French Volunteers on the Eastern Front and the SS Charlemagne

After the German invasion of France the Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism (Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchévisme, or LVF) was established. What about this army formation? What role did Vichy France played in all this. And how was the SS Charlemagne established?
History Hustle presents: French Volunteers on the Eastern Front and the SS Charlemagne.
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON ► / historyhustler
SUBSCRIBE ► / @historyhustle
INSTAGRAM ► / historyhustle
FACEBOOK ► / historyhustler
TWITTER ► / hustlehistory
SOURCES
Joining Hitler's Crusade. European Nations and the Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941 (David Stahel) France (Oleg Beyda).
The Waffen-SS. A European History (Böhler, Jochen and Gerwarth, Robert).
IMAGES
Images from commons.wikimedia.org and my own.
VIDEO
Video material from:
33rd Waffen Grenadier Division (SS Charlemagne) - French SS Division
• Video
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
MUSIC
"Clenched Teeth" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Crusade" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Lost Frontier" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Lost Frontier" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
SOUNDS
Freesound.org.
Wanna join forces and do a collaboration? Send me an email at: [e-mail]

[@HistoryHustle]

NORWEGIAN SS-VOLUNTEERS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGSlgYprjLKgetE DUTCH SS-VOLUNTEERS: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mILPd2OflpJ0eKM

[@dominiquecharriere1285]

Many of the last resisting "German" soldiers in Berlin were French from the SS Charlemagne, look for the excellent episode of Mark Felton. Kudos to you Stefan, your videos are well documented and very well built!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you, Dominique.

[@joekaput]

@dominique yes, I read of them defending berlin too, there were also Himalayan/tibetan troops defending berlin at the end, that0s another VERY interesting and almost unknown event, if you are curious search for it!

[@basedkaiser5352]

@@joekaput WTF ?! What were the Tibetans doing in Germany ?

[@keighlancoe5933]

That's kinda ironic, because some of the last French troops to surrender were Germans serving in the French Foreign Legion at the Maginot line, and of course some of the last German troops to surrender were Frenchmen serving in the W-SS

[@Someone111ify]

@@joekaput Truly?! Evidence?

[@mariostaline5610]

Little correction: the Action Française both collaborated AND resist the occupation. The first resistant to be killed by the germans was a royalist, so we can't really say that the party collaborated, but it kind of splited. Btw, nice video👍🏻most of french don't know that. I know a lot more after watching this

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you for taking the time to write the correction.

[@takedashingen2799]

​@@HistoryHustle In fact a big part of the man that joined Charles de Gaulle in London were royalist from the Action Française. People tend to forget that despite being anti-semite and anti-communist, they were also germanophic and collaborate wasn't in their plan.

[@justsceptic3085]

@@HistoryHustle like said bossuet " the heretic is the guy who has an opinion" kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2PVhoSrqd2HpdE

[@felixkowalski4382]

Honoré d’ Estienne d’Orves ?

[@filipuucorsu6636]

👍👍👍👍👍 I put similar comments in the flow

[@hermanhedning4220]

In the book "For Europe, The french volunteers of the Waffen-SS" it is stated that Sturmman Mariot carried a french MAS38 SMG during the fighting in pommerania. He apparently brought it with him from his service in the milice. The book also states the use of at least one french 75mm field gun.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting, many thanks for providing us with this additional information!

[@Grahamgusbull]

As a supporter of all the armed fighting Bolshevism,I thoroughly enjoyed this excellent video!

[@HistoryHustle]

ok, thanks...

[@alexresa9039]

Funny every person who makes anti communism a main part of their political identity, always ends up being a fascist

[@Grahamgusbull]

@@alexresa9039 but what are you?

[@alexresa9039]

@@Grahamgusbull not a waterhead

[@Grahamgusbull]

@@alexresa9039 being a supporter of fascism against communism,does not make ME a fascist!…you still haven’t told me what YOU are?

[@edsmith4995]

Volunteered to work (from home) today, but keep getting distracted by awesome things like this.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks and have a nice home working day, Edward.

[@heynice7761]

I just love some history before bed.

[@eesti1234]

I love it as my side dish.

[@marko7172]

I love it before falling asleep

[@jorgealdridge6665]

Upon waking up😃

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you liked it. Don't get nightmares from it of course!

[@panzer-head]

I love it 24/7, but especially with a nice American Cab or Pinot. OK Knob Creek, you got me.

[@bazzakeegan2243]

Another great feature....Some members of the SS Charlemagne fought very courageously during the final days in Berlin....Its funny how, nationality, does not necessarily dictate, what makes a man fight to the end.....Happy New Year Stefan! Keep producing, interesting features on what you do best! Peace from Ireland.......................................

[@HistoryHustle]

Best wishes!

[@sleazen8305]

My french great grandfather was forced to fight in the charlemagne division but he escaped

[@stoggafllik]

@@sleazen8305 The SS divisions, even till the end of the war, recruited on a very strict basis. Ideological and physical excellence was a criteria. So your grandfather, being forced to fight, would not only have been impossible, it would waste valuable arms and resources that could’ve been better used in the hands of a volunteer willing to fight

[@bertrandgeorgeon3992]

Things were not that simple at the end of the war. SS units had to refill their ranks after huge losses on the eastern front. They couldn't maintain their initial criterias to do so. Did you hear about the "malgré-nous" (against-our-will)? In eastern France, Alsace and Moselle regions had been incorporated by force to the Reich after the defeat of 1940. As a result, starting from 1942, young men from this area were forced to serve in the german forces. The ones who refused had to face severe reprisals against themselves and their families. Most of them were incorporated in the Wehrmacht, but some were sent in SS units. There are many cases similar to the one evoked here. My only questioning here is about the precised SS unit on that matter : for what I know, almost all men serving in the Charlemagne were volunteers, due to the political context of its creation (blend od LVF, Milice and Freiwillige SS, as brillantly explained by History Hustle). But the fact that many Alsacians and Mosellans were forced to serve in different Waffen SS units (which ones precisely, I don't know) is perfectly documented. @@stoggafllik

[@stoggafllik]

@@bertrandgeorgeon3992 I will not repeat common sense. The German army does not waste it's already dwindling resources on unwilling fighters that would be better used on willing fighters.

[@stateagent09]

Love this content! Thanks for educating me continuously

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@yousuck785why]

Thank you for the videos!

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome!

[@yousuck785why]

@@HistoryHustle :)

[@xvsj5833]

Excellent Research and detailed knowledge Thank you for sharing ✌️

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your message!

[@borja1000]

I like these vids that cover a lot of less explored topics with a good range of details. Subscribed.

[@HistoryHustle]

Awesome, welcome th the channel!

[@manfreddreschflegel1067]

Absolutely fascinating.

[@HistoryHustle]

Agree!

[@bassman3235]

Awesome content as always man! It would be awesome if you could do some videos on the French amry of 1940. I'm not even French,but those guys deserve way more attention for their actions in 1940,I'm thinking of Lille,Dunkirk,Stonne and so on... Keep up the great work!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks. French 1940 Army I'd like to cover but there is a lack of copyright free photos. I see what I can do.

[@reglisse42]

Your explanation are very clear and instructive, I didn’t know very well this part of my country’s history , very interesting thank a lot .

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@toriidawdy8456]

Classic history hustle ! I had never seen vichy regalia much less that of the charlemagne div. Thanks!

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for replying!

[@DedMan516]

Great video and channel 💪🏽

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!!

[@Gloopular]

I recall a certain Guy Sajer encountering French volunteers in the midst of battle on the eastern front. Sajer was half French half German and wrote 'The Forgotten Soldier' an engrossing and now a controversial account of his time in Russia much of it with the Grossdeutschland division.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing!

[@josephvanuxem9671]

Guy Sajer, was Alsacian, and press ganged in the german army. If I remembered right, having read his book some 44 years ago, he voluntiered to join the GD division just to follow his friend. His mother was german and his father french.

[@Gloopular]

@@josephvanuxem9671 Ah yes his friend Hals. Then there was the 'Veteran', Lensen and many other memorable characters.

[@cormacsheedy3522]

Great read . Really enjoyed it .

[@romanbrough]

Brilliant book. Very good account of the German army in Russia. Best one I have ever read.

[@anerolabc]

Great videos I love them all.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@bennyandersen742]

Thanks, I will never stop learning new things about WW2

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome. Thanks for your reply.

[@vall6154]

Thanks for this video about the the French troops fighting for the German army, I really enjoyed it.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@CaptHollister]

As a counterpoint, perhaps you can make a future video about the Normandie-Niemen squadron of French volunteers who flew Yak-1s and Yak-3s alongside the Soviets on the Eastern Front. Incidentally, at the end of the war Stalin gifted them the Yak-3s which they flew home. These were incorporated into the Armée de l'Air.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting one!

[@gchecosse]

Nota Bene did an excellent video on this.

[@haroldearlgray5629]

Very cool video

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks!

[@frankwhite3406]

A most interesting episode indeed.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you!

[@General.Longstreet]

Fascinating stuff!

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@erhard3178]

In the middle of Eastern Front in June 1944 the French volunteers for some time defended their positions so well that the Soviets thought they face 2 French Divisions. In reality the French had strenght of half-battalion. Source: SS- The Hitler's Instrument of terror by Gordon Williamson.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@erhard3178]

@@HistoryHustle No problem.

[@zacht1217]

Love your videos keep it up brother

[@HistoryHustle]

👍thank you.

[@davidxu6289]

I have my first day of school tomorrow but I just found your videos. They are all very entertaining!

[@HistoryHustle]

Great to hear. Good luck on school!

[@davidxu6289]

@@HistoryHustle thanks! Hope you have a good day as well!

[@saharajat2557]

Great video Stefan! I think you should cover the Danish Free Corps next. As you covered France the Netherlands and Norway but you missed Denmark.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks Steve and yes, much more to cover there is.

[@bouchacourtthierry8506]

Flander ...Wallonia ...others !!!

[@WrongholeReagan]

Great vid as always. Would you be interested in making a video on the 1940 invasion of Belgium?

[@HistoryHustle]

Will do in the future somewhere but cannot tell when.

[@dutchigamemania]

Lekker stefan, altijd weer goede video's !

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt!!

[@kd2612]

Groot Nederlands fur alles front! Van severen mit uns ! Verdinaso van noordfrankrijk! Hou zee!

[@davidtarbuck4166]

These videos are amazing…. Thanks so much for making them and highlighting the fight against Bolshevism

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your reply.

[@pyro4189]

You know that the SS were the bad guys?... Right?

[@iggyortful]

Can you do one on the 250th Infantry Division " The Spanish Blue Division " ?? Keep the great videos coming 👍!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Expect somewhere in November / December.

[@anthovision7048]

Love from Brussels 🇧🇪 Steefan 🙏🏾❤️ I hope to see a video about the Vlaamse SS or Wallonien SS one day Please. Thanks for your good work and research.

[@HistoryHustle]

You're welcome. In the future I will cover the Belgian volunteers. Might be in 2021.

[@TONIOFSFV]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJKchH-HpMSohKM

[@thierrybouchacourt7095]

Funny : Vlaams and Walloons that hâte each eather in two différents WSS division.

[@johnmurdoch3083]

I have degrelles book sitting on a shelf waiting to be read..the man was vain but he certainly lived an interesting life.

[@rsocor01]

I thought that I knew almost everything about ww2. Today I've got a humbling experience with this new video. I didn't know about these French volunteers. :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks! Glad you found it interesting.

[@bottledgrunt6968]

Love the videos! Can you do a video on maybe Italian or Spanish volunteers in the Wehrmacht and SS? Thank you

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you. Will probably do somewhere in the future.

[@edsmith4995]

@@HistoryHustle The Spanish Blue division who fought on the eastern front have a very interesting history, and would make a great video!

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes agree!

[@edsmith4995]

@@HistoryHustle Looking forward to it already 😜

[@HistoryHustle]

Great!

[@emperorshowa8842]

This is interesting !!! You are a creative man.

[@HistoryHustle]

👍

[@emperorshowa8842]

@@HistoryHustle 👍

[@emperorshowa8842]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnzHhXaeo5Kje6M

[@sjabloon12]

Everytime I watch a video of Mark Felton I always get here. Not that I mind, but I think it has to do with the youtube algorithm.

[@HistoryHustle]

More people mention this. I don't mind ☺️

[@billd.iniowa2263]

@@HistoryHustle I'd call it a pretty big compliment. ;-)

[@panzer-head]

Well, the channel you get directed to is “History Hustle”

[@IRON-HENRY]

Mark Felton makes great Vids!

[@CP1871]

I wish you'd been my history teacher. You're much more passionate than the US history teacher I had in my senior year of highschool.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thank you!

[@baptistebrigand5882]

.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Yes finally!

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

These videos are like Kinder Überraschung ;)

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you like it guys.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

@@HistoryHustle Swap rotors. The eggs are layed, the eggs are not hatched, the eggs are in the basket. End of message.

[@goodnightvienna8511]

As far as I have been able to research, the unit badge which consists of the Fleur-de-lis, I found an example of one which the Fleur-de-lis is yellow and the other side is blue, but I don't think this was the one stitched on the tunic.

[@davidraper5798]

An interesting subject and a complex one.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed. Hope you found it interesting.

[@DutchVader040]

Heel snel mijn favorite KZbin kanaal aan het worden. Iedereen die deze beste man als geschiedenis leraar heeft.... heeft de geschiedenis jackpot gewonnen. Geschiedenis was mijn favorite vak ondanks de saaie leraren. Ben 38 maar zou graag bij uw klas aanschuiven voor een paar lessen

[@HistoryHustle]

Bedankt voor je bericht, Johan! Er komt nog voor interessants aan. Voel je vrij om ook de oudere video's te bekijken. Dit kanaal bevat er inmiddels meer dan 250!

[@memoriesofmychildhood7297]

Good job Dutch dude.Love your documentaries.

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks 👍

[@mammuchan8923]

I love these videos on the other nations fighting in the Nazi armies because it digs into the motivation of the soldiers and their psyche. Keep up the good work. PS enjoying watching your travels on Instagram❤️

[@HistoryHustle]

Many thanks. Great you liked the video as well as my current travel stories.

[@krisfrederick5001]

Also pointing out that Germans were not doing this alone, they had a lot of help.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed.

[@TimDutch]

Subcribers gaan nu erg snel omhoog! Mag ook wel met deze kwaliteit :)

[@HistoryHustle]

Geweldig hè, dank!

[@ntphong999]

Do a video on the " Malgré-nous ", the Alsacians who were enrolled in the Wehrmacht by force.

[@HistoryHustle]

Future perhaps. Interesting topic.

[@paulmauser5076]

130 000 malgré nous d'Alsace et de Moselle.

[@lepigeonrhouurhouu5759]

Oui enfin ça reste un peu un mythe pour le coup. On ce rappel de ces alsaciens "malgré nous" qui ont commis le massacre de français comme a Oradour sur glane ou c'était bien des alsaciens qui ont d'ailleurs désobéit aux supérieurs allemand en commettant ce massacre. Donc bon ça m'a l'air plus complexe que ça.

[@mitchelfridt5576]

Stefan, could you maybe tell us something about the 'bende van oss' or 'Affaire Oss'?? It would be really nice thought! Thx anyways 😁

[@HistoryHustle]

I have seen the movie and know the carnavalesque song. Not really on my list though because it is too niche. But never say never.

[@alandeweld3059]

Charlemagne's French SS were the last formed unit to enter Berlin before the city was surrounded. They surrendered after losing 90% of their troops on May 2, preventing Stalin from taking the city on May 1.

[@HistoryHustle]

That sure made a world of difference...

[@gringologie9302]

@@HistoryHustle yes that was. May 1 was a very symbolic day anniversary for stalin.

[@johnmurdoch3083]

I read an interesting anecdote where a French general (I think leclerc) captured some French ss and asked why they were wearing german uniforms and one of the frenchmen retorted "why are you wearing an american uniform." Leclerc has them all shot for that. I think it demonstrates the gray area here in france specifically between the vichy aligned and the allied aligned side which unfortunately is ignored after the war when everyone wanted to show off their Resistance credentials.

[@HistoryHustle]

I've noticed that too somewhere. Thanks for sharing this.

[@phlm9038]

And 25 years later you had many leftists in France who pretended that the resistance never had existed and that everyone was a collaborator. Luckily you have today historians like Dominique Lormier to set the record straight.

[@surinfarmwest6645]

One screen has qualifying for the F1 ..... will have to read it later as this screen has my full attention. Excellent video as always, interesting how the far right in France was four groups that never joined up. That's politics and power then.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your message.

[@SafariPilot]

Do you have an episode on the Belgian volunteers?

[@HistoryHustle]

Not yet. Future. Can't tell when.

[@renelogtenberg141]

REAL history teacher. Mine could only read from the standard history books and say 'moef' if he wanted you to go....thanks Stefan.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for your comment, Rene.

[@henryquenin6580]

Great video. I would like to see a video about the action between the Vichy supporting elements of the French Foreign Legion who fought against the DeGaulle supporting elements of the French Foreign Legion in Syria during WWII: Legionaires against Legionaires. Per wikipedia: "...The Syria-Lebanon Campaign of June 1941 saw legionnaire fighting legionnaire as the 13e D.B.L.E clashed with the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e REI at Damascus. Nevertheless, many legionnaires of the 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment 6e (dissolved on 31 December 1941) integrated into the Marching Regiment of the Foreign Legion R.M.L.E in 1942. ..."

[@mr.wololo9927]

Can you do videos about battles or campaigns like the DAK or Stalingrad

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps in the future.

[@Ok-oj5vu]

Have you already made a video about de slag om de schelde, because I can't find it.

[@HistoryHustle]

Ik bespreek de slag hier: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZiYeHh7gtl2qas

[@Ok-oj5vu]

@@HistoryHustle ok thanks

[@twistusvonhasburg4000]

As a man orignally born in Quebec, i know that at least 3 quebeckers fought in the SS Charlemagne and 2 in the British Free Corps

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@proshopsportif6219]

Your french prononciation is spot on.

[@HistoryHustle]

🇫🇷👍

[@Ok-oj5vu]

Can you maybe do a video about kamp vught?

[@HistoryHustle]

Perhaps somewhere in the future.

[@missyz2561]

Thanks for this channel and your work! Many answered the cause to save Europe from Communism. Myself come from Sweden and even we had soldiers fighting mainly in 11. SS Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland. The last Swede to fall during the war was Ragnar Johansson from Skövde, who fell on the first of May 1945 in Berlin.

[@HistoryHustle]

Glad you find it interesting. Many indeed believed to fight communism, but since Stalin never had plans to invade Europe (that's a pro-Nazi / revisionist myth) the cause is unjust. Furthermore, many joined because of other reasons.

[@missyz2561]

@@HistoryHustle I agree with you and i think there is a difference between people joining the crusade in 1941 and the people who defended Germany when the war turned bad. Many people simple feared what Stalin and the Soviets would do if they won the war. War of cultures, the way of life was at stake in many peoples eyes i would imagine.

[@steffannystad]

@@HistoryHustle I think many feared what the Reds did prior to WW2. Clearly, if the Communists had taken Poland, they would have desired to move further west. In addition, there was plenty of political turmoil related to communism leading up to WW2 in western Europe.

[@diehard2705]

@@HistoryHustle can you make a video about that? I was under the impression that the Russians wanted to fight the Germans eventually but didn’t necessarily want to take over Europe? I could be dead wrong I just thought I read that somewhere

[@neilkenny82]

Those fleeing west were captured by the French army and shot out of hand- why miss that part?

[@HistoryHustle]

Some were but not all. I don't believe this happened systematically.

[@edsmith4995]

@@HistoryHustle That's correct, there is some old footage on KZbin of SS Charlemagne volunteers Christian de la Mazière and Henri Fenet discussing their involvement in the battle of Berlin.

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting!

[@edsmith4995]

@@HistoryHustle Indeed, Henri Fenet gets quite emotional and almost starts crying when he declares "loyal to the end".

[@neilkenny82]

Read ‘for Europe’, stockpile military press. Detailed history of the French forces serving Germany, their actions and deaths. Also ‘Ashes of Honour’, Alan Windgate press, London Written by a veteran of the above French forces from start to finish-Jacques Boulay

[@TheYeti308]

Great Guys , Good at their roll .

[@HistoryHustle]

Don't get the second expression but ok.

[@gweltas1372]

They are traitors, despite their undeniable bravery.

[@freakyfishy1]

Hello, could you make a video about the Wehrmacht Strafbataillon? Btw, do you speak German ? (I think you have been asked this question already ) Keep up the huzzle

[@HistoryHustle]

One day I will dive into that. I speak German fairly well. Listening not that great. Reading OK. Writing/grammar: don't ask.

[@PaulO-xh7sr]

Damn, you're the best historian...

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks, Pawel!

[@dieterbarkhoff1328]

My father, born in Leipzig in February 1924, was conscripted - I emphasize 'conscripted' - in February 1941. His first gig was the 6th Army road to Stalingrad. He told me once about the Alsatian Conscripts of his age who fought alongside him, who post WW1 had been forbidden to learn or speak their native language, i.e. German by post-Versailles French Laws. His heart went out to them.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@kobegeyskens7327]

Can you do one about the Flemish volunteers?

[@HistoryHustle]

Future. Can't tell when.

[@Bradandchristinenj]

Kobe Geyskens This historical topic interests me also. One source of further info is the book; "Lions of Flanders; Flemish volunteers WSS 1941-45' by Richard Landwehr, 165 pgs, softbound. 1996 @ Shelf Books. UK As an American & former resident of Oost Vlaanderen, Stephan's excellent coverage of the important Battle of The Schelde Estuary (pre-requisite to the Allies' utilization of Antwerp port) really helped me understand the bigger picture in 1944-45 Flanders & the Southern Nederlande. Dank u wel !

[@kobegeyskens7327]

@@Bradandchristinenj Thanks i will check it out.

[@Bradandchristinenj]

John Sm. Gee, thanks John. Now I’ve purchased a 2nd hand copy of this book ! I’ve seen it around years ago. “Knowledge is costly, ignorance is more expensive”. Thank you.

[@anthovision7048]

Bonjour / Goeidag de Bruxelles 👀👌🏾 mijn copain

[@ramO-jp8tp]

french uniforms with nazi insignia would have been interesting to see in eastern front footage, it’s the little facts like that, that make me love this channel

[@HistoryHustle]

Great 👍

[@anthovision7048]

I am actually reading La division Charlemagne by Jean Mabire it's such a good book

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting.

[@EvocatusX]

I'm looking to buy his series

[@albert07071]

I will check out. Thanks for information

[@twigman8806]

Could you do a history of the British Free corps

[@HistoryHustle]

It's planned, but expect 2021.

[@florinivan6907]

I wonder if Hitler knew that some of the last defenders of Berlin were french. Probably not we can only imagine his reaction to hearing that

[@HistoryHustle]

Guess so. I think he wasn't too worried with that at this point. We'll never know.

[@gringologie9302]

For sure he knew it, the last german military decorations that hitler gave to soldiers were to some french.

[@phlm9038]

@@gringologie9302 A lack of knowledge in the comments ;)

[@adielstephenson2929]

You missed the payoff at the end, ie what happened to the survivors after the war.

[@HistoryHustle]

Prison or death.

[@adielstephenson2929]

@@HistoryHustle 12 were handed over to the French and were shot for treason, but the main guy was sentenced later to 20 years in prison and was released after just 10.

[@johnryder1713]

Leuke video over iets wat niet bekend is, dat klinkt als de typisch Franse uitspraak van "angst rassen colobarators" maar het lijkt erop dat er zoveel beschikbaar waren. Even terzijde, over Nederlandse uniformen, las ik in een boek over Tony Luteyn, een Nederlander en Airey Neave, een Engelsman die aan Colditz ontsnapte met Dutch Kit, veel gemakkelijker om te zetten in geïmproviseerde bewakingsuniformen.

[@HistoryHustle]

Dank voor je bericht! Zeker een minder bekend stukje van WO2.

[@matteusgreyling7074]

I would like if you could make a video about the Dutch settlers in South Africa, it's something I feel isnt taught alot in South African history schoolbooks and books

[@HistoryHustle]

Not anytime soon. Sorry.

[@matteusgreyling7074]

@@HistoryHustle 👍🏻

[@robbleeker4777]

I didn't know but it does not surprise me

[@HistoryHustle]

Fair point.

[@caslinden1373]

Huts nieuwe video 👍🇳🇱

[@HistoryHustle]

Yes!

[@whatforaaron2494]

The bolt action French MAS 36 rifle saw action on the Eastern Front.

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok thanks for sharing.

[@stefancesen3302]

Can you do a vidio abaut partezans pls

[@HistoryHustle]

Future.

[@southmanpaw133]

A good book on this subject is The Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing.

[@risikocontrollingmr.1833]

Is is? When i remember it right, Guy Sajer has a German mother and he was serving in the Wehrmacht division „Grossdeutschland“. He was never be a member of the SS and he hadn‘t betrayed bis motherland.

[@TheDkdom]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqe3dn-hjNF1lac Could be the answer to your question about french weaponry used by LVF. At 4:32, you can see the rear or an Hotchkiss machinegun. On the original comment, they say that this machinegun was "taken to the ennemy" (As the commentator says that they wear the "european" uniform)

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@domberrardelli449]

about the 8.ss sturmbrigade, it never fought the French resistance within France, it was in training from September 1943 all the way to august 1944 when they were first engaged. The unit started as a regiment between august 1943 to march 1944, then as an artillerie regiment in march-aril 1944 and became a sturmbrigade from April 1944 to august 1944. Otherwise your video is pretty interesting!! cheers

[@HistoryHustle]

thanks

[@thierrybouchacourt7095]

That the milice that fough résistants ... And Gendarmerie (GMR) ... résistants were called Terrorists.

[@krisfrederick5001]

Being half French and half German, I find this is all very conflicting.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

I don't believe you are a nazi. Be cool, be yourself. Peace from The Netherlands.

[@HistoryHustle]

Understandable. And thanks for responding Mike.

[@ronhuppert2410]

Have you read “The Forgotten Soldier” by Guy Sajer?

[@HistoryHustle]

No I have not.

[@rokadaprliinnysystemyaczno4761]

There are always mamy sides to each story. The history we are taught at school is highly simplified

[@gordpearce9433]

the french ss division " charlemagne " did not have a specific collar tab and wore the ss runes. also they wore the french flag sleeve patch on their right sleeve below the ss eagle and the "charlemagne " sheild was never issued but used as a divisional insignia to reconize them as an ss division...

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@gordpearce9433]

@@HistoryHustle hi...i am from Canada and reenact here,,,just thought i would add a little info in case many of the veiwers never knew...plus keep up the great videos...especially the foregein legion ones,,i reenact a waffen-ss general with 5 Wiking SS Canada and a teacher of history studies of the Wiking division

[@lloyddizon1604]

I saw an old documentary from those charlemagne units saying 'loyal to the end'. That i think what separates the SS from any other unit in the war. Regardless of what people think about them. Including the misconception of the ss guards in the concentration camps vs the ss units in the frontlines.

[@HistoryHustle]

There is a distinction but that doesn't make the SS front men innocent. Far from. During the Warsaw Uprising they behaved savagely.

[@edsmith4995]

@@HistoryHustle True, and I'm assuming you're referring to the Dirlewanger Brigade, which would also make a very interesting video, which was essentially a penal battalion comprised of career criminals and sadists, and excelled at brutalising civilians. German reports during the uprising stated that they were ineffective as a combat unit, as were more interested in looting, rape and brutalising the locals . Although it's not been verified, it's suspected the Germans themselves killed their sociopathic commander. Although the SS were obviously fighting for an evil regime, I suspect many of the foreign volunteers genuinely believed they were joining a noble cause, and had a deep felt desire to fight against Bolshevism, however the entire organisation will be forever tainted due to the sheer number of war crimes committed by SS units in general.

[@swaders]

For sure

[@HistoryHustle]

Ok

[@TheSpritz0]

There were LOTS of Nazi Militia in France as well, and they fought in battles against the French Resistance...

[@HistoryHustle]

Sure something for a future video.

[@TheSpritz0]

@@HistoryHustle The Battle of Glières was the biggest battle the MILICE and Franc-Garde (the Armed version of the Milice) staged against the Resistance...

[@thevoid5503]

4:45 History is full of such twisted little ironies.

[@HistoryHustle]

Sure is.

[@wiepllack3874]

Can you please tell me what the V on the left arm of a German Nazi uniform in WWII had to say

[@HistoryHustle]

Good question. I believe this was a rank. Which one I don't know.

[@HistoryHustle]

Thanks!

[@wiepllack3874]

@@BangFarang1 Thanks to you now I know what kind of thing mean grandfather was wearing on his arm.

[@superjohnnygamble6328]

Do you know about the British Free Corps? These were a very small number of Brits who fought for the Wehrmacht.

[@HistoryHustle]

Have to research that.

[@theodorossarafis7370]

actually germans gave the title freiwillinger (volunteers) to formations made by non aryans (eg russians, french, estonians etc) while for aryan nations they had similar titles as german units (norwegians, dutch etc). it is interesting to know why so many europeans who initially fought against the germans later on collaborated with them. we see that more than half of the waffen ss were non germans. i would also like to know the fate of the majority of these collaborators. very good video!!!

[@HistoryHustle]

Have a whole playlist for you here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGSlgYprjLKgetE

[@bouchacourtthierry8506]

There were distinction in between : "Aryan" , "nordic", Germanic " ... Wallonians were concidered as Germanic french speaking ... Ukrainians as Untermench... there were also a distinction in between French WSS from the Frankreich Brigade considered as Pure SS and the SS Charlemagne division that was a mixt of LVF vétérans. survivors french brigade SS , milicians ...others ...concidered as volonters ... Wallonians SS were catholics ....Many French SS considered themself as Pagans ...

[@jan-jaapblanken144]

Ik kijk ook je Nederlandse video’s wil je ook zo’n video maken in het Nederlands. En ook over de Nederlandse ss maken.

[@HistoryHustle]

Die komt er, over Nederlandse vrijwilligers in de Waffen SS. Fransen niet. Mijn Nederlandstalige kanaal zal op de tweede plaats staan. Het Engelstalige kanaal zal prioriteit blijven hebben.

[@kerrydennison7947]

Hey.. was there not a voluntary Italian and a Greek SS brigade that fought on the Eastern front?

[@HistoryHustle]

Italian SS yes but only after 1943 I believe when Italy surrendered and Greek SS didn't exist.

[@sandykristensen8099]

I have seen in a book fore SS units waffen. And they did youse french rifle's and submachine-guns to👍

[@HistoryHustle]

Okay, thanks for sharing this!!

[@joeMama-ls5km]

You should cover more in depth the russian ss units specifically the 30th Waffen Grenadier Division and the Waffen-Sturm-Brigade der SS RONA/ Kaminski brigade

[@HistoryHustle]

Already did. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXzTm2pua7iiqMU

[@oveidasinclair982]

France wasn't too kind to the returning and captured French SS soldiers and the Soviets were more than happy to turn their captured French SS over to the French government in 1945.

[@edsmith4995]

True, and it was same for SS volunteers of all nations, who were either imprisoned or executed, including the tiny contingent of British Free Corp SS volunteers.

[@edsmith4995]

@@mathewkelly9968 Some of the British Waffen SS chaps managed to escape the gallows by claiming they signed up in order to sabotage the unit, but their hardcore ideologically Nazi leader was thankfully hanged.

[@HistoryHustle]

I know some former SS volunteers were sent to Indochina to fight there.

[@camm8642]

they didn't deserve kindness ss for the most part were some of the worst.

[@user-gz3eh1ow3w]

There was alternative idea to create German-Roman-Russian-Japanese Eurasian union(Germany-Italy-Russia-Japan).Karl Haushofer,german nationalist founded geopolitics school in Germany,he first created idea of Lebensraum and he advised Adolf Hitler and Rudolf Hess.Haushofer supported Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and told to follow it.en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Haushofer

[@HistoryHustle]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@arnoldfiebig9776]

I expected more! Your interpretations are rather personal or based on the opinions of others. Present historical records to verify your statements.

[@HistoryHustle]

See sources in the description below.

[@alexandreippoliti6898]

There was the last to fight in Berlin to defend the futherbunker. And save germany to the humilate defeat in the symbolic day of the 1 May.

[@HistoryHustle]

Not sure if they were aware of this themselves. But good point you make here.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Pétain became from WWI hero to WWII scapegoat.

[@HistoryHustle]

Crazy turn of events yes.

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

@SSJ So much for communists.

[@theleos8]

@SSJ Far-right revisionism. Pétain was not forced to collaborate , and did not collaborate to " lessen the burden ". He willingly betrayed France , and uncovered documents by french historians prove that he started to work on the persecution of jews of his own will , without any orders from the nazis

[@theleos8]

By historical revisionism , I mean exactly what you doing : On the 3rd of October 1940 , in the " free zone " , by initiative of the Vichy regime and annotated by Pétain himself to be harsher than what was initially planned , the first law on the statut of jews is promulgated. It applied to french jews. Very shortly after the Vichy regime was established , Pétain spontaneously and autonomously started to persecute jews , including those with french nationality. Accounts from close collaborators of Pétain says that he personally said that he no longer wanted jews within education and administration. Numerous french jews saw their nationality voided by law. As for your blurb about only the radical right seeing Pétain as a traitor , it is ridiculous and far from the truth if we look at who work security for far-right french political party ( neo-nazis and vichy nostalgics )

[@jagdpanther2224]

He has done nothing wrong! FRANCE in 1930s was very corrupted and after the defeat in 1940, France has nothing left to fight but complied with the German occupiers to survive!

[@billd.iniowa2263]

At 9:45 I dont quite understand. Why would the SS care that the LVF conducted themselves in this fashion? Sounds like SS standard operating procedure to me.

[@HistoryHustle]

Indeed. Can't tell what the opinion of these officers was.

[@theorder4592]

This video is giving me TNO vibes, from the Burgundian state which Himmler planned.

[@HistoryHustle]

TNO? The New Order?

[@theorder4592]

@@HistoryHustle Yeah, the Hearts of Iron mod.

[@HistoryHustle]

Ah I see!