| 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: |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 11.18.41 – 12.15.41 | In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia, Sydorowo,together withthe rest of the legion. | | 11.24.41 – 12.6.41 | Protection 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 – 2.2.42 | At rest west of Riga. | | 2.17.42 – 2.24.42 | Attack on Ossiya under command of Inf.Rgt.426 from the 126Inf.Div. | | 2.24.42 – 3.1.42 | Building a defence line at Ossiya. | | 3.2.42 – 2.9.42 | Major attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy, together with the 3./Komp., 4./Komp.and 5./Komp. | | 3.3.42 | Attacking the flank from the Russian defence positions at Zimtitzy.Together withthe 3./Komp. (Sturmgruppe Vieweger) | | 3.7.42 | Pushing 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. | | 3.8.42 | Taking of the town Zimtitzy, and starting to defend it, together with therest of the Legion, minus the 2.Komp. | | 3.9.42 – 3.16.42 | The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve for theXXVIII.Armeekorps, inChechulino. | | from 3.12.42 | The 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 |
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| 11.18.41 – 12.15.41 | In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia,Sydorowo, togetherwith the rest of the legion. | | 11.24.41 – 12.6.41 | Protection 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 – 1.9.42 | At rest west of Riga, together with the 4./Komp. | | 1.9.42 – 1.17.42 | Marching back to the front, together with the 4./Komp. | | 1.19.42 – 2.5.42 | Attacking Krutik and Koptzy, fighting east of Koptzy. | | 2.5.42 – 2.14.42 | At rest at Podberezey. | | 2.15.42 – 2.20.42 | Defending Lyubtsy (under command of Ustuf. Müller)
Helping the3./Komp. to force a breaktrhough at Sapolje. | | 2.20.42 – 2.27.42 | Moving from Zimtitzy to Krutik, together with the 3./Komp. and5./Komp., todefend Krutik. | | 2.27.42 – 3.1.42 | At rest at Podborerzey, together with the 3./Komp., 4./Komp. and5./Komp. | | 3.2.42 – 3.7.42 | Stays in reserve for the attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy. | | 3.7.42 | Pushing forward through the woods at Zimtitzy, together with the3./Komp. | | 3.9.42 – 3.16.42 | The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve for theXXVIII Armeekrps,in Chechulino. | | From 3.12.42 | The 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 |
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| 11.18.41 – 12.15.41 | In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia,Sydorowo,together with the rest of the legion. | | 11.24.41 – 12.6.42 | Protection 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 – 1.30.42 | At rest west of Riga, together with the 5./Komp. | | 2.2.42 – 2.5.42 | Defence fighting in front of Zemtitzy, together with the 5./Komp.,under commandof the 422.Inf.Rgt. | | 2.5.42 – 2.15.42 | Defence fighting at Sapolje, together with the II andIII Batl./Inf.Rgt.424
(Under command of Oberst Hoppe) | | 2.9.42 | Forming of the Gefechtsgruppe Polsterer with the 4./Komp. andthe11.Komp./Inf.Rgt.424, in the eastern sector of Sapolje | | 2.15.42 – 2.20.42 | Breakthrough from Sapolje to Zemtitzy, along the roadLyubtsy – Zemtitzy. The breakthrough only succeeded after the help of the2./Komp. | | 2.20.42 – 2.27.42 | Moving from Zimtitzy to Krutik, together with the 2./Komp. and5./Komp., to defendKrutik. | | 2.27.42 – 3.1.42 | At rest at Podborerzey, together with the 2./Komp., 4./Komp. and5./Komp. | | 3.2.42 – 3.9.42 | Major attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy, together with the 1./Komp.,4./Komp. and 5./Komp. | | 3.3.42 | Attacking the flank from the Russian defence positions atZimtitzy.
Together with the 1./Komp. (Sturmgruppe Vieweger) | | 3.7.42 | Pushing forward through the woods at Zimtitzy, together with the2./Komp. | | 3.8.42 | Taking of the town Zimtitzy, and starting to defend it, together withthe rest of theLegion, minus the 2.Komp. | | 3.9.42 – 3.16.42 | The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve for theXXVIII.Armeekorps,in Chechulino. | | From 3.12.42 | The 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 |
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| 11.18.41 – 12.15.41 | In quarters south of Tossno, Tarasowa, Adrianowo, Awati, Menzia,Sydorowo, togetherwith the rest of the legion. | | 11.24.41 – 12.6.41 | Protection 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 – 1.9.42 | At rest west of Riga, together with the 2./Komp. | | 1.9.42 – 2.17.42 | Marching back to the front, together with the 2./Komp. | | 1.17.42 – 2.27.42 | Defence fighting in the region of Sapolje | | 2.2.42 – 2.27.42 | Defence fighting in Koptzy (Under command of Ustuf. De Wilde) | | 2.9.42 | Forming of the Gefechtsgruppe Polsterer with the 3./Komp. andthe 11.Komp./Inf.Rgt.424, in the eastern sector of Sapolje | | 2.14.42 – 2.19.42 | Defence fighting at Tyutitzy, with Inf.Rgt.424. | | 2.19.42 – 2.27.42 | Fighting at Krutik. | | 2.27.42 – 3.1.42 | At rest at Podborerzey, together with the 2./Komp., 3./Komp. and5./Komp. | | 3.2.42 – 3.9.42 | Major attack on Wishiki and Zimtitzy, together with the 1./Komp.,3./Komp. and 5./Komp. | | 3.7.42 | Pushing forward along the road to Zimtitzy.
Together with the1./Komp. and 5./Komp.of the Legion, and the 2./Komp. from Inf.Rgt.422. | | 3.8.42 | Taking of the town Zimtitzy, and starting to defend it, together withthe restof the Legion, minus the 2.Komp. | | 3.9.42 – 3.16.42 | The Legion leaves the front and stays as corps reserve forthe XXVIII.Armeekorps, in Chechulino. | | From 3.12.42 | The 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. |
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