Leningrad Sector: ϟϟ-Freiwilligen-Legion „Niederlande“

Knight's Cross holder Mooyman speaks to the press

SS Officer Candidate Gerardus Mooyman

         


     



Gerardus Mooyman from Apeldoorn in Netherlands was 19 years old when he volunteered for service in the Waffen-SS. Like many other Germanic volunteers, he started his career in SS-Freiwilligen-Standarte Nordwest, a unit consisted of volunteers from Flanders, Netherlands and other Germanic countries. After completing training for SS-Panzerjäger, he transferred to the Dutch SS-Freiwilligen-Legion-Niederlande, redesignated 4.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Brigade Nederland in October 1943. During the Soviet offensive in the Leningrad sector in January 1943, the then SS-Sturmmann Mooyman, knocked out four T-34s and blocked a local Soviet advance. Shortly thereafter he was promoted to SS-Rottenführer. Another Soviet offensive came one morning in February 1943, during which Mooyman annihilated another seven T-34s. During this engagement his SS-Geschützführer was killed, requiring Mooyman to perform his duties as well. That very afternoon came another attack during which Mooyman's skill continued, allowing him to score another six Soviet tanks. For his contribution to halting the Soviet offensive, Gerardes Mooyman became the first first non-German to be awarded the Knight's Cross (February 20 1943). By the end of his service on the front he was credited with destroying 23 Soviet tanks and rose to the rank of SS-Untersturmführer. He was arrested after the war ended at Bodegraven in March 1946, put on trial in 1947 and charged with active military collaboration for his service in the Waffen-SS. Knight's Cross holder Mooyman was sentenced to six years in prison. Gerardus Mooyman died aged 63 in a car accident in Anloo in Drenthe on 21 June 1987. Credit: The Last Knight of Flanders. Left image: Mooyman in connection with the award of the Knight's Cross in February 1943. PD. Right image: Mooyman as an Officer Candidate in June 1944. Photo by SS-Kriegsberichter Erich Fabiger who covered the III. (germanisches) SS-Panzerkorps at Narva. Credit: Matthias Ruf. U.S. NARA. Fair use.