Charlemagne SS Division
8. Freiwillgen Sturmbrigade der SS FRANKREICH
Before incorporating the LVF into the Waffen-SS, individual Frenchmen of German heritage had successfully enlisted in SS formations. From the very start of the occupation, these men served under the "TOTENKOPF," "DAS REICH" and "WIKING" Divisions.
In July 1943, recruiting office was set up at 24 avenue du Recteur Poincare in Paris where some 1500 applications were received. University students were prominent among the volunteers.
By August 1943, 800 French candidates were drafted into the Waffen-SS and sent to a training camp at Sennheim in Alsace. In November 1943, 20 French Officers were sent to the SS training camp at Bad Tolz and 100 NCO's to SS school at Posen Treskau. The French volunteers received German Waffen-SS uniforms. In March 1944, 1538 Frenchmen along with trained Officers and NCO's were assembled as a complete formation at the Waffen-SS training camp located at Beneschau near Prague. On 30 June 1944, the unit was designated as the "8. Freiwilligen Sturmbrigade Frankreich." Other sources referred to the brigade number as 7th, nevertheless the French unit was commonly referred as the "SS Sturmbrigade Frankreich."
In July 1944, the Sturmbrigade was ordered to form an emergency battle group. The 1st battalion under the command of SS-Haupsturmführer Pierre Cance was selected for the Eastern Front. Henri Fenet was in charged of the 1st Company.
In early August the 1st battalion was sent to reinforce the battle group of the "18th SS Division HORST WESSEL." This division was engaged at Mielec in the bend of the Vistula Front.
These men fought with great courage, earning praise from the commander of the 18th SS Division, SS-Oberführer Trabandt. In that battle the French lost 7 Officers and 130 men killed with 661 wounded. A total of 58 2nd class Iron Crosses were awarded, (many posthumously).
They were pulled out of the frontline and sent to regroup at Schwarnegast near Danzig.
Meanwhile, the 2nd battalion was transferred to the Waffen-SS barracks in West Prussia, northeast of Konitz, where it was joined by survivors of the 1st battalion. In September 1944, the assault brigade, French Navy personnel and members of the LVF were united to form a Waffen-SS Grenadier-Brigade. By this date much of France had been liberated and hundreds of French collaborators were evacuated along with the retreating German Wehrmacht. Himmler managed to draft various groups of retreating Frenchmen in order to complete the new Waffen-SS division, the “33. Waffen Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne.”
SS French Picture
Never before seen SS propaganda picture showing the Vichy General Secretary Joseph Darnand who was granted an honorary commission as an SS-Obersturmführer, shown here visiting French SS volunteers of the 1st Regiment before departing to the Eastern Front.
33. Waffen Grenadier-Division der SS CHARLEMAGNE
This division was composed of 7340 men and was divided into two regiments. The 57th Regiment had former LVF and the 58th Regiment formed from SS Sturmbrigade and Milice personnel. The divisional commander was German SS-Brigadeführer Dr. Gustav Krukenberg, second in command former LVF, Edgar Puaud with the rank of Waffen-Oberführer. The division was placed at Wildflecken Depot station, about 40Kms away from Schweinfurt, Germany. Many Frenchmen were selected for special training and were dispatched to courses in remaining areas of the Reich. The division was provided with leftover German and Italian armament and provisions.
On 24 February 1945, two regiments of the division without divisional support were sent to the front lines near the railroad station in the village of Hammerstein.
The Division was attached to the German XVIII Gebirgs-Korps of the 2nd Army, commanded by General Houchbaum, which was part of Army Group Vistula in Pomerania. The Corps was tasked to defend a front line running from Landeck to Konitz, 45 Kms long. The Corps had already two Divisions defending the region, the German 32nd Infantry Pomeranian Division and the 15th Waffen-SS Latvian Division.
Meanwhile the Russians were already launching an offensive attack near Hammerstein-Neustettin Sector. The SS-French troops unaware what was going on went on the offensive but were immediately pull back towards Hammerstein from the Russian onslaught. Orders were immediately given to have the SS-French troops to assemble at Neustettin.
The Battle of Neustettin
By midday on the 26th February 1945, the bulk of the SS-French Division had reached Neustettin. Of the 4500 troops that formed the Division, 1000 of them including 15 officers were missing in action. Overall about 50 Russian tanks were destroyed and inflicted more then double of Russian casualties.
At Neustettin about thirty Iron Crosses were awarded.
This caused the French forces to re-organize in Neustettin with three small battle groups. By the 2nd of March 1945, the new organization consisted of the following battle groups, which consisted of two battalions:
The first group was referred as "Regiment of Marche," which had the best elements of men, under the command of Ostuf. Fenet.
The second group was mostly made up of ex-LVF and Miliciens under the command of Hstuf. Bassompierre.
The third group was a Reserve unit of two small battalion size groups placed under the command of Hstuf. Monneuse.
During the 3rd & 4th March 1945, these battle groups were surrounded. One battle group tried to escape under cover of the fog, unfortunately the fog cleared, and they were exposed to a murderous fire from the Russian artillery. Oberführer Puaud was among those missing. Another battle group, which was composed mostly of former miliciens thought that the Baltic ports were in enemy hands and attempted a fighting retreat westward. All were either killed or taken captive including Bassompierre. The third group was trapped in a pocket on the Baltic coast in Danzig. SS-Brigaderführer Krukenberg, received orders to evacuate his remaining troops via the German Navy. The remnants split into small groups and dispersed in all directions. During this withdrawal, the group of mostly LVF veterans engaged ex-German POWs of the "Seydlitz Division." This German Division fought on the Soviet side.
On the 10th March the French SS reached the Oder and crossing by pontoon bridge they broke the Soviet circle. In mid-March all that was left of the division regrouped at Neustrelitz. A regimental strength and a small battalion size of men were reorganized.
SS French Picture
Press photo showing two French SS men dug in an underground trench. The soldier manning the machine-gun looks like Henri Fenet. He would later fight defending Berlin earning him the Knight Cross.
In the background you can see another trench with some soldiers, one of them is wearing what seems to be a black fur cap. Notice the clear image of the soldier wearing a German issued "French SS" shield attached on the left sleeve of his SS uniform. The helmets are void of any insignia they seem well worn or smother with mud and dirt.
The Battle of Berlin
In Neustrelitz, Krukenberg received a telegram ordering him to reach Berlin with one battalion. He asked for volunteers, those who didn't want to continue fighting were absolved, one officer and 300 other ranks elected to call it quits.
In spite of fighting a loosing war 500 men volunteered. They eventually reached Neukolln, East Berlin. However, due to the very heavy Russian air attack 100 of them perished on their way.
In East Berlin the remaining 400 men were attached to the 11th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division Nordland. They fought with undeniable heroism and terrible losses, 30 Russian tanks were destroyed at the very beginning of the battle. Street fighting raged on, within a week it's strength had been reduced to 120 men. Every street and house was hotly contested by French SS men.
By 29 April, 60 more Russian tanks had been knockout. Such was the courage of the "CHARLEMAGNE" Division.
Three Frenchmen "Apolot" "Fenet" and "Vaulot" have received the Knights Cross to the Iron Cross during the Battle for Berlin.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 Frenchmen collaborated with the Germans during World War II.
It should be noted that Frenchmen from Alsace and Lorraine were drafted into the German Army. Alsace and Lorraine was annexed by Germany on August 1940.
SS French Shield
Official Waffen-SS French Tricolore Shield
In July 1944, the first official SS pattern French shield was introduced in the Neweklau training camp during the formation of the French SS-Sturmbrigade. This shield differed noticeably from the LVF counterpart because it only shows the national tricolore stripes on a black field. Interestingly upon receipt of the first French sleeve shields it was the German instructors who were first to sport them, whereas the Alsatian NCOs held out as long as possible. According to SS-FHA regulations the national shield was to be worn on the left sleeve directly under the SS sleeve eagle as shown in the example below.
SS French Shield
This is another SS official pattern variation noticeably similar to the LVF counterpart but with curved sides and the word "FRANCE" at the top. In spite of SS regulations most wore the shield on the forearm. It should be noted that privately made insignia was worn prior to its official introduction.
EKII and EKII Award Document to Frenchman in the Charlemagne Division
EKII Award Document
During January and early February 1945 the French SS Brigade was expanded into the "33. Waffen-Gren der SS Charlemagne." The defensive battles in Pomerania started on the 23 February 1945 with the Charlemagne Division refitting at Hammerstein Camp. On 8 March 1945, the remnants of the Division assembled in Jargelin North-west of Anklam. During that time Brigaderführer Krukenberg awards 16 EKII to French volunteers. The EKII Document was given to SS Rottenführer Andre Lamy. It is dated 15 March 1945 and handstamped with the Divisional Seal of the Charlemagne. The document also has the signature of SS-Brigadeführer Krukenberg who would later command the remaining remnants of the Nordland Division. Also shown is the original EKII awarded to the Charlemagne volunteer.
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Re: Who did more to help the Allies win WW2 Fance or Austrailia?
Originally Posted by Papewaio
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Then the UN will finally be totaly useless.
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