As political soldiers we face Moscow’s hordes: Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS

As political soldiers we face Moscow’s hordes: Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS PDF Author: Evertjan van Roekel
Publisher: Vernon Press
ISBN: 1648893341
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
During the Second World War, approximately 25,000 Dutchmen served within the ranks of the military branch of the German SS: the Waffen-SS. They volunteered to fight to secure the victory of Nazi Germany. These Dutch volunteers fought mainly on the Eastern Front, and to a lesser extent, within their own national borders. After the war, the Allied victors regarded them as part of a criminal organization and jointly responsible for the atrocious transgressions of the Nazi regime. In the Netherlands, these men were reviled, branded as traitors and became pariahs in their own country. Those who had devoted themselves to the Nazi regime caused so much grief to the Netherlands that they had to be held accountable. Despite their military achievements, their reputation was damaged forever. The Netherlands supplied the largest contingent of SS soldiers from the occupied North-western European territories. Who were these people? What led them to enlist, and what were the consequences of their choice? An important part of this study involves the autobiographical texts of nineteen Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS. These ego-documents recount their own immediate experiences and are mainly fragments from diaries, but there are also letters, individual notes, and memoirs. The ego-documents are placed within the larger historical context to provide an answer to the question of whether these men were only ideologically motivated and unconditional Nazi sympathizers, and for this, their criminal records are also researched. Among other topics, the book discusses their choice to enlist, their experiences at the front, and their involvement in genocide, providing a new perspective on the Eastern Front.

As political soldiers we face Moscow’s hordes: Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS

As political soldiers we face Moscow’s hordes: Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS PDF Author: Evertjan van Roekel
Publisher: Vernon Press
ISBN: 1648893341
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 396

Get Book

Book Description
During the Second World War, approximately 25,000 Dutchmen served within the ranks of the military branch of the German SS: the Waffen-SS. They volunteered to fight to secure the victory of Nazi Germany. These Dutch volunteers fought mainly on the Eastern Front, and to a lesser extent, within their own national borders. After the war, the Allied victors regarded them as part of a criminal organization and jointly responsible for the atrocious transgressions of the Nazi regime. In the Netherlands, these men were reviled, branded as traitors and became pariahs in their own country. Those who had devoted themselves to the Nazi regime caused so much grief to the Netherlands that they had to be held accountable. Despite their military achievements, their reputation was damaged forever. The Netherlands supplied the largest contingent of SS soldiers from the occupied North-western European territories. Who were these people? What led them to enlist, and what were the consequences of their choice? An important part of this study involves the autobiographical texts of nineteen Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS. These ego-documents recount their own immediate experiences and are mainly fragments from diaries, but there are also letters, individual notes, and memoirs. The ego-documents are placed within the larger historical context to provide an answer to the question of whether these men were only ideologically motivated and unconditional Nazi sympathizers, and for this, their criminal records are also researched. Among other topics, the book discusses their choice to enlist, their experiences at the front, and their involvement in genocide, providing a new perspective on the Eastern Front.

As Political Soldiers We Face Moscow's Hordes: Dutch Volunteers in the Waffen-SS

As Political Soldiers We Face Moscow's Hordes: Dutch Volunteers in the Waffen-SS PDF Author: Evertjan van Roekel
Publisher: Vernon Press
ISBN: 9781648893728
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
During the Second World War, approximately 25,000 Dutchmen served within the ranks of the military branch of the German SS: the Waffen-SS. They volunteered to fight to secure the victory of Nazi Germany. These Dutch volunteers fought mainly on the Eastern Front, and to a lesser extent, within their own national borders. After the war, the Allied victors regarded them as part of a criminal organization and jointly responsible for the atrocious transgressions of the Nazi regime. In the Netherlands, these men were reviled, branded as traitors and became pariahs in their own country. Those who had devoted themselves to the Nazi regime caused so much grief to the Netherlands that they had to be held accountable. Despite their military achievements, their reputation was damaged forever. The Netherlands supplied the largest contingent of SS soldiers from the occupied North-western European territories. Who were these people? What led them to enlist, and what were the consequences of their choice? An important part of this study involves the autobiographical texts of nineteen Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS. These ego-documents recount their own immediate experiences and are mainly fragments from diaries, but there are also letters, individual notes, and memoirs. The ego-documents are placed within the larger historical context to provide an answer to the question of whether these men were only ideologically motivated and unconditional Nazi sympathizers, and for this, their criminal records are also researched. Among other topics, the book discusses their choice to enlist, their experiences at the front, and their involvement in genocide, providing a new perspective on the Eastern Front.

From Leningrad to Berlin

From Leningrad to Berlin PDF Author: Perry Pierik
Publisher: Aspekt, the Netherlands
ISBN:
Category : Dutch
Languages : nl
Pages : 296

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Book Description
In February 1945 the German front at Stettin made one final offensive. What make this extraordinary is the fact that the last desperate push was mounted by non-German volunteers serving in the Waffen-SS. The main body of the division was composed of Scandinavian volunteers, Belgians and Dutchmen. This text presents a history of the Dutch volunteers of the Waffen-SS from 1941 to 1945.

From Leningrad to Berlin

From Leningrad to Berlin PDF Author: Perry Pierik
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789075323559
Category : World War, 1939-1945
Languages : en
Pages : 287

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Book Description
The history of Dutch volunteers in the Waffen-SS forms a dark and, up until now, unwritten page in Dutch history.16th February 1945. The Red Army has reached the river Oder; the capital of Nazi Germany is in sight. The final military operations seem to be merely routine when suddenly, without any artillery warning, the German front at Stettin moves forward. At first, the German offensive makes some headway but at Arnswalde and Reetz it grinds to a halt.It is not just the small scale of this last desperate offensive that makes its efforts remarkable. What is perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that it was mounted by non-German volunteers serving in the Waffen-SS. These non-German soldiers made one last desperate attempt to save the front at Berlin.From Leningrad to Berlin focuses on the political and military history of the legion, brigade, and division know as "Nederland." Barely a thousand soldiers strong the Dutch Waffen-SS division at Reetz mounted its final offensive but, to no avail, because exactly two months later, on 16th April, the unprecedented drumfire of 1.2 million grenades rang out. The Red Army opened its attack on Berlin. The division "Nederland" was forced to await its downfall.

Joining Hitler's Crusade

Joining Hitler's Crusade PDF Author: David Stahel
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316510344
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 457

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Book Description
A ground-breaking study that looks at why European nations sent troops to take part in Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union.

Building a Nazi Europe

Building a Nazi Europe PDF Author: Martin R. Gutmann
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316608948
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
A compelling account of the men who worked and fought for Nazi terror organization, the SS, during the Second World War.

The Soviet Partisan Movement, 1941-1944

The Soviet Partisan Movement, 1941-1944 PDF Author: Edgar M. Howell
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1782896171
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
The purpose of this text is to provide the Army with a factual account of the organization and operations of the Soviet resistance movement behind the German forces on the Eastern Front during World War II. This movement offers a particularly valuable case study, for it can be viewed both in relation to the German occupation in the Soviet Union and to the offensive and defensive operations of the Wehrmacht and the Red Army. The scope of the study includes an over-all picture of a quasi-military organization in relation to a larger conflict between two regular armies. It is not a study in partisan tactics, nor is it intended to be. German measures taken to combat the partisan movement are sketched in, but the story in large part remains that of an organization and how it operated. The German planning for the invasion of Russia is treated at some length because many of the circumstances which favored the rise and development of the movement had their bases in errors the Germans made in their initial planning. The operations of the Wehrmacht and the Red Army are likewise described in considerable detail as the backdrop against which the operations of the partisan units are projected. Because of the lack of reliable Soviet sources, the story has been told much as the Germans recorded it. German documents written during the course of World War II constitute the principal sources, but many survivors who had experience in Russia have made important contributions based upon their personal experience.

Soldiers of Destruction

Soldiers of Destruction PDF Author: Charles Sydnor
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 9780691008530
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 400

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Book Description
Surveys the emergence of the Nazi SS and its Death's Head Division, noting the impact of this elite and powerful army upon military history.

Finland's Holocaust

Finland's Holocaust PDF Author: S. Muir
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1137302658
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 281

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Book Description
Finland's Holocaust considers antisemitism and the figure of the Holocaust in today's Finland. Taking up a range of issues - from cultural history, folklore, and sports, to the interpretation of military and national history - this collection examines how the writing of history has engaged and evaded the figure of the Holocaust.

KL

KL PDF Author: Nikolaus Wachsmann
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 0374118256
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 881

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Book Description
Presents an integrated account of the Nazi concentration camps from their inception in 1933 through their demise in the spring of 1945.