Berlin defense: French-SSEsovtsy and Dutch military. Russians as part of the French division in the battle for Berlin French SS battalion
SS - Terror Tool Williamson Gordon
Thirty-third Greater Division SS "Charleman"
The predecessor of this division was the "Volunteer French Legion", created in 1941 under the control of the German army. Initially, he was called the 638th Army Infantry Regiment and for the first time entered into battle on the Eastern Front during the winter of 1941/42 of the onset of Moscow as part of the 7th Infantry Division. The French part suffered heavy losses and since the spring of 1942 to autumn 1943 was recalled from the front, after which it was used mainly to conduct anti-Partisan actions. At this stage, it was divided into operations in the rear against partisans and was used in the form of divisions, according to its quantitative composition of equal battalion.
In January 1944, another battalion re-formation occurred, but it was still used for battles with partisans.
In June 1944, the battalion returned to the central sector of the Eastern Front to participate in offensive actions against the Red Army. His actions were so impressive that the Soviet command considered that it was not dealing with one, but with two French battalions, although in fact the number of legionaries corresponded to about half of the battalion.
In September 1944, French volunteers joined the ranks of Waffen-SS. In France, the set in the SS would seriously begun only in 1943, in Paris. In August 1944, the first 300 volunteers were sent to Alsace to prepare as part of the French voluntary assault brigade of the SS. In September 1943, about 30 French officers were sent to the SS military school to the Bavarian city of Bad Telz, and about a hundred UNT officers - to various schools for the junior officer, to increase their preparation to the level of the standard Waffen-SS requirements. At this time, a group of French volunteers was on the eastern front as part of the 18th Volunteer Parcant-Grenadier Division of the SS "Horst Weight-Sel". After fierce fighting with the units of the Red Army, they were withdrawn to the rear for recreation and re-formation. At this time, a decision was made - given the fighting track record of the French, to combine them with the residues of the Legion and the detachments of the French police to create a new Waffen-SS division.
This most unusual of all divisions also included a certain number of soldiers from French colonies, including from French Indochina and even one Japanese. Eyewitnesses argue that several French Jews managed to avoid persecution of the Nazis, hiding in the ranks of the "Charleman" division.
The division was formed in the winter of 1944/45 and at the very beginning of 1945 was sent to the front in Pomerania. Permanent fierce fighting against numerically superior parts of the Red Army had a lot of French division and split it into three parts. One of the groups, in a battalion, retreated to the Baltic States and was evacuated to Denmark, after which it was in Neostrelitsa, not far from Berlin.
The second group was completely exterminated by the fierce volley of the Soviet artillery guns. The third managed to retreat to the West, where she was destroyed - her soldiers or died, or were captured by the Russians. Those of them who remained in Neussystrice were collected together by the divisional commander, Brigadefürer SS Gustav Krokenberg, who freed from the oath of those who no longer wanted to serve in the SS. Nevertheless, about 500 people voluntarily followed his commander to defend Berlin. Approximately 700 people remained in Neostrilice. 500 volunteers who participated in the defense of Berlin, fought extremely conscientiously, despite the fact that they were known that the battle was played. Their courage was marked by award-winning - three knightly crosses. One of them was awarded Wrasturm-Führer SS Wilhelm Weber - the German officer of the Division, and two-French soldiers Untershruer Ezhanu Vallo and Obersharfürer Francois Apollo. All three awards were differences for personal courage shown in the destruction of several Soviet tanks alone. Three days later, Vallo and Apollo were killed. Weber was lucky enough to survive the war.
Those of the members of the division "Charleman", which preferred not to go to the front, sneak up to the West, where they volunteered. They undoubtedly expected Western allies to treat them better than the Russians. Thus, who surrendered to their compatriots from the Army "Free France", had to be very disappointed in their illusion. It is known that when they encountered the soldiers of "free France", then the question of the latter about why they wished to put on German uniforms, the soldiers of the French SS asked about the uniforms of the American troops who wore degollevts. The commander of the Degollevsky troops in place with a similar question, without any court and the investigation, shot his compatriots-SESS citizens. As for the "free France", then she is leading the most terrible war crimes. It makes no sense to say that the killers of the French-SSEsovs remained unpunished. Ironically, with French SESS, who took part in the brutal destruction of Orador in 1944, they cost much more condescending. They were found by people who were forced mobilization, and thus "victims". The French court justified them. The reason for this such an amazing sentence is purely political. The French Socialists who appeared before the court were from Alsace, who over the years of its history has repeatedly passed to France, then to Germany. It existed that the conviction against the perpetrators of the tragedy flewing in the Oradere could cause unrest in Alsace.
Thus, there was a situation where the French sieves who took part in the execution of a large number of French citizens remained unpunished, while members of the Charleman division, fought with the detachments of the communist partisans in the east and against the parts of the Red Army, lost their lives after Captured.
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So Belle France is trampled by Teutonic boot, but some of the locals, this boot turned out to be likely and even to taste. It is about such French (let's call them collaborators), it will be discussed ...
I want to briefly tell someparts and organizations , G.de Citizens of France with arms or with working instruments in their hands. Served Rehi. Again, I do not make any conclusions, but I feed the material purely informatively.
1. Legion of French Volunteers - Fighters with Bolshevism (Legion Des Volontaires Francais Contre Le BolcherVisme - LVF)
June 22, 1941, the leader of the French fascist party PPF - Parti Populaire Francais Jacques Dorio (Jacques Doriot, announced the creation of the Legion of French volunteers to participate in the war against the USSR and already on July 5, Ribbentrop in the telegram No. 3555, this idea approved. Leaders of Pronocyst French organizations, created the Central Committee of the Legion of French Volunteers (LVF), which was founded by the recruitment center, which was founded in the former office of the Soviet tourist Agency "Intourist". Starting from July 1941, more than 13,000 volunteers appealed to the Committee. The first combat French part formed in September 1941 The year in Poland, was called Franzosischer Infantry-Regiment 638 (French infantry regiment 638). 2500 legionnaires wore a German form with a French tricolor on the right sleeve. The regimental banner was three-color French and orders were also given in French. But all volunteers should have taken oath To loyalty to Adolf Hitler. Marshal Peten L Lerthoners Patosic Message: "Before you go to battle, I am happily aware of what you do not forget - you own a part of our military honor" (the old man was turned cool). On November 6, 1941, French Führera, from Smolensk headed for Moscow, they were waiting for the village of Dyukovo and Borodino. The battle near Moscow, heavily affected the legurtes. The total loss of personnel reached 1000 people. German military inspectors have reported to the Vermachki OKM, people showed, in general, good martial spiritBut the level of their combat training is low. Sergeant composition, in general, not bad, but does not show activity, since the senior composition does not show efficiency. Officers, there are few on that and were clearly recruited by a purely political principle "The conclusion was as follows:" Legion is not as possible. Improvement can only be achieved by updating officer composition and forced learning. " In 1942, Legion was reformed, brought to the composition of 2,700 bayonets and was used only for anti-partisan actions. The descendants of Sanhülotov and Marquis de la Fajes became ordinary punishers. On June 22, 1944, Legion was thrown to the front to cover the departure of the Germans on the Minsk highway, where he suffered great losses. Personal residues were alleged 8 SS Volunteer Sturmbigade France.
2. 8th French Brigade Waffen SS. (SS Volunteer Sturmbigade France)
Within a month after the battle on the Beaver River, a set of volunteers was activated due to large losses in French parts on the Eastern Front, in Vichi France, from the composition of the collaboration police and university students, there were rhanablo about 3,000 more people. From the residues of the Legion of these reinforcements, the 8th SS Volunteer Sturmbigade France was created, the brigade was headed by a former officer of the foreign legion Obersturmbanführer Paul Marie Gamory-Dubourdeau (Paul Marie Gamory-Dubourdeau). The brigade was included in the SS Division HORST WESSEL and sent to Galicia. In battles against the upcoming Red Army, the French suffered heavy losses.
3. Waffen-Grenadier- Division Der SS Charlemagne. (Division SS Charleman)
In September 1944, a new French military unit was created - Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade Der SS Charlemagne (Französische Nr.1,also known called "Französische Brigade Der SS")from the residues of LVF and FRENCH STURMBRIGADE, which by that time were disbanded. The division was joined by the collaborators who fled from the coming from the west of the Allied troops, former volunteers from Crygsmarine, NSKK, organizations TODT, etc. Some sources claim that volunteers were volunteers from French colonies and Switzerland. In February 1945, the division status was officially raised to the level of the division, which was named 33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS "Charlemagne", its number was 7340 people. The division was sent to Poland to the Soviet-German Front and on February 25, he entered into battle with the troops of the 1st Belorussian front in the town of Hammerstein Town (now - Czarne, Poland). Then the remains of the division who lost 4,800 people were sent to the city of Neustrelitz to re-form. In early April 1945, about 700 people left, the commander of the Division Crokenberg was submitted to 400 people in the construction battalion, and the rest - about 300 people - chose Berlin's defense. On April 23, Krokenberg received an order from the Recanquence to arrive with his people to the capital. 320-330 French, bypassing the Soviet block posts, arrived in Berlin on April 24th. The French unit, the name of SturmbaTallon "Charlemagne" was submitted to the command of the Command of the 11th SS Nordland Division, which served a lot of Scandinavians. After removing the previous commander of Joachim Ziegler (Joachim Ziegler), Brigadefyrer Krokenberg was appointed to the commander of the sector. On the first day of the battles, the regiment lost half of the personnel. On April 27, the remnants of the Nordland division were pushed out to the area of \u200b\u200bgovernment buildings (defense sector Z). The fate of the French turned out to be among the last defenders of Hitler's bunker ... In total, about 30 French remained after the last fighting. Some of them managed to escape from the defeated Berlin and return to France, where they found themselves in camps for prisoners of war controlled by allies. They were expected by the court, the death penalty or long prison terms. Many were shot simply without special delays. According to one of the versions of these events, the general of the troops of free France Leclerc, faced with a group of 10-12 prisoners of the French SSS, asked them why they were a German military uniform. According to one testimony, he was answered: "Why is American on you?", Witty sieves were shot still. However, they divided the fate of many soldiers and officers of the SS-Waffen officers, which this fate was minted in the Soviet-German and Western fronts, where neither Soviet soldiers nor Anglo-Americans were often ceremony or, especially, the Poles. In the SS seen primarily punishers. Without looking at the color of uniforms.
4. Bretonishe WafFenverBand Der SS "Bezzen Perrot"
The PNB Nationalist Party (Parti National Breton), who achieved independence from the "Colonialistic France," was felt perceived by the Germans. With SD, a BEZEN PERROT division was created (PERR), registered by the Germans called Bretonishe Waffenverband Der SS. 80 volunteers were scored there. They began to wear a SESS uniform and Celtic cross as stripes. The division took part in operations against the French partisans since March 1944. Subsequently, they were included in SD special detachments.
5. 21st Tank Division (21 Panzer Division)
In a technical park of the 21st tank division of the Wehrmacht, there were about 50 French trucks and some Somua and Hotchkiss armored vehicles. For their maintenance, French mechanics were required. The 2nd company WERKSTATTKOMPANIE (supply, repair) consisted of 230 French volunteers, who did not have any stripes on the German uniform, testifying to their nationality.
6. BRANDENBURG Division
BRANDENBOURG Division (previously regiment) was a special exploration and divergent division of the Abver.
In 1943, the 8th Rota of the 3rd Regiment was formed from 180 French, stationed in Eaux-Bonnes at the foot of Pyrneus (South-West France). Acting in South France, the company imitated the detachments of resistance using captured radio stations, and seized many transports with weapons and military materials, which resulted in numerous arrests. The company also took part in the battles against the forces of resistance, included in the history called the battle for the Verkors (June-July 1944). According to the historian of Vladimir Krupnik, in these battles, the significant forces of the Germans and collaborators (more than 10,000 people) were suppressed on an isolated Mountain Plateau Vercors a major speech of partisans who responded to the appeal de Gaulle to support the landing of allies in Normandy. Of the 4,000 partisans who took part in the battles, 600 people were killed).
7. German Navy (Kriegsmarine)
In 1943, Crygsmarine opened recruitment points in several large ports of France. Volunteers were credited to German units and worn a German military uniform without additional stripes.
In the German summary of February 4, 1944 in the number of French, working in the ports Brest, Cherbourin, Lorient and Toulon at CrygSmarine bases, contain the following figures: 93 officers, 3,000 non-officers, 160 engineers, 680 technicians and 25,000 civilians. In January 1943, the Germans started a set of 200 volunteers to carry a guard service at the Naval Base in La Rochelle. The unit was called KriegsmarineWerftPolizei "La Pallice", they were commanded by Lieutenant Rene Lantz (Rene Lanz), a veteran of the First World War and LVF. On June 30, 1944, the German command of La Rochelle provided the French volunteer selection: to remain guarded or join SS-Waffen. A similar offer was made by other Frenchmen who served at this time in Crymsmarine. About 1,500 French from their number were shipped to Greofenberg, where they joined the CS Division Charlemagne.
8. Organization TODT (from)
France from the construction of databases for submarines and coastal fortifications was occupied. 112 000 Germans, 152,000 French and 170,000 North Africans participated in the works. About 2,500 French volunteers served in the armed guard of facilities under construction after the preparation in the Celle Saint Cloud town near Paris. At the end of 1944, a certain amount of French was transferred to the construction of coastal objects in Norway. Several hundreds of them were sent to Greofenberg, where they joined the CS division Charlemagne.
9. NSKK (NationalSocialistische Kraftfahrkorps) MotorGruppe LuftWaffe (Luftwaffe Division, engaged in material support).
There were about 2,500 Frenchmen in NSKK, which served in the 4th NSKK shepher in Vilvorde, Belgium. The ONTER officer of the regiment was represented by the Germans. In early 1943, the regiment took part in hostilities near Rostov. In 1944, a combat group was formed from among the French who served in NSKK, which took part in anti-Partisan operations in Northern Italy and Croatia. In July 1943, 30 NSKK soldiers, led by a man named Jean-Marie Balestre, deserted and entered into SS-Waffen. Most of them fought in SS-Waffen to the end of the war.
10. African Falanga (Phalage Africaine)
On November 14, the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a division from Africans (African Phalangean was proclaimed. In December, the German occupation authorities approved the plan and scheme of material support of the unit. It was hampered by 330 volunteers, from among those after training formed the company from 210 people called Franzosische FreiwilliLiLIGEN LEGION Included in the 2nd battalion of the 754th regiment of the 334th Panzer Grenadier Division (5 PanzeRMee). On April 7, 1943, the company entered into battle against the British (78th Infantry Division) in the Medjez-El-Bab area. Africans showed well In my senses, and German General Weber handed several servicemen of Iron crosses. After 9 days, the allies switched to the overall offensive in this sector. Under the artillery fire of Falanga, in one hour, he lost half of people killed and wounded ... 150 surviving Africans were captive after the fall of Tunisia At the same time, ten people from among those captured to the Hollyurs were shot, the rest were sentenced to prolonged with Crisp rocks. About 40 phalanges ", which was lucky to get into captivity to the Anglo-Americans, were later enrolled in the divisions of free France and finished the war winners in Germany ...
The article uses materials ofbooksJ. . LEE Ready . WORLD WAR TWO. Nation by Nation. 1995.
Glory "Normandy-Neman" against the nonsense of the Schelman Siberian Division.We almost learned from children's years to the idea that France was a victim of Germany in World War II, that she was heroically fought with the Nazis since 1939, that the best sons of the French people went to the partisans and underground. Again, you can remember the "Fingering France" of General de Gaulle and the legendary airlock "Normandy-Neman" ...
Charles de Gaulle ( ookaboo.com.)
However, it would be naive to assume that in World War II, in which almost all of Europe fought against the USSR, France became an exception. Of course, you should not diminish the merits of Normandy-Neman and Fighting France, but long before the French pilots took the first fight, their compatriots, and in much larger quantities, they have long been fought on the Eastern Front. And they fought at the same time to shoulder not with Soviet, but with German soldiers. Moreover, many fought voluntarily.
Banner of Normandy-Neman Aviation (Ookaboo.com)
But how did the French be the French in the ranks of the Wehrmacht? Indeed, in any textbook history it is written that France was occupied by Germany in 1940, and many French later died, fighting for the independence of their homeland. So it is so, but not quite. At least no less, and even more French killed and captured, including the Soviet, fighting for the Third Reich. Some French who served in the ranks of the Wehrmacht were subsequently not ashamed even to write memoirs.
Take for example, one of the most famous works on this topic is "the last soldier of the Third Reich" (the original name is "forgotten soldier"). It would seem that only German could write a book with this name. Well, at worst, Austrian. But the fact is that the author of this book is French Sieker, who has described his "feats" at Stalingrad, on the Kursk arc, in battles for Poland and Eastern Prussia. This book is interesting, not even so much by the description of the fighting, how much the globility of Sayer. The most amazing, but even in 1943, he sacredly believed that France would come to war against the USSR, and did not find anything strange in this. And what was he wondering when and in his neighboring divisions, except Germans, there were many other Europeans - Chekhov, Belgians, Poles, Croats, etc.? Not to mention Italians, Romanov and Hungarians who had their own "national" army. The war on the Eastern Front was completely unequivocally perceived by Sayer (and not only them) as a campaign of the United Europe against Russia. What, in essence, fully corresponds to the truth.
Postage stamp with "Legion of French Volunteers" (Panzer4520.yuku.com)
Already in July 1941, the "Legion of French Volunteers" (LVF) began to be created in France, and in November 1941, under the village of Borodino, as in 1812, the Russians and the French were held in battle - the 32nd Division of Colonel V.Poloshin and 638th French infantry regiment. In 1942, LVF, which had suffered heavy losses in battles with the Park parts, was assigned to re-form, and then began punitive operations in the occupied territory of the USSR. After the difficult battles of the summer of 1944, the remnants of the LVF were transferred to the 8th assault brigade of the SS. But the largest "glory" of the French volunteers gained the 33rd Grenaderian Brigade of the SS (subsequently division) "Charleman". This combat couliance had a very motley composition - the former soldiers of the LVF and the 8th assault brigade, which fled from the onset of the Anglo-American troops of the Nazis accomplices, the declassed elements, which are incredible students, gendarmes and volunteers from the French colonies. The battle route of the division "Charleman" was short-lived, but bright. At the end of February 1945, the vermh vehicle command threw the French to bump in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Polish city of Charne, after which the division (or rather, what remained from it) was transferred to Berlin, where in May 1945 her fighting path ended. At the same time, according to the memoirs of the Germans, the French fought to the latter, defending Reichskancelying together with Danes and Norwegians from the SS division "Nordland".
Commander of the 32nd Red Banner Saratov Rifle Division Colonel Victor Polosukhin
(kz44.narod.ru)The exact number of fought in the ranks of the Vermochet French would not be able to name even the pedantic Germans, so it remains only to turn to the figures of French citizens who fed into the Soviet captivity - 23,136 people. Some part of the French fought for the third Reich of the French came pronounced to his compatriots and the Anglo-American troops in 1944-45, and even just returned home, as the above-mentioned Giyer, who managed to serve in the French army and even Take part in the 1946 Paris Parade.
Propaganda poster that calls the French to sign up to the SS Division
(WW2-CHARLEMAGNE-1945.webs.com)Despite the fact that the exact figures will never be named, it is possible to say with complete confidence that France took an active part in the Great Patriotic War. Not in the Second World War, where its role is very insignificant, namely in the Great Patriotic. After all, the French volunteers appeared in Russia in September 1941, and this is not counting those French, who, like Giaire, was called up to the Wehrmacht and from the very beginning participated in the campaign to the East. Of course, no one will forget the feat of French pilots from Normandy-Neman, but do not forget about other "feats" of the French - "brave" volunteers from the same SS division "Charleman", punishers from LVF and from other French Parts fighting with the Red Army. You can completely unequivocally assert that French citizens very actively helped Hitler to build a "new order", only everyone knows what the sad end was like the "endeavor" and his "builders".
Pilot Semen Siberian congratulates his French
Colleague Alber Littolf with another victory (Waralbum.ru/1627)Wolfgang Akunov
Oleg Cherkassy - in deep respect
"My favorite wife,
Sergey Krotov ".
(From the last letter of Sergey Mrelovka wife).
After the attack of the German Wehrmacht at the USSR in June 1941, in France, appeals to take part in the deadly struggle on French anti-communist, not only Germany in the east of Europe, were visible in France. On August 5, 1941, with the consent of the French government, the "Legion of French Volunteers vs. Bolshevism", also known as the "French Voluntary Legion against Bolshevism" or "French Anti-Bolshevitsky Voluntary Legion" (Legion Des Volontaires Francais Contre Le Bolchevisme), Sokr .: LVF. Enrolled in the ranks of the German Wehrmacht, this consisting exclusively from the French (or rather speaking from French citizens, including numerous Russian Beloamigrants, including civil war veterans 1917-1922. In Russia) the volunteer corps received in the version of the Wehrmacht Name "638 Shelf of the Ground Forces "(EAM.: INFANTERIEREGIMENT 638 DES Heeres).
Among the LVF volunteers, youth prevailed (in the form of an exception to the legion they took even 15-year-olds - see photo in the title of real military historical miniatures), but there were older people who had experienced the experience of the First World War (and some of the Civil War Experience 1918-1922 in Russia, French colonial wars in Syria and Morocco and even a short "strange war" of France with Germany 1939-1940).
French volunteers lvf wore the German army form of the gray-green "Feldgra". Their only difference from other soldiers of the German Wehrmacht was a smart shield with three vertical stripes of the Flowers of the French National (State) Flag - "Tricolor" (Blue, White and Red). The only military personnel of the French Voluntary Legion, who did not want to wear this stripe colors of the French Republic and the Bonapartist Empire, was the Deck of the Legion - Cardinal Montinor Count Jean Maole de Lupe, adhered to persistent royalist beliefs and hated French Republican blue-white-red flag no less than "sickly - Male "red flag of world communism. The prelated royalist managed to achieve the Supreme Command of the Wehrmacht (and later, after moving to the service in Waffen SS - from the main management of the SS) the right to carry a special stripe on the sleeve with the golden lilies of the French royal dynasties of capeting, Valua and Bourbon on the blue field. However, it was a special case.
Embed into the ranks of the German Wehrmacht, "Legion of French volunteers against Bolshevism" received the name "638th Infantry Regiment (French)". In November 1941, the regiment, referred to as the "tricolor regiment" (Franz.: Regiment Tricolore), as part of the 7th Infantry Division of the Wehrmacht, took part in the battle near Moscow. The author of these lines, being still a student, back in 1972, being sent for autumn agricultural work ("Labor semester", and in the surprise - "on potatoes") to the village of Vaulino, first heard from the local old-collective farmer about how In the forty-first, they had the French part of the German army, in which they served and ... Russians. One of the Russian officers of the French part of the German army, on the memoirs of an old man, pledged in his parents of his parents and often told them about his life in Tsarist Russia, "with the old mode." However, it is so, by the way ...
On March 3, 1943, a set of French volunteers began in the ranks of Waffen SS. It should be emphasized that (as before - the service in the German Wehrmacht) service in Waffen SS was completely officially authorized by the French special decree of the French government dated July 22, 1943. On September 18, 1943, the formation of the French volunteer regiment of the CC / 1 /, later scared to sizes began "French volunteer assault brigade SS." The participation of the I battalion of the French brigade of the SS in battles with the Soviet troops at the Salonian section of the Carpathian Front In August 1944, the French brigade was replenished with new volunteer contingents, including the staff of the German Wehrmacht "French Voluntary Legion" staff (included in the brigade August 10, 1944), as well as the French ranks of Waffen SS (served before this in the SS in an individual), the French volunteers of the German Navy (Crygsmarin "), the organization Todta (from), French police. After replenishing the French team of SS was reorganized in the 33rd Grenaderish Division of Waffen SS "Charleman" / 3 / (so it was officially called from February 10, 1945).
French Waffen SS volunteers wore a conventional field siesta. Their only difference was the collair of the French state (national) flag - "tricolor" (three vertical stripes - blue-white-red) on the left sleeve. Unlike the violated LVF volunteers, in the black "chapter" (that is, on a black vertical strip in the upper part of the coat of arms), the heraldic flap of the French SCS officers (we usually "in-residual", on the left sleeve - unlike the Wehrmacht volunteers who were carrying Its national shields on the right sleeve) in most cases (although not always) had the inscription "France" (France) made by white printed lites. On the Black Systems of the Schellemianevtsi, either the Sig Osovois, "Soviet", "Salt"), or the image of the "Salt" cross ", or the image" Sun (Celtic) Cross "(the cross, inscribed in the circle), is also white. The ranks of the SS Division "Charleman" who served earlier in the French police, wore a special sign on the buttercasters - "Sveta Saint John (Zhanna d" Ark) "in the frame of two oak leaves.
King of the German tribe of francs, mastered at the end of V c. p. R.Kh. Gallia's Roman province, Karl Great, in 800 g. He was crowned with the Pope of the Roman Crown of the Roman emperor and founded the so-called "sacred Roman Empire" (Sacrum Imperium Romanum), which covered the territory of later France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, parts of Italy and some other states of medieval Europe. Since Charlemagne in French Carolus Magnus) was considered a great sovereign (comparable to our Vladimir Red Sun) both in the German and French historical tradition, the Emblem of the SS "Charleman" (French No. 1) was represented by The heraldic shield, in the right half of which the German eagle was depicted, and in the left - three French lilies (this coat of arms was depicted on a portrait of Charles of the Great Brush of the German Artist of the Renaissance of the Renaissance of Albrecht Dürer) on the Hall of the coat of arms.
In February 1945, the division "Charleman" entered into battle with the units of the Red Army on the territory of the German region of Pomerania. Its parts fought with Soviet troops until the end of the war. The assault battalion of the SS "Charleman" to the last drop of blood defended Berlin. During the battles, Berlin were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of the French SS commander of the Assault Battalion of the 33rd Grenadier division of the SS "Charleman" (French No. 1) Hauptshurmführer Henri Fene (managed to beat eight tanks from the anti-tank grenade launcher), Untersturmfür Eugene Volos ( Also destroying eight tanks) and Obrasarfürer Francois Appoll (who had six tanks of the opponent). The total number of Soviet tanks destroyed in the battles for Berlin fighters of the Schelleman's assault battalion amounted to, according to one sources, 62, and according to others, "more than 60").
On May 8, 1945, after the signing of an act on the unconditional surrender of Hitler's Germany, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe German resort town of Bad Reichengal, there were without trial, on the orders of the French general lecturer, commander of the 2nd tank division "fighting (Degollevsky - V. A.) France, "Thirteen young French volunteers are shot from the" Herchee "/ 4 / (former Division of the SS" Charleman "). French volunteers Waffen SS (including one of our compatriot - Russian Waffen-Standandenununcher SS Sergey Krotov, the commander of the battery of anti-tank guns; He was not the only Russian in the ranks of French volunteers - the story kept the names of the Waffen-scarf SS Nikolay Shumilina, Veteran LVF and Commander 4th platform I battalion of the 58th Waffen-Grenadier regiment of SS "Charleman", Veteran LVF and commander of the 4th company of the assault battalion of the SS "Charleman" Waffen-Standardfürera SOC Sergey Protopopova, Alexey Pronon, Waffen-Wrasturmfürera SS Yevgeny Picarev, Waffen -UNTURMFYUREER SOC Nikolai Samosudov and others) / 5 /, fought mainly on the eastern front and not shedding the blood of their French fellow citizens, folding the weapon on the day of surrender, surrendered to the Americans, but were transferred to the warriors "Uncle Sam" the tightened division lecture (uniform, Like all the troops of General de Gaulle, in the American military form).
General Legaller, leaning on a stick, walked before the system of French SESS, after which he asked one of them: "And why is the German uniforms on you?". The answer of the prisoner of war never inferior to the question: "My general, and why is it on you an American uniform"?
As can be seen, the lecturers (not as an example of other French) absolutely lack of a sense of humor. Without assessing the Commission of the situation, the brave Degollevsky General immediately ordered to shoot not only a bold prisoner, but also twelve his arms comrades. The bodies were shot at the place of the execution were not buried within three days. The French military priest, who was present during the conversation and execution did not take care not only about the spiritual consolation of young men in front of the penalty, but also about them not only to Christian, but generally a little human burial. Finally, after three days, killed "burned in a ball earth" by order of the American military authorities.
The author of the book was able to visit Bad Reichengle. In the vicinity of the town, after a few years after the war, a modest memorial was installed in honor of the killed. To date, it was possible to establish names and surnames only 5 of these victims of the bloodthirsty French military justice. Here are these names:
Paul Briffo, Robert Dofa, Sergey (Serge) Krotov, Jean Robert, Raimon Paira, and eight unknown soldiers.
According to the memories of the executive force of the Armed Forces of the "Free France" of Ferrano, the convicts held themselves courageously.
True, before the shooting of Sergey Krotov passed nerves and he stated: "You do not have the right to shoot me! I am married! After all, I'm not even a Frenchman!" However, he took himself in his hands and kept courageously to the end, having time to shout before dying: "Long live France!" (Vive LA France!)
In the last letter of his wife Simone (his matters of his five children), Krotov wrote:
"My favorite wife,
i performed my duty, fighting with the Bolsheviks and bootiers. This morning I surrendered to Americans, French soldiers lead me to the execution. My dear wife, forgive me, take care that our children remember that their father was always fair and loved them very much. My dear wife, my dear Simon, kiss you from the bottom of my heart, I kiss my poor mother and children. Always believe in God and forgive evil, which we are unfairly caused. Goodbye,
Sergey Krotov. "
Soon after the execution of the burial site of "Challemianevtsev" was consecrated by Montinor Jean Count Maola De Lupe.
The surviving French volunteers Waffen SS were sentenced to the long term of imprisonment, and many - the death penalty for "betraying their homeland." Those who were lucky even less, fell victims of the discrepancies. Some veterans of "Chalmemanny" managed to redeem their guilt in front of the Motherland, fighting in the ranks of the French Foreign Legion against the national liberation movements of the former French colonies, in vain attempts to suppress the support of the countries of the victorious socialism, the international communist movement and all progressive humanity, the legitimate desire of the oppressed peoples of Indochina, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria will free themselves from French colonial domination.
Names are not forgotten - including Russian poets. The fate of French volunteers inspired, for example, our contemporary - Scald Evgeny Bobolovich on the Rondel "Charleman", which we give below:
Rondel Charlemman
Storm sweep "Charleman"
But above the mountains flying their glory.
Celtic Dubrava sings
About the fact that the fall in battle is not sorry
Behind the horizon and vertical.
Aryan sag harden lava ...
Storm sweep "Charleman"
But above the mountains flying their glory.
Christ with you comrades - stand up!
And the death of the path then only the beginning
But sorrow is easy as a bedspread ...
And hugged both ice sorrow
Storm sweep "Charleman"
Evgeny Bobolovich.
Glory "Normandy-Neman" against the nonsense of the Schelman Siberian Division
We almost learned from children's years to the idea that France was a victim of Germany in World War II, that she was heroically fought with the Nazis since 1939, that the best sons of the French people went to the partisans and underground. Again, you can remember the "Fingering France" of General de Gaulle and the legendary airlock "Normandy-Neman" ...
However, it would be naive to assume that in World War II, in which almost all of Europe fought against the USSR, France became an exception. Of course, you should not diminish the merits of Normandy-Neman and Fighting France, but long before the French pilots took the first fight, their compatriots, and in much larger quantities, they have long been fought on the Eastern Front. And they fought at the same time to shoulder not with Soviet, but with German soldiers. Moreover, many fought voluntarily.
Banner of Normandy-Neman Aviation (Ookaboo.com)
But how did the French be the French in the ranks of the Wehrmacht? Indeed, in any textbook history it is written that France was occupied by Germany in 1940, and many French later died, fighting for the independence of their homeland. So it is so, but not quite. At least no less, and even more French killed and captured, including the Soviet, fighting for the Third Reich. Some French who served in the ranks of the Wehrmacht were subsequently not ashamed even to write memoirs.
Take for example, one of the most famous works on this topic is "the last soldier of the Third Reich" (the original name is "forgotten soldier"). It would seem that only German could write a book with this name. Well, at worst, Austrian. But the fact is that the author of this book is French Sieker, who has described his "feats" at Stalingrad, on the Kursk arc, in battles for Poland and Eastern Prussia. This book is interesting, not even so much by the description of the fighting, how much the globility of Sayer. The most amazing, but even in 1943, he sacredly believed that France would come to war against the USSR, and did not find anything strange in this. And what was he wondering when and in his neighboring divisions, except Germans, there were many other Europeans - Chekhov, Belgians, Poles, Croats, etc.? Not to mention Italians, Romanov and Hungarians who had their own "national" army. The war on the Eastern Front was completely unequivocally perceived by Sayer (and not only them) as a campaign of the United Europe against Russia. What, in essence, fully corresponds to the truth.
Postage stamp with "Legion of French Volunteers" (Panzer4520.yuku.com)
Already in July 1941, the "Legion of French Volunteers" (LVF) began to be created in France, and in November 1941, under the village of Borodino, as in 1812, the Russians and the French were held in battle - the 32nd Division of Colonel V.Poloshin and 638th French infantry regiment. In 1942, LVF, which had suffered heavy losses in battles with the Park parts, was assigned to re-form, and then began punitive operations in the occupied territory of the USSR. After the difficult battles of the summer of 1944, the remnants of the LVF were transferred to the 8th assault brigade of the SS. But the largest "glory" of the French volunteers gained the 33rd Grenaderian Brigade of the SS (subsequently division) "Charleman". This combat couliance had a very motley composition - the former soldiers of the LVF and the 8th assault brigade, which fled from the onset of the Anglo-American troops of the Nazis accomplices, the declassed elements, which are incredible students, gendarmes and volunteers from the French colonies. The battle route of the division "Charleman" was short-lived, but bright. At the end of February 1945, the vermh vehicle command threw the French to bump in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Polish city of Charne, after which the division (or rather, what remained from it) was transferred to Berlin, where in May 1945 her fighting path ended. At the same time, according to the memoirs of the Germans, the French fought to the latter, defending Reichskancelying together with Danes and Norwegians from the SS division "Nordland".
Commander of the 32nd Red Banner Saratov Rifle Division Colonel Victor Polosukhin
(kz44.narod.ru)The exact number of fought in the ranks of the Vermochet French would not be able to name even the pedantic Germans, so it remains only to turn to the figures of French citizens who fed into the Soviet captivity - 23,136 people. Some part of the French fought for the third Reich of the French came pronounced to his compatriots and the Anglo-American troops in 1944-45, and even just returned home, as the above-mentioned Giyer, who managed to serve in the French army and even Take part in the 1946 Paris Parade.
Propaganda poster that calls the French to sign up to the SS Division
(WW2-CHARLEMAGNE-1945.webs.com)Despite the fact that the exact figures will never be named, it is possible to say with complete confidence that France took an active part in the Great Patriotic War. Not in the Second World War, where its role is very insignificant, namely in the Great Patriotic. After all, the French volunteers appeared in Russia in September 1941, and this is not counting those French, who, like Giaire, was called up to the Wehrmacht and from the very beginning participated in the campaign to the East. Of course, no one will forget the feat of French pilots from Normandy-Neman, but do not forget about other "feats" of the French - "brave" volunteers from the same SS division "Charleman", punishers from LVF and from other French Parts fighting with the Red Army. You can completely unequivocally assert that French citizens very actively helped Hitler to build a "new order", only everyone knows what the sad end was like the "endeavor" and his "builders".
Pilot Semen Siberian congratulates his French
colleague Alber Littolf with another victory (Waralbum.ru/1627)
