SS-Freiwilligen-Legion Flandern

Lineage

  • SS-Freiwilligen-Standarte “Nordwest”
  • SS-Freiwilligen-Verband Flandern (Landesverband Flandern)
  • SS-Bataillon Flandern
  • SS-Freiwilligen-Legion Flandern

History

In April and May, 1941, Flemish volunteers arrived in Hamburg, Germany.They had signed up to serve in the SS-Standarte “Nordwest”, and wereincorporated in the 1, 6 and 8 Flemish companies. After a short basictraining, they went to Radom, Poland, and then to Debica for furthertraining.

Formed in July 1941 in Radom, it was also known as the SS-FreiwilligenVerband Flandern and as the Flandern Bataillon. It later became a fullregiment known as the SS-Freiwilligen Verband Nordwest, which, in turn,became two battalions of the Freiwilligen Standarte Nordwest.

In September, 1941, it became the independent SS-Freiwilligen Legion Flandern,standing as a reinforced infantry battalion with five motorized companies.

On November 10th, 1941, the Legion marched to the front near the regionof Nowgorod. It then had 1112 soldiers, 950 of them were Flemish, and ofthe 950, 14 were Flemish officers.

In May 1943 it was formed into the SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade”Langemarck”

The following is a brief overview of the Legions Kriegstagebuch (WarRecord). An extremely detailed listing of the Legions Kriegstagebuchwill follow this listing.

Battles in the Wolchow-region:
11.41 – 12.7.41:Attacks an Tischwin and Wolchowstroy,with fighting’s in Tischwin.
11.41 – 12.27.41:Retreating to the Wolchow-river.
12.25.41 – 12.27.41:Defense Fighting along the Wolchow-river
1.13.42 – 5.21.42:Repulsing the Russian Wolcho-offensive (Russian Reliefe of Leningrad)
1.13.42 – 2.27.42:Phase 1, defending the frontline.
2.28.42 – 5.21.42:Phase 2, closing the encirclement.
5.22.42 – 6.27.42:Phase 3, destroying the enemy in theWolchow-region.

Trench fighting at Leningrad
8.27.42 – 9.3.42:First counter attack south of the Ladoga-see
1.12.43 – 3.31.43:Second counter attack south of the Ladoga Sea.South of Kolpino and at the surrounding of Pogostschje.

At this point the legion leaves the front and travels to Debica andMilowitz, to be reformed to the SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade”Langemarck”.

Kriegstagebuch of the 1.Kompanie/Legion Flandern
11.18.41 – 12.15.41In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia, Sydorowo,together withthe rest of the legion.
11.24.41 – 12.6.41Protection and flank defence at the railroad from Mga to Kirischi atMaluska – Baracky – Pogostje, and south of the Maluska swamps. Reconnaissanceactions in theregion of Gatika, Goroschewez, Babino, together with the rest of theLegion. This action was also called “Klein einsatz”. In this periodthe Legion was a part of the 2.SS-Infanterie-Brigade(mot).First Flemish volunteer, Frans Coulombier, was awarded the E.K.2.kl.during this time.
12.18.41 – 2.2.42At rest west of Riga.
2.17.42 – 2.24.42Attack on Ossiya under command of Inf.Rgt.426 from the 126Inf.Div.
2.24.42 – 3.1.42Building a defence line at Ossiya.
3.2.42 – 2.9.42Major attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy, together with the 3./Komp., 4./Komp.and 5./Komp.
3.3.42Attacking the flank from the Russian defence positions at Zimtitzy.Together withthe 3./Komp. (Sturmgruppe Vieweger)
3.7.42Pushing forward along the road to Zimtitzy.
Together with the 4./Komp.and 5./Komp.of the Legion, and the 2./Komp. from Inf.Rgt.422.
3.8.42Taking of the town Zimtitzy, and starting to defend it, together with therest of the Legion, minus the 2.Komp.
3.9.42 – 3.16.42The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve for theXXVIII.Armeekorps, inChechulino.
from 3.12.42The Legion is now under command of the 58.Inf.Div..
From here the Legion fights as a closed unit, so the Kriegstagebuchmentions the Legionas a whole, and no other information on this kompanie is found.

Kriegstagebuch of the 2.Kompanie/Legion Flandern
11.18.41 – 12.15.41In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia,Sydorowo, togetherwith the rest of the legion.
11.24.41 – 12.6.41Protection and flank defence at the railroad from Mga to Kirischi atMaluksa – Baracky – Pogostje, and south of the Maluska swamps. Reconnaissanceactions in the region of Gatika, Goroschewez, Babino, together with therest ofthe Legion. This action was also called Klein einsatz.In this period the Legion was a part of the 2.SS-Inf.Brig.(mot).FirstFlemish volunteer, Frans Coulombier, is awarded the E.K.2.kl. at thistime
12.18.41 – 1.9.42At rest west of Riga, together with the 4./Komp.
1.9.42 – 1.17.42Marching back to the front, together with the 4./Komp.
1.19.42 – 2.5.42Attacking Krutik and Koptzy, fighting east of Koptzy.
2.5.42 – 2.14.42At rest at Podberezey.
2.15.42 – 2.20.42Defending Lyubtsy (under command of Ustuf. Müller)
Helping the3./Komp. to force a breaktrhough at Sapolje.
2.20.42 – 2.27.42Moving from Zimtitzy to Krutik, together with the 3./Komp. and5./Komp., todefend Krutik.
2.27.42 – 3.1.42At rest at Podborerzey, together with the 3./Komp., 4./Komp. and5./Komp.
3.2.42 – 3.7.42Stays in reserve for the attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy.
3.7.42Pushing forward through the woods at Zimtitzy, together with the3./Komp.
3.9.42 – 3.16.42The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve for theXXVIII Armeekrps,in Chechulino.
From 3.12.42The Legion is now under command of the 58.Inf.Div..
From here the Legion fights as a single unit, so the Kriegstagebuchmentions the Legion as a whole, and no more seperate information is found.

Kriegstagebuch of the 3.Kompanie/Legion Flandern
11.18.41 – 12.15.41In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia,Sydorowo,together with the rest of the legion.
11.24.41 – 12.6.42Protection and flank defence at the railroad from Mga to Kirischi atMaluksa – Baracky – Pogostje, and south of the Maluska swamps. Reconnaissanceactions in the region of Gatika, Goroschewez, Babino, together with therestof the Legion. This action was also called Klein einsatz. Inthis period the Legion was as part of the 2.SS – Inf.Brig.(mot). Alsoduring thistime, the first Flemish volunteer, Frans Coulombier was awarded theE.K.2.kl.
12.18.41 – 1.30.42At rest west of Riga, together with the 5./Komp.
2.2.42 – 2.5.42Defence fighting in front of Zemtitzy, together with the 5./Komp.,under commandof the 422.Inf.Rgt.
2.5.42 – 2.15.42Defence fighting at Sapolje, together with the II andIII Batl./Inf.Rgt.424
(Under command of Oberst Hoppe)
2.9.42Forming of the Gefechtsgruppe Polsterer with the 4./Komp. andthe11.Komp./Inf.Rgt.424, in the eastern sector of Sapolje
2.15.42 – 2.20.42Breakthrough from Sapolje to Zemtitzy, along the roadLyubtsy – Zemtitzy. The breakthrough only succeeded after the help of the2./Komp.
2.20.42 – 2.27.42Moving from Zimtitzy to Krutik, together with the 2./Komp. and5./Komp., to defendKrutik.
2.27.42 – 3.1.42At rest at Podborerzey, together with the 2./Komp., 4./Komp. and5./Komp.
3.2.42 – 3.9.42Major attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy, together with the 1./Komp.,4./Komp. and 5./Komp.
3.3.42Attacking the flank from the Russian defence positions atZimtitzy.
Together with the 1./Komp. (Sturmgruppe Vieweger)
3.7.42Pushing forward through the woods at Zimtitzy, together with the2./Komp.
3.8.42Taking of the town Zimtitzy, and starting to defend it, together withthe rest of theLegion, minus the 2.Komp.
3.9.42 – 3.16.42The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve for theXXVIII.Armeekorps,in Chechulino.
From 3.12.42The Legion is now under command of the 58.Inf.Div..
From here the Legion fights as a close unit. So the Kriegstagebuchmentions the Legion as a whole, and no separative information isfound.

Kriegstagebuch of the 4.Kompanie/Legion Flandern
11.18.41 – 12.15.41In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia,Sydorowo, togetherwith the rest of the legion.
11.24.41 – 12.6.41Protection and flank defence at the railroad from Mga to Kirischi atMaluksa – Baracky – Pogostje, and south of the Maluska swamps. Reconnaissanceactions in the region of Gatika, Goroschewez, Babino, together with therestof the Legion. This action was also called Klein einsatz. Inthis period the Legion was a part of the 2.SS – Inf.Brig.(mot). Alsoat thistime, the first Flemish volunteer, Frans Coulombier, was awarded theE.K.2.kl.
12.18.41 – 1.9.42At rest west of Riga, together with the 2./Komp.
1.9.42 – 2.17.42Marching back to the front, together with the 2./Komp.
1.17.42 – 2.27.42Defence fighting in the region of Sapolje
2.2.42 – 2.27.42Defence fighting in Koptzy (Under command of Ustuf. De Wilde)
2.9.42Forming of the Gefechtsgruppe Polsterer with the 3./Komp. andthe 11.Komp./Inf.Rgt.424, in the eastern sector of Sapolje
2.14.42 – 2.19.42Defence fighting at Tyutitzy, with Inf.Rgt.424.
2.19.42 – 2.27.42Fighting at Krutik.
2.27.42 – 3.1.42At rest at Podborerzey, together with the 2./Komp., 3./Komp. and5./Komp.
3.2.42 – 3.9.42Major attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy, together with the 1./Komp.,3./Komp. and 5./Komp.
3.7.42Pushing forward along the road to Zimtitzy.
Together with the1./Komp. and 5./Komp.of the Legion, and the 2./Komp. from Inf.Rgt.422.
3.8.42Taking of the town Zimtitzy, and starting to defend it, together withthe restof the Legion, minus the 2.Komp.
3.9.42 – 3.16.42The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve forthe XXVIII.Armeekorps, in Chechulino.
From 3.12.42The Legion is now under command of the 58.Inf.Div..
From here the Legion fights as a single unit, so the Kriegstagebuchmentions theLegion as a whole, and no other information is found.

Organization

Freiwilligen Verband FlandernField Post Numbers
Stab
  1.Kompanie
  2.Kompanie
  3.Kompanie
F.-P.-Nr 44853
F.-P.-Nr 44853
F.-P.-Nr 44853
F.-P.-Nr 44853

Freiwilligen Legion FlandernField Post Numbers
Stab
  Stab Kompanie
    1.Schutzen-Kompanie
    2.Schutzen-Kompanie
    3.Schutzen-Kompanie
4.schwere Granatwerfer-Kompanie
5.Panzerjäger-Kompanie
F.P.-Nr 44853A
F.P.-Nr 44853A
F.P.-Nr 44853B
F.P.-Nr 44853C
F.P.-Nr 44853D
F.P.-Nr 44853E
F.P.-Nr 44853F

Commanders

April 1941 – July 1941: SS-Standartenführer Reich(Nordwest)
July 1941 – April 1942: SS-Sturmbannführer Lippert
April 1942 – June 1942: SS-Standartenführer vonLettow-Vorbeck (Represented by SS-HauptsturmführerHallmann)
June 1942 – July 1942: SS-Obersturmbannführer Fitzhum
July 1942 – May 1945: SS-Obersturmbannführer Schellong

Staff of the Legion on 10 November 1941

    Commander Stubaf. Lippert
    Adjutant Ustuf. Steffen
    Ordannance officer Stubaf. Bohez
    Intentant Ostuf. Seipold
    Medic Ostuf. Dr. Prix
    Medic aid Ostuf. Michel
    Paymaster Hscha. Odoj
    Dentist Ustuf. Hepburn

Commanders 1.Komp./SS-Freiw.Legion Flandern

    Ostuf. Nussbaum
    Ostuf. Van der Smissen
    Ostuf. Deicke
    Ustuf. Lagast
    Ustuf. Harder
    Ustuf. Mahrenholz.

Commanders 2.Komp./SS-Freiw.Legion Flandern

    Ustuf. Breymann
    Ustuf. Vieweger
    Ustuf. Müller
    Ustuf. Hoffmann
    Ustuf. Breymann
    Ustuf. Ritzau
    Ustuf. Marteson
    Ustuf. Delbaere
    Ustuf. Ritzau
    Ustuf. Tupuchies

Commanders 3.Komp./SS-Freiw.Legion Flandern

    Ustuf. Moyen
    Ustuf. Kühlbach
    Ustuf. Kahrl
    Ustuf. Köhn
    Ustuf. Harder
    Ustuf. Kahrl
    Ustuf. Vogel

Commanders 4.Komp./SS-Freiw.Legion Flandern

    Ustuf. Neuhäuser
    Ustuf. Polsterer
    Ustuf. Weingärtner
    Ustuf. Moyen
    Ustuf. Delbaere
    Ustuf. Weingärtner

Commanders 5.Komp./SS-Freiw.Legion Flandern

    Ustuf. Weingärtner
    Ustuf. Dethier
    Ustuf. Fürst
    Ustuf. Dethier