From the German occupation of Belgium in May 1940, Flemish recruits from northern Belgium – considered by the Nazis to be 'Germanic' – were accepted individually into Waffen-SS units. From Hitler's invasion of the USSR in June 1941, additional recruits from the French-speaking south (Wallonia) were drafted. Both communities formed volunteer 'Legions', to fight (according to Goebbels' propaganda machine) 'for European civilization against the Bolshevik threat'; these were a Flemish Legion in the Waffen-SS and a Walloon Legion in the German Army. Both served on the Russian Front in 1942-43; the Walloon Legion was then also transferred into the Waffen-SS, and the decorated Walloon officer Leon Degrelle became a publicized 'poster boy' for foreign SS volunteers. Both Legions were then redesignated as SS Assault Brigades, and thereafter saw extremely hard fighting in the Ukraine and on the Baltic front. In autumn 1944, their survivors were withdrawn from the front and incorporated into two new understrength SS Divisions, 27. 'Langemarck' and 28. 'Wallonien'.
This new account, featuring detailed colour plates of uniform and insignia, recounts the battle history of the French and Flemish-speaking Belgian SS, up to their final transformation into full divisions in the winter of 1944/45.
By:
Massimiliano Afiero
Illustrated by:
Ramiro Bujeiro
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 248mm,
Width: 184mm,
Weight: 170g
ISBN: 9781472844316
ISBN 10: 1472844319
Series: Men-at-Arms
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 03 August 2021
Audience:
General/trade
,
Professional and scholarly
,
ELT Advanced
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
INTRODUCTION Belgian fascist movements After German occupation LÉGION WALLONIE Formation and training Eastern Front, 1941–42 SS-STURMBRIGADE ‘WALLONIEN’, 1943–44 The Dnieper front, winter 1943/44 SS-FREIWILLIGEN LEGION FLANDERN Formation and training Order of battle, October 1941 Eastern Front, 1941–43 SS-FREIWILLIGEN STURMBRIGADE ‘LANGEMARCK’ Training and organization Order of battle, July 1943 The Ukrainian front The Estonian front Aftermath SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY PLATE COMMENTARIES INDEX
Massimiliano Afiero has been interested in military history since his youth, specializing in the history of Axis units during the Second World War and particularly in the Waffen-SS. He has contributed extensively to principal Italian-language history magazines including Seconda Guerra Mondiale, Volontari (Marvia Edizioni), and The European Volunteer (L'Assalto Edizioni) as well as many military history websites. He is one of the few Italian historical researchers to have personally interviewed many veterans of the Waffen-SS, publishing their previously unpublished stories. He has written numerous books dealing with foreign volunteers in the German armed forces during the Second World War.
