Did you know? The 33rd Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS Charlemagne (1st French) and Charlemagne Regiment are collective names used for units of French volunteers in the Wehrmacht and later Waffen-SS during WW2 From estimates of 7,400 to 11,000 at its peak in 1944, the strength of the division fell to just sixty men in May 1945. They were one of the last German units to see action in a pitched battle during WW2, where they held central Berlin and the Führerbunker against the onslaught of Soviet infantry and armor. Knowing that they would not survive should Germany be defeated, they were among the last to surrender in the brutal house-to-house and street-to-street fighting, during the final days of the Battle in Berlin. Most Charlemagne survivors were shot on sight, the ones that did escape Berlin (approx 30 men) and made it back to France were imprisoned by the Allies. General Leclerc when presented with 12 SS Charlemagne survivors ordered them to be executed imeadiately without any form of trial. When confronted with the 12 captured Charlemagne prisoners Gen Leclerc was reputed to say Why do you wear German Uniform ?, one grizzled French SS veteran replied Why do you wear an American one?, needless to say the Free French General was not happy at this response.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 18:19:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015