SS Charlemagne: The 33rd Waffen-Grenadier Division of the SS

Those volunteers, simple soldiers at the time of enlistment, that show the required aptitude, can be admitted to the officer and NCO schools of the Waffen-SS. Admittance to these schools will not be determined by the candidates’ diplomas or university degrees, but solely by their proven personal qualities and aptitude for command.

Command will be Exercised Jointly by German and French Officers

French officers and NCOs will have the opportunity of regaining their ranks and receiving commands after attending a course at the Waffen-SS officer and NCO schools. The courses will include instruction and examination in capacity and aptitude for command.

In addition, those simple soldier volunteers showing the required aptitudes could also be admitted to the same schools.

The General Situation for French Volunteers

Basically no difference is made between volunteers in the Waffen-SS, they all undergo the German Waffen-SS regime.

The Waffen-SS being the big family of the new Europe’s young combatants, the French volunteers will have exactly the same duties and obligations, but also the same advantages, as their German, Nowegian, Danish, Dutch, Fleming, Walloon or Swiss comrades.

Annex B The Initial Command Structures

Inspectorate of French SS Units

Inspector: SS-Maj-Gen Dr Gustav Krukenberg

HQ Brigade Charlemagne

Comd: Brig Edgar Joseph Puaud

Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 57 (frz. 1)

Comd: Maj Victor de Bourmont

Waffen-Grenadier Regiment der SS 58 (frz. 2)

Comd: Maj Emile Raybaud

SS-Artillery Battalion 57

SS-Tank-Hunting Battalion 57

SS-Field Replacement Battalion

SS-Training and Replacement Battalion

(Greifenberg)

Bibliography

Bernage, Georges. Berlin 1945, Bayeux: Heimdal, 2005

Dieckert, Major Kurt and General of Infantry Horst Grossmann. Der Kampf um Ostpreussen, Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag, 1998 (first published 1960)

Duffy, Christopher. Red Storm on the Reich, London: Routledge, 1991

Forbes, Robert. Pour L’Europe – French Volunteers of the Waffen-SS, Trowbridge: Redwood Books, 2000

Jackson, Julian. France – The Dark Years 1940–1944, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001

Kieser, Egbert. Danziger Bucht 1945, Munich: Bechtle Verlag, 1997 (first published 1978)

Mabire, Jean. La Brigade Frankreich, Paris: Librairie Arthème Fayard, 1973

Mabire, Jean. Berlin in Todeskampf (Mourir à Berlin), Preussisch Oldendorf: Verlag K.W. Schütz KG, 1977

Mabire, Jean. La Division Nordland, Paris: Librairie Arthème Fayard, 1982

Némirovsky, Irène. Suite Française, London: Vintage Books, 2007

Pantenius, Hans Jürgen. Letzte Schlacht an der Ostfront – Von Döberitz bis Danzig 1944/1945, Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH, 2002

Paxton, Robert O. Vichy France, n.p., n.d.

Rocolle, Colonel Pierre. Götterdämmerung – La Prise de Berlin, Indo-China: French Military Press, 1954

Schoenbrun, David: Soldiers of the Night, London: Robert Hale, 1981

Schön, Heinz. Die letzten Kriegstage – Ostseehäfen 1945, Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag, 1995

Tiemann, Ralf: Die Leibstandarte, Vol IV/2 – Opfergang fü Deutschland – Die Leibstandarte in den letzten Monaten, Coburg: Nation Europa Verlag, 2000

Trigg, Jonathan: Hitler’s Gauls – The History of the 33rd Waffen Division Charlemagne, Stroud: Spellmount, 2006

Williamson, Gordon: Waffen-SS Handbook 1933–1945, Stroud: Sutton, 2003

Index

Map numbers are given in bold.

Aiching, Gen, 77

Air Ministry, 113, 116, 147, 150, 153–4, 7

Albert, 2/Lt Pierre, 172

Albert, Sgt Roger, 132–3, 135, 140, 142, 155–7

Alexandrinenstrasse, 117, 7

Allgeier, SS-Lt, 21, 174

Allianz Bldg, 122

Alt Steglitz, 92

André, Lt, 172

Anhalter railway station, 111, 118, 136, 7

Anklam, 77, 85, 8

Anneshaensel, SS-O/Cdt Dr Ludwig, 76, 172

Appolot, SSgt François, 137, 157

Arc de Triomphe, 6

Arnswalde, 28, 8

Artus, Lt Jean, 39, 172

Aubin, Gren Paul, 157

Audibert, Lt, 161

Audry, Gren, 157

Aumon, O/Cdt, 161

Auphan, Lt Michel, 46, 48–51, 172

Axmann, Reich Youth Leader Arthur, 149

Bachmann, SS-2/Lt, 117, 124

Bachrain, 45

Badanian, Gen, 126

Bad Kleinen, 162, 8

Bad Polzin (Polczyn), 49–51, 54–5, 2

Bad Reichenhalle, 165

Bad Tölz, 20

Baldenburg (Bialy Bór), 43–4, 52, 1

Baltic Coast/Sea (Ostsee), 25, 29, 40, 52, 73, 162, 2, 3, 8

Bärenhütte (Bińcze), 31, 34, 41–2, 1

Bärenwalde (Gebarzewo), 33–8, 41, 51, 79, 87, 1

Barkenfelde (Barkovo), 31, 33–5, 1

Barlin (Borzecin), 54, 2

Bartholomei, Lt Ivan, 32, 60, 172

Bärwalde (Barwice), 49, 1

Bassompierre, Capt Jean, 7, 18, 45, 54, 56, 59–60, 67–8