Führer Grenadier Brigade The Führer Grenadier Brigade was an élite German Heer combat unit which saw action during World War II . The Führer Grenadier Brigade is sometimes mistakenly perceived as being a part of the Waffen - SS , whereas it was actually a Heer unit and technically assigned to the Großdeutschland Division . This misconception comes from its original duty of guarding Adolf Hitler ' s East Prussian Wolfsschanze Headquarters , a task which sounded similar to the original one of Waffen - SS 1 . Panzer Division " Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler " , which in turn stemmed from the Führer ' s original bodyguard corps . Fighting on both the eastern and western fronts , the brigade surrendered to U . S . forces in Austria in 1945 . Creation and Early History . The Führer Grenadier Battalion was raised in April , 1943 to act as a second guard unit on the outer perimeter of Hitler ' s " Wolfsschanze " in Rastenburg , East Prussia . Despite the idea of Hitler ' s bodyguards being drawn from the SS , a small detachment was drawn from the Wach Regiment to become Hitler ' s private bodyguard . This unit was called the Führer Begleit ( or Führer Escort ) , and was to eventually be expanded to divisional size ( see Führer Begleit Brigade ) . " Brigade " - Eastern Front . In 1944 , the battalion was reorganized as an armored brigade at Fallingbostel . Personnel were drawn from the Großdeutschland Division pool of hand - picked personnel . In October 1944 , it was assigned to XXVII Korps of the Fourth Army and sent to the vicinity of Gumbinnen . They fought at Daken and Grosswaltersdorf from October 21 – 23 . The brigade operated in conjunction with 5th Panzer Division and the ' Hermann Göring " Division . Western Front - " Wacht am Rhein " . Between December 11 – 17 , 1944 , the brigade was sent west to participate in Operation Herbstnebel . The brigade ' s composition did not match any standard unit configuration . The Großdeutschland Division never fought on the western front in 1944 – 45 ( it did see action in the 1940 invasion of France but in regiment form ) , however , the Führer Grenadier Brigade was technically a part of the division and some photographs show the " Großdeutschland " Insignia from the Battle of the Bulge . As a part of " Großdeutschland " , FGB was permitted to wear cuff - title insignia . The " Großdeutschland " was ordered to wear the cuff title on the right sleeve ( as did veterans of the North African campaign or the taking of Crete with their own honour bands ) , while the SS wore theirs on the left . In 1945 , the brigade was awarded their own cuff title , FGB . " FGB " was assigned to Seventh Army Reserve for Operation Herbstnebel . " Division " - 1945 . The brigade was pulled from the line in early January . On paper , it was enlarged to a division and assigned to Heeresgruppe Vistula . In April , it was reassigned to Sixth SS - Panzer Army . The Führer Grenadier Division surrendered to U . S . troops in May 1945 near Vienna , Austria . Holders of the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross . 101 Panzer Regiment . Hauptmann Herbert Hensel , Knight ' s Cross on March 5 , 1945 as Commander of the II . Abteilung ( Panzer - Füsilier - Bataillon ) / Panzer - Regiment 101 ( former I . / PzGrenRegt 99 ) . 99 Panzergrenadier Regiment . Major Ernst - Günter Lehnhoff , Knight ' s Cross on December 12 , 1944 as Commander of the Panzer - Füsilier - Bataillon of the Führer - Grenadier - Brigade ( I . / PzGrenRegt 99 ) . 1 Companie - 12 Panthers Order of battle . 2 Companie - 12 Panthers 3 Companie - 12 Panthers 4 Companie - 11 Jagdpanthers with 88mm Pak 43 5 Companie - 14 Stug III 92 Armored Personnel Carriers 12 - 150mm guns ( 10 guns on loan to Skorzeny ' s Panzer Brigade 150 during Herbstnebel ) 1 Companie - 10 Stug III 2 Companie - 14 Stug III 3 Companie - 6 Stug III See also . List of German divisions in World War II