Private of the ROA (Vlasov's army),
1942-45
01 - Dutch field jacket with ROA collar tabs and shoulder straps,
Heeres eagle on the right breast
02 - M-40 trousers
03 - dog tag
04 - M-34 forage cap with ROA badge
05 - boots
06 - M-42 leggins
07 - German main belt with ammo pouches
08 - M-24 grenade
09 - M-31 canteen
10 - bayonet
11 - M-39 webbing
12 - M-35 helmet with camouflage net
13 - "Novoye Zhizn" magazine for the "Eastern" volunteers
14 - 7,62 mm Mosin 1891/30 rifle
Russia was far from a monolithic structure. It contained
numerous diverse ethnic groups, many of which had long histories of
resenting Russian suzerainty and domination. Combined with the long
standing hatred of Russia, the new Soviet regime was often even
more hated, even by the Russians, so when the Germans invaded,
their initial reception was often one of liberator than one of
conqueror. Deserters appeared in the hundreds before German units
offering their services in any capacity and they were taken in
gladly. They were given the names "Hilfsfreiwilliger" (Volunteer
Helpers) or Hiwis for short. Initially, their functions were the
various menial tasks such as cooking, digging latrines, officers'
batmen, etc., but more than once they jumped into combat roles when
the opportunity arose. Hundreds of the Hiwis were gradually sucked
into the role of combatant, despite the lack of orders and the
German ethnic attitudes of the period.
The 134th Infantry Division began openly enlisting Russians in
July 1941. Other divisions refrained from such overt violation of
Hitler's orders, but more than willingly took the Russians on an
unofficial basis. During the winter of 1941/42 the first Osttruppen
or Eastern Troops were formed. By early 1942 six battalions of
Ostruppen were formed in Army Group Center under Oberst von
Tresckow. These units were given territorial designations, like
Volga, Berezina, and Pripet. Initially they were used in the rear
on anti-partisan operations with the security divisions, but slowly
they were brought forward into the front lines.
In early 1942 racist elements of the German hierarchy brought
this to Hitler's attention. He responded to the movement by
prohibiting the use of Russian "sub humans" as soldiers and on
2/10/42 issued a Fuhrer Order that limited their use of those
existent units to rear area operations only. Despite his obvious
displeasure, the Osttruppen continued to expand. The OKH was to
authorize the use of Hiwis up to 10% to 15% of divisional strength
and by August 1942 official regulations were issued governing
uniforms pay, decoration, and insignia. By early 1943 an estimated
80,000 Russians were serving the Wehrmacht in Ostbataillonen.
The formation of Russian units in the German army would have
been quite limited had not the Soviet General Vlassov been captured
in July 1942. He had been a prominent general after the war
erupted, but in March 1942 he was ordered to liberate Leningrad
with the 2nd Soviet Assault Army. His attack failed and his army of
nine infantry divisions, six infantry brigades, and an armored
brigade were surrounded, abandoned by Stalin, and crushed, leaving
the Germans with 32,000 prisoners. Amongst the German High Command
there had always some hope of forming a Russian army to assist them
in the conquest of Soviet Russia. As time progressed, it became
apparent that Vlassov was the ideal man to form this army.
As the war progressed and the German effort in Russia began
failing, Hitler was eventually persuaded to permit the formation of
the army. The first steps occurred in August 1942 when General
Koestring formed an Inspectorate which was to organize Caucasian
troops. Koestring, however, ignored this limitation and took all
volunteers possible. When Koestring retired in January 1943 the
post of General der Ostruppen was created and given to General
Hellmich, who had no previous experience with the Russians.
Fortunately, Hellmich and Koestring's service overlapped and the
two men agreed on Koestring's earlier decisions.
The Osttruppen was absorbing not only Caucasians, but
Ukrainians, Russians, Azberjainis, and Turkistanis. In January 1944
Koestring, now apparently out of retirement, took over from
Hellmich with the new title General der Freiwilligen Verbaende
(General of Volunteer Units). In the meantime, Hitler had
authorized the formation of a Russian army under Vlassov. In
November 1942 a Russian National Committee was established in
Berlin with Vlassov serving as Chairman. It then issued the
Smolensk Manifesto, calling for the destruction of Stalinism, the
conclusion of an honorable peace with Germany, and Russian
participation in the "New Europe."
The German Army intelligence then proceeded to drop copies of
leaflets over the Russian lines, as well as a carefully planned
accident which resulted in their being dropped over German lines as
well. It appears that Hitler had forbidden any release of this in
the German press. During the winter of 1942/43, faced with the
destruction of the 6th Army in Stalingrad and Rommel's expulsion
from North Africa, Hitler began to reconsider the role he had
allocated to Vlassov's Russkaia Osvoboditelnaia Armiia or ROA.
The desertion rate from the Soviet army rose to 6,500 in July
1943, compared to 2,500 the previous year, as a result of ROA
propaganda and the future looked bright. However, in September 1943
Hitler announced that the ROA was to be dissolved. The German
generals pleaded with him, pointing out that the Russian front
would collapse, as there were currently 78 Ost battalions, 122
companies, one regiment and innumerable supply, security, and other
units then serving with the German army, not to mention the
thousands of Hiwis in the German units. Certainly there were
750,000 Russians then serving in the German army and some estimates
go so far as to suggest that 25% of the German army on the Russian
front was made up of ethnic Russians.
A screaming and raging Hitler was eventually brought to
compromise and only those units whose loyalty was suspect were to
be disbanded and the rest would be transferred to the West. This,
being left in Wehrmacht hands, the disbandings were limited to
5,000 men and serious procrastination prevented many transfers
westwards. However, by October 1943 large numbers of Ostruppen did
begin moving west. This was accomplished by exchanging Ost
Battalions for German battalions in the west. These Ost battalions
were then formally incorporated into the German divisions where
they were assigned.
The morale of the Osttruppen began to collapse. Vlassov was
persuaded to write them an open letter announcing these transfers
were only a temporary expediency and hinted at bigger and better
things. When the allies invaded Normandy they were startled to find
that many of their German prisoners were, in fact, Russians and
soon had 20,000 ROA prisoners in custody. Though Himmler refused to
believe Koestring's reports, at that time there were 100,000
eastern volunteers in the Luftwaffe and Navy and another 800,000 in
the German Army.
The continuing reversal of German military hopes was slowly
bringing even the SS around to reconsidering the desirability of
Russian troops. In the east the SS was, by late 1943, regularly
rounding up 15-20 year olds to serve as Flak helpers. There was
discussion of the creation of an Eastern Moslem SS Division and
several Slavic legions were forming in the SS. Himmler soon began
considering himself as the leader of the "Army of Europe" and began
taking any non-German human material he could find into his hands.
It was not long before he saw Vlassov's ROA as another force that
could be added.
Himmler approached Vlassov and proposed the formation of a
Committee for the Liberation of the Peoples of Russia (Komitet
Osvobozhdeniia Narodov Rossi or K.O.N.R.) It was to be allowed to
raise an army of five divisions, two of which were to be raised
immediately. The personnel would be drawn from the existing ROA
units and from among the Ostarbeiter then in Germany. The first two
units formed were placed under Vlassov's command on 1/28/45, the
600th and 650th Russian Divisions. In Neuren an airforce or air
division, was organized that consisted of an air transport
squadron, a reconnaissance squadron, a flak regiment, a paratrooper
battalion, and a flying training unit. This force of some 4,000 men
was assigned to General V.I. Maltsev. On 2/1/45 Goering formally
handed this division over to Vlassov's command.
By March 1945 the KONR numbered some 50,000 men. The Cossack
Cavalry Corps was promised to Vlassov by Himmler, as was the
Russian Guard Corps in Serbia, but in fact neither was ever placed
under his command. The KONR fought its first battle in February
1945 when a force of the 600th Division attacked in Pommerania and
its engagement was a complete success. Hundreds of Soviet soldiers
changed sides and joined it. In March it moved to the Oder front
and was ordered to attack the Soviet army near Frankfurt. However,
it was so pounded by the Soviets that it withdrew to the south and
back into Czechoslovakia. On 5/5/45 the Czech communists began a
revolt in Prague and Buniachenko ordered the 600th Division to
assist them. Their assistance was refused by the Czechs and, as the
war ended the next day, the division was taken prisoner by the
Americans. The 650th Division, except for one regiment, were
captured by the Russians and either executed or sent into the
Russian Gulag. Vlassov was snatched from American hands by the
Russians, suffered through a short show trial, and was quickly
executed along with the major leaders of the KONR.
599TH RUSSIAN BRIGADE: Formed in April 1945 in Aalborg, Denmark,
as part of the Liberation Russian Army under Vlassov. It
contained:
1/,2/,3/1604th Grenadier Regiment (from 714th (Russian)
Grenadier Regiment) 1/,2/,3/1605th Grenadier Regiment
1/,2/,3/1606th Grenadier Regiment
The division was intended to be expanded to form the 3rd Vlassov
Division.
600TH (RUSSIAN) INFANTRY DIVISION Formed on 12/1/44 as part of
the Russian Liberation Army under Vlassov with what was to have
become the 29th Waffen SS Grenadier Division (1st Russian). On
2/28/45 it contained:
1/,2/1601st Grenadier Regiment 1/,2/1602nd Grenadier Regiment
1/,2/1603rd Grenadier Regiment 1/,2/,3/,4/1600th Artillery Regiment
1600th Division Support Units
650TH (RUSSIAN) DIVISION Formed in March 1945 as part of
Vlassov's Russian Liberation Army. The division was organized with
prisoners of war and contained, on 4/5/45:
1/,2/1651st Grenadier Regiment 1/,2/1652nd Grenadier Regiment
1/,2/1653rd Grenadier Regiment 1/,2/,3/,4/1650th Artillery Regiment
1650th Divisional Support Units
The division was not fully formed and remained in Munsingen
until overrun. On 17 January 1945 the organization of the 650th
Infantry (Russian) Division was established as follows:
DIVISION STAFF: Division Staff (2 LMGs) 1650th (mot) Mapping
Detachment 1650th (mot) Military Police Detachment (3 LMGs)
1651ST INFANTRY REGIMENT: REGIMENTAL STAFF Staff Staff Company
(3 LMGs) 1 Signals Platoon 1 Engineer Platoon (6 LMGs) 1
Reconnaissance Platoon (3 LMGs) 1 Signals Platoon 2 BATTALIONS,
each with 3 Infantry Companies (9 LMGs ea) 1 Heavy Company (8 HMGs,
4 75mm infantry support guns, 1 LMG & 6 80mm mortars)
13TH INFANTRY SUPPORT COMPANY: (2 150mm leIG, 1 LMG, 8 120mm
mortars & 4 LMGs)
14TH PANZERJAGER COMPANY (54 Panzerschreck, 18 Reserve
Panzerschreck & 4 LMGs)
1652ND INFANTRY REGIMENT: same as 1651st 1653RD INFANTRY
REGIMENT: same as 1651st
1650TH (MOUNTED) RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION: 4 Squadrons, each
with (9 LMGs, 2 80mm mortars)
1650TH PANZERJAGER BATTALION: 1 Staff 1 (mot) Staff Company (1
LMG) 1st Company (12 75mm PAK & 12 LMGs) 2nd (armored) Company
14 Assault Guns (sturmgeschutz) & 16 LMGs Detachment captured
Russian tanks 3rd (mot) Flak Company (9 37mm Flak guns & 5
LMGs)
1650TH ARTILLERY BATTALION: 1 Staff 1 Staff Battery (1 LMG) 1ST,
2ND & 3RD BATTALIONS, each with: 1 Staff 1 Staff Battery (1
LMG) 2 105mm leFH Batteries (4 105mm leFH & 4 LMGs ea) 1 75mm
Battery (6-75mm guns & 3 LMGs) 4TH BATTALION: 1 Staff 1 Staff
Battery (1 LMG) 2 150mm sFH Batteries (6-150mm howitzers & 4
LMGs ea)
1650TH (BICYCLE) PIONEER BATTALION 2 (bicycle) Pioneer
Companies, each with: (2 HMGs, 9 LMGs, 6 flame throwers & 2
80mm mortars) 1 Pioneer Company (2 HMGs, 9 LMGs, 6 flame throwers
& 2 80mm mortars)
1650TH SIGNALS BATTALION: 1 (mixed mobility) Telephone Company
(4 LMGs) 1 (mixed mobility) Radio Company (2 LMGs) 1 (mixed
mobility) Signals Supply Detachment (2 LMGs)
1650TH FELDERSATZ BATTALION: 1 Supply Detachment 5 Replacement
Companies, with a total of: (50 LMGs, 12 HMGs, 6 80mm mortars, 1
120mm mortar 1 75mm leIG, 1 75mm PAK, 1 20mm/37mm Flak, 2 flame
throwers, 1 105mm leFH 18 , 6 Panzerschrecke, & 56 Sturm Gewehr
41
1650TH DIVISIONAL SUPPORT REGIMENT: SUPPLY TROOP: 1650th (mot)
120 ton Transportation Company (4 LMGs) 1/,2/1650th Horse Drawn (30
ton) Transportation Companies (2 LMGs ea) 1650th Horse Drawn Supply
Platoon OTHER: 1650th Ordnance Troop 1650th (mot) Vehicle
Maintenance Troop 1650th Supply Company (3 LMGs) 1650th (mot) Field
Hospital 1650th (mot) Medical Supply Company 1650th Veterinary
Company (2 LMGs) 1650th (mot) Field Post Office
In a parallel formation to the ROA and KONR another large force
of Russians was formed in March 1942 by German Intelligence. This
force was the Versuchsverband Mitte (Experimental Formation of Army
Group Center). Though officially known as Abwehr Abteilung 203 the
unit was to have several names - Verband Graukopf, Boyarsky
Brigade, Russian Special Duty Battalion, Ostintorf Brigade, and
finally the Russian National People’s Army (Russkaia Natsionalnaya
Narodnaya Armiya or RNNA). The unit was started when a Russian
émigré, Sergi Ivanov, recruited several prominent Russian prisoners
of war and other Russian exiles, to the German cause. Ivanov,
acting as a liaison officer for the Abwehr, worked with Igor
Sakharov, son of a White Russian General and émigré to Germany, and
slowly they organized a force of 3,000 former prisoners of war.
By December 1942 they had 7,000 men training. A brigade was
formed consisting of four battalions, an artillery battalion, and
an engineer battalion. The organization of the units was based on
the Russian model. In August 1942 Colonel Boyarsky took command in
December Feldmarschal von Kluge inspected the brigade, was pleased
with what he saw, and expressed his pleasure with its actions in
combat in the German rear in May 1942. He then stated that he would
issue the unit German uniforms and weapons and split it into a
number of infantry battalions, which would be assigned to various
German combat divisions. This offhanded command shattered the
brigade's morale and 300 men promptly deserted. It had seen itself
as the cadre of a Russian army of liberation. Despite their
protests, the brigade was broken into the 633rd, 634th, 635th,
636th, and 637th Ost Battalions and employed in anti-Partisan
operations.
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