Hello, My Name is Andre from Germany. I was born in Emmerich am Rhein. In 1945 was a 629.Detachment in this town. The Commander was Major Norton. I search all Informations from this Unit. Thank you very much. Best regards Andre
Welcome, Andre... I was born in Wesel an did quite a bit of research on the Allied forces active in our region... but this unit sounded new to me. However, I found a mention of a No. 629 Civil Affairs Detachment in the British Zone of occupation.
Hello, I think this is a unit what I search. The Commander was Major Norton. I have a another question. After the invasion of Canadian troops from Emmerich am Rhein, soldiers remained as an "occupying unit". Do you know which units they were? What was the command of the city after the invasion? Thank you for your feedback. Andre
Welcome Andre Units stationed in Emmerich late April/early May 1945 168 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery of 60th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery: Major PA Lingard 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery of 4th (Ulster) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery: Major HB Montgomery 10 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery of 4th (Ulster) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery: Major AW Allen 19 May 45 the above left 101st Anti-Aircraft Brigade for 75th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in Belgium 366 Searchlight Battery of 42nd (Robin Hood’s Sherwood Foresters) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery: Major S Mitchell MBE 26 May 45 left for Holland to re-join their regiment prior to moving to Hamburg Units of 115th Independent Infantry Brigade were then responsible for Landkreis Kleve until 2 Jun 45, then relieved by 308th Anti-Aircraft Infantry Brigade, however occupational troops were not stationed in Emmerich 234 Field Company Royal Engineers were in Hüthum north-west of Emmerich until 23 May 45 662 Artisan Works Company Royal Engineers were in the south-east of Emmerich until 11 May 45 Hope this helps 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
Have found this for 629 629th Infantry Regiment Royal Artillery of 308th Anti-Aircraft Infantry Brigade attached 115th Independent Infantry Brigade returns 2 Jun 45 Regimental Headquarters: Kleve Cannot confirm but could have had a detachment in Emmerich 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
Hello Steve, thank you for the Informations. Was canadian Troops in Emmerich am Rhein in the months April,May 1945
I think that Historic Steve is onto something... here's some more information: 308th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom) - Wikipedia They might have taken over in Emmerich in May 1945 - that is a possibilty. However, as you talk about a "detachment" I still think that we ar talking about a unit in charge of civil affairs. They were called "detachements". A No. 629 Civil Affairs Detachment is mentioned (only once) in a book by FSV Donnison: "Civil Affairs and Military Government: North-west Europe, 1944-1946" published HMSO in 1961
Andre, my research is post VE Day 8 May 45, however have higher command War Dairies from 1 May 45 and by accident have 101st Anti-Aircraft Brigade for Apr 45 So far as I can see Canadian Troops were not stationed in Emmerich, however 1st Corps was under command the 1st Canadian Army until 1 Apr 45. 15 Apr 45 – 101st Anti-Aircraft Brigade was responsible for Rhine crossings – Emmerich – Xanten – Rees – command was General Headquarters Anti-Aircraft Troops in Brussels with 1st Corps for administration – to 9 May 45 when 115th Independent Infantry Brigade relieved them on moving to Nijmegen – 629th Infantry Regiment arrived in Kleve 4 May 45 – have a map trace for showing the regiment was responsible for the area that includes Emmerich. From the 101st Anti-Aircraft Brigade Location Statement dated 17 Apr 45 – all in Emmerich 109th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – to 26 Apr 45: Lieutenant Colonel CM Fox 342 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major NG Wilson 343 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major GN Churchill 344 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major SCS Keeling 4th (Ulster) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – to 4 May 45: Lieutenant Colonel RL Heard MC 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major HB Montgomery 10 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major AW Allen 364 Searchlight Battery of 41st (5th North Staffordshire) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery – to 4 May 45: Major RC Chillingworth – Battery Headquarters and Two Troops only From 26 Apr 45 – 115th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – to 3 May 45: Lieutenant Colonel J Tallant 361 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major JE Waterfield From 3 May 45 – 168 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery of 60th (City of London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – to 19 May 45: Major PA Lingard From 3 May 45 – 60 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Workshops Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – to 19 May 45: Captain NK Brown From 4 May 45 – 366 Searchlight Battery of 42nd (Robin Hood’s Sherwood Foresters) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery – to 26 May 45: Major S Mitchell MBE Hope this helps in your research 21st Army Group later British Army of the Rhine (under construction)
..and if you want to pursue the other trace, here is entry for 629 Civil Affairs Det. for Jan - Oct 1945 at the National Archives: WO 171/8046. Apparently they were stationed in Neumunster later in 1945. 629 Det. Neumunster | The National Archives In a German newspaper (Holsteinischer Courier) an article on 2nd May 2020 mentions a Major Norton taking control in Neumünster "Neumünster | Ende April 1945: Die Menschen in Neumünster sind ... Ein Major Norton übernahm als Stadtkommandant die Befehlsgewalt in ..." Kriegsende in Neumünster: Die Engländer übernehmen die Stadt | shz.de I cannot read more because they have a paywall...
alberk Thanks for this, had this entry under 8th Corps District Kew documentation 629 Military Government Detachment no location until 10 Nov 45 then Brachfeld Str, Neumünster to Stadthaus 16 Jan 46 by Nov 45 Major Iddison With Major Norton's name mention it is conclusive, just the timings, do not have 1st Corps Kew documentation for Apr 45 to check
Hello Steve, I would like to thank you again for the great presentation of the units and gangs that were stationed in Emmerich on the Rhine. In the meantime I can narrow down the period. I'm talking about the period from April 1st to April 11th 1945. According to you, there were no Canadian troops in the city, but British units. If I may ask again, which troops were in Emmerich am Rhein during the period in question? I try to use the principle of exclusion so that I can go through the units specifically afterwards. Thanks nohmals Steve. It's great how you help me. Many greetings Andre´Girke
Hi André, I sent you something by Wetransfer! If I underand Historic Steve's post correctly these units most likely were in Emmerich in the first half of April 45: From the 101st Anti-Aircraft Brigade Location Statement dated 17 Apr 45 – all in Emmerich 109th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – to 26 Apr 45: Lieutenant Colonel CM Fox 342 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major NG Wilson 343 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major GN Churchill 344 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major SCS Keeling 4th (Ulster) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery – to 4 May 45: Lieutenant Colonel RL Heard MC 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major HB Montgomery 10 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery: Major AW Allen 364 Searchlight Battery of 41st (5th North Staffordshire) Searchlight Regiment Royal Artillery – to 4 May 45: Major RC Chillingworth – Battery Headquarters and Two Troops only best Alex
Andre Need to repeat my research is POST VE Day 8 May 45, have by chance some details prior to this date that I have posted, sorry cannot help with the dates you have given, best of luck with your research.
