Dutch Waffen Ss Legion Brigade 1941 44

Author : Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 50 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2020-05-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472840301

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Dutch Waffen-SS Legion & Brigade 1941–44 by Massimiliano Afiero Pdf

Goebbels' 1941 propaganda campaign to present Germany's invasion of the USSR as a battle for European civilization against Asian barbarism convinced many men in occupied 'Germanic' European countries, such as Scandinavia and the Low Countries, to volunteer to fight on the Russian Front. One of the strongest national legions of such a kind was raised in the Netherlands, where it was supported by a large pro-Nazi movement led by Anton Mussert. The 3,000-man Netherlands Volunteer Legion fought on the Leningrad front in regimental strength, from the Red Army's winter 1941/42 counter-offensive until April 1943. The survivors were then reinforced to form a 5,500-strong Panzergrenadier Brigade, and after anti-partisan service in Croatia, they returned to Army Group North as part of Steiner's III SS Panzer Korps, fighting in the most arduous battles of 1943–44 until driven back into Pomerania. In the final months of the war the division formed the nucleus of the new 23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division 'Nederland'. In this illustrated study of the Dutch Waffen-SS Legion and Brigade, specialist Massimiliano Afiero explores the full history of this important formation from its establishment in 1941 until it was incorporated into the 'Nederland' Division in 1944. Contemporary photographs and full-colour illustrations support the text and reveal key details including aspects of uniform and insignia.

Author : Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 50 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2019-03-21
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472834386

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Norwegian Waffen-SS Legion, 1941–43 by Massimiliano Afiero Pdf

Following the Nazi occupation of Norway in 1941, the Waffen-SS began recruiting volunteers to serve in their ranks. Initially formed into small volunteer units, these developed into large divisions by 1943, referred to as 'Legions' in Nazi propaganda. Early volunteers were promised that they would not leave Scandinavia and that they would serve under native Norwegian officers – but after the German invasion of the Soviet Union they were deployed to the Leningrad front alongside Dutch and Latvian units, in the 2nd SS Infantry Brigade. These units combined to form the nucleus of a whole regiment within the new 11th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division 'Nordland'. Fully illustrated with detailed artwork depicting the uniforms and equipment of the volunteer soldiers, this fascinating study tells the little-known story of the Norwegians who fought with the SS in World War II.

Author : Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 50 pages
File Size : 52,8 Mb
Release : 2021-05-27
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472844323

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Belgian Waffen-SS Legions & Brigades, 1941–1944 by Massimiliano Afiero Pdf

From the German occupation of Belgium in May 1940, Flemish recruits from northern Belgium – considered by the Nazis to be 'Germanic' – were accepted individually into Waffen-SS units. From Hitler's invasion of the USSR in June 1941, additional recruits from the French-speaking south (Wallonia) were drafted. Both communities formed volunteer 'Legions', to fight (according to Goebbels' propaganda machine) 'for European civilization against the Bolshevik threat'; these were a Flemish Legion in the Waffen-SS and a Walloon Legion in the German Army. Both served on the Russian Front in 1942-43; the Walloon Legion was then also transferred into the Waffen-SS, and the decorated Walloon officer Leon Degrelle became a publicized 'poster boy' for foreign SS volunteers. Both Legions were then redesignated as SS Assault Brigades, and thereafter saw extremely hard fighting in the Ukraine and on the Baltic front. In autumn 1944, their survivors were withdrawn from the front and incorporated into two new understrength SS Divisions, 27. 'Langemarck' and 28. 'Wallonien'. This new account, featuring detailed colour plates of uniform and insignia, recounts the battle history of the French and Flemish-speaking Belgian SS, up to their final transformation into full divisions in the winter of 1944/45.

Author : Perry Wijnand Pierik
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9464242345

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From Leningrad to Berlin by Perry Wijnand Pierik Pdf

When in June 1941 Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the SS appealed to young men in occupied areas to support the crusade against Bolshevism. At least 20.000 Dutchmen came forward to put their names down for this cause. The vast majority of them served in what was first called the legion, later the brigade and later still the 'Nederland' division. In From Leningrad to Berlin the history of the largest Dutch Waffen-SS unit on the eastern front is described for the first time. The main sources drawn on when writing this book were documents that survived the war, such as unit diaries and Berlin-generated paperwork on Dutch volunteers preserved in archives in Moscow and Prague, which can now be consulted in Dutch archives. By extensively studying the relevant literature the author has endeavoured to place the history of Dutch Waffen-SS volunteers in its rightful political and military context. The history of Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS forms a black and, until now, unwritten page in Dutch history. Bron: Flaptekst, uitgeversinformatie.

Author : Perry Pierik
Publisher : Aspekt, the Netherlands
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Dutch
ISBN : UOM:39015051912106

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From Leningrad to Berlin by Perry Pierik Pdf

In February 1945 the German front at Stettin made one final offensive. What make this extraordinary is the fact that the last desperate push was mounted by non-German volunteers serving in the Waffen-SS. The main body of the division was composed of Scandinavian volunteers, Belgians and Dutchmen. This text presents a history of the Dutch volunteers of the Waffen-SS from 1941 to 1945.

Author : Massimiliano Afiero
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 50 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2024-06-20
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472863003

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Germany’s French Allies 1941–45 by Massimiliano Afiero Pdf

A fully illustrated study of the Wehrmacht's French volunteer units and their actions on the Eastern Front and in North Africa during World War II. It is little known that, in late 1941, French volunteer units were among Wehrmacht troops defending Germany in the first bitter winter on the Eastern Front, and also among the last fighting for Berlin in April 1945. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, some 13,000 Frenchmen enlisted in the 'Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchévisme' (LVF), which was reformed as the Wehrmacht's Infanterie-Regiment 638 and posted to Russia. This volume examines the involvement of French volunteers, not only on the Eastern Front, but also in the 'Phalange Africaine' in Tunisia and in the 'Légion Tricolore', a short-lived military organization under the control of the French Vichy government. Using archive photographs and specially commissioned artwork, it casts a new light on forces fighting for the Axis and studies the French personnel's equipment, insignia and uniforms while describing their involvement in some of the most gruelling battles of World War II.

Author : Perry Pierik
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 287 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : 9075323557

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From Leningrad to Berlin by Perry Pierik Pdf

The history of Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS forms a dark and, up until now, unwritten page in Dutch history.16th February 1945. The Red Army has reached the river Oder; the capital of Nazi Germany is in sight. The final military operations seem to be merely routine when suddenly, without any artillery warning, the German front at Stettin moves forward. At first, the German offensive makes some headway but at Arnswalde and Reetz it grinds to a halt.It is not just the small scale of this last desperate offensive that makes its efforts remarkable. What is perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that it was mounted by non-German volunteers serving in the Waffen-SS. These non-German soldiers made one last desperate attempt to save the front at Berlin.From Leningrad to Berlin focuses on the political and military history of the legion, brigade, and division know as "Nederland." Barely a thousand soldiers strong the Dutch Waffen-SS division at Reetz mounted its final offensive but, to no avail, because exactly two months later, on 16th April, the unprecedented drumfire of 1.2 million grenades rang out. The Red Army opened its attack on Berlin. The division "Nederland" was forced to await its downfall.

Author : David Stahel
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 457 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2018
Category : History
ISBN : 9781316510346

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Joining Hitler's Crusade by David Stahel Pdf

A ground-breaking study that looks at why European nations sent troops to take part in Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union.

Author : Robert M. Kennedy
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 114 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 1989
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : UCAL:B3685056

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German Antiguerrilla Operations in the Balkans (1941-1944). by Robert M. Kennedy Pdf

Author : Philip Jowett
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 50 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2020-06-25
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472836946

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Japan's Asian Allies 1941–45 by Philip Jowett Pdf

During the Japanese occupation of large parts of Asia and the Pacific in 1941–45, Japan raised significant numbers of troops to fight alongside them, as well as militias to guard their conquests. The total number of these soldiers is estimated at no fewer than 600,000 men. These ranged from the regular troops of Manchukuo (200,000 men), Nanking China (250,000), Thailand, and recruits from the 'puppet' Burmese Independence Army (30,000) and Indian National Army (40,000), to constabularies and spear-wielding militias in the Philippines (15,000), Borneo, Indonesia and New Guinea. Many of the recruits from former European colonies hoped for independence as part of the 'Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere' proclaimed by Japanese propaganda, but Japan's intentions were entirely cynical. They formed alliances to deny the Allied powers access to territory that they could not actually occupy, and raised these large numbers of auxiliary troops to relieve the manpower burden of occupation, or simply as 'cannon-fodder'. This extensively researched study examines each of these armies and militias in detail, exploring their history and deployment during World War II, and revealing the intricacies of their arms and equipment with stunning full-colour artwork and previously unpublished contemporary photographs.

Author : Gordon Williamson
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 66 pages
File Size : 50,6 Mb
Release : 2012-05-20
Category : History
ISBN : 9781780968445

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German Mountain & Ski Troops 1939–45 by Gordon Williamson Pdf

Fighting in every theatre from the burning sands of North Africa to the icy wastes above the arctic circle the German Army's Gebirgstruppen troops were some of the most effective in the whole of the Wehrmacht. Their esprit de corps and morale were extremely high and their commanders, men such as Eduard Dietl, the 'Hero of Narvik', and Julius 'Papa' Ringel, were idolised by their men. Dietl himself was the first soldier of the Wehrmacht to be awarded the coveted Oakleaves to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. In this book Gordon Williamson details the uniforms, organisation and combat histories of these elite troops.

Author : Klaas Castelein,Michel Wenting
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 65 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2022-04-28
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472848000

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The Dutch Resistance 1940–45 by Klaas Castelein,Michel Wenting Pdf

Describes and illustrates the full range of Dutch resistance groups and German and collaborationist counter-resistance groups during the Nazi occupation in 1940-45. The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II followed a complex course, whose scope is not widely understood. It was a great deal broader and more varied than the much-reported German counter-espionage success against Dutch agents parachuted in by the Special Operations Executive. From spring 1943 onwards, three Dutch Resistance organizations gained momentum: the Order Service (OD), the Resistance Council (RVV), and the National Assault Teams (LKP). In response, the Germans raised collaborationist forces to counter the Resistance, including the much-feared Landwacht. In September 1944 the OD, RVV and LKP amalgamated into the Netherlands Interior Forces (NBS), while Allied troops began to liberate the southern provinces. This allowed NBS forces in the south to form Stoottroepen, uniformed and armed by both the British and US armies. These assisted the Allied advance, while a bloody underground struggle continued in the occupied north until final liberation in April–May 1945. Illustrated with rare photos and new colour plates, this book gives a comprehensive account of one of the lesser-known struggles of World War II.

Author : Evertjan van Roekel
Publisher : Vernon Press
Page : 396 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2022-01-04
Category : History
ISBN : 9781648893346

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As political soldiers we face Moscow’s hordes: Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS by Evertjan van Roekel Pdf

During the Second World War, approximately 25,000 Dutchmen served within the ranks of the military branch of the German SS: the Waffen-SS. They volunteered to fight to secure the victory of Nazi Germany. These Dutch volunteers fought mainly on the Eastern Front, and to a lesser extent, within their own national borders. After the war, the Allied victors regarded them as part of a criminal organization and jointly responsible for the atrocious transgressions of the Nazi regime. In the Netherlands, these men were reviled, branded as traitors and became pariahs in their own country. Those who had devoted themselves to the Nazi regime caused so much grief to the Netherlands that they had to be held accountable. Despite their military achievements, their reputation was damaged forever. The Netherlands supplied the largest contingent of SS soldiers from the occupied North-western European territories. Who were these people? What led them to enlist, and what were the consequences of their choice? An important part of this study involves the autobiographical texts of nineteen Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS. These ego-documents recount their own immediate experiences and are mainly fragments from diaries, but there are also letters, individual notes, and memoirs. The ego-documents are placed within the larger historical context to provide an answer to the question of whether these men were only ideologically motivated and unconditional Nazi sympathizers, and for this, their criminal records are also researched. Among other topics, the book discusses their choice to enlist, their experiences at the front, and their involvement in genocide, providing a new perspective on the Eastern Front.

Author : Maurer Maurer
Publisher : DIANE Publishing
Page : 520 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 1961
Category : United States
ISBN : 9781428915855

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Air Force Combat Units of World War II by Maurer Maurer Pdf

Author : Earl Ziemke
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
Page : 351 pages
File Size : 52,5 Mb
Release : 2015-11-06
Category : History
ISBN : 9781782899778

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German Northern Theater of Operations 1940-1945 [Illustrated Edition] by Earl Ziemke Pdf

[Includes 23 maps and 31 illustrations] This volume describes two campaigns that the Germans conducted in their Northern Theater of Operations. The first they launched, on 9 April 1940, against Denmark and Norway. The second they conducted out of Finland in partnership with the Finns against the Soviet Union. The latter campaign began on 22 June 1941 and ended in the winter of 1944-45 after the Finnish Government had sued for peace. The scene of these campaigns by the end of 1941 stretched from the North Sea to the Arctic Ocean and from Bergen on the west coast of Norway, to Petrozavodsk, the former capital of the Karelo-Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic. It faced east into the Soviet Union on a 700-mile-long front, and west on a 1,300-mile sea frontier. Hitler regarded this theater as the keystone of his empire, and, after 1941, maintained in it two armies totaling over a half million men. In spite of its vast area and the effort and worry which Hitler lavished on it, the Northern Theater throughout most of the war constituted something of a military backwater. The major operations which took place in the theater were overshadowed by events on other fronts, and public attention focused on the theaters in which the strategically decisive operations were expected to take place. Remoteness, German security measures, and the Russians’ well-known penchant for secrecy combined to keep information concerning the Northern Theater down to a mere trickle, much of that inaccurate. Since the war, through official and private publications, a great deal more has become known. The present volume is based in the main on the greatest remaining source of unexploited information, the captured German military and naval records. In addition a number of the participants on the German side have very generously contributed from their personal knowledge and experience.