Independent Infantry Battalions

I have seen reference to a number of battalions numbered in the 400 to 900 number range. How many battalions in total were there and how were they used ? Thank you for your help.

Can you be more specific ? Give some examples.

I am also curious to know more on these battalions. I was able to find them for the first time in the Caucasus in 1943. I do not exactly how many were they.

The numbers I have are mostly from the "Royal Romanian Army" website. The batallions I have are numbered 460,480,490,502,552,590,670,720,730,750,760,780,991,992 and 993. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

There was also 994.

The 991st, 992nd, 993rd and 994th Independent Infantry Battalions were all manned by convicts. All four were sent to the front in 1942, the first 3 to Stalingrad (to the 5th Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division respectively) and the last to the Caucasus to the German 97th Infatry Division.

The 995th Battalion was assigned to the 112th Infantry Regiment of teh 24th Infantry Division.

After 23 August 1944 the 998th, 999th, 1000th A, 1000th B and 1000th C battalions, which were assigned to the 19th Infantry Brigade.

The 1001st to 1015th Battalions were work battalions.

Hi,tjk

Could you tell me the URL of "Royal Romanian Army" website?
Mihai

QUOTE

The numbers I have are mostly from the \"Royal Romanian Army\" website. The batallions I have are numbered 460,480,490,502,552,590,670,720,730,750,760,780,991,992 and 993. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.geocities.com/dangrecu/

Thank you for the information. Were the work battalions created after August 1944 and what is the Romanian language term for them ?

The work battalions were created before 23 August 1944.
The term was: Batalionul # Lucru (# - number)
There were also other work battalions: 73rd (sent to Crimea), 76th (at Otopeni, near Bucharest), 1016th and 1017th (made up of Jewish citizens).

During 1941, the 35th Reserve Infantry Division, before it was disbanded in September, organized three independent battalions, which were sent to the front:500th, 550th and 570th.

QUOTE

http://www.geocities.com/dangrecu/

Thank you

Is this Mr,Grecu Dan-Simion's site?

Mihai

Yes, it is. He's from Deva.

The 1000th B and 998th Battalions were assigned to 4th Infantry Division during the fights on the middle Tisza. On 19 October 1944 the Axis forces broke the positions defended by 1000th B Battalion near Szolnok, the battalion armed with 47mm anti-tank guns could not withstand the armored attack and fell back to Mezotur.

SE of Rakoczifalva the German tanks could not break the lines of 998th Battalion, the battalion being supported by the 1st Heavy Artillery Regiment which destroyed 4 heavy tanks and damaged several others.

The 1000th C Battalion was also assigned to the 1st Romanian Army, defending the Cris River line.

Thank you

Is this Mr,Grecu Dan-Simion's site?

Mihai

One of my favorite reference sites for unit identification is gone off the internet. What happened ? Ref : Dan Grecu - Royal Romanian Army

It can still be found here: http://reocities.com/MotorCity/Freeway/7333/