The controversial SS-Kavallerie-Division was formed in 1942 and had a substantial proportion of its manpower involved in internal security operations and anti-partisan warfare in the rear behind the German front line. More than 40 percent of the division were Volksdeutsche from Romania and Serbia. It became caught up in an unusually cruel and merciless cycle of warfare characteristic of partisan activities. The results are often disturbing and sometimes inexcusable, but not unique to World War II or the German Military Forces. Previous to Operation Citadel a large campaign had been conducted by these forces to secure the supply lines to the front with the 8.SS-Kavallerie-Division as the major formation. Others were small East-European foreign volunteer units that were attached to Army Group Center. In September 1943 the division was moved to the Southern front where it took part in the German retreat to the Dnieper river, now having a military rather than police character. After having proved itself it was retitled 8.SS-Kavallerie-Division Florian Geyer in March 1944. Only about 800 men of the Florian Geyer and only some 170 conscripts of the
Hungarian Volksdeutsche
22.SS-Freiwilligen Kavallerie-Division (Maria Theresia) which was formed from the cadre of Florian Geyer
escaped the Siege of Budapest in February 1945. Credit: Waffen-SS Encyclopedia. Right image: according to German military historians Wolfgang Fleischer and Richard Eiermann, the pictured soldiers were ethnic Germans from Romania belonging to the 8.SS-Kavallerie-Division. Credit: Karl Mensburg. Commons: Bundesarchiv. Right image: cavalrymen of the 8.SS-Kavallerie-Division using anti-tank
Teller mines against Soviet T-34s near the Ukrainian Dnieper in late September 1943. Credit: Lex. Commons: Bundesarchiv.
Florian Geyer, originally a non elite unit for anti-partisan warfare in the rear areas of the German Army, was responsible for the killing of several thousands of the Soviet civilian population and armed guerrillas. The widespread atrocities and brutality committed by members of this unit during the early part of the war will forever stain the SS cavalryman's reputation. Mindaugas V.
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