The Freiwilligen-Stamm-Division was formed in January 1944 in southern France and was used to train cadre for the units made up of volunteers from the Soviet Union. It also saw action against the French resistance.

Soldiers from this division were among the 80 German POWs killed by French partisans at Les Rousses 3 September 1944 in reprisal of the killing of French civilians. (1)

Commanders

Generalleutnant Ralph von Heygendorff (1 Feb 1944 - 11 Mar 1944)
Generalmajor Wilhelm von Henning (11 Mar 1944 - 12 Sep 1944)
Generalmajor Bodo von Wartenberg (12 Sep 1944 - ? May 1945)

Area of operations

France (Jan 1944 - ?)

Order of battle

Freiwilligen-Stamm-Regiment 1 (Oberst Otto Macks) (Georgians, Turks & North Caucasians)
- Turkestanische Bataillon I/370
- Georgische Bataillon I/9 or /I295
- Georgische Bataillon I/4
Freiwilligen Stamm Regiment 2 (Oberst Boehme) (Armenians & Azerbaijanis)
- Aserbeischanische Legion Battalions 804 806 I/73 (Hauptmann Lange)
- Armenische Legion Battalion 810
- Wolgatatarische Legion
Freiwilligen Stamm Regiment 3 (Maj. Wilhelm Sebald then Werner Anton) (Russians & Ukrainians)
- OstBataillon 550
- Turk. Ausbildungs Bataillon
Freiwilligen Stamm Regiment 4 (Oberst Hans Hesse) (Russians & Ukrainians)
- Ost Ausbildungs Bataillon
- Ost Ers Bataillon
- Schanz Bataillon "Wittig"
- Sturm Bataillon "Huber"
Freiwilligen Stamm Regiment 5 Kosaken (Cossacks)
- Ost Reiter Abteilung 403 II and III/454

Footnotes

1. "Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44" by Peter Lieb.

Sources used

Peter Lieb - Konventioneller Krieg oder NS-Weltanschauungskrieg?: Kriegführung und Partisanenbekämpfung in Frankreich 1943/44
Georg Tessin - Verbände und Truppen der deutschen Wehrmacht 1933-1945

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -