The SS Brigade Westfalen was an adhoc unit composed of the men of the military training commands of the Paderborn area and the 507 Heavy Tank 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.