Hitler's army. The Wehrmacht is the army of Nazi Germany

On September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany and Slovakia declared war on Poland... Thus began the Second World War...

61 states out of 73 that existed at that time participated in it (80% of the population globe). The fighting took place on the territory of three continents and in the waters of four oceans.

On June 10, 1940, Italy and Albania entered the war on the side of Germany, on April 11, 1941 - Hungary, on May 1, 1941 - Iraq, on June 22, 1941, after the German attack on the USSR - Romania, Croatia and Finland, on December 7, 1941 - Japan , December 13, 1941 - Bulgaria, January 25, 1942 - Thailand, January 9, 1943, the government of Wang Jingwei in China, August 1, 1943 - Burma.

Who fought for Hitler and the Wehrmacht, and who was against?

In total, about 2 million people from 15 European countries fought in the Wehrmacht troops (more than half a million - Romanian army, almost 400 thousand – Hungarian troops, more than 200 thousand - Mussolini's troops!).

Of these, 59 divisions, 23 brigades, several separate regiments, legions and battalions were formed during the war.

Many of them bore names based on state and nationality and were served exclusively by volunteers:

« Blue Division» – Spain

“Wallonia” - the division included French, Spanish and Walloon volunteers, and the Walloons were the majority.

“Galicia” – Ukrainians and Galicians

“Bohemia and Moravia” – Czechs from Moravia and Bohemia

"Viking" - volunteers from the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavian countries

"Denemark" - Danes

"Langemarck" - Flemish volunteers

"Nordland" - Dutch and Scandinavian volunteers

"Nederland" - Dutch collaborators who fled to Germany after the Allies occupied Holland.

"French Infantry Regiment 638", since 1943, was merged with the newly organized "French SS Division "Charlemagne" - the French.

The armies of Germany's allies - Italy, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Slovakia and Croatia - participated in the war against the USSR.

The Bulgarian army was involved in the occupation of Greece and Yugoslavia, but the Bulgarian ground units did not fight on the Eastern Front.

Russian liberation army(ROA) under the command of General A.A. Vlasova supported Nazi Germany, although she was not officially a member of the Wehrmacht.

The 15th Cossack SS Cavalry Corps under General von Panwitz fought as part of the Wehrmacht.

Also acting on the German side were the Russian Corps of General Shteifon, the corps of Lieutenant General of the Tsarist Army P.N. Krasnov and a number of individual units formed from citizens of the USSR, often nationality, under the command of the former Kuban Cossack SS Gruppen-Führer, A.G. Shkuro (real name - Shkura) and the Circassian Sultan-Girey Klych, the leader of the nationalist " People's Party Highlanders North Caucasus" in France.

I will not write who fought for Hitler and the Wehrmacht and why... Some for “ideological reasons”, some for revenge, some for glory, some out of fear, some against “communism”... About these were written by millions and millions of pages by professional historians... And I’m just stating historical facts, or rather, I’m trying to do this... A question about something else... To remember...

So, first things first...

Romania

Romania declared war on the USSR on June 22, 1941 and wanted to return Bessarabia and Bukovina, “taken” from it in June 1940, and also annex Transnistria (the territory from the Dniester to the Southern Bug).

The Romanian 3rd and 4th armies, with a total number of about 220 thousand people, were intended for military operations against the USSR.

On June 22, Romanian troops tried to seize bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the Prut River. On June 25-26, 1941, the Soviet Danube Flotilla landed troops on Romanian territory, and Soviet aviation and ships Black Sea Fleet bombed and shelled Romanian oil fields and other objects.

Romanian troops began active fighting, crossing the Prut River on July 2, 1941. By July 26, Romanian troops occupied the territories of Bessarabia and Bukovina.

Then the Romanian 3rd Army advanced in Ukraine, crossed the Dnieper in September and reached the coast of the Azov Sea.

From the end of October 1941, units of the Romanian 3rd Army participated in the seizure of Crimea (together with the German 11th Army under the command of von Manstein).

From the beginning of August 1941, the Romanian 4th Army conducted an operation to capture Odessa; by September 10, 12 Romanian divisions and 5 brigades were assembled to capture Odessa, with a total number of up to 200 thousand people

On October 16, 1941, after heavy fighting, Odessa was captured by Romanian troops together with Wehrmacht units. The losses of the 4th Romanian Army amounted to 29 thousand dead and missing and 63 thousand wounded.

In August 1942, the 3rd Romanian Army took part in the offensive in the Caucasus, Romanian cavalry divisions took Taman, Anapa, Novorossiysk (together with German troops), and the Romanian mountain division captured Nalchik in October 1942.

In the fall of 1942, Romanian troops occupied positions in the Stalingrad area. The 3rd Romanian Army, with a total strength of 150 thousand people, held a front section 140 km northwest of Stalingrad, and the Romanian 4th Army held a front section 300 km to the south.

By the end of January 1943, the Romanian 3rd and 4th armies were practically destroyed - their total losses amounted to almost 160 thousand dead, missing and wounded.

At the beginning of 1943, 6 Romanian divisions, with a total strength of 65 thousand people, fought (as part of the German 17th Army) in the Kuban. In September 1943 they retreated to Crimea, lost more than a third of their personnel, and were evacuated by sea to Romania.

In August 1944, King Michael I, united with the anti-fascist opposition, ordered the arrest of General Antonescu and other pro-German generals and declared war on Germany. Soviet troops were brought into Bucharest, and the “allied Romanian army”, together with the Soviet army, fought against the Nazi coalition in Hungary, and then in Austria.

In total, up to 200 thousand Romanians died in the war against the USSR (including 55 thousand who died in Soviet captivity).

18 Romanians were awarded the German Knight's Cross, of whom three also received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.

Italy

Italy declared war on the USSR on June 22, 1941. The motivation is Mussolini’s initiative, which he proposed back in January 1940 - “a pan-European campaign against Bolshevism.” At the same time, Italy had no territorial claims to any zone of occupation of the USSR. In 1944, Italy actually left the war.

The “Italian Expeditionary Force” for the war against the USSR was created on July 10, 1941 - 62 thousand soldiers and officers. The body was sent to southern section German-Soviet front for actions in the south of Ukraine.

The first clash between the advanced units of the Italian corps and units of the Red Army took place on the Southern Bug River on August 10, 1941.

In September 1941, the Italian corps fought on the Dnieper, in a 100-km sector in the Dneprodzerzhinsk area, and in October-November 1941 participated in the capture of Donbass. Then, until July 1942, the Italians stood on the defensive, fighting local significance with units of the Red Army.

The losses of the Italian corps from August 1941 to June 1942 amounted to more than 1,600 dead, more than 400 missing, almost 6,300 wounded and more than 3,600 frostbitten.

In July 1942, Italian troops on the territory of the USSR were significantly strengthened, and the 8th Italian Army was formed, which in the fall of 1942 occupied positions on the river. Don, northwest of Stalingrad.

In December 1942 - January 1943, the Italians tried to repel the advance of the Red Army, and as a result, the Italian army was virtually defeated - 21 thousand Italians died and 64 thousand were missing. Harsh winter the Italians were simply freezing, and they had no time for war. The remaining 145 thousand Italians were withdrawn to Italy in March 1943.

Italian losses in the USSR from August 1941 to February 1943 amounted to about 90 thousand dead and missing. According to Soviet data, 49 thousand Italians were captured, of which 21 thousand Italians were released from Soviet captivity in 1946-1956. Thus, in total, about 70 thousand Italians died in the war against the USSR and in Soviet captivity.

9 Italians were awarded the German Knight's Cross.

Finland

On June 25, 1941, Soviet aviation bombed settlements Finland, and on June 26 Finland declared war with the USSR.

Finland intended to return the territories taken from it in March 1940, as well as annex Karelia.

On June 30, 1941, Finnish troops went on the offensive in the direction of Vyborg and Petrozavodsk. By the end of August 1941, the Finns reached the approaches to Leningrad on the Karelian Isthmus, by the beginning of October 1941 they occupied almost the entire territory of Karelia (except for the coast of the White Sea and Zaonezhye), after which they went on the defensive at the achieved lines.

From the end of 1941 to the summer of 1944, there were practically no military operations on the Soviet-Finnish front, except for raids by Soviet partisans on the territory of Karelia and bombings of Finnish settlements by Soviet aircraft.

On June 9, 1944, Soviet troops (totaling up to 500 thousand people) went on the offensive against the Finns (about 200 thousand people). During heavy fighting that lasted until August 1944, Soviet troops took Petrozavodsk, Vyborg and in one section reached the Soviet-Finnish border in March 1940.

On September 1, 1944, Marshal Mannerheim proposed a truce; on September 4, Stalin agreed to a truce; Finnish troops retreated to the March 1940 border.

54 thousand Finns died in the war against the USSR.

2 Finns were awarded the Knight's Cross, including Marshal Mannerheim who received the Oak Leaves for the Knight's Cross.

Hungary

Hungary declared war on the USSR on June 27, 1941. Hungary had no territorial claims to the USSR, but there was also a motivation - “revenge on the Bolsheviks for the communist revolution of 1919 in Hungary.”

On July 1, 1941, Hungary sent the “Carpathian Group” (5 brigades, totaling 40 thousand people) to the war against the USSR, which fought as part of the German 17th Army in Ukraine.

In July 1941, the group was divided - 2 infantry brigades began to serve as rear guards, and the “Fast Corps” (2 motorized and 1 cavalry brigades, a total of 25 thousand people, with several dozen light tanks and wedges) continued to advance.

By November 1941, the “Fast Corps” suffered heavy losses - up to 12 thousand killed, missing and wounded, all tankettes and almost all light tanks were lost. The corps was returned to Hungary, but, at the same time, at the front and in rear areas 4 infantry and 2 Hungarian cavalry brigades remained with a total number of 60 thousand people.

In April 1942, the Hungarian 2nd Army (about 200 thousand people) was sent against the USSR. In June 1942, she went on the offensive in the Voronezh direction, as part of German offensive on the southern sector of the German-Soviet front.

In January 1943, the Hungarian 2nd Army was practically destroyed during the Soviet offensive (up to 100 thousand dead and up to 60 thousand captured, most of them wounded). In May 1943, the remnants of the army (about 40 thousand people) were withdrawn to Hungary.

In the fall of 1944, all Hungarian armed forces (three armies) fought against the Red Army, already on the territory of Hungary. The fighting in Hungary ended in April 1945, but some Hungarian units continued to fight in Austria until the German surrender on May 8, 1945.

More than 200 thousand Hungarians died in the war against the USSR (including 55 thousand who died in Soviet captivity).

8 Hungarians were awarded the German Knight's Cross.

Slovakia

Slovakia took part in the war against the USSR as part of the “pan-European campaign against Bolshevism.” She had no territorial claims to the USSR. 2 Slovak divisions were sent to the war against the USSR.

One division, numbering 8 thousand people, fought in Ukraine in 1941, in Kuban in 1942, and performed police and security functions in Crimea in 1943-1944.

Another division (also 8 thousand people) performed “security functions” in Ukraine in 1941-1942, and in Belarus in 1943-1944.

About 3,500 Slovaks died in the war against the USSR.

Croatia

Croatia, like Slovakia, took part in the war against the USSR as part of the “pan-European campaign against Bolshevism.”

In October 1941, 1 volunteer Croatian regiment with a total strength of 3,900 people was sent against the USSR. The regiment fought in the Donbass, and in Stalingrad in 1942. By February 1943, the Croatian regiment was almost completely destroyed, about 700 Croats were taken prisoner.

About 2 thousand Croats died in the war against the USSR.

Spain

Spain was a neutral country and did not officially declare war against the USSR, but organized the sending of one volunteer division to the front. Motivation – revenge for being sent by the Comintern International Brigades to Spain during the Civil War.

The Spanish division, or “Blue Division” (18 thousand people) was sent to the northern section of the German-Soviet front. From October 1941 she fought in the Volkhov region, from August 1942 - near Leningrad. In October 1943, the division was returned to Spain, but about 2 thousand volunteers remained to fight in the Spanish Legion.

The Legion was disbanded in March 1944, but about 300 Spaniards wished to fight further, and 2 companies of SS troops were formed from them, fighting against the Red Army until the end of the war.

About 5 thousand Spaniards died in the war against the USSR (452 ​​Spaniards were taken Soviet captivity).

2 Spaniards were awarded the German Knight's Cross, including one who received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.

Belgium

Belgium declared its neutrality in 1939, but was occupied by German troops.

In 1941, two volunteer legions (battalions) were formed in Belgium for the war against the USSR. They differed in ethnicity - Flemish and Walloon.

In the fall of 1941, the legions were sent to the front - the Walloon Legion to the southern sector (to Rostov-on-Don, then to Kuban), and the Flemish Legion to the northern sector (to Volkhov).

In June 1943, both legions were reorganized into brigades of SS troops - the volunteer SS brigade "Langemarck" and the volunteer assault brigade of the SS troops "Wallonia".

In October 1943, the brigades were renamed into divisions (remaining the same composition - 2 infantry regiments each). At the end of the war, both the Flemings and Walloons fought against the Red Army in Pomerania.

About 5 thousand Belgians died in the war against the USSR (2 thousand Belgians were taken prisoner by the Soviets).

4 Belgians were awarded the Knight's Cross, including one who received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.

Netherlands

The Dutch Volunteer Legion (a motorized battalion of 5 companies) was formed in July 1941.

In January 1942, the Dutch Legion arrived on the northern section of the German-Soviet front, in the Volkhov area. Then the legion was transferred to Leningrad.

In May 1943, the Dutch Legion was reorganized into the volunteer SS brigade "Netherlands" (with a total strength of 9 thousand people).

In 1944, one of the regiments of the Dutch brigade was practically destroyed in the battles near Narva. In the fall of 1944, the brigade retreated to Courland, and in January 1945 it was evacuated to Germany by sea.

In February 1945, the brigade was renamed a division, although its strength was greatly reduced due to losses. By May 1945, the Dutch division was practically destroyed in battles against the Red Army.

About 8 thousand Dutch people died in the war against the USSR (more than 4 thousand Dutch people were taken prisoner by the Soviets).

4 Dutchmen were awarded the Knight's Cross.

France

The "French Volunteer Legion" for the war "against the Bolsheviks" was created in July 1941.

In October 1941, the French Legion (an infantry regiment of 2.5 thousand people) was sent to the German-Soviet front, to Moscow direction. The French suffered there heavy losses, were defeated “to smithereens” almost on the Borodino field, and from the spring of 1942 to the summer of 1944, the legion performed only police functions; it was used to fight against Soviet partisans.

In the summer of 1944, as a result of the Red Army’s offensive in Belarus, “ French Legion“He again found himself on the front line, again suffered heavy losses and was withdrawn to Germany.

In September 1944, the legion was disbanded, and in its place the “French SS Brigade” was created (numbering more than 7 thousand people), and in February 1945 it was renamed the 33rd Grenadier Division of the SS troops “Charlemagne” (“Charlemagne” ") and sent to the front in Pomerania against Soviet troops. In March 1945, the French division was almost completely destroyed.

The remnants of the French division (about 700 people) defended Berlin at the end of April 1945, in particular Hitler’s bunker.

And in 1942, 130 thousand young people from Alsace and Lorraine born in 1920-24 were forcibly mobilized into the Wehrmacht, dressed in German uniforms and most of them were sent to the eastern front (they called themselves “malgre-nous”, that is, “mobilized against your will"). About 90% of them immediately surrendered to Soviet troops and ended up in the Gulag!

Pierre Rigoulot in his books “The French in the Gulag” and “The Tragedy of the Reluctant Soldier” writes: “...In total, after 1946, 85 thousand French were repatriated, 25 thousand died in camps, 20 thousand disappeared on the territory of the USSR...”. In 1943-1945 alone, more than 10 thousand Frenchmen who died in custody in camp No. 188 were buried in mass graves in the forest near Rada station, near Tambov.

About 8 thousand French died in the war against the USSR (not counting the Alsatians and Logaringians).

3 Frenchmen were awarded the German Knight's Cross.

"African Phalanx"

After the Allied landing in Northern France, of all the North African territories of France, only Tunisia remained under the sovereignty of Vichy and the occupation of the Axis troops. After the Allied landings, the Vichy regime attempted to create volunteer forces that could serve alongside the Italo-German army.

On January 8, 1943, a “legion” was created with a single unit - the “African Phalanx” (Phalange Africaine), consisting of 300 French and 150 Muslim Africans (later the number of French was reduced to 200).

After three months of training, the phalanx was assigned to the 754th Infantry Regiment of the 334th German Infantry Division operating in Tunisia. Having been “in action”, the phalanx was renamed “LVF en Tunisie” and existed under this name until the surrender in early May 1945.

Denmark

The social democratic government of Denmark did not declare war on the USSR, but did not interfere with the formation of the “Danish Volunteer Corps”, and officially allowed members of the Danish army to join it (indefinite leave with retention of rank).

In July-December 1941 in the Danish volunteer corps“More than 1 thousand people joined (the name “corps” was symbolic, in fact it was a battalion). In May 1942, the “Danish Corps” was sent to the front, to the Demyansk region. Since December 1942, the Danes fought in the Velikiye Luki region.

At the beginning of June 1943, the corps was disbanded, many of its members, as well as new volunteers, joined the regiment " Danemark"11th SS Volunteer Division" Nordland"(Danish-Norwegian division). In January 1944, the division was sent to Leningrad and took part in the battle of Narva.

In January 1945, the division fought against the Red Army in Pomerania, and in April 1945 fought in Berlin.

About 2 thousand Danes died in the war against the USSR (456 Danes were taken prisoner by the Soviets).

3 Danes were awarded the German Knight's Cross.

Norway

The Norwegian government in July 1941 announced the formation of the “Norwegian Volunteer Legion” to be sent “to help Finland in the war against the USSR.”

In February 1942, after training in Germany, the Norwegian Legion (1 battalion, numbering 1.2 thousand people) was sent to the German-Soviet front, near Leningrad.

In May 1943, the Norwegian Legion was disbanded, most of the soldiers joined the Norwegian regiment of the 11th SS Volunteer Division " Nordland"(Danish-Norwegian division).

About 1 thousand Norwegians died in the war against the USSR (100 Norwegians were taken prisoner by the Soviets).

Divisions under the SS

These are the so-called “SS divisions”, formed from “citizens” of the USSR, as well as from residents of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Note that only Germans and representatives of the peoples of the German language group (Dutch, Danes, Flemings, Norwegians, Swedes) were taken into the SS divisions. Only they had the right to wear SS runes in their buttonholes. For some reason, an exception was made only for the French-speaking Belgian Walloons.

And here "Divisions under the SS", "Waffen-Divisions of the SS" were formed precisely from “non-German peoples” - Bosniaks, Ukrainians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Estonians, Albanians, Russians, Belarusians, Hungarians, Italians, French.

Moreover, the command staff in these divisions was mainly German (they had the right to wear SS runes). But the “Russian Division under the SS” was commanded by Bronislav Kaminsky, a half-Pole, half-German, originally from St. Petersburg. Because of his “pedigree,” he could not be a member of the SS party organization, nor was he a member of the NSDAP.

The first "Waffen Division under the SS" was the 13th ( Bosnian-Muslim) or "Handshar", formed in March 1943. She fought in Croatia from January 1944, and in Hungary from December 1944.

"Skanderbeg". In April 1944, the 21st Waffen-SS Mountain Division "Skanderbeg" was formed from Muslim Albanians. Almost 11 thousand soldiers were recruited from the region of Kosovo, as well as from Albania itself. They were mostly Sunni Muslims.

"14th Waffen-Division der SS" (Ukrainian)

From the autumn of 1943 to the spring of 1944 she was listed in the reserve (in Poland). In July 1944 she fought in Soviet-German front in the Brody region (Western Ukraine). In September 1944 it was aimed at suppressing the uprising in Slovakia. In January 1945, she was moved to reserve in the Bratislava area, in April 1945 she retreated to Austria, and in May 1945 she surrendered to American troops.

Ukrainian volunteers

The only units of Eastern volunteers that entered the Wehrmacht from the very beginning were two small Ukrainian battalions created in the spring of 1941

The Nachtigal battalion was recruited from Ukrainians living in Poland, the Roland battalion was recruited from Ukrainian emigrants living in Germany.

"15th Waffen-Division der SS" (Latvian No. 1)

From December 1943 - at the front in the Volkhov region, in January - March 1944 - at the front in the Pskov region, in April - May 1944 at the front in the Nevel region. From July to December 1944 it was reorganized in Latvia, and then in West Prussia. In February 1945 she was sent to the front in West Prussia, in March 1945 to the front in Pomerania.

"19th Waffen-Division der SS" (Latvian No. 2)

At the front from April 1944, in the Pskov region, from July 1944 - in Latvia.

"20th Waffen-Division der SS" (Estonian)

From March to October 1944 in Estonia, November 1944 - January 1945 in Germany (in reserve), in February - May 1945 at the front in Silesia.

"29th Waffen-Division der SS" (Russian)

In August 1944 she took part in the suppression of the uprising in Warsaw. At the end of August, for the rape and murder of German residents of Warsaw - the division commander Waffen-Brigadeführer Kaminsky and the division chief of staff Waffen-Obersturmbannführer Shavyakin ( former captain Red Army) were shot, and the division was sent to Slovakia and disbanded there.

"Russian security corps in Serbia"(“Russisches Schutzkorps Serbien”, RSS), the last division of the Russian imperial army. He was recruited from among the White Guards who found refuge in Serbia in 1921 and retained their national identity and adherence to traditional beliefs. They wanted to fight “for Russia and against the Reds,” but they were sent to fight the partisans of Joseph Broz Tito.

"Russian Security Corps", initially headed by the White Guard General Shteifon, and later by Colonel Rogozin. The number of corps is more than 11 thousand people.

"30th Waffen-Division der SS" (Belarusian)

From September to November 1944 in reserve in Germany, from December 1944 on the Upper Rhine.

The “33rd Hungarian” lasted only two months , was formed in December 1944, disbanded in January 1945.

The “36th Division” was formed from German criminals and even political prisoners in February 1945. But then the Nazis “raked out” all the “reserves”, conscripting everyone into the Wehrmacht - from boys from the “Hitler Youth” to old men...

"Latvian SS Volunteer Legion". In February 1943, after the defeat of German troops at Stalingrad, the Nazi command decided to form the Latvian SS National Legion. It included part of the Latvian volunteer units that had been created earlier and had already taken part in hostilities.

In early March 1943, everything male population Latvians born in 1918 and 1919 were ordered to report to the county and volost police departments at their place of residence. There, after being examined by a medical commission, those mobilized were given the right to choose their place of service: either in the Latvian SS Legion, or in the service personnel of the German troops, or for defense work.

Of the 150 thousand soldiers and officers of the legion, over 40 thousand died and almost 50 thousand were captured by the Soviets. In April 1945, she took part in the battles for Neubrandenburg. At the end of April 1945, the remnants of the division were transferred to Berlin, where the battalion took part in the last battles for the “capital of the Third Reich.”

In addition to these divisions, in December 1944 the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division was transferred to the subordination of the SS, which in January 1945 was renamed the 15th Cossack Cavalry SS Corps. The corps operated in Croatia against Tito's partisans.

On December 30, 1941, the Wehrmacht command gave the order to form “legions” of volunteers of various nationalities of the USSR. During the first half of 1942, first four and then six legions were fully integrated into the Wehrmacht, receiving the same status as the European legions. At first they were located in Poland.

"Turkestan Legion" , located in Legionovo, included Cossacks, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Karakalpaks and representatives of other nationalities.

"Muslim-Caucasian Legion" (later renamed " Azerbaijan Legion") located in Zheldni, total number of 40,000 people.

"North Caucasian Legion" , which included representatives of 30 different peoples of the North Caucasus, was located in Vesol.

The formation of the legion began in September 1942 near Warsaw from Caucasian prisoners of war. The number of volunteers (more than 5,000 people) included Ossetians, Chechens, Ingush, Kabardians, Balkars, Tabasarans, etc.

The so-called took part in the formation of the legion and the call for volunteers. "North Caucasus Committee". Its leadership included Dagestani Akhmed-Nabi Agayev (Abwehr agent), Ossetian Kantemirov (former Minister of War Mountain Republic) and Sultan-Girey Klych.

"Georgian Legion" was formed in Kruzhyna. It should be noted that this legion existed from 1915 to 1917, and at its first formation it was staffed by volunteers from among Georgians who were captured during the First World War.

During the Second World War "Georgian Legion"“replenished” with volunteers from among Soviet prisoners of war of Georgian nationality

"Armenian Legion" (18 thousand people ) formed in Puława, led the legion Drastamat Kanayan (“General Dro”). Drastamat Kanayan defected to the Americans in May 1945. Last years spent his life in Beirut, died on March 8, 1956, and was buried in Boston. At the end of May 2000, the body of Drastamat Kanayan was reburied in the city of Aparan, in Armenia, near the memorial to the heroic soldiers of the Great Patriotic War.

"Volga-Tatar Legion" (the Idel-Ural legion) consisted of representatives of the Volga peoples (Tatars, Bashkirs, Mari, Mordovians, Chuvashs, Udmurts), most of all there were Tatars. Formed in Zheldni.

In accordance with the policies of the Wehrmacht, these legions were never united in combat conditions. Once they completed their training in Poland, they were sent separately to the front.

"Kalmyk Legion"

It is interesting that the Kalmyks were not included in Eastern legions and the first Kalmyk units were created by the headquarters of the 16th German motorized infantry division after summer offensive In 1942, Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, was occupied. These units were called variously: “Kalmuck Legion”, “Kalmucken Verband Dr. Doll”, or “Kalmyk Cavalry Corps”.

In practice, it was a “volunteer corps” with the status of an allied army and broad autonomy. It was mainly composed of former Red Army soldiers, commanded by Kalmyk sergeants and Kalmyk officers.

Initially, the Kalmyks fought against partisan detachments, then retreated to the west along with German troops.

The constant retreat brought the Kalmyk Legion to Poland, where by the end of 1944 their number amounted to about 5,000 people. Soviet winter offensive 1944-45 found them near Radom, and at the very end of the war they were reorganized in Neuhammer.

The Kalmyks were the only ones of the “eastern volunteers” who joined Vlasov’s army.

Crimean Tatars. In October 1941, the creation began volunteer units from representatives Crimean Tatars, "mouth of self-defense", main task which was the fight against partisans. Until January 1942, this process proceeded spontaneously, but after the recruitment of volunteers from among the Crimean Tatars was officially sanctioned by Hitler, “the solution to this problem” passed to the leadership of Einsatzgruppe “D”. During January 1942, more than 8,600 Crimean Tatar volunteers were recruited.

These formations were used to protect military and civilian facilities, took an active part in the fight against partisans, and in 1944 they actively resisted the Red Army units that liberated Crimea.

The remnants of the Crimean Tatar units, along with German and Romanian troops, were evacuated from Crimea by sea.

In the summer of 1944, from the remnants of the Crimean Tatar units in Hungary, the “Tatar Mountain Jaeger Regiment of the SS” was formed, which was soon reorganized into the “1st Tatar Mountain Jaeger Brigade of the SS”, which was disbanded on December 31, 1944 and reorganized into the combat group “Crimea” ", which joined the "East Turkic SS Unit".

Crimean Tatar volunteers who were not included in the “Tatar Mountain Jaeger Regiment of the SS” were transferred to France and included in the reserve battalion of the “Volga Tatar Legion”.

As Jurado Carlos Caballero wrote: “...Not as a justification for the “divisions under the SS”, but for the sake of objectivity, we note that a much larger scale of war crimes was committed by the special forces of the Allgemeine-SS (“Sonderkommando” and “Einsatzgruppen”), and also “Ost-Truppen” - units formed from Russians, Turkestanis, Ukrainians, Belarusians, peoples of the Caucasus and the Volga region - they were mainly engaged in anti-partisan activities... Divisions of the Hungarian army were also engaged in this...

However, it should be noted that the Bosnian-Muslim, Albanian and “Russian SS divisions”, as well as the “36th SS division” from the Germans, became most famous for war crimes...”

Volunteer Indian Legion

A few months before the start of Operation Barbarossa, while the Soviet-German non-aggression pact was still in effect, the extremist Indian nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose arrived from Moscow in Berlin, intending to enlist German support “in the liberation of his country.” Thanks to his persistence, he was able to persuade the Germans to recruit a group of volunteers from Indians who had served in the British forces and were captured in North Africa.

By the end of 1942, this Free India Legion (also known as the Tiger Legion, Freis Indian Legion, Azad Hind Legion, Indische Freiwilligen-Legion Regiment 950 or I.R 950) had reached a strength of about 2,000 men and was officially entered the German army as the 950th (Indian) Infantry Regiment.

In 1943, Bose Chandra traveled on a submarine to Japanese-occupied Singapore. He sought to create an Indian National Army from Indians captured by the Japanese.

However, the German command had little understanding of the problems of caste, tribal and religious strife among the inhabitants of India, and besides, German officers treated their subordinates with disdain... And, most importantly, more than 70 percent of the division's soldiers were Muslims, coming from tribes from the territories of modern Pakistan, Bangladesh, as well as from the Muslim communities of western and northwestern India. And the problems with the nutrition of such “motley fighters” were very serious - some did not eat pork, others ate only rice and vegetables.

In the spring of 1944, 2,500 men of the Indian Legion were sent to the Bordeaux region in the fortress of the Atlantic Wall. The first combat loss was Lieutenant Ali Khan, who was killed in August 1944 by French partisans during the legion’s retreat to Alsace. On August 8, 1944, the legion was transferred to the SS troops.

In March 1945, the remnants of the legion tried to break into Switzerland, but were captured by the French and Americans. The prisoners were handed over to the British as traitors to their own power, former legionnaires sent to Delhi prisons, and some were immediately shot.

However, we note, in fairness, that this unique unit practically did not take part in the hostilities.

Volunteer Arab Legion

On May 2, 1941, an anti-British rebellion broke out in Iraq under the leadership of Rashid el-Ghaliani. The Germans formed a special headquarters "F" (Sonderstab F) to assist the Arab insurgents.

To support the rebellion, two small units were created - the 287th and 288th special formations (Sonderverbonde), recruited from the personnel of the Brandenburg division. But before they could take action, the rebellion was crushed.

The 288th formation, consisting entirely of Germans, was sent to North Africa into the Afrika Korps, and the 287th unit was left in Greece, near Athens, to organize volunteers from the Middle East. These were mainly Palestinian supporters of the pro-German Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Iraqis who supported El-Ghaliani.

When three battalions were recruited, one battalion was sent to Tunisia, and the remaining two were used to fight the partisans, first in the Caucasus and then in Yugoslavia.

The 287th Unit was never officially recognized as an Arab Legion – “ Legion Free Arab." So common name denoted all the Arabs who fought under German command to differentiate them from other ethnic groups.

The anti-Hitler coalition included the USSR, USA, Great Britain and its dominions (Canada, India, Union of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand), Poland, France, Ethiopia, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Greece, Yugoslavia, Tuva, Mongolia, USA.

China (the government of Chiang Kai-shek) waged hostilities against Japan from July 7, 1937, and Mexico and Brazil. Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Argentina declared war on Germany and its allies.

The participation of Latin American countries in the war consisted mainly of carrying out defensive measures, protecting the coast and convoys of ships.

The fighting of a number of countries occupied by Germany - Yugoslavia, Greece, France, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Poland consisted mainly of the partisan movement and the resistance movement. Were also active Italian partisans, who fought both against the Mussolini regime and against Germany.

Poland. Polish troops, after the defeat and division of Poland between Germany and the USSR, acted together with the troops of Great Britain, France and the USSR (“Anders’ Army”). In 1944, Polish troops took part in the landing in Normandy, and in May 1945 they took Berlin.

Luxembourg was attacked by Germany on May 10, 1940. In August 1942, Luxembourg was incorporated into Germany, so many Luxembourgers were conscripted into the Wehrmacht.

In total, 10,211 Luxembourgers were drafted into the Wehrmacht during the occupation. Of these, 2,848 died, 96 were missing.

1,653 Luxembourgers who served in the Wehrmacht and fought on the German-Soviet front (of which 93 died in captivity) were captured by the Soviets.

NEUTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Sweden. At the beginning of the war, Sweden declared its neutrality, but nevertheless carried out partial mobilization. During Soviet-Finnish military conflict she announced the preservation of the status of “ non-belligerent power“, however, provided assistance to Finland with money and military equipment.

However, Sweden cooperated with both warring parties, famous examples- passage of German troops from Norway to Finland and informing the British about the departure of Bismarck for Operation Rheinübung.

In addition, Sweden actively supplied Germany with iron ore, but from mid-August 1943 it stopped transporting German war materials through its country.

During the Great Patriotic War, Sweden was a diplomatic mediator between the USSR and Germany.

Switzerland. She announced her neutrality the day before the start of World War II. But in September 1939, 430 thousand people were mobilized into the army, and rationing for food and industrial products was introduced.

On the international stage, Switzerland maneuvered between two warring factions, the ruling circles long time leaned toward a pro-German course.

Swiss companies supplied Germany weapons, ammunition, cars and other industrial goods. Germany received electricity from Switzerland, loans (over 1 billion francs), used Swiss railways for military transport to Italy and back.

Some Swiss firms acted as intermediaries for Germany in world markets. The intelligence agencies of Germany, Italy, the USA and England operated in Switzerland.

Spain. Spain remained neutral during World War II, although Hitler considered the Spaniards his allies. German submarines entered the ports of Spain, and German agents operated freely in Madrid. Spain supplied Germany with tungsten, although at the end of the war Spain also sold tungsten to other countries anti-Hitler coalition. Jews fled to Spain, then made their way to Portugal.

Portugal. In 1939 it declared neutrality. But Salazar's government supplied strategic raw materials, and, above all, tungsten to Germany and Italy. In October 1943, realizing the inevitability of the defeat of Nazi Germany, Salazar granted the British and Americans the right to use the Azores as a military base, and in June 1944 he stopped the export of tungsten to Germany.

During the war, hundreds of thousands of Jews from various European countries were able to escape Hitler's genocide by using Portuguese visas to emigrate from war-torn Europe.

Ireland maintained complete neutrality.

About 1,500,000 Jews took part in hostilities in the armies different countries, in the partisan movement and resistance.

In the US Army - 550,000, in the USSR - 500,000, Poland - 140,000, Great Britain - 62,000, France - 46,000.

Alexey Kazdym

List of used literature

• Abrahamyan E. A. Caucasians in the Abwehr. M.: Publisher Bystrov, 2006.
• Asadov Yu.A. 1000 officer names in Armenian history. Pyatigorsk, 2004.
• Berdinskikh V.A. . Special settlers: Political exile of the peoples of Soviet Russia. M.: 2005.
• Briman Shimon Muslims in the SS // http://www.webcitation.org/66K7aB5b7
• Second World War 1939-1945, TSB. Yandex. Dictionaries
• Vozgrin V. Historical destinies of the Crimean Tatars. Moscow: Mysl, 1992
• Gilyazov I.A. Legion "Idel-Ural". Kazan: Tatknigoizdat, 2005.
• Drobyazko S. Eastern legions and Cossack units in the Wehrmacht http://www.erlib.com
• Elishev S. Salazarovskaya Portugal // Russian People's Line, http://ruskline.ru/analitika/2010/05/21/salazarovskaya_portugaliya
• Karashchuk A., Drobyazko S. Eastern volunteers in the Wehrmacht, police and SS. 2000
• Krysin M. Yu. History on the lips. Latvian SS Legion: yesterday and today. Veche, 2006.
• Concise Jewish Encyclopedia, Jerusalem. 1976 – 2006
• Mamulia G.G. Georgian Legion of the Wehrmacht M.: Veche, 2011.
• Romanko O.V. Muslim legions in the Second World War. M.: AST; Transitbook, 2004.
• Yurado Carlos Caballero “Foreign volunteers in the Wehrmacht. 1941-1945. AST, Astrel. 2005
• Etinger Ya. Ya. Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.
• Rigoulot Pierre. Des Francais au goulag.1917-1984. 1984
• Rigoulot Pierre. La tragedy des malgre-nous. 1990.

The German Wehrmacht became a symbol of the Second World War.

Consequences of Versailles

The Entente's victory over Germany culminated in the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Compiegne at the end of 1918. Incredible difficult conditions the surrender was supplemented by the demand for the actual liquidation of the army. The German Republic was allowed to have a small professional army, totaling one hundred thousand people, and equally reduced naval forces. Military structure, created on the remains of the army, was called Reichwehr. Despite such a small number, the Reichwehr, under the control of General von Seeckt, managed to become a base for the deployment new army The Third Reich and soon there were no those left who did not know what the Wehrmacht was.

Revival of the army

The coming to power of the National Socialists led by Hitler in 1933 was aimed at Germany's withdrawal from the rigid framework of the Treaty of Versailles. The Reichwehr had a highly trained and highly motivated personnel reserve to transform it into a real army. The Wehrmacht law, adopted shortly after Hitler took power, sharply expanded the scope of military development. Despite the envisaged increase in the armed forces by five times, in the first years it was not entirely clear what the Wehrmacht was. His appearance, distinguished by dynamic aggressiveness, has not yet taken shape, high discipline and readiness to fight any enemy under any conditions. The Wehrmacht adopted the best traditions of the Prussian and German Imperial armies, in addition to them receiving a powerful ideological base based on the ideology of National Socialism.

Military ethics in the era of fascism

Nazi ideology had a significant influence on the personnel and fate of the Wehrmacht. Many perceive him as a party army, whose main task was to spread National Socialism to the captured territories. To some extent this was true. But life is more complex than dogma, and within the Wehrmacht the old Prussian and German military traditions remained in force. It was they who made him such a formidable opponent and a powerful instrument of Nazi domination. It is very difficult to formulate what the Wehrmacht is ideologically. It bizarrely combined soldier camaraderie and party fanaticism. Defense of Vaterland and construction of a new ideological Empire. The preservation of the corporate spirit of the Wehrmacht was facilitated by the creation of SS troops, which accumulated the most fanatical elements

The Wehrmacht's only war

The war demonstrated the strengths and weaknesses of the army of Nazi Germany. When World War II began, the Wehrmacht represented the most powerful land army in the world. An excellent personnel base and the highest motivation were complemented by the industrial and scientific potential of Germany and Austria. The course of the war proved the highest combat capabilities of this army. But it became clear with utmost clarity that the best tool was useless for achieving adventurous goals. The history of the best army at the beginning of World War II warns against the temptation to repeat the sad experience. The Reich was striving for war, and its army was a symbol of the word "war". The Wehrmacht as it is known today would not exist without her. The losses incurred during the battles changed the personnel composition. Instead of a highly professional army, the Wehrmacht increasingly acquired the features of the adventurous line of the Reich leadership posing the same impossible tasks. Changing the mindset from war to conquer territories to defense own country in such conditions it turned out to be impossible. As the fronts shrank, the rhetoric of propaganda changed, but its meaning did not change. The decline in professionalism, as a consequence of large losses, was not compensated by the influx of soldiers tuned to the defense of the state. At the end of the war, the Wehrmacht looked like a loose conglomerate of individual combat-ready units, blurred by a demoralized mass of conscripts and Volssturmists. They did not have time to adopt Prussian military traditions in order to become soldiers, and did not have the motivation to die for

Defeat and consequences

The defeat of Nazi Germany by 1945 became inevitable. When World War II ended, the Wehrmacht ceased to exist. Along with him, much of what formed the basis of combat effectiveness became a thing of the past. German army. Despite the declared anti-fascism, Soviet Union most fully preserved the traditions and spirit of the Prussian army in the recreated army of the GDR. Perhaps this is explained by the deep commonality inherent in Russian even before the First World War. Many Wehrmacht soldiers and officers continued their service, passing on the old traditions. They managed to demonstrate this during the suppression of the Czechoslovak uprising of 1968. This event reminded us what the Wehrmacht was. The German army underwent a greater transformation to interact with the Anglo-American troops, which had a completely different structure and history.

During the Second World War, SS divisions were considered selected formations of the armed forces of the Third Reich.

Almost all of these divisions had their own emblems (tactical, or identification, insignia), which were by no means worn by the ranks of these divisions as sleeve patches (rare exceptions did not change the overall picture at all), but were painted with white or black oil paint on divisional military equipment and vehicles, buildings in which the ranks of the corresponding divisions were quartered, corresponding signs in the locations of units, etc. These identification (tactical) insignia (emblems) of SS divisions - almost always inscribed in heraldic shields (which had a “Varangian” or “Norman” or tarch form) - in many cases differed from the lapel insignia of the ranks of the corresponding divisions.

1. 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler".

The division's name means "Adolf Hitler's SS Personal Guard Regiment." The emblem (tactical, or identification, sign) of the division was a tarch shield with the image of a master key (and not a key, as is often incorrectly written and thought). The choice of such an unusual emblem is explained quite simply. The surname of the division commander, Joseph (“Sepp”) Dietrich, was a “speaking” (or, in heraldic language, a “vowel”). In German, "Dietrich" means "master key". After awarding "Sepp" Dietrich with Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross Iron Cross The division emblem began to be framed by 2 oak leaves or a semicircular oak wreath.

2. 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich".

The name of the division is “Reich” (“Das Reich”) translated into Russian means “Empire”, “Power”. The emblem of the division was the "wolfsangel" ("wolf hook") inscribed in the shield-tarch - an ancient German amulet sign that scared away wolves and werewolves (in German: "werewolves", in Greek: "lycanthropes", in Icelandic: " ulfhedinov", in Norwegian: "varulv" or "vargov", in Slavic: "vurdalak", "volkolak", "volkudlakov" or "volkodlakov"), located horizontally.

3. 3rd SS Panzer Division "Totenkopf" (Totenkopf).

The division got its name from the SS emblem - “Death's (Adam's) head” (skull and crossbones) - a symbol of loyalty to the leader until death. The same emblem, inscribed in the tarch shield, also served as the identification mark of the division.

4. 4th SS Motorized Infantry Division "Police" ("Police"), also known as "(4th) SS Police Division".

This division received this name because it was formed from the ranks of the German police. The emblem of the division was the “wolf hook” - “wolfsangel” in a vertical position, inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch.

5. 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking".

The name of this division is explained by the fact that, along with the Germans, it was recruited from residents of the countries Northern Europe(Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden), as well as Belgium, the Netherlands, Latvia and Estonia. In addition, Swiss, Russian, Ukrainian and Spanish volunteers served in the ranks of the Viking division. The division’s emblem was a “scant cross” (“sun wheel”), that is, a swastika with arched crossbars, on a heraldic shield-tarch.

6. 6th mountain (mountain rifle) division of the SS "Nord" ("North").

The name of this division is explained by the fact that it was recruited mainly from natives of the Northern European countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Latvia). The emblem of the division was the ancient German rune “hagall” (resembling the Russian letter “Zh”) inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch. The rune "hagall" ("hagalaz") was considered a symbol of unshakable faith.

7. 7th Volunteer Mountain (Mountain Rifle) SS Division "Prinz Eugen (Eugen)".

This division, recruited mainly from ethnic Germans living in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Vojvodina, Banat and Romania, was named after the famous commander of the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation” in the second half of the 17th century. early XVIII V. Prince Eugen (German: Eugen) of Savoy, famous for his victories over the Ottoman Turks and, in particular, for conquering Belgrade for the Roman-German Emperor (1717). Eugene Savoysky also became famous in the war for Spanish inheritance with his victories over the French and gained no less fame as a philanthropist and patron of the arts. The emblem of the division was the ancient German rune “odal” (“otilia”), inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch, meaning “heritage” and “blood relationship”.

8. 8th SS Cavalry Division "Florian Geyer".

This division was named in honor of the imperial knight Florian Geyer, who led one of the detachments of German peasants (“Black Detachment”, in German: “Schwarzer Gaufen”), who rebelled against the princes (large feudal lords) during the Peasant War in Germany (1524-1526). , who opposed the unification of Germany under the scepter of the emperor). Since Florian Geyer wore black armor and his “Black Squad” fought under the black banner, the SS men considered him as their predecessor (especially since he opposed not only the princes, but also for the unification of the German state). Florian Geyer (immortalized in the classic drama of the same name German literature Gerhart Hauptmann) died heroically in battle with the superior forces of the German princes in 1525 in the Taubertal Valley. His image entered German folklore (especially song folklore), enjoying no less popularity than, say, Stepan Razin in Russian song folklore. The emblem of the division was a naked sword inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch with the tip up, crossing the shield from right to left diagonally, and a horse's head.

9. 9th SS Panzer Division "Hohenstaufen".

This division was named after the dynasty of the Swabian dukes (since 1079) and the medieval Roman-German emperor-kaisers (1138-1254) - the Hohenstaufens (Staufens). Under them, the medieval German state (“Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation”), founded by Charlemagne (in 800 AD) and renewed by Otto I the Great, reached the peak of its power, subjugating Italy to its influence, Sicily, the Holy Land and Poland. The Hohenstaufens tried, relying on a highly developed economically Northern Italy as a base, centralize its power over Germany and restore the Roman Empire - “at a minimum” - the Western (within the borders of the empire of Charlemagne), ideally - the entire Roman Empire, including the Eastern Roman (Byzantine), in which, however, , did not succeed. The most famous representatives of the Hohenstaufen dynasty are considered to be the crusader kaisers Frederick I Barbarossa (who died during the Third Crusade) and his great-nephew Frederick II (Roman Emperor, King of Germany, Sicily and Jerusalem), as well as Conradin, who was defeated in the fight against the Pope and Duke Charles of Anjou for Italy and beheaded by the French in 1268. The emblem of the division was a vertically naked sword inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch with the tip up, superimposed on the capital Latin letter "H" ("Hohenstaufen").

10. 10th SS Panzer Division "Frundsberg".

This SS division was named after the German Renaissance commander Georg (Jörg) von Frundsberg, nicknamed the “Father of the Landsknechts” (1473-1528), under whose command the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation and the King of Spain Charles I of Habsburg conquered Italy and in 1514 took Rome, forcing the Pope to recognize the supremacy of the Empire. They say that the ferocious Georg Frundsberg always carried with him a golden noose, with which he intended to strangle the Pope if he fell into his hands alive. The famous German writer and Nobel Prize laureate Günter Grass served in the ranks of the SS division "Frundsberg" in his youth. The emblem of this SS division was the capital Gothic letter "F" ("Frundsberg") inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch, superimposed on an oak leaf located diagonally from right to left.

11. 11th SS Motorized Infantry Division "Nordland" ("North Country").

The name of the division is explained by the fact that it was recruited mainly from volunteers born in northern European countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Latvia and Estonia). The emblem of this SS division was a heraldic shield-tarch with the image of a “sun wheel” inscribed in a circle.

12. 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend"

This division was recruited mainly from the ranks of the youth organization of the Third Reich "Hitler Youth" ("Hitler Youth"). The tactical sign of this "youth" SS division was the ancient German "solar" rune "sig" ("sowulo", "sovelu") inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch - a symbol of victory and the emblem of Hitler's youth organizations "Jungfolk" and "Hitlerjugend", from among members of which the division's volunteers were recruited, placed on a master key ("similar to Dietrich").

13. 13th mountain (mountain rifle) division of the Waffen SS "Khanjar"

(often referred to as military literature also "Handshar" or "Yatagan"), consisting of Croatian, Bosnian and Herzegovinian Muslims (Bosniaks). "Khanjar" is a traditional Muslim edged weapon with a curved blade (related to the Russian words "konchar" and "dagger", also meaning bladed edged weapon). The emblem of the division was a curved khanjar sword inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch, directed from left to right up diagonally. According to surviving data, the division also had another identification mark, which was an image of a hand with a khanjar, superimposed on a double “SS” rune “sig” (“sovulo”).

14. 14th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Galician No. 1, since 1945 - Ukrainian No. 1); it is also the SS division "Galicia".

The emblem of the division was the ancient coat of arms of the city of Lvov, the capital of Galicia - a lion walking on its hind legs, surrounded by 3 three-pronged crowns, inscribed in a “Varangian” (“Norman”) shield.

15. 15th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Latvian No. 1).

The division's emblem was originally a "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield depicting the Roman numeral "I" above a stylized printed capital Latin letter "L" ("Latvia"). Subsequently, the division received another tactical sign - 3 stars in the background rising sun. 3 stars meant 3 Latvian provinces - Vidzeme, Kurzeme and Latgale (a similar image adorned the cockade of the pre-war army of the Republic of Latvia).

16. 16th SS Motorized Infantry Division "Reichsführer SS".

This SS division was named after Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler. The emblem of the division was a bunch of 3 oak leaves with 2 acorns at the handle in a frame inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch laurel wreath, inscribed in the shield-tarch.

17. 17th SS Motorized Division "Götz von Berlichingen".

This SS division was named after the hero of the Peasants' War in Germany (1524-1526), ​​the imperial knight Georg (Götz, Götz) von Berlichingen (1480-1562), a fighter against the separatism of the German princes for the unity of Germany, the leader of a detachment of rebel peasants and the hero of the drama Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “Goetz von Berlichingen with an iron hand” (the knight Goetz, who lost his hand in one of the battles, ordered an iron prosthesis to be made for himself, which he controlled no worse than others - with a hand made of flesh and blood). The emblem of the division was the iron hand of Götz von Berlichingen clenched into a fist (crossing the tarch shield from right to left and from bottom to top diagonally).

18. 18th SS Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division "Horst Wessel".

This division was named in honor of one of the “martyrs of the Hitler movement” - the commander of the Berlin stormtroopers Horst Wessel, who composed the song “Banners High”! (which became the anthem of the NSDAP and the “second anthem” of the Third Reich) and killed by communist militants. The emblem of the division was a naked sword with the tip up, crossing the tarch shield from right to left diagonally. According to the surviving data, the Horst Wessel division also had another emblem, which was stylized runes letters SA (SA = Sturmabteilungen, i.e. “assault troops”; “martyr of the Movement” Horst Wessel, in whose honor the division was named, was one of the leaders of the Berlin stormtroopers), inscribed in a circle.

19. 19th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Latvian No. 2).

The emblem of the division at the time of formation was the "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of the Roman numeral "II" above the stylized printed capital Latin letter "L" ("Latvia"). Subsequently, the division acquired another tactical sign - an upright, right-sided swastika on the “Varangian” shield. The swastika - “fiery cross” (“ugunskrusts”) or “cross (of the thunder god) Perkon” (“perkonkrusts”) has been a traditional element of Latvian folk ornament from time immemorial.

20. 20th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Estonian No. 1).

The emblem of the division was the “Varangian” (“Norman”) heraldic shield with the image of a straight naked sword with the tip up, crossing the shield from right to left diagonally and superimposed on the capital Latin letter “E” (“E”, that is, “Estonia”). According to some reports, this emblem was sometimes depicted on the helmets of Estonian SS volunteers.

21. 21st mountain (mountain rifle) division of the Waffen SS "Skanderbeg" (Albanian No. 1).

This division, recruited mainly from Albanians, was named after national hero of the Albanian people, Prince George Alexander Kastriot (nicknamed by the Turks “Iskander Beg” or, in short, “Skanderbeg”). While Skanderbeg (1403-1468) was alive, the Ottoman Turks, who had repeatedly suffered defeats from him, could not bring Albania under their rule. The emblem of the division was the ancient coat of arms of Albania inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch - double headed eagle(the ancient Albanian rulers claimed kinship with the basileus-emperors of Byzantium). According to surviving information, the division also had another tactical sign - a stylized image of the “Skanderbeg helmet” with goat horns, superimposed on 2 horizontal stripes.

22. 22nd SS Volunteer Cavalry Division "Maria Theresa".

This division, recruited mainly from ethnic Germans living in Hungary and from Hungarians, was named after the Empress of the "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation" and Austria, Queen of Bohemia (Czech Republic) and Hungary Maria Theresa von Habsburg (1717-1780), one of the most prominent rulers of the second half of the XVIII century. The emblem of the division was an image of a cornflower flower inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch with 8 petals, a stem, 2 leaves and 1 bud - (subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Danube Monarchy who wanted to join the German Empire, until 1918, wore a cornflower in their buttonhole - the favorite flower of the German emperor Wilhelm II of Hohenzollern).

23. 23rd Waffen SS Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division "Kama" (Croatian No. 2)

consisting of Croatian, Bosnian and Herzegovinian Muslims. “Kama” is the name of a traditional Balkan Muslim edged weapon with a curved blade (something like a scimitar). The tactical sign of the division was a stylized image of the astronomical sign of the sun in a crown of rays on the heraldic shield-tarch. Information has also been preserved about another tactical sign of the division, which was the Tyr rune with 2 arrow-shaped processes perpendicular to the trunk of the rune in its lower part.

24. 23rd Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division Waffen SS "Netherlands"

(Dutch No. 1).

The name of this division is explained by the fact that its personnel were recruited mainly from the Netherlands (Dutch) Waffen SS volunteers. The emblem of the division was the “odal” (“otilia”) rune with lower ends in the shape of arrows, inscribed in the heraldic tarch shield.

25. 24th mountain (mountain rifle) division of the Waffen SS "Karst Jaegers" ("Karst Jaegers", "Karstjäger").

The name of this division is explained by the fact that it was recruited mainly from natives of the Karst mountain region, located on the border between Italy and Yugoslavia. The division's emblem was a stylized image of a "karst flower" ("karstbloome"), inscribed in a heraldic shield of the "Varangian" ("Norman") form.

26. 25th Grenadier (Infantry) Division Waffen SS "Hunyadi"

(Hungarian No. 1).

This division, recruited mainly from Hungarians, was named after the medieval Transylvanian-Hungarian Hunyadi dynasty, the most prominent representatives of which were János Hunyadi (Johannes Gounyades, Giovanni Vaivoda, 1385-1456) and his son King Matthew Corvinus (Matiás Hunyadi, 1443-1456). 1490), who heroically fought for the freedom of Hungary against the Ottoman Turks. The division's emblem was a "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of an "arrow-shaped cross" - the symbol of the Viennese National Socialist Arrow Cross Party ("Nigerlashists") Ferenc Szálasi - under 2 three-pronged crowns.

27. 26th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS "Gömbös" (Hungarian No. 2).

This division, consisting mainly of Hungarians, was named after the Hungarian Foreign Minister Count Gyula Gömbös (1886-1936), a staunch supporter of a close military-political alliance with Germany and an ardent anti-Semite. The emblem of the division was the “Varangian” (“Norman”) heraldic shield with the image of the same arrow-shaped cross, but under 3 three-pronged crowns.

28. 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier (Infantry) Division "Langemarck" (Flemish No. 1).

This division, formed from German-speaking Belgians (Flemings), was named after the site of a bloody battle that took place on Belgian territory during the Great (First World) War in 1914. The division's emblem was a "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of a "triskelion" ("triphos" or "triquetra").

29. 28th SS Panzer Division. Information about the division's tactical sign has not been preserved.

30. 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier (Infantry) Division "Wallonia".

This division owed its name to the fact that it was formed mainly from French-speaking Belgians (Walloons). The emblem of the division was a heraldic shield-tarch with an image of a straight sword and a curved saber crossed in the shape of the letter “X” with the hilts up.

31. 29th Grenadier Infantry Division Waffen SS "RONA" (Russian No. 1).

This division is “Russian Liberation People's Army" consisted of Russian volunteers B.V. Kaminsky. The tactical sign of the division, applied to its equipment, judging by the surviving photographs, was a widened cross with the abbreviation "RONA" under it.

32. 29th Grenadier (Infantry) Division Waffen SS "Italy" (Italian No. 1).

This division owed its name to the fact that it consisted of Italian volunteers who remained loyal to Benito Mussolini after his release from prison by a detachment of German paratroopers led by SS Sturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny. The tactical sign of the division was the vertically located lictor's fascia (in Italian: "littorio"), inscribed in the heraldic shield of the "Varangian" ("Norman") form - a bunch of rods (rods) with an ax embedded in them (the official emblem of the National Fascist Party Benito Mussolini).

33. 30th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS (Russian No. 2, also known as Belarusian No. 1).

This division consisted mainly of former fighters of the Belarusian Regional Defense units. The tactical sign of the division was the "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield with the image of the double ("patriarchal") cross of the Holy Princess Euphrosyne of Polotsk, located horizontally.

It should be noted that the double (“patriarchal”) cross, located vertically, served as the tactical sign of the 79th Infantry, and located diagonally - the emblem of the 2nd motorized infantry division of the German Wehrmacht.

34. 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier Division (aka 23rd Waffen SS Volunteer Mountain Division).

The emblem of the division was a full-face deer's head on the "Varangian" ("Norman") heraldic shield.

35. 31st SS Volunteer Grenadier (Infantry) Division "Bohemia and Moravia" (German: "Böhmen und Mähren").

This division was formed from natives of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, who came under German control of the territories of Czechoslovakia (after Slovakia declared independence). The emblem of the division was a Bohemian (Czech) crowned lion walking on its hind legs, and an orb crowned with a double cross on a “Varangian” (“Norman”) heraldic shield.

36. 32nd Volunteer Grenadier (Infantry) SS Division "January 30".

This division was named in memory of the day Adolf Hitler came to power (January 30, 1933). The emblem of the division was the “Varangian” (“Norman”) shield with the image of a vertically located “battle rune” - the symbol of the ancient German god of war Tyr (Tira, Tiu, Tsiu, Tuisto, Tuesco).

37. 33rd Waffen SS Cavalry Division "Hungaria", or "Hungary" (Hungarian No. 3).

This division, consisting of Hungarian volunteers, received the appropriate name. Information about the tactical sign (emblem) of the division has not been preserved.

38. 33rd Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS "Charlemagne" (French No. 1).

This division was named in honor of the Frankish king Charlemagne ("Charlemagne", from the Latin "Carolus Magnus", 742-814), who was crowned in 800 in Rome as emperor of the Western Roman Empire (which included the territories of modern Northern Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and parts of Spain), and is considered the founder of modern German and French statehood. The division's emblem was a dissected "Varangian" ("Norman") shield with half a Roman-German imperial eagle and 3 fleurs de lys of the Kingdom of France.

39. 34th SS Volunteer Grenadier (Infantry) Division "Landstorm Nederland" (Dutch No. 2).

"Landstorm Nederland" means "Dutch Militia". The emblem of the division was the “Dutch national” version of the “wolf hook” - “Wolfsangel”, inscribed in the “Varangian” (“Norman”) heraldic shield (adopted in the Dutch National Socialist movement by Anton-Adrian Mussert).

40. 36th SS Police Grenadier (Infantry) Division ("Police Division II")

consisted of mobilized military service German police officials. The emblem of the division was the “Varangian” (“Norman”) shield with the image of the “Hagall” rune and the Roman numeral “II”.

41. 36th Waffen SS Grenadier Division "Dirlewanger".

The emblem of the division was 2 hand grenades-"mackers" inscribed in the "Varangian" ("Norman") shield, crossed in the shape of the letter "X" with the handles down.

In addition, in the last months of the war, the formation of the following new SS divisions, mentioned in the orders of the Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler, was begun (but not completed):

42. 35th SS Grenadier (Infantry) Division "Police" ("Policeman"), also known as the 35th SS Grenadier (Infantry) Police Division. Information about the tactical sign (emblem) of the division has not been preserved.

43. 36th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the Waffen SS. No information about the division's emblem has been preserved.

44. 37th SS Volunteer Cavalry Division "Lützow".

The division was named after the hero of the fight against Napoleon - Major of the Prussian army Adolf von Lützow (1782-1834), who formed the first in history Liberation wars(1813-1815) German patriots against Napoleonic tyranny, a volunteer corps (“Lützow’s black huntsmen”). The tactical sign of the division was the image of a straight naked sword inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch with the tip up, superimposed on the capital Gothic letter “L”, that is, “Lutzov”).

45. 38th Grenadier (Infantry) Division of the SS "Nibelungen" ("Nibelungen").

The division was named after the heroes of the medieval German heroic epic - the Nibelungs. This was the original name given to the spirits of darkness and fog, elusive to the enemy and possessing countless treasures; then - the knights of the kingdom of the Burgundians who took possession of these treasures. As you know, Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler dreamed of creating an “SS order state” on the territory of Burgundy after the war. The emblem of the division was the image of the winged Nibelungen invisibility helmet inscribed in the heraldic shield-tarch.

46. ​​39th SS Mountain (Mountain Rifle) Division "Andreas Hofer".

The division was named after the Austrian national hero Andreas Hofer (1767-1810), the leader of the Tyrolean rebels against Napoleonic tyranny, betrayed by traitors to the French and shot in 1810 in the Italian fortress of Mantua. To the tune of the folk song about the execution of Andreas Hofer - “Under Mantua in Chains” (German: “Zu Mantua in banden”), German Social Democrats in the twentieth century composed their own song “We are the young guard of the proletariat” (German: “Vir sind”) di junge garde des proletariats"), and the Soviet Bolsheviks - “We are the young guard of workers and peasants.” No information about the division's emblem has been preserved.

47. 40th SS Volunteer Motorized Infantry Division "Feldgerrnhalle" (not to be confused with the division of the same name of the German Wehrmacht).

This division was named after the building of the "Gallery of Commanders" (Feldgerrnhalle), in front of which on November 9, 1923, the Reichswehr and the police of the leader of the Bavarian separatists Gustav Ritter von Kahr shot a column of participants in the Hitler-Ludendorff putsch against the government of the Weimar Republic. Information about the division's tactical sign has not been preserved.

48. 41st Waffen SS Infantry Division "Kalevala" (Finnish No. 1).

This SS division, named after the Finnish heroic folk epic, began to be formed from among Finnish Waffen SS volunteers who did not obey the order of the Finnish Commander-in-Chief, Marshal Baron Carl Gustav Emil von Mannerheim, issued in 1943, to return from the Eastern Front to their homeland and rejoin the Finnish army . No information about the division's emblem has been preserved.

49. 42nd SS Infantry Division "Lower Saxony" ("Niedersachsen").

Information about the emblem of the division, the formation of which was not completed, has not been preserved.

50. 43rd Waffen SS Infantry Division "Reichsmarshal".

This division, the formation of which began on the basis of German units air force("Luftwaffe"), left without aviation equipment, flight school cadets and ground personnel, was named in honor of the Imperial Marshal (Reichsmarschall) of the Third Reich Hermann Goering. Reliable information about the division's emblem has not been preserved.

51. 44th Waffen SS Motorized Infantry Division "Wallenstein".

This SS division, recruited from ethnic Germans living in the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia and Slovakia, as well as from Czech and Moravian volunteers, was named after the German imperial commander of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), Duke of Friedland Albrecht Eusebius Wenzel von Wallenstein (1583-1634), Czech by origin, the hero of the dramatic trilogy of the classic of German literature Friedrich von Schiller “Wallenstein” (“Wallenstein’s Camp”, “Piccolomini” and “The Death of Wallenstein”). No information about the division's emblem has been preserved.

52. 45th SS Infantry Division "Varyag" ("Varager").

Initially, Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler intended to give the name "Varangians" ("Varager") to the Nordic (Northern European) SS division, formed from Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and other Scandinavians who sent their volunteer contingents to help the Third Reich. However, according to a number of sources, Adolf Hitler "rejected" the name "Varangians" for his Nordic SS volunteers, seeking to avoid unwanted associations with the medieval "Varangian Guard" (consisting of Norwegians, Danes, Swedes, Russians and Anglo-Saxons) in the service Byzantine emperors. The Fuhrer of the Third Reich had a negative attitude towards the Constantinople "Basileus", considering them, like all Byzantines, "morally and spiritually corrupt, deceitful, treacherous, corrupt and treacherous decadents", and did not want to be associated with the rulers of Byzantium.

It should be noted that Hitler was not alone in his antipathy towards the Byzantines. Most Western Europeans fully shared this antipathy towards the “Romans” (even since the era of the Crusades), and it is no coincidence that in the Western European lexicon there is even a special concept of “Byzantinism” (meaning: “cunning”, “cynicism”, “meanness”, “ groveling before the strong and ruthlessness towards the weak”, “treachery”... in general, “the Greeks have been deceitful to this day”, as the famous Russian chronicler wrote). As a result, the German-Scandinavian division formed as part of the Waffen SS (which later also included the Dutch, Walloons, Flemings, Finns, Latvians, Estonians, Ukrainians and Russians) was given the name “Viking”. Along with this, on the basis of Russian White emigrants and former citizens of the USSR in the Balkans, the formation of another SS division began, called “Varager” (“Varangians”); however, due to the prevailing circumstances, the matter was limited to the formation in the Balkans of the “Russian (security) corps (Russian security group)” and a separate Russian SS regiment “Varyag”.

During the Second World War on the territory of Serbia in 1941-1944. In alliance with the Germans, the Serbian SS Volunteer Corps also operated, consisting of former soldiers of the Yugoslav royal army (mostly of Serbian origin), most of whom were members of the Serbian monarcho-fascist movement "Z.B.O.R.", led by Dmitrie Letic. The tactical sign of the corps was a tarch shield and an image of an ear of grain, superimposed on a naked sword with the tip down, located diagonally.

For some reason, it is believed that in June 1941, no less than 5 million Wehrmacht soldiers crossed the border with the USSR. This common myth is easily refuted.

The strength of the Wehrmacht in June 1941 reached:

7,234 thousand people (Müller–Hillebrandt) including:

1. Active Army – 3.8 million people.

2. Army Reserve – 1.2 million people.

3 . Air Force – 1.68 million people

4. SS troops – 0.15 million people

Explanation:

The reserve army, numbering 1.2 million people, did not participate in the aggression against the USSR. It was intended for military districts in Germany itself.

Civilian Hiwis—counted in total number stated above. At the beginning of the Second World War they did not actively participate in battles.

WHERE WERE THE WEHRMACHT TROOPS LOCATED?

The Wehrmacht in June 1941 had about 700,000 soldiers in France, Belgium and Holland in case of an Allied landing.

In the remaining occupation zones—Norway, Austria, Czechoslovakia, the Balkans, Crete, Poland—no less than almost 1,000,000 soldiers were taken from the Wehrmacht.

Riots and uprisings broke out regularly and to maintain order it was necessary a large number of Wehrmacht troops in the occupied territories

General Rommel's African Corps had about 100,000 people. The total number of Wermath troops in the Middle East region reached 300,000 people.

HOW MANY VERMATH SOLDIERS CROSSED THE BORDER WITH THE USSR?

Müller-Hillebrandt, in his book “German Land Army 1933-1945” gives the following figures for forces in the East:

1. In army groups (i.e. “North”, “Center” “South” - author’s note) - 120.16 divisions - 76 infantry, 13.16 motorized, 17 tank, 9 security, 1 cavalry, 4 light , 1 mountain rifle division- the “tail” of 0.16 divisions arose due to the presence of formations that were not consolidated into divisions.

2. The OKH has 14 divisions behind the front of the army groups. (12 infantry, 1 mountain rifle and 1 police)

3. The Civil Code reserve includes 14 divisions. (11 infantry, 1 motorized and 2 tank)

4. In Finland - 3 divisions (2 mountain rifle, 1 motorized, another 1 infantry arrived at the end of June, but we will not count it)

And in total - 152.16 divisions, out of 208 divisions formed by the Wehrmacht. These include 99 infantry, 15.16 motorized, 19 tank, 4 light, 4 mountain infantry, 9 security, 1 police and 1 cavalry division, including SS divisions.

Really active army

According to Müller-Hillebrandt, of the 3.8 million active army, 3.3 million people were concentrated for operations in the East.

If we look at Halder's War Diary, we will find that total number He defines the active army as 2.5 million people.

In fact, the figures are 3.3 million people. and 2.5 million people do not strongly contradict each other, since in addition to the divisions themselves in the Wehrmacht (as in any other army), there were a sufficient number of units listed in the active army but essentially non-combat (builders, military doctors, etc., etc. ).

3.3 million Müller-Hillebrandt includes both combat and non-combat units, and 2.5 million people. Galdera - only combat units. So we will not be much mistaken if we assume the number of Wehrmacht and SS combat units on the eastern front at the level of 2.5 million people.

Halder determined the number of combat units that could participate in hostilities against the USSR in June at 2.5 million people.

LEVELED FORMATION

Before the attack on the USSR german army had a clearly defined echelon structure.

The first, shock echelon - army groups "North", "Center" "South" - included 120 divisions, incl. 3.5 motorized SS divisions.

The second echelon - the operational reserve, so to speak - was located directly behind the fronts of the army groups and consisted of 14 divisions.

The third echelon is the reserve of the main command, which also includes 14 divisions.

That is, the attack came in three streams.

WEHRMACHT ALLIES

Most of them entered the war later than Germany and their participation at the very beginning was limited to only a few divisions.

Later, in 42-43, the number of the allied contingent of Dastigal was 800,000 people.

Most of the Allied troops were on the Eastern Front in 1943

RESULTS

In June 1941, 2.5 million soldiers crossed the border with the USSR. They were opposed by 1.8 million soldiers of the Red Army.

Directive No. 1 only supplemented the order to bring the troops to full combat readiness... but the generals sabotaged it.

On June 20 they sent most flight squadrons are on vacation, and on June 21, most of the combat units are on vacation, with festivities, etc.

In aviation, tanks and other weapons, the Red Army was many times superior to the Wehrmacht.

The myth of the overwhelming superiority of the Wehrmacht can be considered destroyed.

In 1935, the main German armed forces were created, which bore the succinct name of the Wehrmacht. From German “wehr” is translated as “defense”, “weapon”, and the second part “macht” means “strength”, “army”, “power”. The Reichswehr became the foundation of the Wehrmacht. In this regard, the law “On the Construction of the Wehrmacht” was approved. It involved collecting taxes from every German citizen. This Law was completely contrary to the previously concluded Treaty of Versailles. According to it, the Wehrmacht should include 36 divisions, in which 500 thousand soldiers would serve.

In 1935, the main German armed forces were created, which bore the capacious name Wehrmacht // Photo: pikabu.ru

Three years later, the OKW was created - Oberkommando der Wehrmacht - the Wehrmacht command. It had enormous powers and was subordinate to only one person - Adolf Hitler himself. The Fuhrer at that time was the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the aggressor country. It was to him that all personnel of the military group were obliged to take an oath of allegiance.

OKW consisted of four departments at once:

· operations department;

· Abwehr - department of military and counterintelligence;

· the economic department, responsible for ammunition and providing troops with food;

· general purpose department.

An experienced military man, Field Marshal General Wilhelm Keitel, was appointed the first commander of the Wehrmacht.

Command of German troops // Photo: collections.ushmm.org

Creation of the SS

The SS was also Hitler's brainchild. This organization was born much earlier than the Wehrmacht. Its origins took place in rather difficult conditions. In 1925, after his release from prison, the Fuhrer issued a decree that stipulated the formation of a group of people to protect him. Initially, the SS was supposed to consist of only 8 people.

The Commander-in-Chief had the following idea: while the Wehrmacht would defend the Reich from the outside, the SS would do it from the inside. The latter was called the “cover squadron” - Schutzstaffel (SS). At the same time, Hitler believed that the size of the SS should not be ten percent of the peacetime military personnel.

The SS is the brainchild of Hitler, which was supposed to become his personal guard // Photo: hystory.mediasole.ru

External differences between intelligence services

First of all, the SS sheep differed from all others in the color of their uniform. It was deep black. It was considered one of the most important in Germany. Because uniforms of this color were worn by the “free riflemen” (Freischutzen), who in the 19th century gave a worthy rebuff to Napoleon’s army. Over time, the black color has acquired some political meaning. Perhaps this happened because the officers of the Red Army wore black uniforms.

Conflicts between intelligence services

There were a very large number of provocative situations that could lead to hostility between the SS and the Wehrmacht. One of the brightest examples Such a situation is when one of the Wehrmacht commanders in the battle of the Demyansk Pocket sent exclusively SS forces under fire. He carefully took care of his own personnel.

The reason for the enmity was also the fact that while the Wehrmacht suffered from a shortage of food products, the SS literally feasted on their abundance. One of the officers in his personal diary once wrote: “Himler made sure that the entire SS staff received special food for the Christmas holidays. At this time we were finishing horse meat soup.”

The conflict between the commander of one of the SS regiments K. Mayer and Lieutenant General of the Wehrmacht E. Feuchtinger received especially great publicity. It occurred at the very beginning of the Normandy campaign. The young commander was decisive and rushed into battle without hesitation. At the same time, the allied forces under the command of the lieutenant general did not move. After investigating this situation, it turned out that personal hostility was to blame. In addition, the Wehrmacht officer was somewhat jealous of the success of the SS.