Wehrmacht foreign volunteers and conscripts
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H27774%2C_Wlassow_und_Schilenkow_bei_Goebbels.jpg/300px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-H27774%2C_Wlassow_und_Schilenkow_bei_Goebbels.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-177-1465-04%2C_Griechenland%2C_Soldat_der_Legion_%22Freies_Arabien%22.jpg/250px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-177-1465-04%2C_Griechenland%2C_Soldat_der_Legion_%22Freies_Arabien%22.jpg)
Among the approximately one million foreign volunteers and conscripts who served in the Wehrmacht during World War II were ethnic Belgians, Czechs, Dutch, Finns, Danes, French, Hungarians, Norwegians, Poles,[1] Portuguese, Swedes,[2] Swiss along with people from Great Britain, Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Balkans.[3] At least 47,000 Spaniards served in the Blue Division.[4]
Many Soviet citizens (Russians and other non-Russian ethnic minorities) joined the Wehrmacht forces as Hiwis (or Hilfswillige).[5] The Ukrainian collaborationist forces were composed of an estimated number of 180,000 volunteers serving with units scattered all over Europe.[6] Russian émigrés and defectors from the Soviet Union formed the Russian Liberation Army or fought as Hilfswillige within German units of the Wehrmacht primarily on the Eastern Front.[7] Non-Russians from the Soviet Union formed the Ostlegionen (literally "Eastern Legions"). The East Legions comprized a total of 175,000 personnel.[8] These units were all commanded by General Ernst August Köstring (1876−1953).[9] A lower estimate for the total number of foreign volunteers that served in the entire German armed forces (including the Waffen SS) is 350,000.[10]
These units were often under the command of German officers and some published their own propaganda newssheets.
List of units
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-177-1465-16%2C_Griechenland%2C_Soldaten_der_%22Legion_Freies_Arabien%22.jpg/250px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-177-1465-16%2C_Griechenland%2C_Soldaten_der_%22Legion_Freies_Arabien%22.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Llegada_de_integrantes_de_la_Divisi%C3%B3n_Azul_a_la_estaci%C3%B3n_del_Norte_%283_de_40%29_-_Fondo_Car-Kutxa_Fototeka.jpg/250px-Llegada_de_integrantes_de_la_Divisi%C3%B3n_Azul_a_la_estaci%C3%B3n_del_Norte_%283_de_40%29_-_Fondo_Car-Kutxa_Fototeka.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/Ukrainian_Liberation_Army_%28%D0%A3%D0%92%D0%92%29.jpg/200px-Ukrainian_Liberation_Army_%28%D0%A3%D0%92%D0%92%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Inkeril%C3%A4isnuoret.jpg/220px-Inkeril%C3%A4isnuoret.jpg)
Soviet Union
[edit]Unit name | Description |
---|---|
![]() | Mostly Soviet Armenians |
![]() | Mostly Soviet Azeris |
![]() | Mostly Soviet Georgians |
Hiwi | Soviet civilians and prisoners of war |
XV SS Cossack Cavalry Corps | Until 1 February 1945 under command of the Wehrmacht, then the Corps was transferred to the Waffen-SS[11] |
Kalmykian Voluntary Cavalry Corps | Mostly Kalmyks |
Litauische Bau-Bataillonen | Mostly conscripted Lithuanians |
Fatherland Defense Force | Land unit composed of Lithuanians |
![]() | Air unit composed of Latvians. |
Nachtigall Battalion | Ukrainians of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists |
Ostlegionen | Consisting mostly of Caucasians |
Roland Battalion | A.k.a. Special Group Roland. Second Polish Republic citizens of Ukrainian ethnicity |
![]() | Mostly ethnic Russians |
![]() | Formed in May 1943 and comprised 5 Azeri and 6 Turkestani artillery/infantry units.[12] |
![]() | Ukrainians |
![]() | Ukrainians |
Croatia
[edit]Middle East
[edit]- Legion Freies Arabien (Arab volunteers)
- Deutsch-Arabische Lehr-Abteilung (Arab volunteers)
- Deutsch-Arabisches Bataillon Nr. 845 (Arab volunteers)
- Freiwilligen-Stamm-Regiment 1 (Turkish volunteers)
Azerbaijani, Georgian and Armenian volunteers
[edit]- Armenische Legion (Armenian volunteers)
- Aserbaidschanische Legion (Azerbaijani volunteers)
- 30. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Russische Nr. 2)
- Georgische Legion (Georgian volunteers)
- Freiwilligen-Stamm-Regiment 1 (Georgian volunteers)
- Freiwilligen-Stamm-Regiment 2 (Armenians & Azerbaijanis)
- Sonderverband Bergmann (Georgian and Azerbaijani volunteers)
- I. Sonderverband Bergmann Battalion (Georgian volunteers)
- III. Sonderverband Bergmann Battalion (Azerbaijani volunteers)
- SS-Waffengruppe Georgien (Georgian volunteers)
- SS-Waffengruppe Armenien (Armenian volunteers)
- SS-Waffengruppe Aserbaidschan (Azeri volunteers)
North Caucasian volunteers
[edit]- Kaukasisch-Mohammedanische Legion (Azerbaijani, Circassian, Daghestani, Chechen, Ingush, and Lezghin volunteer units)
- Kaukasischer-Waffen-Verband der SS or Freiwilligen Brigade Nordkaukasien (volunteers from the North Caucasus region)
- Nordkaukasische Legion ("North Caucasian Legion" volunteers from the North Caucasus region)
- Freiwilligen-Stamm-Regiment 1 (North Caucasian volunteers)
- Sonderverband Bergmann (North Caucasian volunteers)
- II. Sonderverband Bergmann Battalion (North Caucasian volunteers)
- SS-Waffengruppe Nordkaukasus (North Caucasian volunteers; Chechens, Ingush & Dagestani)
Central Asian volunteers
[edit]- 162. (Turkistan) Infanterie-Division (Turkestani volunteers)
- Muselmanischen SS-Division Neu-Turkistan (Turkestani volunteers)
- Turkistanische Legion (volunteers from Central Asia; Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Kyrgyzs & Turkmen)
- Böhler-Brigade (Turkestani volunteers)
- 1. Turkestanisches-Arbeits-Battalion (Turkestani volunteers)
- 2. Turkestanisches-Arbeits-Battalion (Turkestani volunteers)
- 3. Turkestanisches-Arbeits-Battalion (Turkestani volunteers)
- Osttürkischer Waffen-Verband der SS or 1. Ostmuselmanisches SS-Regiment (Central Asia volunteers)
- Turkestanisches-Arbeits-Ersatz-Battalion (Turkestani volunteers)
- Waffen-Gruppe Turkistan (Central Asian volunteers)
Kalmykian volunteers
[edit]- Kalmüken Verband Dr. Doll (Kalmykian volunteers)
- Abwehrtrupp 103 (Kalmykian volunteers)
- Kalmücken Legion or Kalmücken-Kavallerie-Korps (Kalmykian volunteers)
Tatar volunteers
[edit]- Tatar Legion
- SS-Waffengruppe Idel-Ural (Turkic volunteers from Volga/Ural area)
- Waffen-Gebirgs-Brigade der SS (Tatar Nr. 1) (Tatar volunteers)
- 30. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Russische Nr. 2) (Armenian & Tatar volunteer units)
- Wolgatatarische Legion (Volga Tatars and Volga-Finns)
- Tataren-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment der SS (Crimean Tatar volunteers)
- Waffen-Gruppe Krim (Crimean Tatar volunteers)
- Schutzmannschaft Battalion (Crimean Tatar volunteers)
Cossack volunteers
[edit]- 1. Kosaken-Kavallerie-Division (volunteers from Cossacks in Cherson, from February 1945 XV. SS-Kosaken-Kavallerie-Korps)
- Kosaken-Reiter-Brigade Kaukasus II (Caucasus Cossack volunteers)
- Kuban-Kosaken-Reiter-Regiment 3 (Kuban Cossack volunteers)
- Don-Kosaken-Reiter-Regiment 5 (Don Cossack volunteers)
- Terek-Kosaken-Reiter-Regiment 6 (Terek Cossack volunteers)
- Kosaken-Artillerie-Regiment 2 (Caucasian Cossack volunteers)
- Sibirisches Kosaken-Reiter-Regiment 2 (Siberian Cossack volunteers)
- XV. Kosaken-Kavallerie-Korps (Kotelnikovo Cossack volunteers)
- Freiwilligen-Stamm-Regiment 5 (Cossack volunteers)
Caucasian mixed volunteer units
[edit]- Freiwilligen-Stamm-Division (Georgian, Turkish, North Caucasian, Armenian & Azerbaijani volunteers)
Caucasian, Central Asian, Crimean and Ural mixed volunteer units
[edit]Propaganda newspapers for Caucasian and Cossack units
[edit]- Azerbaijan
- Azerbajçan – Azerbaijani Legion
- Kalmykia
- Kalmyckij Boec ("Kalmyk Soldier") – Kalmyk Cavalry Corps
- Kosaken (Cossack Nation)
- Kosaken-Illustrierte ("Cossack Illustrated") – 1st Cossack Cavalry Division (trilingual)
- La terra dei cosacchi ("The Land of the Cossacks") – Cossack units in upper Italy
- Krimtürken (Crimean Tatars)
- Kirim ("Crimea") – Weekly paper for the Crimean Tatar volunteers, Berlin 1944–1945
- Tataren (Tatar nation)
- Deutsch-tatarisches Nachrichtenblatt ("German-Tatar News Journal") – Volga Tatar Legion, monthly publication, Berlin 1944–1945 (bilingual)
- Turkestaner (Central Asian nation)
- Yeni Türkistan ("New Turkestan") – Turkistan Legion
- Svoboda ("Freedom") – 162nd Turkoman Division
- Türk Birligi ("Turkish Unity") – Osttürkischer Waffen-Verband der SS, weekly publication, Berlin 1944–1945
German commanders of Central Asian, Caucasian and Cossack units
[edit]These German commanders also received honorary military or leading titles between their units at charge; for example Helmuth von Pannwitz received the title of "Ataman" from his Cossack units.
- Generalleutnant Helmuth von Pannwitz
- Oberst Hans-Joachim von Schultz
- Oberstleutnant Günther von Steinsdorff
- Oberst von Baath
- Oberst Freiherr von Nolcken
- Oberst Konstantin Wagner
- Sonderführer Othmar Rudolf Wyrba a.k.a. "Dr. Doll" (German, Tibetan and Mongolian language expert; leader of the Kalmuck units)
- Oberstleutnant Pipgorra
- Oberst Raimund Hoerst
- SS-Obersturmbannführer Andreas Meyer-Mader
- SS-Hauptsturmführer Billig
- SS-Hauptsturmführer Hermann
- SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Franz Liebermann
- SS-Hauptsturmführer Reiner Olzscha
- SS-Hauptsturmführer Fürst
- SS-Standartenführer Harun-el-Raschid Bey (of the central Asian legions; was a German who converted to Islam while serving as an advisor to Enver Pasha)
- Generalmajor Prof. Dr. Oskar Ritter von Niedermayer
- Generalleutnant Ralph von Heygendorff
German representative of the Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories
[edit]Central Asian, Caucasian and Cossack political leaders
[edit]- Cossack Ataman General Pyotr Krasnov
- Cossack Ataman General Andrei Shkuro
- Cossack Ataman Vasili Glazkov
- Kalmuk Prince Tundotov
Puppet governments and organizations in the USSR
[edit]- Provisional Government of Lithuania
- Zuyev Republic
- Belarusian Central Council
- Lokot Autonomy (later Lepel Republic)
- Ukrainian National Government
- Ukrainian National Committee
- Provisional Popular Revolutionary Government of Chechnya-Ingushetia
- Liberation Movement of the Peoples of Russia
- North Caucasus National Committee
- Turkestan National Committee
- Patriotic Union Tetri Giorgi
- Cossack Central Office
- National Karachai Committee
- Armenian National Committee
- Kalmyk National Committee
- Simferopol Muslim Committee
- Tatar Committee
- Eastern Turkish Council
- Caucasian Council
- Cossack National Liberation Movement
- Main Board of the Cossack Forces
- Russian Committee in Latvia
- Belarusian Committee (Warsaw)
- Belarusian Committee (Białystok)
- Belarusian Representation
- Belarusian Self-Help Committee
- Belarusian National Center
- Belarusian Cultural Assembly
- Committee to Combat Bolshevism
- Russian Committee
- Caucasian Committee in the General Government
- Commission for Cossacks
- Gathering of the nations enslaved by Russia
Other
[edit]See also
[edit]- Collaboration with the Axis Powers during World War II
- Georgian uprising on Texel
- Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts
- Non-Germans in the German armed forces during World War II
- 361st Infantry Regiment (Wehrmacht) - recruited among Germans from the French Foreign Legion
- Selbstschutz
References
[edit]- ^ Ryszard Kaczmarek: Polacy w Wehrmachcie. Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 2010. ISBN 978-83-08-04488-9
- ^ Wangel, Carl-Axel (1982). Sveriges militära beredskap 1939-1945 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Militärhistoriska Förlaget. ISBN 978-91-85266-20-3.
- ^ Grasmeder, Elizabeth M.F. "Leaning on Legionnaires: Why Modern States Recruit Foreign Soldiers". International Security. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
- ^ "Spain's Nazi volunteers defend their right to recognition - and German pensions". The Daily Telegraph. 30 November 2015.
- ^ Audrey L. Alstadt (2013). "The Azerbaijani Turks: Power and Identity under Russian Rule". p. 187. ISBN 9780817991838
- ^ Carlos Caballero Jurado (1983). Foreign Volunteers of the Wehrmacht 1941–45. Translated by Alfredo Campello, David List. Osprey. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-85045-524-3.
- ^ M. V. Nazarov, The Mission of the Russian Emigration, Moscow: Rodnik, 1994. ISBN 5-86231-172-6[page needed]
- ^ "Slaughter on the Eastern Front: Hitler and Stalin's War 1941-1945" Appendix 3
- ^ Dermot Bradley, Karl-Friedrich Hildebrand, Markus Rövekamp: Die Generale des Heeres 1921–1945. Band 7: Knabe–Luz. Biblio Verlag, Bissendorf 2004, ISBN 3-7648-2902-8.
- ^ "SS: Hitler's Foreign Divisions" description
- ^ Rolf Michaelis: Die Waffen-SS. Mythos und Wirklichkeit. Michaelis-Verlag, Berlin 2001, p. 36
- ^ Nikolai Tolstoy (1977). The Secret Betrayal. Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 304ff. ISBN 0-684-15635-0.
- ^ Carlos Caballero Jurado; Ramiro Bujeiro (2009). Blue Division Soldier 1941-45: Spanish Volunteer on the Eastern Front. Osprey Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-84603-412-1.
Bibliography
[edit]- Jurado, Carlos Caballero (1985). Foreign volunteers of the Wehrmacht 1941-45. London: Osprey. ISBN 0-85045-524-3. OCLC 13216649.
- Elizabeth M.F. Grasmeder, "Leaning on Legionnaires: Why Modern States Recruit Foreign Soldiers," International Security (July 2021), Vol 46 (No. 1), pp. 147–195.
Further reading
[edit]- Elizabeth M.F. Grasmeder, "Leaning on Legionnaires: Why Modern States Recruit Foreign Soldiers," International Security (July 2021), Vol 46 (No. 1), pp. 147–195.
- Edele, Mark (2017). Stalins' Defectors: How Red Army Soldiers Became Hitler's Collaborators, 1941-1945. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-879815-6.