Meyer" consisted of three battalions: SS Panzer Reconnaissance Training and Replacement Battalion 1, SS Panzer Reconnaissance Training and Replacement Battalion 2, and an SS Panzer Reconnaissance NCO Training Battalion.

Regiment "Holzer" was named after its commander Obersturmbannführer Friedrich Holzer and consisted of the SS Panzer Training and Replacement Regiment in Augustdorf, which consisted of five battalions.

Order of battle

• SS-Panzer-Aufklärer Regiment Meyer
• SS-Panzer-Ausb.u.Ers.Rgt Holzer
• Schwere Panzer Abteilung 507