The Axis forces 2

by Massimiliano Afiero

  Editorial

  Here we are finally with the second issue of our new magazine. We would like to remind everyone that for the time being our publication will appear on a quarterly basis which means that our next issue, barring any unforeseen problems, will appear in early July 2017. We would like to take the opportunity to thank of our readers who have been a part of this new editorial adventure and to thank all of our many and ever increasing number of contributors who, from around the world, are lending a hand to further our project of military historical research relating to Axis formations of the Second World War. In this issue, I hope that you will find the articles and subjects to be of interest, and as always we invite you to suggest new subjects that you would like to see covered in forthcoming issues. Warm greetings to everyone and so long until the next issue.

  Massimiliano Afiero

  The publication of The Axis Forces deals exclusively with subjects of a historical military nature and is not intended to promote any type of political ideology either present or past, as it also does not seek to exalt any type of political regime of the past century or any form of racism.

  Contents

  The Flemish Legion

  Felix Steiner and the European Volunteers

  The Wiking and the battles in the Izyum area, July 1943

  SS-Unterscharführer Max Rudolf Pesarra

  The Italian SS Legion

  Foreign Volunteer Legion Military Award & Insignia

  Colophon

  The Flemish Legion

  by Antonio Guerra

  In early July 1941, a Flemish legion was created that at first was named Verband Flandern, then Landesverband Flandern, then Bataillon Flandern, and finally Freiwilligen–Legion Flandern, intended for combat duty on the Eastern Front. For a certain period of time the legion and SS-Regiment ‘Nordwest’ had to coexist, and even until the end of August there were 850 Flemings within the regiment. The Nordwest was finally disbanded on 24 September 1941 and its Danish, Dutch and Flemish soldiers were then transferred to their respective national legions. The three companies that had Flemish volunteers were consolidated, forming the SS-Freiwilligen Verband Flandern, subordinate to the SS-Ostubaf. Michael Lippert.

  SS-Standartenführer Michael Lippert.

  At the same time, a heavy weapons company and a reserve company were formed. At the end of July, the first contingent of Flemish volunteers was transferred to the Debica training camp to complete its military preparations. The campaign to recruit volunteers was sponsored by the principal Flemish nationalist parties. The exception was Staf de Clerq, head of the V.N.V., who at least initially did not support the recruitment campaign. At all of the recruiting centers throughout Flanders a total of 1,200 volunteers joined up, most of whom came from the nationalist movements, but after the stringent medical exams conducted by the meticulous German doctors, only 405 of them were accepted into the Legion.

  Formation and training

  In order to officially sanction the creation of the Legion, on 6 August 1941, a great ceremony was organized in Brussels; the reviewing stand was draped with large banners exalting the brotherhood between the Flemish and German peoples, and paying tribute to the fight against Bolshevism, while the 405 volunteers of the Legion along with an honor guard from the Nordwest regiment stood in front of the reviewing stand.

  The Flemish Legion parading in Brussels.

  Immediately following the ceremony the new volunteers were accompanied to the railway station, applauded by a crowd of civilians, loaded aboard the train, and transferred to the training grounds at Debica in Poland, where they joined the rest of the Nordwest Regiment and the Dutch volunteers of the Dutch Legion; supervising the training was the commander of the Nordwest, SS-Standartenführer Otto Reich. The Flemish volunteers adapted with difficulty to the harsh training program imposed by the German instructors; discipline was iron, and the official language, as well as the training personnel, were German. In fact, aside from the patch with the lion of Flanders sewn on the left shoulder, there was nothing else Flemish in the Legion!

  SS-Staf. Otto Reich.

  Most days for the new recruits began at five in the morning and ended late in the evening; much time was dedicated to sports activities, in the perfect style of Waffen SS training. Selectees for specialist training (engineers, artillerymen, communications specialists, etc.) were sent to various training schools; a group of Flemish volunteers was sent to Breslau to the Engineer School, while another group was sent to the Signals School in Nuremberg.

  Waffen-SS volunteers training with an MG-34.

  The entire 4th Company was transferred to Hamburg for specialized training with heavy weapons. In an attempt to try to resolve problems of “settling in” of the volunteers, Staf de Clerq requested and was granted a meeting with Himmler. The Reichsführer-SS tried to resolve the delicate situation, increasing the number of Flemish officers and NCOs in the unit and guaranteeing the equivalency of ranks between the Belgian Army and the legion. Finally, he ordered the German personnel to learn Flemish culture and customs, in order to be able to behave better with their “students”.

  Staf de Clerq reviewing volunteers of the Zwarte Brigade.

  In August 1941, several hundred of the students, including Reimond Tollenaere, the former deputy and head of the Zwarte Brigade of the VNV, joined the Legion. Along with him were Jef François, of the Flemish Militant Order, Paul Suys, of Rex-Flanders, the Flemish branch of the movement headed by Degrelle, and René Lagrou, head of the Germanic SS in Flanders. Along with other former officers of the Belgian Army, they were all awarded the rank of SS-Unterstrmführer. During that period the Legion, still under command of SS-Ostubaf. Michael Lippert, was directly subordinate to the SS-FHA.

  Flemish volunteers training, autumn 1941.

  Transfer to East Prussia

  On 3 September 1941, the Flemish volunteers were transferred to the camp at Arys in East Prussia for the final phase of their training. There, a few days later, another 150 new volunteers arrived, coming from the 13. and 14. Kompanie of the disbanded Nordwest Regiment, and which formed the 5. Kompanie of the Legion consisting of two anti-tank platoons and one mortar platoon. The Dutch volunteer Legion was also transferred to the camp at Arys to continue joint training with the Flandern, also under command of SS-Standartenführer Otto Reich. On 24 September 1941, the order arrived from SS headquarters in Berlin for the unit’s official designation, which had become a reinforced motorized infantry battalion: the SS-Freiwilligen Legion Flandern. The Flemish unit was thus elevated to SS status.

  Flemish volunteers training, Autumn 1941.

  The Flemish volunteers were allowed to wear the twin-rune SS insignia, although many of the troops coming from the former Nordwest preferred to wear the Trifos as a badge of distinction on their uniform. The SS-Freiwilligen Legion Flandern was organized as a reinforced infantry battalion with five motorized companies with a total strength of 1,112 men: (25 officers (of whom 14 were Flemish), 78 NCOs (one of whom Flemish), and 1,009 soldiers (935 Flemish).

  Flemish volunteers training with an MG-34, Autumn 1941.

  On 13 October 1941, the Flemish volunteers swore an oath to Adolf Hitler, as supreme commander of the German armed forces, but as established by the agreement, “…only in the fight against Bolshevism”. In the spring of 1941, the order of battle of the Flemish Legion was as follows:

  Training with a Mortar, Autumn 1941.

  Commander: SS-Ostubaf. Michael Lippert

  Adjutant: SS-Ustuf. Günther Steffen

  Aide: SS-Stubaf. Urbain Bohez

  Logistics Officer (Ib): SS-Ostuf. René van Eyndhoven

  Intelligence Officer (Ic): SS-Ostuf. Albert Seipold

  Medical Officer (IVb): SS-Ostuf. Adalbert
Dr Prix

  Medical Assistant: SS-Ostuf. Dr. Michel

  Dentist (IVd): SS-Ustuf. Herbert Hepburn

  Stabs-Kompanie: SS-Ustuf. Steffen, 103 men

  1.Schützen Kompanie: SS-Ostuf. Peter Nussbaum, 220 men

  2.Schützen Kompanie: SS-Ustuf. Helmut Breymann, 218 men

  3.Schützen Kompanie: SS-Ustuf. Hans Moyen, 219 men

  4.(Schwere) Kompanie: SS-Ustuf. Karl Neuhäuser, 223 men

  5.(Pak) Kompanie: SS-Ustuf. Karl Weingärtner, 159 men

  Flemish volunteers being instructed in the use of Mauser KAR 98K rifles, Autumn 1941.

  The three rifle companies consisted of three rifle platoons and a heavy weapons platoon. Each heavy weapons platoon had two heavy machine guns plus a section of light mortars. The 4th “heavy weapons” company consisted of three platoons of heavy machine guns and a heavy mortar platoon. The 5th anti-tank company had two Pak platoons, each equipped with three 37 mm anti-tank guns and a heavy mortar platoon.

  On 27 October 1941, the unit was inspected by SS-Brigdf. Kurt Knoblauch, chief of staff of Kommandostab Reichsführer-SS, who soon after reported to Himmler that the Flemish legion was ready for employment at the front. On 6 November 1941, the unit received its orders for transfer to the Eastern Front, in the Leningrad area, more specifically, in the Tossno sector. The Flemish Legion was to be subordinate to the 2.SS-Infanterie.Brigade, commanded by SS-Brigadeführer Gottfried Klingemann.

  The Eastern Front

  On 10 November 1941, the Flemish volunteers left the Arys training area in four motorized groups; they covered 180 miles on the first day and the Legion bivouacked in the area of Kreuzingen, near Tilsit. On 13 November, the leading elements of the unit penetrated into Soviet territory and reached Pskov. The following day, the Legion reached Rozhdestwjenno, marching through an area that was infested with partisans; the Feldgendarmerie had set up numerous checkpoints and at each one had to provide explanations and march orders because no one was aware of the arrival of this new unit of foreign volunteers on the Leningrad front.

  Flandern operational area, between 1941 and 1942.

  After having passed through Tosno along the Leningrad-Moscow railway line, on 17 November 1941, the Legion’s staff reported to the headquarters of 2.SS-Inf.Brigade at Chudovo near Tarasovo (Tarasowa). The Flemish volunteers suffered severely from the difficult weather conditions of the Eastern Front, characterized by polar temperatures.

  An SS soldier escorting a partisan captured in the rear area.

  The 1.Kp. and 2.Kp.occupied Andrijanowo, 3.Kp. in a nearby hamlet, while 4.Kp., 5.Kp. and the Legion staff were billeted in Tarasovo. The arrival of the Flemish Legion significantly strengthened the 2.SS-Inf.Brigade. In addition to the Flandern, at that time the SS Brigade also included two battalions of SS-Ing.Rgt.4, and the SS-Begleit–Bataillon ‘RF-SS’ under the command of SS-Hstuf. Massell, the SS-Flakabteilung Ost commanded by SS-Ostubaf. Karl Burk, and other minor units. At that time the SS Brigade comprised the mobile reserve of XXVII.Armee-Korps within the framework of the great German offensive against Leningrad and its units were employed mainly in the rear areas against partisan bands.

  Sleigh of the 2.SS-Infanterie-Brigade (Charles Trang Collection).

  First actions

  On 24 November 1941, the first Flemish Kampfgruppe consisting of a platoon from each of the companies of the Legion, commanded by SS-Ostuf. Peter Nussbaum, was engaged in combat. Flemish SS-Ustuf. Reimond Tollenaere, Jef François and Paul Suys were part of the detachment. At 0700 on 24 November, the Kompanie Nussbaum moved towards the front lines, taking up positions at Pogostije, Maluska, Bawatski and Olumno. Most of its sub-units were placed under command of the SS-Begleit –Bataillon ‘RF-SS’. The Flemish volunteers then moved to the area south of Tossno (Rublejewo), to provide protection for the railway line that linked the cities of Mga and Kirishi south of the Maulska swamps.

  A Flemish legionnaire, 1941.

  Positioned immediately behind the front lines, the Flemings found themselves fighting at the same time against both Red Army units and against partisan bands that roamed the rear areas. On 3 December 1941, Kompanie Nussbaum was relieved by another Flemish company, commanded by SS-Ustuf. Breymann; this included most of 2.Kompanie, and part of 3.Kompanie. The replacements took over the positions that had been occupied by the Kompanie Nussbaum. That same day a reconnaissance patrol led by SS-Ustuf. Hans Mojen was sent out to reconnoiter the dense forest in front of the Flemish positions.

  A German defensive position with a Pak, December 1941 (Hubert Kuberski).

  After having advanced into an area that was totally infested by partisan forces, the patrol fell into an ambush and was almost completely wiped out; at least six Flemish volunteers were killed, and another three were seriously wounded. On 4 December, several Soviet patrols attacked a column of Wehrmacht vehicles west of Olomno in an attempt to seize the supplies being transported. Units of the SS-Begleit –Bataillon ‘RF-SS’ as well as a company from Flandern then joined the action, pushing the enemy units back and inflicting heavy losses.

  A Soviet partisan unit during an attack, December 1941.

  The Flemings suffered only three wounded. On 6 December, the Heeres-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 563 replaced the Flemish volunteers in the area of Tarasovo and the 2.SS-Inf.Brigade handed over its positons to the 250.Inf.Div., the Division Azul (the Spanish Blue Division), consisting of Spanish volunteers, with the Flemings going to a rest area in Latvia. The Flandern Legion followed and was transferred to its winter quarters between Sabile and Kandava.

  A German defensive position on Leningrad front, December 1941.

  Also on 6 December, Flemish legionnaire Frans Coulombier was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class for having distinguished himself in defensive combat operations on 27 November 1941, during an attack carried out by partisan forces at Pyendikovo. This was the first ever German decoration awarded to the Flemish Legion.

  An MG-34 machine gun on heavy tripod, December 1941.

  The Soviet response

  On 9 December 1941, in the context of the surprise Soviet winter counteroffensive, enemy forces retook the position at Tikhvin, throwing the German forces to the other side of the Volchov River. With the arrival of the winter season and the sudden decrease in temperature, combat operations were scaled back drastically; the front lines thus became a series of strongpoints, where individual units fought in isolation, struggling mainly against hunger and the cold. All of the motor vehicles froze up, as did automatic weapons. In order to overcome the cold, the soldiers resorted to drinking brandy, rendering them continuously drunk and subject to attacks of dysentery. Beginning on 18 December, units of the 2.SS-Inf.Brigade began to displace to Latvia, in the area between Tuckum and Pleskau. The Flemish units also reached Latvia, in the area of Ape, beginning on 20 December. Until 31 December the companies were located as follows: staff and headquarters company in the sanatorium at Sabile, 1.Kp. at Sabile and 2., 3. and 5.Kp. at Kandava, while 4.Kp. was billeted at a large farm near Sabile.

  A German infantry unit on march, December 1941.

  On 1 January 1942, the commander of the 2.SS-Inf.Brigade, SS-Brigdf. Klingemann, called a conference of all units subordinate to him to discuss the military situation; the Soviets were attacking along the entire Eastern Front and it was necessary to send units immediately to the front line to strengthen the defenses on the Leningrad and Volchov fronts.

  A German defensive position.

  Two days later, SS-Ostubaf. Lippert formed a Kampfgruppe, under the command of SS-Ustuf. Breymann, consisting of 2.Kp and 4.Kp., with a total of 7 officers, 24 NCOs, 312 soldiers and about 40 trucks. Kampfguppe Breymann was attached to the SS-Begleit –Bataillon ‘RF-SS’.

  A PzKpfw.III with infantry aboard, in the Tikhvin sector.

  The Flemish Kampfgruppe gathered together at Sabile on 9 January 1941. From there, aboard trucks, the volunteers were transferred to Volmar, covering 220 kilometers over nightmarish roads. On 10 January, the Flemings reached To
rma in Estonia and on 12 January, after having crossed the Narwa River, reached Kingisepp. In the meantime, the temperature had fallen to less than forty degrees below zero Celsius. On 17 January, the Kampfgruppe reached the sector of Podbjerjezhje-Iwanovskoje.

  A German infantry unit on march, January 1942.

  The battle for Koptsy

  The Soviet forces had succeeded in penetrating the German defensive line in many points and the situation appeared critical: 4.Kp./Flandern had taken up positions at Tyerymeyts, a few hundred meters from Podbjerjezhje, alongside Spanish units of the Blue Division. On 18 January, Kampfgruppe Breymann received orders to prepare for an attack scheduled for the following day; the village of Koptsy and the road and section of railway line that passed through that sector had to be retaken. A tank from a German army unit was to support the attack. SS-Ustuf. Breymann planned the attack along with his platoon leaders; the three infantry platoons of 2.Kp./Flandern were to make a frontal attack, while the heavy weapons of 4.Zug of Ustuf. De Wilde were to provide supporting fire. At dawn on 19 January, German artillery began firing. Soviet artillery quickly responded to the fire; the Flemish volunteers attacked, in spite of the deep snow and the exchange of artillery fire.