During World War II, the Waffen-SS recruited significant numbers of non-Germans, both as volunteers and conscripts. Over 125,000 non-German West Europeans volunteered for the elite Waffen-SS. Enlistment rolls show that more than 60,000 men from the Germanic nations were accepted and fought with distinction within its ranks. Another 21,000 men from the Latin nations joined the Waffen-SS. It is obvious that these volunteers felt that they were justified in their fight. These men enlisted voluntarily for many different reasons. The majority of the Western European Volunteers were idealists, with a strong pan-European identity. The vast majority of the Eastern Europeans who joined the Waffen-SS did so primarily to defend their own homelands against Soviet occupation. Nearly 310,000 foreign volunteers from no less than 16 countries served in its ranks between 1940 and 1945. A total of 950,000 men (German and foreigners) fought in the multinational Waffen-SS at some point during World War II. Clips: Nordic volunteers at
SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz officer training centre. At SS-Schule Tölz the officers of the Waffen-SS were trained amid the majestic natural splendor of the Bavarian Alps. In the Waffen-SS the rule of a superior leading by example was binding and the officers were expected to lead from the front. Naturally this meant demanding and giving a higher degree of eagerness and willingness to see action and awareness of duty from every officer than from the men in the ranks. Die Deutsche Wochenschau - the official Nazi German war newsreel from 1940 till March 1945.
The comradeship remains unbroken.
ReplyDeleteFrom 1943 SS-JS Tölz produced more than 1000 highly motivated European officers from 12 different countries exclusive of Germany.
ReplyDeleteThat generation were truly badass. Just kids but they knew something had to be done. True heroes to their countries. I have been to Bad Tolz. It was where the U.S. Army had its 7th NCO Academy in the same building as the volunteers took their officer's training.
ReplyDeleteThese poor souls had no idea the ghastly evils war would bestow upon them.
ReplyDeleteIt must be said that these young men were exceptional in causing the Red Army some serious headaches. Their diaries show them racing from one hot-spot to another and many times they halted or even reversed enemy breakthroughs.
ReplyDeleteAll these brave souls. So many unsang heroes, doing what they felt they had to. God bless them all.
ReplyDeleteEuropean volunteers who were dedicated to fighting not only the Communist East but also the Anglo-Liberal West. Some would say they were great men of a great generation.
ReplyDeleteThey were certainly an incredible generation.
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