FOREWORD

The period 1941–1942 marks a decisive and unexpected turning point in the way the Nazis looked upon the issue of “non Aryans” in their ranks. Previously these people were considered to be future slaves of the unified Europe after the German final victory.

The German soldier was idealised and was considered to be the best in his field after the annexation of Austria, the swift victory in Poland and the humiliation of Danish, Norwegian, Belgian, Dutch, French and British forces during the Blitzkrieg in the West

Yugoslavia and Greece were soon to be overrun and others were quick in joining the Germans as allies. 

Despite a certain reluctance towards Latin peoples, Hitler got along with Mussolini, he accepted a Spanish division of his friend Franco and he had plans to recruit French soldiers in a legion that had to fight at the Eastern Front. Hungarians, Bulgarians, Rumanians, Croatians and Slovakians all did their best at the Russian front, but none of them could match the fighting skills of the Prussian-formed German soldier. Only the Finnish, Norwegians, Danish, Dutch, Flemish and Walloons gained the respect and esteem of the Nazis, for these peoples had Germanic ancestors, a feature that in 1941-1942 was of big importance in the racial ideology that was considered to be the engine of Germany. 

Unfortunately these Germanic soldiers died by the numbers in Russia and the need for replacements was high. Bosnians, once Christians overrun by the Turks and converted into Muslims, were “discovered” as Illyrians making them almost Aryans. These faithful servants of the Austro-Hungarian Empire simply deserved to wear ss runes and swastikas on their uniforms and so replacements were found. 

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, the third most important personality of Islam in the world, could muster millions of Arabs to join the Wehrmacht. It was found out that he originated from Circassia and was related to a famous Caucasian princess. (Photo1) 

During their fierceful advance across the Soviet Union in 1941, the forces of the Wehrmacht captured about 3 million prisoners, among who were many Mongolians, Armenians and Asians who were considered to be sub-humans. The intention was to let them die in POW camps. (Photo2)

After the defeat of Stalingrad opinions changed: Mongolians were considered to be direct descendants of the great conqueror Genghis Khan, so they became the representatives themselves of the extraordinary fighters their ancestors were.

Caucasians became Turks, descendants of the same Turks that fought side-by-side with the Germans in WWI. One even made up history and stated that it were Georgians who “made” Turkey the country it was in those days. 

All these former sub-humans were ideal soldiers: they were strongly anti soviet and especially the Caucasians urged for independence. This encouraged Hitler and Himmler to swear that they would get independence as soon as the last battle had been won. So they promised prosperity, autonomy and richness after the final victory. 

So the quest for true “Aryans” continued. Indian soldiers were categorised as Aryans, be it wearing a turban and a beard. At the beginning Hitler laughed upon the idea of using these men as soldiers in the Wehrmacht. But eventually they did! (Photo3)

 At the beginning of 1943, after the defeat of the 6^th army at Stalingrad, the need for replacements was very high. The recruitment among Russian prisoners became ruder. Those who didn’t volunteer to swear an oath of fidelity to Hitler, risked their lives.

All these forced recruits could never be good soldiers and most of the time they performed secondary duties: drivers, waggoner, mason, stableman, lumberjack and cook. Of course this meant that German soldiers who previously performed these tasks, now could be send to the front. (Photo 4) 

About 25% of these volunteers, especially the Georgians, proved to be good soldiers. Several of the « Osttruppen » fought against the Russians at Stalingrad, supporting the German cause with their last bullets.

Other “allies” of the Third Reich however assassinated their officers just before rendering themselves to the enemy. This particular incident happened in July 1944 with Bosnian volunteers stationed in the Corrèze area near Carentan, Normandy.

 These last moment treasons were held for many reasons. Sometimes to obtain certain advantages or simply to show the Anglo-Americans that they weren’t “nazified” but mostly it was because of the bad treatment the Germans gave them. In spite of the fact that the German high command admitted that these “Osttruppen” were necessary and that they were to be treated on an equal basis, they were submitted to the laughter’s and mockeries of the ordinary German soldier or NCO.  

With these foreign troops one could have had over 1-½ million good soldiers, if only they had been commanded by cadres of their own in independent units. (Photo 5)

Instead of that, Hitler declared that these foreign battalions had to be incorporated in larger German regiments, with cadres and officers of the Wehrmacht.  

Professor Oberländer, in civil life teacher at the University of Königsberg and later Greifswald and Prague, originated the project of recruiting foreign soldiers. He became attaché of the Abwehr responsible for the peoples of occupied territories. In this function he managed to unify some Ukrainian nationalist movements and persuade them to combine forces against Stalin. In November 1941 he organised a unit under command of Lieutenant Taube that acted as a rear guard for the German 444^th security division. Georgians mainly populated this unit and they had to maintain order and discipline in the territory previously conquered by the 444^th division. Next to the Georgians there were other Caucasians, Armenians and even some soldiers of the Lazes tribe  

During their advance in the Northern Caucasus and after they planted the swastika flag on the summit of mount Elbrouz, the Germans encountered numerous mountain tribes. These tribes had fled to the mountains after the first Russian invasions in the XVIIIth century. They often were so isolated that their living conditions hadn’t progressed for the last 200 years.

One of the most renowned leaders of the Caucasian Muslim tribes was Emir Chamyl. He had resisted to the armies of the Tsar from 1809 till 1860. Even today he is praised.

Neither the Tsars nor the Soviets managed to submit these regions. So they send in renegades, Russian immigrants, loyal to communism and functionaries of doubtful reputation. Finally deported people were sent in as well. By the end of the century, the Russian language was commonly spoken, some progress was made: electricity, agricultural machinery and industry were installed. It was only then when the Germans came, that some of the tribesmen actually believed that the so desired independence was near. They made a terrible mistake!