[Helmut Von Moltke]

wanted to share more on the military collabaration here. more information on the 33. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS 'Charlemagne' mentioend in that article here.

A minor predecessor to Charlemagne, the LVF was a regimental group of French volunteers formed in 1941. It was sent into combat near Moscow in December 1941, and suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn, and for the next 2 years, was used as an anti - partisan unit. In 1944 with the Soviet offensive named "Bagration", it was sent to a critical point in Heeresgruppe Mitte, and thwarted the Soviets, though suffering many losses. The Soviet comminique announced that it was opposed by "2 French Divisions".

Another predecessor of Charlemagne, the French SS Sturmbrigade, virtually fought itseld to extinction with great bravery on the Eastern Front under the command of 18. SS Panzer Division 'Horst Wessel' in 1944. After the liberation of France by Allied forces, many French political refugees, milice, etc, retreated along with the Germans. These elements, along with the LVF and the remnants of the Sturbrigade, were formed into 33. Waffen Grenadier Division der SS 'Charlemagne' in November 1944 at Wildefelcken training camp in Germany. This division was commanded by SSBrigadefuehrer Krukenberg, and had around 8000 men.

The Charlemagne was sent into action in the Eastern front in early 1945 in Pomerina. There, it had to fight it's way out of the train station, which was being attacked by the Soviets. Soon, it was split up into several groups, regimental size. Some were annihilated in battle, others were evacuated by sea in the Baltic.

In April 1945, the remnants of Charlemagne, around 800 men, were grouped at Neusterlitz. There, Brigadefuehrer released all of them from their oath to Adolf Hitler, and gave them a choice, they could fight in Berlin, or be non combatant construction troops instead. Amazingly, 600 men volunteered to fight. However, there were only 8 trucks, so a Battalion of 400 men under SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Henri Fenet was formed, which marched to Berlin. During the Battle of Berlin, the Charlemagne defended the Gestapo headquarters, and fought with utmost bravery with panzerfausts, destroying 60 Soviet tanks, and around 30 more at the begging of the battle. 4 Frenchmen were awarded the Knight's Cross, including Fenet. At the end of the battle, there were only 30 survivors, and they marched into Soviet captivity with Fenet. Fenet survived Soviet captivity, and died in 2002.

Kevin