33. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS Charlemagne (französische Nr. 1) when Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade der SS Charlemagne (französische Nr.1) was expanded to a division by adding men from the various collaborationist organisations that had been forced out of France. It given the number 33 when Waffen-Kavallerie Division der SS (Ungarnische Nr 4) was destroyed.
Charlemange consisted mainly of French volunteers (some of whom where transfered from the Horst Wessel division) but also of volunteers from Switzerland, the french colonies and a few from other counties such as Japan and Sweden.
According to some sources the French volunteers included a few from Indo-China (present day Vietnam), Laos and even a few Jews (!) who had served in the collaborationist forces in France. A black man from Martinique is also said to have volunteered but he was not accepted.
The division fought on the eastern front but most of it was destroyed during the Soviet offensive though some parts fought in the battle of Berlin and some surrendered to the western allies.
Notez quand même qu'ils émettent des réserves sur les sources, je les ai volontairement mises en gras.
Pour les non-anglophones, je résume : "....Parmi les volontaires de la division Charlemagne étaient inclus quelques juifs qui avaient servis dans les forces collaborationnistes en France"....
Quelqu'un aurait-il des informations sur cette "étonnante révélation" ?
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