European Crusaders of Hitler near Leningrad. Part one

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European Crusaders of Hitler near Leningrad. Part one


Most historians and writers in historical topics, talking about the siege of Leningrad, accuse of the death of hundreds of thousands of defenders of the city and its civilians exclusively the German side. For some reason, they do not take into account that the Germans surrounded Leningrad only from the south, and from the north the Finnish troops occupied positions. Without belittling the crimes of Germany, we should not forget that in addition to the citizens of the Third Reich, numerous volunteers from European countries who went to the East as “new crusaders” also took part in keeping the city in the suffocating iron ring of the blockade.



La "Divizion azul"

"Spain intends to send one legion of 15 people to 000 people in Russia." Franz Halder, War Diary, 29 June 1941, Sunday, 8 Day of War.

After the end of 1 on April 1939 of the bloody civil war, the victory of General Franco in Spain established a semi-fascist dictatorship. The Spanish nationalists considered all the local left-wing agents of the USSR, and the military assistance provided by the Soviet Union to the republican government provoked burning hatred in their hearts.

The news that Germany started the war against Soviet Russia caused unprecedented excitement among local nationalists in Spain. The cautious caudillo feared to speak directly on the side of the Axis countries. Spain’s internal situation at the start of the 40 was fragile. At least half of the country's population disliked the dictator, as of June 1941, there were up to 2 millions of political prisoners — the ideological enemies of the regime — in prisons. In addition, problems could begin with the Western allies, especially with England and the countries of Latin America. Finally, the government of the Third Reich, after weighing all the pros and cons, also preferred to see Spain as an officially neutral country.
22 June 1941 The Spanish Foreign Minister Serrano Sunnier informed the German ambassador in Madrid, Ebegard von Storer, that Spain welcomes the attack on the USSR and is ready to help by volunteers. 24 June 1941, Adolf Hitler accepted this offer. Throughout Spain, dozens of recruiting centers were opened, to which thousands of volunteers rushed. The number of people willing to fight the hated Bolsheviks exceeded 40’s expected times, due to which 2 July 1941 had recruiting centers forced to curtail their activities. Most of the volunteers were veterans of the Civil War, members of the HONS movement (Falange Espanola de las Juntas de Ofensiva National Sindicalista), who arrived at the recruiting centers in their traditional uniform - blue shirts and red berets. The unofficial name of the Spanish Volunteer Division - “Blue Division” (the German name “Blau”, Spanish - “Azul”) originated from the color of their shirts.


Fig. Seeing Spanish volunteers for war with Russia


13 July 1941, the first echelon with volunteers went to Germany, a day later the commander of the freshly baked formation, General Muñoz Grandes (Agustín Muñoz Grandes) and his headquarters, flew there. By July 20 all the Spanish volunteers were gathered in Bavaria at the Grafenwer camp. There, the Spaniards underwent the necessary medical examination, they were given the standard field uniform of the Wehrmacht (feldgrau). From the usual infantry divisions, the Spaniards were now distinguished only by a special mark on the sleeve above the elbow. Connoisseurs of fascist heraldry depicted a shield on the division sign, a horizontal yellow stripe across a red background cut through the middle of the shield. It depicted a four-pointed black cross and five crossed arrows with their tips pointing upwards - the symbol of the phalanx. On top of all this tricky building crowned the inscription "Spain".

July 25 division received a number of the German nomenclature and was 250-th infantry division of the Wehrmacht standard configuration, consisting of three regiments of three battalions in each. The division also included an artillery regiment that included one heavy artillery division, an anti-tank division, reconnaissance and reserve battalions, several communications companies, doctors, military police and ... veterinarians. The fact is that the Germans, experiencing the need for motor transport, originally came out of a delicate situation on the assembly of the Spaniards with rolling stock. The German staff officers simply transferred all divisions of the division to horse traction. 5610 horses were captured during Wehrmacht operations in Yugoslavia. This circumstance initially caused a lot of anecdotal situations: animals did not understand the commands either in German or in Spanish.


Soldiers of the "Blue Division"


The total strength of the division was 18 693 man - 641 officer, 2272 non-commissioned officer and 15 780 lower ranks. 31 July 1941, the Spanish volunteers swore allegiance to Hitler. The division’s training in combat under the German regulations was easy, most soldiers had a wealth of experience in civil war battles, and therefore by August 20 it was announced that the unit was ready to be sent to the front.


Fig. Spanish infantry under fire


And now 29 August Spanish battalions on foot moved to the east. Ahead lay the broken roads of Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. After the 40 day march, the Spaniards finally reached Vitebsk. The command of the Wehrmacht initially intended to use the division in the central sectors of the front, but the situation demanded an urgent redeployment of troops to Army Group North, near Leningrad.

October 4 1941 of the Year “Blue Division” arrived at the front on the Novgorod-Teremets sector, where it immediately underwent its first test, an attack by the Russian infantry. At the same time, for the first time in the military reports of the Soviet troops, the message about the appearance at the front of the Spaniards under the command of General Muñoz Grandes slipped. It also stated that the division was staffed with 20-25 youth, the majority of the Phalangist ideological, who fight very bravely. October 16 German troops launched an offensive on the Volkhov-Tikhvin direction. The German units managed to break through the defenses at the junction of the 4 and 52 armies. In the Soviet frontline report from 25 of October, it was reported that "the Spanish division, taking possession of the villages of Shevelevo, Sitno, Dubrovka, Nikitino, Otensky Posad, while holding them."

In November, 1941 was hit hard, to -30. The heat-loving inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula had a hard time - quite a few soldiers got frostbite. 4 December 1941 of the year Soviet troops launched a counterattack on the positions of the 250 Infantry Division. Spaniards entrenched in frozen trenches stubbornly defended their borders. The Red Army managed to surround part of the 269-th regiment, it came to melee. Moreover, as the Soviet commanders pointed out in operational reports, the Spaniards, unlike the Germans, were not afraid of bayonet attacks, and they themselves willingly imposed on the enemy a close battle. By December 7, fighting in the Otensky Posad area had subsided, breaking through parts of the Soviet troops were thrown back. This victory cost the Spaniards dearly, for example, only the 2 battalion of the 269 regiment lost 580 people: 120 killed, 440 wounded and frostbite, 20 went missing.


Fig. Spaniards on the eastern front. Winter 1941-1942's


In late December, the Red Army launched another offensive, the Blue Division again suffered a massive strike. "In the 52 Army reports from 24, 25 and 27 December, it was reported that parts of the 250 Spanish Infantry Division, leaving Shevelevo, in the former group, are defending on the west bank of the Volkhov River in the Yamno-Erunovo-Old Bystritsa section and have stubborn resistance of our units, repeatedly turning to counterattacks, ”General I. I. recalled these events. Fedyuninsky in his book "Alarmed." Despite the staunch resistance of the enemy, the troops of the 52 Army broke through the defenses and drove the Spaniards back several dozen kilometers. On the fierce fighting, the following fact speaks: of the consolidated ski company of 1942 formed by the command of the “Blue Division” in the first days of January 206, by the middle of the month only 12 fighters remained in the ranks. The dispassionate pages of the archive of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR devoted to the interrogations of prisoners of the 250 division also confirm the high losses among the Spaniards. For example, they say that “at the beginning of the 1942 of the year, in the companies of the 269 Infantry Regiment, there remained a 30-50 man, instead of the 150. In the 3 battalion of the 263 regiment, there remained a 60-80 man in the companies, in the whole 2 battalion of the 262 regiment there was up to the 80 man. Always in the testimony of the prisoners we are talking about frostbitten ".

Having retreated to the west bank of the Volkhov River, and having received another replenishment by marching battalions, regularly arriving from Spain, the soldiers of the Blue Division took up defensive positions. However, they could not sit quietly in the warm dugouts. On January 7, the troops of the Volkhov Front delivered a new blow. The intelligence of the 225 division's headquarters of the 52 Army from 18-28 in January notes that "the 263-th and 262-th regiment of the 250-division, stubbornly resisting the actions of our units." The intensity of the fighting was great: according to the headquarters of the 52 Army, the losses of the regiments of the Spanish division reached 100-150 people daily and by the beginning of April 1942 of the year amounted to 8000 people. Despite this, the Germans treated their allies coolly. Adolf Hitler, in his 5 Table Talks on January 1942, remarked: “The Spaniards appear to the German soldiers as a gang of idlers. They view a rifle as a tool that cannot be cleaned under any circumstances. Hourly they exist only in principle. They do not go to the posts, and if they appear there, only to sleep. When the Russians launch an offensive, the locals have to wake them up. ” Let us leave these idle speculation on the conscience of the possessed Fuhrer. The German command of the 18 Army considered that the “Blue Division” with honor had withstood the most difficult trials of the 41-42 winter.

Since May 1942, the division has been fighting in the area of ​​the so-called "Volkhovsky Cauldron", and at the end of June they participated in the most difficult battles for Maloye and Bolshoy Zamoshye, at the site of the breakthrough of units of the 305th RKKA Rifle Division. "... Before the front of the 305th division in the Great Zamoshye area, units of the 250th Spanish division approached, and the legions" Flanders "and" Netherlands "regrouped ... Our units, exhausted by previous battles, lacking shells, and some units and lacking ammunition, food, continued to provide stubborn resistance to the enemy .... Over 1000 enemy soldiers and officers were destroyed and were shot down 17 tanks... "- the extract from the report of the chief of staff of the Volkhov Front dated June 25-26, 1942" On the operation to remove the 2nd Shock Army from the encirclement "reports.

Member of those battles Major A.S. Dobrov, the former commander of the 5th battery of the 830th artillery regiment of the 305th rifle division, recalled this: “... the enemy after a massive raid aviation and artillery by the forces of two regiments - the SS regiment and the regiment of the 250th Spanish "blue" attacked the right flank of the 305th SD - the military town of Ants, but was completely defeated and went on the defensive. In Small Zamoshye, more than 200 fascists were surrounded. They were supplied with food and ammunition, which were parachuted from aircraft. Sometimes, by the will of the wind, something also got to us. ” On June 27, 1942, the last combat-ready units of the 2nd Shock Army were destroyed, the Volkhovsky Cauldron was liquidated, the war on this section of the front passed into a positional stage.

20 August 1942, the German command is beginning to divert the battered regiments and battalions of the Blue Division to the rear for rest and re-formation. On August 26, the remnants of the division were transferred to the Siverskaya, Susanino, Vyritsa, Bolshoye Lisino areas, where the long-awaited completion arrived from Spain. Compared with the initial contingent of the division, consisting of ideological opponents of communism, the newly arrived marching companies constituted a strange conglomeration of staunch phalanx, petty criminals, adventure seekers, adventurers, and just random people. There were also funny motives for joining the Blue Division. So one prisoner of war from the 269 regiment reported that he went to war to annoy his mother, the other one motivated his deed with his wife. Many recruited from career reasons: for service in Russia, a promise of two ranks was promised, others were pushed into this act by mercantile interests. For example, as indicated by S.P. Pozharskaya in his article “Spanish“ Blue Division ”on the Soviet-German front”: “every soldier of the“ Blue Division ”received Reichsmarks per month 60, they were paid at a time lifting in the amount of 100 pesetas, families of military personnel in Spain received Petets per 8 per day” . It should be noted that it was very good money for that time, considering that in Madrid the daily earnings of a qualified construction worker were 9 pesetas, a baker - 10 pesetas, the owner of a small shop - 10-20 pesetas a day.

Beginning with 10 September 1942, the Spanish 250 Division made a systematic replacement of the 121 German Infantry Division in positions near Leningrad. From the operational order for the 250 division, it follows that the border of the defended sector from the east was the railroad Kolpino-Tosno, from the west - the settlement Babolovo. So the "Blue Division" took its place in the blockade ring, taking the 29-kilometer section of the front.



General Emilio Esteban Infantes.

On December 13, 1942, General Muñoz Grandes was replaced by another well-known Spanish general, Civil War veteran Emilio Esteban Infantes. The division for the newfound commander went with shaky discipline, which was caused by both heavy losses and extreme fatigue of war veterans, and low qualities of the incoming replenishment. Disagreement reigned in the regiments, sergeants and officers regularly beat soldiers, because of the almost impunity for theft of commissaries and officers, ordinary soldiers often didn’t receive the standard products, there was almost no regular contact with Spain, letters were sent for three to four months, and almost no newspapers were seen half a year. The energetic general, using his authority, managed to bring the unit entrusted to him in relative order. And, as it turned out, on time: on the morning of January 12, 1943, the troops of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts with the support of the Baltic fleet launched an offensive to break the blockade. By the morning of January 18, a critical situation had developed for the Germans, and the commander of the 18th German Army, Colonel General Lindeman, was forced to put forward reserves taken from other sectors of the front to meet the attacking Soviet troops. The command of the “Blue Division” allocated a battalion of the 6th regiment, consisting of the most disciplined and persistent soldiers, to be transferred to the Mgi area (workers' settlement No. 269). The Red Army successfully demonstrated all their increased power on them: by January 28, only 800 soldiers remained in the ranks of the 28-man battalion.


Fig. Cemetery of soldiers of the 250 of the Spanish division of the Wehrmacht


February 10 came the turn to get his own for the rest of the "La Divizion Azul". According to the German data against the defensive positions of the 250 division, numbering 5 608 people with 24 guns, 55 - I army concentrated 33 thousands of soldiers, 150 tanks and self-propelled artillery and several artillery regiments. After a massive artillery preparation, the Soviet troops launched an offensive in order to capture the village of Krasny Bor, the key to the entire German defense line. Fierce battles reached the highest limit. As witness of those battles testifies, ".. Spaniards fought steadfastly with daggers, shovels, hand grenades ..". In just one day, the 250 Division lost 75% personnel or 3 645 people.

The command of the "Blue Division" threw all reserves to the front, including the reserve battalion and rear units, but this did not save the situation - the Red Bor was abandoned. At the end of February 1943, the remnants of the division participated in the battles on the Kolpinsky sector, and after 19 in March, when the front stabilized, the Spanish volunteers occupied the trenches for a long time and began a tedious positional war, periodically throwing reconnaissance teams into the nearest rear of the Soviet troops. The last battle of the 250 division of the Spanish division on the Soviet-German front took place on October 4 1943 of the year east of Pushkin, when the Soviet troops conducted unsuccessful reconnaissance in the area of ​​the 269 regiment.

In October 1943, under pressure from the Western Allies, General Franco officially withdrew the Spanish Volunteer Division from the front. The withdrawal of the Spanish troops began on October 12, the soldiers were sent by train to Germany in the city of Hof, for the subsequent departure to their homeland. However, knowing that this would complicate the Spanish-German relations, Caudillo closed his eyes to the fact that almost half of the personnel did not return home. Some soldiers succumbed to the mad propaganda of the Phalangists, others were left in the form of an order. 20 November The Spanish Volunteer Legion (Legiano Azul) was officially formed in Yamburg in November. Colonel Antonio Garcia Navarro, the former chief of staff of the Blue Division, was appointed commander of the new legion. The Legion formed the 1943 infantry battalion (Banderas) under the command of Majors Ibarro and Garcia, while the technical and auxiliary mixed battalions were led by a major with a resounding surname Virgil. The number of this military unit consisted of 2 man. For several weeks, the Legion took part in anti-partisan actions near Narva, and at the end of December 2133 was transferred to the east, where it entered the Wehrmacht 1943 Regiment, stationed in the Lyuban station, under the name of the 450 Grenadier Regiment.


Fig. "In the frozen trenches under Leningrad"


25 December 1943 of the year a squall of fire struck the position of the 121 Division - the Red Army launched an offensive. Within hours, Legien Azul was literally wiped off the face of the earth. 26 January pitiful remnants of the regiment fought for Tosno, then for Luga. In mid-February 1944, the few Spaniards left alive were transferred to Estonia. In mid-March, Franco demanded in an ultimatum form the return of Spanish citizens to Germany from Germany. 12 April, "Blue Legion" was officially disbanded.

In total, during the participation of the Spanish units in the fighting on the Eastern Front, about 55 000 people passed through their ranks. The exact number of dead, wounded, missing and captured Spaniards in 1941-43 is unknown. According to German data, the losses of the 250 Infantry Division were 12 726 people, including 3 943 (including 153 officer) killed, 8 446 wounded, 326 missing. In the personal archive of General Franco there are data on total losses in 12 737 people of them 6 286 killed. Western sources call the number of losses in 4 954 killed and 8 700 injured. According to the documents of the Main Directorate for the Affairs of POWs and Interned Persons, the USSR voluntarily surrendered and were captured in the 452 Spaniard battle.

Both commanders of the 250 Division were awarded Knight Crosses with Oak Leaves, two Spaniards were awarded Gold Crosses, 138 soldiers received an Iron Cross I class, 2 359 - Iron Cross II class, another 2 216 soldiers earned Spanish Military crosses with swords (War Merit with Swords).

Unlike many other foreigners in the service of Germany, the Spaniards were absolutely sure that they were not going to enslave, but to liberate Russia from the Bolshevik yoke. They called their opponents not “Russians”, but “Reds”. The Spaniards of the “Blue Division” were the Europe from which the opponents of the Soviet system were waiting for “deliverance from Stalinist tyranny”. It seems that the soldiers of the 250 Infantry Division were the only occupiers who simultaneously got along with irreconcilability towards the enemy at the front and relatively good-natured attitude towards civilians.



Den Norske Legion

30 November 1939 of the year between Finland and the USSR, the war began. Thousands of thousands of foreign volunteers joined the ranks of the Finnish army. Norwegian volunteers in the number of 600 people arrived in the country of Suomi in December 1939, and after a short training, took part in the hostilities. After the end of the Winter War in March 1940, the inhabitants of the fjord country went to their homeland, where they were greeted as national heroes. In Europe, the war was already raging at that time, and in April 1940 came the turn of the Norwegians to experience the strike of the Wehrmacht’s iron fist. As a result of the operation “Teaching on the Weser”, the German troops occupied the southern and central part of Norway, being ahead of the Anglo-French invasion for just a few days. 9 April 1940, the pro-Nazi National Unity party (Nasjonal samling), under the leadership of Vidkun Quisling, officially came to power in the country, having no political weight in the country before.

After the German attack on the Soviet Union, the leaders of the National Unity party, as well as many well-known Norwegians, such as the Nobel Prize winner writer Knut Hamsun, proposed to organize a volunteer squad to fight the “Bolshevik hordes” following the example of the Norwegian Legion, which was part of the Finnish armed forces during the Soviet-Finnish conflict.

On July 4, 1941, Quisling, in its radio address to the Norwegians, announced the creation of a voluntary association, which will be sent to Finland to fight the Bolsheviks. Recruitment points were opened in all major cities in Norway, and volunteer enrollment began. In the first few days, about 300 people entered the legion, an impressive figure for a small country. Initially, the Norwegian government hoped to form a full-fledged military unit consisting of 2 battalions under the code name “Gula” and “Frosta”. The newly created units were sent to the Bjolsen Skole field camp in Norway, from where they were relocated through Kiel to the training camp Fallenbostel. There 1 August 1941 was officially announced the formation of the “Norway Volunteer Legion”. By this time, the Legion personnel consisted of 751 people - 20 officers, 50 non-commissioned officers and 681 lower rank. The first commander of this military unit was appointed Major of the Norwegian Army Finn Hannibal Kelstrup (Finn Hannibal Kjelstrup). Contrary to the insistent desire of volunteers to fight as a separate military unit, they were included in the Waffen SS. Legionnaires dressed from a Norwegian military uniform to a field uniform of SS troops. They were distinguished from ordinary SS men only by a special sleeve insignia, which is a variation of the “Cross of St. Olaf” - the emblem of the “Hird” assault detachments of the National Unity party. The sleeve logo of the Volunteer Legion of the SS “Norway” was a round shield, framed with a silver border, with a silver cross on a gray (or, in rare cases, on a red) field, and crossed with two silver tips, straight swords upwards parallel to the vertical beam of the cross.

October 3 The 1941 of the year in Fallenbostel, in the presence of Vidkun Quisling, who arrived there, took the first battalion to take the oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler. This battalion was named "Viken". He was solemnly awarded a battalion with a golden lion on a red background with the ax of St. Olaf in his paws. At the beginning of 1942, the legion number reached 1218 people. It consisted of headquarters, 3 rifle companies, a company of infantry guns and an anti-tank company, as well as a reserve battalion stationed in Holmestrand. There was also a Lutheran pastor with the title of Legions-Hauptsturmführer. Insisting on sending the Norwegian volunteers to Finland’s help immediately and seeing their unit as the skeleton of the Norwegian army, the commanders of the legion, Major Kelstrup and Jürgen Becken, caused constant irritation in the military-political leadership of Germany. Therefore, 15 December 1941 of the year they were replaced by the legions of Sturmbannführer Arthur Quist super-loyal to the Reich.


Fig. Norwegian volunteers swear allegiance to Hitler


In February 1942 of the year, the Norwegian Legion was sent to a relatively quiet section of the Leningrad Front, where it became part of the 22 motorized SS brigade under the command of Lieutenant-General Police Friedrich Yekkeln, which was defending in the vicinity of the 250 Spanish Infantry Division. In addition to the Norwegians, this SS "Interbrigade" also included Latvian, Dutch and Flemish volunteers. In mid-March, the legionnaires changed their SS colleagues from the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler division to positions in Leningrad. Most of the fortifications occupied by the legionnaires were erected from a mixture of snow, logs, ice and earth. “Spring came, and all these buildings began to melt and collapse. The dugouts were very tight, and many of the soldiers - tall Norwegians - could not stand erect. Dirt flowed through the trenches, sentries had to stand at the post for 4-5 hours knee-deep in water, snow and mud, and then an hour to go to the constantly flooded dugouts, where they could not even dry out. This went on for several weeks, ”said former legionnaire Bjorn Ostring. The Norwegians failed to open full-fledged trenches and create an uninterrupted line of defense in lowland wetlands, but with the help of Latvian volunteers they were able to equip a number of strongholds on high ground.



Fig. The trenches of the Norwegian Legion

In March-April, the legion participated in the battles in the area of ​​Krasnoye Selo - Panovo. The positional war alternated with attacks against the fortified dugouts of the Soviet troops. Despite the whole tragedy of the war, there were also some funny cases on the front. Once, as the above-mentioned Ostring recalled, the Norwegians received a moral shock when they found a box with an American stew in one of the captured Soviet fortifications. It turns out that, contrary to what official propaganda inspired them, America really helps the Bolsheviks!


In contrast to the neighboring Latvian SS men, who had a fierce hatred of the USSR and the Soviet people, the Norwegians treated the prisoners quite loyally, so defectors appeared in their defense sector most often. One of the passages between the fortifications, the legionnaires called the “Moat for the defectors”.


Fig. Norwegian volunteers and defectors


In mid-May, the 1942 th legion fought in the Pulkovo area, and then was withdrawn to the rear. Anti-tank company stationed in the town of Konstantinovka, other parts - in Uritsk. In May, the rest of the legion visited Vidkun Quisling and some other top leaders in Norway. 17, on the Day of the Norwegian Constitution, on the solemn construction of the Legion, distinguished soldiers and officers were presented with awards. At 25, the volunteer soldiers handed the petition to the Norwegian leader that they did not want to fight under the German command and demanded to transfer part of them to Finland, but their statement was ignored.

In June 1942, the Norwegians returned to the front. Their return coincided with the start of the new Soviet offensive. Once on the position of the Latvian SS men broke into a battalion of Soviet infantry and several heavy tanks. Unable to withstand the attack, the Letts threw trenches and began an indiscriminate departure, which turned into a stampede. Scandinavian volunteers saved them from total extermination. The commander of the anti-tank battalion of the Norwegians was not taken aback and hastily transferred his guns and soldiers to the threatened area. Recently obtained 75 mm anti-tank guns PAK-38, put forward to direct fire, proved to be very effective weapons. All the tanks were hit, and the infantry, which had fallen under massive artillery fire, suffered heavy losses and moved back. The fight was won.

13 August 1942, the Norwegians became part of the 2-th SS infantry brigade, staffed mainly by the natives of Latvia. The number of the Legion to this period reached more than 1000 people. On September 3, a police company composed of an 93 man, made up of Norwegian police officers, were ardent supporters of Nazism. She was commanded by SS Hauptsturmführer Jonas Lee, who received the death sentence of the Norwegian Resistance fighters in his homeland and immediately carried them into the nickname “a man with a pen and a pistol in one hand”. The police company was repeatedly used on the territory of the Leningrad Region in punitive expeditions against the Soviet partisans.


Fig. Police Company of the Norwegian Legion on the march


After the Red Army began the operation to break the blockade, the Norwegians found themselves in the epicenter of the fighting. Together with the Spanish "Blue Division" in February 1943, in the Red Bor area, the Norwegian anti-tank division took part in the hardest battles, which was completely defeated by the Soviet troops. In a few days of fighting, the Norwegians lost only 43 people killed. By mid-February, legionnaires remaining in the ranks of less than 700 people were relegated to the rear. 1 March they were taken to Norway, where they 6 April 1943, the parade marched through the center of Oslo.

May 20 1943 of the year at the Grafenwer training ground in Germany, the Norwegian Legion was officially disbanded. The remaining legionnaires and the replenishment that arrived from Norway were sent to form the Norway regiment of the 11 SS Panzer Grenadier Division Nordland, but this is a completely different story.

During the stay of the Norwegians directly near Leningrad, the losses of the legion were only killed 180 people. In total, during the Second World War, more than 15000 Norwegians fought as part of various combat units of the Wehrmacht and the SS troops, as well as police special units. On the Soviet-German front, 7000 soldiers were involved, of whom about 100 people were taken prisoner, 20 officers and 678 soldiers were killed.

To be continued
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  1. +56
    29 January 2016 06: 45
    It is necessary to discard false reports and call things by their proper names: we did not defeat Nazi Germany, but fascist Europe. And this must be driven into the heads of our children from school.
    1. +10
      29 January 2016 10: 31
      Quote: lwxx
      we did not defeat fascist Germany, but fascist Europe.

      The youngest soldier of the French legion (Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchévisme - LVF) from the 638th Wehrmacht infantry regiment (Infanterie-Regiment 638, Französischer) fifteen-year-old Leon Merdjian (Léon Merdjian) on the street near the village of Golovkovo.
      1. +5
        30 January 2016 14: 48
        we did not defeat fascist Germany, but fascist Europe.


        Now, again, fascist Europe + fascist USA have to win.
        It was too early to see that they had destroyed fascism, he had time to see the eggs lay, there he was hatching all over the world, the Angloshtats had landed ki ...
        1. 0
          16 January 2017 11: 18
          Unfortunately, then fascist Europe was just a side branch. The nest of fascism is in Anglo-Saxon lands, and the paddlers did not pass by. And this nest regularly spews miasma from itself.
    2. -5
      29 January 2016 22: 57
      Fascist was Italy, and Germany was national-socialist, the party they had was like a workers' party, the banner was red, we had the main holiday on November 7, they celebrated May 8, but they didn’t divide
    3. +3
      30 January 2016 05: 12
      Quote: lwxx
      It is necessary to discard false reports and call things by their proper names: we did not defeat Nazi Germany, but fascist Europe. And this must be driven into the heads of our children from school.


      It is more expedient to hammer piles into the ground, and children learn better when they are interested in something. What is "hammered in" can be easily "knocked out", and what has become a worldview will not go anywhere ...
  2. +7
    29 January 2016 07: 05
    The Spaniards of the “Blue Division” were the Europe from which the opponents of the Soviet system were waiting for “deliverance from the Stalinist tyranny”

    To what extent the fascist propaganda of Spain, even in the nuances of converging with the propaganda of today's liberals, lacks only a flag with a swastika, although liberal Februaryists still used the swastika in 1917, at least on their money. Nothing is new under the moon.
    1. +21
      29 January 2016 07: 39
      Sobssno, the borders of both the Reich and the European Union are clearly visible on the map. The nuances were only that Sweden and Spain were not part of the Reich, but they sympathized and cooperated with him, and the current Spain and Sweden are part of the EU, and Norway sympathizes.
      1. +8
        29 January 2016 10: 54
        Well it is necessary to defeat such a colossus and turn the neck of the fascist Europe
      2. +7
        29 January 2016 17: 44
        This suggests that in the modern world, the whole Geyropa also confronts us. And do not think that if there is a mess, the Italians will help us and the Greeks will not, they, as nice ones, will also go for their piece of Russian pie.
    2. -3
      29 January 2016 23: 05
      Propaganda in Spain was successfully handled by the NKVD, so the Spaniards knew this shit well. The Leninists represented the swastika on money, I saw the Soviet ruble with the swastika.
      1. +6
        30 January 2016 00: 48
        Quote: Russian filosov
        The swastika on money was depicted by Leninists, I saw a Soviet ruble with a swastika.

        Soviet ruble ??? Under the rule of the provisional government of Kerensky, the Petrograd Soviet really operated, only it was headed by the Socialist-Revolutionary Sokolov (the same one who promoted "Decree No. 1" that defeated the country), and not at all by the Bolsheviks. There was no swastika on the chervontsy introduced by the Bolsheviks of the RSDP (b), just before that they used "kerenki" banknotes. on which there really were still swastikas, but the Bolsheviks themselves did not introduce the swastika, this is a slander.
  3. +10
    29 January 2016 07: 05
    Here it is Europe "in practice"! Since the thirteenth century, everyone climbs and climbs!
  4. +12
    29 January 2016 07: 09
    all of Europe ........... well then do not repent then ????? and???? ask our liberals ???????
  5. +7
    29 January 2016 07: 16
    The author is a big plus for the article.
    "whoever comes to us with a sword will die from the sword" A. Nevsky.
    1. +2
      30 January 2016 13: 17
      Actual interpretation - "Who comes to us with what and why, is from this and that")
  6. +13
    29 January 2016 07: 42
    Duc .. if you look ... at the history of Russia .. have always fought against all .. the invasion of "twelve languages" is called Napoleon's attack on Russia in 1812. Napoleon's "Great Army" included all European peoples ... In the troops of the Polish king S. Batory (Hungarian), in addition to the Poles, there were also Hungarians and Germans and Swedes .. Russian-Turkish wars .. necessarily in the Turkish troops "advisers" from Europe will light up .. And the Great Patriotic War ... in general an indicator ..
    1. +1
      29 January 2016 20: 38
      Quote: parusnik
      .In the troops of the Polish king S. Batory (Hungarian), in addition to the Poles, there were Hungarians and Germans and Swedes ..

      ... and svidomo lads "from Zaporizhzhia" ...
  7. +6
    29 January 2016 08: 22
    An article in time about the important.
    THEY WILL NEVER CHANGE
    1. 0
      16 January 2017 11: 21
      Yes, they can only disappear ....
  8. +9
    29 January 2016 08: 28
    In addition to the ardent Falageiros, many former Republicans made their way to the Blue Division, they made up a steady trickle of defectors that accompanied the entire path of the Blue Division. And another interesting fact - the defectors, former soldiers of the Blue Division, formed the backbone of the propaganda groups that broadcast in German troops, and since the Spaniards are very impulsive, the transmissions often turned into skirmishes passed on to individuals. The point in these squabbles was put by artillery
    1. +7
      29 January 2016 09: 55
      By the way, the opinion from our collaborator-laundress, who worked with both Spaniards and Germans, is curious

      The Spaniards destroyed all our ideas about them as a proud, beautiful, noble people, etc. No operas. Small, nimble like monkeys, dirty and picky like gypsies. But very good-natured. All German Kralech immediately spread from the Germans to the Spaniards. And the Spaniards also show great tenderness and affection for Russian girls. Between them and the Germans hatred, which is now fueled by rivalry among women.

      The Spaniards get two rations. One from the German army, the other from his government and distributing surpluses to the population. The population immediately appreciated all the Spanish good nature and immediately became attached to the Spaniards in a way that they could never become attached to the Germans. Especially the kids. If a German rides a cart, then you will never see children on it. If a Spaniard is traveling, then he is not visible behind the children. And all these Jose and Pepe walk the streets, hung with children ...


      The Germans unquestioningly obey any order, whatever it may be. The Spaniards always strive to order not to fulfill, whatever it may be. The Germans are “furboten” to offend the Spaniards as guests. And they outwardly treat them kindly, although they passionately hate them. The Spaniards slaughter the Germans every Saturday night after drinking their weekly rations of wine. Sometimes during the day, the Germans are soberly beaten by mortal combat. The Germans are only defending themselves.
  9. +6
    29 January 2016 09: 05
    Europe is now also united, it turns out that soon they will climb again?
    1. +7
      29 January 2016 09: 15
      Already climbing, isn't it noticeable? So far, only carefully, not insolently. Not so bold yet.
  10. +3
    29 January 2016 09: 06
    What "substance" should you have in your head instead of brains in order to fight on the side of the invaders who occupied your country, against the state, which has never even attempted aggression against your homeland? what request
    1. +6
      29 January 2016 10: 40
      Quote: Castor
      What "substance" should you have in your head instead of brains in order to fight on the side of the invaders who occupied your country, against the state, which has never even attempted aggression against your homeland? what request


      In Spain there was wild propaganda that the USSR had unleashed aggression against Spain in 1937 and that the Phalangists were going to "take revenge".
      The result is 5000 dead, 9 thousand wounded, 10 thousand sick and frostbite. There and ....
    2. +2
      29 January 2016 10: 40
      Quote: Castor
      What "substance" should you have in your head instead of brains in order to fight on the side of the invaders who occupied your country, against the state, which has never even attempted aggression against your homeland? what request


      In Spain there was wild propaganda that the USSR had unleashed aggression against Spain in 1937 and that the Phalangists were going to "take revenge".
      The result is 5000 dead, 9 thousand wounded, 10 thousand sick and frostbite. There and ....
    3. +4
      29 January 2016 11: 13
      The USSR assisted Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. The USSR sent military advisers and weapons, which angered Franco and his allies (Germany and Italy). The Italians deployed a fleet near the coast of Spain, but they did not dare to drown the ships of the USSR, they were afraid that the Red Army would enter a large-scale war.
      1. -3
        29 January 2016 23: 14
        The Soviet NKVD did its dirty work there too.
        1. 0
          16 January 2017 11: 24
          Yes, their "filthiness" in comparison with your general mosyach, does not go in comparison.
  11. +7
    29 January 2016 10: 37
    Whoever has not fertilized our land, the Germans, Italians, Spaniards, French, Romanians, you cannot name all of them and at the time to think how the next "nacht osten" might end, but no, they still look at us with ill intentions, well, well, you are welcome, there will be enough land for everyone
  12. +4
    29 January 2016 11: 07
    Hitler needed Spain. Germany received resources from Spain, and since the Spanish Armed Forces were much weaker than the German (and would have lost to the British or Americans), it did not enter the war. It was beneficial to Hitler. In addition, Hitler activated the industry of Spain (some types of Spanish weapons were in service with the Wehrmacht). Franco was also profitable, since after the war there was no demand from him, and he was the head of Spain until 1975.
    1. +5
      29 January 2016 11: 50
      Well, actually, Spain had an army hardened by the Civil War, quite operational - these are not Romanians or Italians for you. Moreover, they could block Gibraltar and then the khan would be the supplies of the British army to Egypt. Caudillo was simply a very cautious person and refused to go into this meat grinder.
      1. sq
        +4
        29 January 2016 12: 11
        Quote: Stirbjorn
        Caudillo was just a very cautious person.

        And also not stupid. Lovers of war provided this opportunity along the way, clearing the country of data mage \ rginalov
      2. +7
        29 January 2016 13: 28
        Quote: Stirbjorn
        Well, actually, Spain had an army hardened by the Civil War, quite operational - these are not Romanians or Italians for you. Moreover, they could block Gibraltar and then the khan would be the supplies of the British army to Egypt. Caudillo was simply a very cautious person and refused to go into this meat grinder.

        For all his flirting with Hitler, Caudillo clearly remembered about 2 Damocles swords hanging over Spain:
        1. Food supplies (primarily grain) from America. Without them, famine in Spain, which had not yet recovered from the Civil War, would have developed into a national catastrophe.
        For there were no other available sources of food - the Reich already fed other allies, reduced the internal standards of extradition and looked for where to profit from grain:
        ... from the USSR, in any situation and any mood of the local population, it is supposed to receive 2.5 million tons of grain that the USSR promised Germany from the 1941 harvest and which are already included in the Reich's food balance (without them in any way), 3 million tons of grain per army food (if you drag it from the Reich, there is not enough rail capacity) and about 2 million tons more for the obligations undertaken by Germany to Romania, Hungary and others.

        2. The split of society. Despite Franco's victory in the Civil War, his opponents were not about to give up. EMNIP, at the beginning of the 40s, the control of Caudillo over part of the regions of Spain was largely nominal. And the hunger mentioned earlier would have played into the hands of these opponents. In addition, anti-Frankish forces would receive assistance from abroad: the same limes (as in Yugoslavia) would immediately play both a political and a national (Basque and Catalan) card.

        That is why Franco caught up (after the defeat of France) between a rock and a hard place and pulled time. On the one hand, he seemed to be ready to join the Axis, which reassured the possessed and the radicals from the Phalanx. But, on the other hand, Franco constantly put forward absolutely unacceptable conditions for such annexation, such as the transfer to him of the French colonies in North Africa and the supply / armament of Spain from the Reich. Thus Franco is constantly masterful slipped between the dropswhile remaining neutral and maintaining good relations with both the Allies and the Reich.
        As for the "blue division", its package made it possible to kill two birds with one stone - to improve relations with the Reich (which worsened after Franco actually thwarted Operation Felix) and to cleanse Spain of the ultra-right radicals left after the Civilian Civil War, who, by their obstinacy and uncontrollable Franco limited the possibility of political maneuver.
        In short - "The Big Cleaning" in Spanish: not only were the hands of others, but the cleaners themselves were eager to get on it. smile
      3. +2
        29 January 2016 19: 02
        But the technical equipment of the Franco army left much to be desired, and besides, the Spanish fleet was weak, unlike the English.
        1. 0
          29 January 2016 20: 59
          Quote: Lord Blacwood
          But the technical equipment of the Franco army left much to be desired,

          The army’s equipment was enough to capture Gibraltar with the corresponding subsequent kirdyk to the English fleet in the Mediterranean. It was just that caudillo was not a very stupid companion, and like a smart calf, he sucked two queens right away: comrade Hitler and comrade Roosevelt and Churchill. And he did it right.
      4. -2
        29 January 2016 21: 01
        Quote: Stirbjorn
        it is not Romanians or Italians.

        Well I do not know. Until 1941, the Italian army had fought for 6 years in different Africa, there was enough combat experience, and according to Manstein, the "Romanesti" were quite good soldiers, with the exception of the cowardly and thieving officers.
  13. +8
    29 January 2016 11: 14
    After 212 days of fighting for Voronezh, Soviet troops liberated the city and captured 75000 Nazis. Of the two divisions consisting of Hungarians, not a single prisoner was. According to some reports, 160 Hungarians remained in Voronezh land.
    1. +3
      29 January 2016 15: 22
      Quote: Trigger-Happy
      Of the two divisions consisting of Hungarians, not a single prisoner was.

      In Tuapse, we have a cemetery where Hungarians who died in captivity are buried. Nevertheless, someone managed to see and was captured by our people.
      1. +2
        30 January 2016 12: 29
        in Izhevsk there is also a large burial of Hungarian prisoners. in perestroika, the Hungarians erected a monument there, but someone is constantly breaking it.
    2. +3
      29 January 2016 17: 19
      Of the two divisions consisting of Hungarians, not a single prisoner was.

      In the vicinity of Karaganda there was also a cemetery with Hungarians. During the Gorbachev perestroika, the Hungarian authorities even set up an obelisk for the alleged victims of the totalitarian anti-human Soviet Stalinist regime. Like, in vain the Hungarians suffered. They came the country, the USSR, to see, yes, the local peasants clung to it, a fight went on and they got to the camp near Karaganda. True, the cemetery is practically no longer there, everything has become equal, one obelisk stands in the steppe.
      ... 160 Hungarians remained in Voronezh land.

      Too many 160 thousand Hungarians from two divisions in 200 days.
      For example, about 2 thousand Spaniards passed through the Spanish division for more than 50 years of existence. Killed somewhere around ten thousand, probably no more.
  14. +5
    29 January 2016 11: 30
    The author, but it will be possible in the final article a complete list of countries, units, the number of l / s, where did they commit atrocities?
    1. +2
      29 January 2016 18: 52
      Yes, take any country for 1941 ...
      everyone will be there.
      It was already similar to VO.
      Stunned.
      Only the lazy did not fight against Russia.
      Or very circumspect. Like ... well, okay, yes?
      ..
      So what do you think?
      Everything, literally everything. still here and stayed, Shurochka. All. There are no exceptions.
      Russia, however.
      ...
      ...
      Oh, and not funny statistics, I’m directly saying.
      Not good.
      Cho is all like Ozverin got drunk, and kidayutstsa on us?
      Are we, redheads?
    2. +2
      29 January 2016 20: 44
      Quote: Noisy
      The author, but it will be possible in the final article a complete list of countries, units, the number of l / s, where did they commit atrocities?

      It is theoretically possible to make such a list. But in this article and its continuation, we are talking specifically about foreign units who fought near Leningrad. I did not take into account various labuses, because, whatever one may say, in the 1941 year they were not Europeans, but traitors from former citizens of the USSR. Although this seam near Leningrad was plenty.
  15. +7
    29 January 2016 11: 36
    Good article.
    I would say - so bright, optimistic. Positive
    Which says that "... as long as there are fools in the world ..." etc. Volunteers, damn it.
    Figly did they go to Russia?
    There, in Spain, yes, Norway, France - they would immediately fit into graves. Everything would be cheaper. To everyone.
    Only one thing is good, from the letter of our "bedding" - the Spaniards, it turns out, fed the kids. This is Buenos.
    Well, how to feed - welcome. To the grave.
    ...
    Fifteen-year-old from France - ethnic Armenian, huh? Leon Merdzhian ... d'Mergian, damn it.
    They even kissed him, who knows?
    ...
    A lot of such materials.
    Yes, on the central press and on television.
    Instead of House-2 let them show.
    Especially the ranks of crosses, crosses, crosses ...
    1. +3
      29 January 2016 13: 43
      Quote: Bashibuzuk
      Which says that "... as long as there are fools in the world ..." etc. Volunteers, damn it.
      Figly did they go to Russia?

      With the Spaniards, everything is simple - these are those who "did not fight" in their Civil War, who decided to take revenge on the Bolsheviks for helping the legal government of Spain in 1936-1938.
      Plus, Franco himself thus cleaned Spain from far-right activists who did not fit into the peaceful life, which were a threat to him.
  16. +1
    29 January 2016 11: 56
    55 000 people passed through the Spanish Legion. The population of Spain in the 1940 year is 24 million.

    Actually, this clearly indicates that the id.iots to fight against the Russians were found only 0,23 percent of the population of Spain. Or less than 0,5% of the male population.
    What can be interpreted and how hidden sympathy among a significant part of the Spaniards in relation to Russia.
    1. Alf
      0
      29 January 2016 19: 16
      Quote: Alex_59
      What can be interpreted and how hidden sympathy among a significant part of the Spaniards in relation to Russia.

      About "sympathy" is unlikely. Rather, the question arose-What the hell do we need?
      1. +3
        29 January 2016 20: 16
        Quote: Alf
        About "sympathy" is unlikely. Rather, the question arose-What the hell do we need?

        Why shouldn't the Spaniards sympathize with the USSR? Just a few years ago, almost half of the Spaniards in the civil war were supported by the Soviet people. These Spaniards, after the victory of the Nazis, did not disappear, but remained to live in Spain, harboring anger at the victors. So, in the end, it turned out 0,5%, because half of the Spaniards did not want to fight against the Soviet people under any circumstances, and in the second half, apparently, some also decided "what for we need this." The most frostbitten went, both figuratively and literally (after the first winter near Leningrad).
  17. +4
    29 January 2016 12: 19
    The combat losses of the enemy of the Red Army are distributed throughout Europe. The article practically does not say anything about the participation of Italians, French, Dutch, Danes, Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, Hungarians, Romanians in the war against Russia-USSR. If not for the inclusion in the USSR of the "independent" Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, then these states could be considered allies of Germany, the unifier of Europe.
    Poland also left nearby, which solely heroizes the Craiova Army, which actually joined the SS after the Red Army entered Poland.
    In addition, the Red Army was opposed by the traitorous Vlasovites and other nationalist formations of "representatives" of the peoples of the USSR.
    There is information even about the participation in the war on the side of Hitler by immigrants from Tibet.
    It turns out that the SS is the prototype of the future "European Army".
    In light of modern trends in the development of the geopolitical situation, the publication is very relevant. Europe is pregnant with a new type of Nazism - international. Changes in the political landscape can happen instantly, therefore it is necessary to publish materials on this topic periodically, discarding any "political correctness".
    1. +1
      29 January 2016 20: 46
      Quote: iouris
      The article says almost nothing about the participation in the war against Russia-the USSR of Italians, French, Dutch, Danes, Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, Hungarians, Romanians.

      In fact, at the bottom of the article there is a footnote "to be continued", and there were no Slovaks, Romanians and other Hungarians near Leningrad (and the article is called "Hitler's European Crusaders UNDER LENINGRAD").
      1. 0
        29 January 2016 23: 41
        First of all, the USSR is not Russia, Russia restored its statehood only after leaving the USSR on June 12, 1991. King of Romania Mihai Stalin even awarded the Order of Victory for participation of the Romanian army against Germany, since 43, half of Italians have been at war with the Germans, the Czechoslovak corps of Ludwig Freedom, Slovak uprising, in 45 the Hungarian corps fought for us, the French made up a third of the second front. If the Communists weren’t such a smelly shit, Hitler would not have so many allies
        1. +3
          30 January 2016 02: 25
          Answer.
          "Philosov" looks like a surname. I recommend checking the spelling dictionary.
          The USSR is a form of existence of the Russian Empire in the period 1917-1991.
          All Soviet people, regardless of nationality, were called "Russians". All allies and opponents called the USSR "Russia". RF is a part of Russia.
          The small countries of Europe are usually subject to power. The participation of part of the population of small countries in the war against Russia is often not politically motivated, but by the desire to marauding. The power of the German army impressed the Europeans, Russia was perceived by them as a colossus with feet of clay, and the population as subhuman.
          The communists were at the forefront of the resistance to Nazism. Among them were many Russians who fled from captivity. This is a generally accepted fact. Before the war, communist and leftist ideas were strong in all European states, especially in France, Italy, Greece. That is why the bourgeoisie, the "right," welcomed the arrival of Hitler.
          With the beginning of the liberation of European countries by the Red Army, a civil war broke out in them.
          The presentation of the Order of Victory to Monarch Mihai was Stalin’s political gesture, which should be understood as follows: for the first time a whole European country not only emerged from the war, but also became an ally in the war with Hitler. Subsequently, this did not prevent Stalin from overthrowing Mihai in accordance with the Yalta agreements on the division of Europe between the winners. In principle, after the war in Greece, Italy and France as a result of elections, communists could come to power.
        2. +2
          30 January 2016 05: 03
          Firstly, the USSR is not Russia; Russia restored its statehood only on June 12, 1991, having left the USSR.

          I agree with the iouris.
          Russia is not Russia. This is part of Russia, the main, most part, almost half of Russia, but only a part.
    2. +1
      29 January 2016 21: 19
      "" having discarded any "political correctness." "" In Russia, they have never suffered from political correctness. Except for any liberals.
    3. 0
      29 January 2016 23: 30
      On October 29, 1941, there was a night battle in Kuibyshev. I heard that they were German paratroopers in the NKVD uniform. An eyewitness said that there was a great panic, they thought that Stalin was in Kuibyshev with the entire government. I typed: The battle in Kuibyshev on October 29, 1941 "in Yandex. It is written that two barges with deserters moored to the city, about a thousand people with mortars. The attack was repulsed, then everyone was destroyed on the Samara bow
  18. +4
    29 January 2016 12: 36
    Countries that fought on the German side wanted to participate in the division of the USSR, hoping to snatch something. But there was a mistake. They did not side with the winners, but with the vanquished. Many countries were forced to fight on the side of Hitler. About the people and say no. No one asks their opinion. Although in some places there were partisan movements directed against the Nazis (Italy, France ...).
  19. +5
    29 January 2016 15: 18
    I wrote a story and published it "The Wanderings and the Return of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God." The story was published with the blessing of the abbot of the Tikhvin monastery. In this story, in addition to assessing the ways of wandering and returning the icon, I assessed the results of the battles of the Red Army for the liberation of Tikhvin on December 9, 1941. During this period, units of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts practically destroyed the Spanish volunteers. Conversations and interrogations of the captured Spaniards caused bewilderment of our commanders. These volunteers did not understand why they went to fight. But the ideology of fascism has done its job.
    Later, I had to be in Spain with the government delegation immediately after the death of Franco. We were at the air show in Barcelona. Us from the USSR were 5 Chief Designers. The attention to us was huge. The Spaniards were not only interested in our aviation technology, but also asked a lot about the life of Soviet people. They respected our country. I did not notice a single negative response to our performances and to our exhibits.
    And the Spaniards are very charming girls. In May, it was still cool, but we swam in the Mediterranean Sea. This caused delight among the Spaniards. I have the honor.
    1. +1
      29 January 2016 19: 00
      Spanish women like Spanish women ... ordinary girls.
      How many never happened to be in Palmas, Las Palmas, Canary Islands - women, like women.
      Ours, one word.
      I liked the taxi drivers more, that’s really a truly international ONT.
      Everyone knows, everyone remembers, they judge everything ... and they all deeply care for ... all problems.
      ...
      Spain ... a good country .. when it does not strain.
      ..
      Like everyone, however.
      1. +1
        29 January 2016 20: 49
        Quote: Bashibuzuk
        How many never happened to be in Palmas, Las Palmas, Canary Islands - women, like women.

        Oh, unforgettable Palmas and Santa Cruz! How much is in this word for ... oh! the heart of the Russian merged, how much responded in it ...)))
        1. +1
          29 January 2016 20: 53
          Moreman ..... crap ...
          Klaipeda Trawl Fleet Base ....
          ehhhhhh, youth youth ... a member of the here ... a member of there ....
    2. +1
      30 January 2016 04: 58
      And the Spaniards are very charming girls.

      Girls, young women are always and everywhere beautiful.
      With age, health leaves, and with it both beauty and charm. And also always, and everywhere, and even in Spain.
  20. 0
    29 January 2016 16: 53
    The Finns, except for the stubborn Shutskorites and those who lost their property, for the most part, did not want to fight, especially since there were many (and remained), both Orthodox and Russians, Karelians, and convinced Reds. (In Rovaniemi, in the Arctic Museum, on a memorial plaque, half of the names and surnames are Russian). And to move on the river Sestra, especially since there were fresh memories of the stars received in the "brotherly" and "winter" wars, no one was eager. Mannerheim complained about this, as his dream was covered - to enter his beloved city on a white horse. But the rest of the heroes really were all of Europe. There were only more than 300 thousand Poles.
    1. +6
      29 January 2016 17: 44
      Quote: JääKorppi
      The Finns, except for the stubborn Shutskorites and those who lost their property, for the most part, did not want to fight, especially since there were many (and remained), both Orthodox and Russians, Karelians, and convinced Reds. (In Rovaniemi, in the Arctic Museum, on a memorial plaque, half of the names and surnames are Russians). And to move on the river Sestra, especially since there were fresh memories of the stars received in the "brotherly" and "winter" wars, no one was eager.

      Yes, yes, yes ... that's just the same did not want to fight Finns north of Ladoga reached right up to Svir.
      And on the Karelian Isthmus, the Finns did not want to fight only after they discovered in their own skin that the KaUR was not only more alive than all the living, but also had infantry filling (albeit minimal - but it was). And in Sestroretsk and Beloostrov - also support from the coastal artillery of the KBF.
      And then Juhani realized that he did not really want to crawl a kilometer through the swamp under the machine-gun fire of the blockhouses of the Beloostrovsky armored personnel carrier.
    2. +1
      29 January 2016 19: 05
      There are definitely fewer Finns than Poles! But how were they such pacifists thrown all the way into the regions of the North Caucasus? Where did they then have to leave! Probably in the "Viking"! And they were purely VOLUNTEERS! So they were probably looking for their property in the Caucasus?
      1. 0
        29 January 2016 23: 59
        They were there looking for their enemy with a mustache, it’s not clear what.
    3. -5
      29 January 2016 23: 27
      The Finns fought fiercely. That is why the Red Army fumbled with Finland for six months.
      The battles for Vyborg were already after the signing of the truce. The Finns tried to show that they still have enough strength to resist. Why the Reds had to put their soldiers capturing the city, which, according to the peace treaty, departed to the USSR - a mystery.
      In the Patriotic War, the Finns stopped at the old border, solely because Manerheim was also a general of the old Russian army, giving Stalin the opportunity to use the Road of Life, then Stalin for this gave the Finns the opportunity to save their country. Manerheim was president awarded the largest number of higher orders of other states.
      1. +4
        30 January 2016 10: 11
        Quote: Cap.Morgan
        The battles for Vyborg were already after the signing of the truce. The Finns tried to show that they still have enough strength to resist.

        Well, yes, enough strength. The last reserve is the 16-17 summer cadets of military schools, a terrible force, yeah. Finland was defeated. Simply defeated in a military and economic sense. The USSR received everything and even a little more than what they tried to achieve at the negotiations in Moscow.
        Quote: Cap.Morgan
        In the Patriotic War, the Finns stopped at the old border, solely because Mannerheim was also a general of the old Russian army, giving Stalin the opportunity to use the Road of Life

        This is generally a masterpiece. We reached the old border and got up. Near Leningrad, yes, they did. For the army rebelled and did not want to die under the Russian bunkers. Is Petrozavodsk an old border? It is well said about "allowed to use the dear life". It would be better not to let them ..
  21. +1
    29 January 2016 17: 32
    Who just did not stand out among Hitler's allies ...
    1. +1
      29 January 2016 19: 11
      Volunteers in SS units were from all over Europe. Here is a summary of the national composition of the SS: 50% Germans; 25% - "Volksdeutsche" (Germans who do not live in the territory of the Third Reich); 25% are volunteers of different nationalities. And this is not taking into account the armies of those countries that openly declared war on the USSR (Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, etc.).
      1. +2
        29 January 2016 20: 52
        Quote: Lord Blacwood
        Volunteers in parts of the SS were from all over Europe.

        So yasekn stump! To serve only two years, after you receive Reich citizenship, free education in any state educational institution, you are provided with housing and work in the territory of the Reich or in territories dependent on it. After serving as a volunteer in the Waffen SS, he was released from conscription until the end of his life. That’s all they pushed to Germany, as now. True SS, fortunately, no ...
        1. +2
          29 January 2016 23: 19
          They were not taken to the Wehrmacht.
          The only opportunity to serve on the German side is to join the SS.
          There were many volunteers - ideological fascists. As on the other hand, socialists and communists. Many fought for the idea.
      2. 0
        30 January 2016 00: 01
        Bulgaria did not fight the USSR. It was just that Stalin captured it, and remembering Russia they did not shoot, then Bulgaria fought with Germany.
      3. +1
        30 January 2016 01: 42
        Bulgaria ??? In fact, the USSR declared war on Bulgaria on 07.09.1944/XNUMX/XNUMX. Not a single Bulgarian fought against the USSR. There are no Bulgarian coffins in Russia. Stop lying!
  22. +2
    29 January 2016 19: 20
    Thanks to the author for the article. I was born and live very close to the mentioned places (Uritsk / Staro-Panovo). As a child, he walked a lot in the forest park, climbed up trenches that were still not quite overgrown. Until now, if I go to the forest for mushrooms, it is somewhat surprising that there are no craters from shells.
  23. +2
    29 January 2016 19: 37
    Commentary by a contemporary:

    S. Marshak
    All of Europe

    Hitler Ribbentrop calls
    Goebbels calls to himself:
    - I want all of Europe
    Supported us in the fight!

    - We will be supported by all of Europe! -
    Two slaves answered.
    And set off to recruit
    Numerous troops.

    Swede
    From the city of Berlin,
    Three Belgians
    With a half
    Yes henchman
    Dorio
    Get up ready
    Under the gun.

    Operetnaya
    Hispanic
    With a bunch of crooks
    And drunkards -
    Here is the fascist
    Legion
    All stripes
    And all the tribes.

    Hitler summoned
    Ribbentrop
    And asked,
    Frowning his forehead:
    - This is what -
    All of Europe?
    - All! - answered Ribbentrop.


    For the first time in the newspaper "Izvestia", 1941, No. 177, July 29.
  24. +6
    29 January 2016 20: 55
    Thank you all for your kind feedback, I promise to post a sequel soon. It is not clear, however, why the minus article, like recently on the project, and the "club of adorers" has not yet acquired. )))
    1. +1
      30 January 2016 10: 34
      And a minus from those who, like Europe, see in Russia only the obligation to supply it (Europe) with our national treasure. Throughout the history of the Russian, Russian statehood, "enlightened Europe" has repeatedly tried to conquer our Motherland.
      1. 0
        30 January 2016 10: 38
        Quote: moskowit
        A minus from those

        Thank you. Not for the sake of pluses and ranks, it’s just disgusting to think that there are still vile citizens who, instead of normal criticism or discussion, like petty mongrels, tend to bite around the corner and immediately hide. Yes, God is their judge.
        1. +2
          30 January 2016 18: 13
          The "fifth column" is not a protest element. This is the Enemy. And unfortunately, they are. They made a coup d'etat. And we, the silent majority, to our shame kept silent "in a rag". And now we have what we have.
    2. 0
      31 January 2016 22: 00
      If you look at the articles of other authors, when it seems "everything has no options", then almost always "contra" will appear. So - forget and do not be upset. Again, after all, foreigners read too. Maybe their relatives died here.
  25. +2
    29 January 2016 21: 10
    Quote: Arctidian
    Whoever has not fertilized our land, the Germans, Italians, Spaniards, French, Romanians, you cannot name all of them and at the time to think how the next "nacht osten" might end, but no, they still look at us with ill intentions, well, well, you are welcome, there will be enough land for everyone

    The fact of the matter is that Europe just does not really want it. But their owners (our former allies during the Second World War), the Russian land has not yet been fertilized, which is why they are very greyhounds. Although by and large, if you look at the map of Hitler and the current European Union, you will see a small country like Switzerland. And then and now she seems to be out of business. The question is, why? Why didn't Hitler conquer Switzerland? Two-day wars and all the gold and foreign exchange reserves of Swiss banks are yours. Yes, because both then and now the owners of both Hitler and all other Europeans are sitting there. By the way, Switzerland does not accept migrants at all, unlike Europe. This is so, information for consideration.
    1. +1
      29 January 2016 23: 10
      In Switzerland, one in five is a migrant.
      There is even a monument to a migrant - a bronze idol depicting a stoned or weary Bedouin. This is for information for consideration.
  26. +2
    29 January 2016 23: 15
    There was such a book "The Last Soldier of the Reich" by some Guy, about a French soldier who fought on the side of Hitler. The book is very decent, read in one gulp.
    The article is interesting.
    1. +1
      30 January 2016 11: 18
      Quote: Cap.Morgan
      There was such a book "The Last Soldier of the Reich" by some Guy, about a French soldier who fought on the side of Hitler. The book is very decent, read in one gulp.
      The article is interesting.


      Cyrus Guy. Interesting. Only he is half French, half German.
  27. The comment was deleted.
  28. +1
    30 January 2016 11: 09
    Author is a big and definite plus good Clear, detailed and interesting. Thank!
    I look forward to continuing.
  29. +1
    30 January 2016 21: 52
    As the Führer said, the right hand, which constantly plays the guitar, always prevents the Spaniards from fighting. And Stalin had no complaints against Franco.
  30. +3
    31 January 2016 14: 53
    MIKHAIL SVETLOV.
    ITALIAN.

    Black cross on the chest of an Italian ---
    No carving, no pattern, no gloss.
    A poor family stored
    And the only son wearable.

    A young native of Naples!
    What have you left in Russia on the 'field?
    Why couldn't you be happy
    Over your famous bay?

    I who killed you under Mozdok
    So dreamed of a distant volcano!
    How I wanted to Volga
    Take a ride in the gondola just once!

    But I didn’t come with a gun
    Select Italian summer!
    But my bullets didn’t whistle
    Above the holy land of Raphael!

    Here I shot. Here, where I was born,
    Where I was proud of myself and my friends,
    Where epics about our peoples
    Never sound in translations!

    Is Middle Don Bend
    Studied by foreign scientists?
    Our land --- Russia, Raseyu,
    Have you opened and planted?

    No, they brought you in the train
    To capture distant colonies,
    To cross from the casket from the family
    Grew up to the size of a grave ...

    I will not let my homeland be taken out
    For the expanse of foreign fields!
    I shoot! And there is no justice
    More fair than my bullet!

    You have never 'lived and never' been here!
    But scattered in the snow fields
    Italian blue sky
    Glazed in the dead eyes!
    1. +2
      31 January 2016 20: 57
      Quote: Reptiloid
      MIKHAIL SVETLOV.
      ITALIAN.

      Very good poems.

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