SS-Heimwehr Danzig

"DEARER DEATH THAN TO BECOME POLISH" The SS-Heimwehr Danzig
Danzig, one of the largest ports on the Baltic Sea was founded in the 13th century as the capital of Pomerania, it became a part of the Hanseatic League in the 15th century. Being of primary importance as an open water port, the Russians took Danzig early in the 18th century, later in this same one hundred year span Prussia made the city a part of its empire. From 1807 to 1814 Danzig was a free city, being reclaimed at the end of that time by Prussia to become the capital of West Prussia. Danzig remained the capital until the Treaty of Versailles in 1918 made it a free city again until such time as it could be given to Poland.

On January 22, 1920 the last large military parade was held in the Danzig Square, marking the end of German rule in the city. By February 17th all the German troops, including Danzig's own regiment, the "Liebhusaren" were out of the city. The dictates of the Versailles Treaty had stipulated that there were to be no soldiers within the city, it was to be a completely neutral "Free City". By June of 1921 a German "Freikorps" had been formed to prevent the Polish government taking over the city. Like the other Freikorps groups in Germany at this time, the "Danziger Freikorps" had no legal basis for its existence and like the others, it was composed of beerhall toughs, exsoldiers and malcontents. The only thing that held the members in common bond was the fact that they were all intensely nationalistic.

From the time Hitler came into power in 1934 until the outbreak of war in 1939, he raged about the peace treaty, the loss of German territory around the world, and the "Polish Corridor". The ban on rearmament was of course openly flaunted. It became quite evident that Hitler was not going to admit the loss of Danzig when he made it a Gau of Nazi Germany under the supervision, of Gauleiter Albert Foerster. A "Gau Abzeichen" was ordered struck and consisted of an oval badge with an outline of oakleaves, inside this border was found the Danzig crest, consisting of two Maltese Crosses with a crown at the top, behind this emblem appeared the swastika. The words "Alter Kampfer" were also on the badge.

Through all the years since the end of the war in 1918 the German people were led to believe that Danzig was under constant harrassment and pressure by the Polish government. Poland could do nothing to stop this propaganda because Hitler had complete control of the German news media.In early 1938 Hitler ordered Totenkopf Standart III to be formed and to be headquartered in Danzig, under the direct command of the Berlin office.. In the summer of 1938 Standart III was nicknamed "Goetze" after its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Goetze.
In the middle of 1939 men and equipment began to come into Danzig from the East Prussian areas. Inside the city a company of men was formed and called itself "SS-Heimwehr Danzig". The uniforms were Waffen-SS and the arms were modern. They paraded openly in the streets in full military regalia, defying the Versailles Treaty .

On August 18, 1939 Gauleiter Foerster presented a unit flag to lieutenant colonel Goetze with the slogan "Dearer death than to become Polish". This flag was one of a kind, in the center, over the front of the swastika was an SS skull, two diagonal black rays crossed the flag, one with the SS insignia, the other with the Danzig crest. This flag was to be "Flown in honor at the head of the SS-Heimwehr Danzig" On September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland, the 1500 men of the SS-Heimwehr Danzig fought in and around the city until the 5th when they were transferred to the Westerplatte area where they saw action until the 19th when they became absorbed by the Totenkopf division.

From the time of its conception in 1938, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig left no question as to its allegiance. Unlike some Polish units which were composed of Volksdeutsch and went over to the German army at the first opportunity, the SS-Heimwehr Danzig was openly pro-German.

Deeter/Odegard, "The SS-Heimwehr Danzig", "Militaria" 1969