Heer Images of foreign volunteers in the Waffen SS

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

Can anyone please help me out? I'm looking for any photos of any of the volunteer divisions of the SS, especially the rarer ones like the BFC and AZAD HIND. but any images of non German units would be appreciated. Thanks in advance,

Cameron[attachmentid=25614][attachmentid=25614]

[Laurence Strong]

BFC?

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

BFC?

It's the British Free Corps, a unit made up of some former British Union of Fascists, POW's and others with general anti communist leanings

[Ed_Haynes]

The reassignment of the "Azad Hind Legion" to SS command is clear, whether it ever meant anything as to uniforms etc., is far more controversial. I have never interviewed an Indian Legion veteran, Indian or European, who ever saw or heard about the claimed and "documented" SS insigniae. I do, however, believe they were designed, as I have what I believe to be is aperiod photo of a havildar (I think) wearing them;but it seems to be just a PR shot, as the real guys never knew of any change in command, much less change in insigniae.

Will see if I can find the image.

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

The reassignment of the "Azad Hind Legion" to SS command is clear, whether it ever meant anything as to uniforms etc., is far more controversial. I have never interviewed an Indian Legion veteran, Indian or European, who ever saw or heard about the claimed and "documented" SS insigniae. I do, however, believe they were designed, as I have what I believe to be is aperiod photo of a havildar (I think) wearing them;but it seems to be just a PR shot, as the real guys never knew of any change in command, much less change in insigniae.

Will see if I can find the image.

Thank you Ed, as I say any unusual,rare or seldom seen Third Reich images would be much appreciated

Cameron

[Ed_Haynes]

This may be of some interest?

http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/BBC-Bose.mp3

It is a large (25 Mb!) MP3 file. You have been warned.

BBC Radio 4, "Hitler's Secret Indian aAmy"

[Ed_Haynes]

These are images I have and I cannot always determine whence they have come -- I know they have come globally, biut I do not know the source-- mammoth apolgies if I trangress any rights of possession.

Edited February 19, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

Another. Although the Wehrmacht eagle was rarely worn and was resisted.

Edited February 19, 2006 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

The ONLY photo I have EVER seen that suggests that SS insigniae were ever worn. Again, and this is important to recall, those I have corresponded with and interviewed who were there suggest this NEVER took place. Very confusing, but 'tis late-war . . . .

[peter monahan]

The ONLY photo I have EVER seen that suggests that SS insigniae were ever worn. Again, and this is important to recall, those I have corresponded with and interviewed who were there suggest this NEVER took place. Very confusing, but 'tis late-war . . . .

Many many years ago I read (but do not/did not own) a book on the Waffen SS foreign volunteers. The picture that stuck in my mind , because of my interest in things Indian, was a late war flak battery manned by Azad Hind members in, I think I recall, Wehrmacht gray with SS collar runes.

Couldn't begin to quote a source except that it would have been an easily accessible book 25-30 years ago: English text, mass market, not an obscure specialist work. Or is my memeory at fault, Ed?

Peter

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

Thanks a lot for the input guys, it really is informative and interesting, and it is more than appreciated.

[Ulsterman]

another one:

[Helmut Von Moltke]

hi, there are many pics of Asiatic and Indian Wehrmacht volunteers at that site CLICK

cheers,

Kevin

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

hi, there are many pics of Asiatic and Indian Wehrmacht volunteers at that site CLICK

cheers,

Kevin

Thanks Kevin, there's some really good images there, quite intrigued with the Turkmenistan one with the

'37 belts.

Cameron

[Ingsoc]

BFC soldiers

[Ingsoc]

BFC propoganda leaflet

BFC poster

[Helmut Von Moltke]

thanks Ingsoc, intresting pictures and propaganda documents.

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

Thanks for that, although I do have the British pics already, I was hoping there were maybe some rarer ones about (I have seen the faked ones in Landwehr's booklet).

I was lucky enough to be forwarded a post war photo of Frank Axon, but due to family wishes I can't share it, but as I say thanks, and keep them coming.

[Paul R]

Thank you for posting these very interesting photos. I wonder how many more still exist. If there are any more out there, please keep them coming!

Also, I am curious to knowing if there is any evidence of Black Africans in uniformed German Service?

[Helmut Von Moltke]

Thank you for posting these very interesting photos. I wonder how many more still exist. If there are any more out there, please keep them coming!

Also, I am curious to knowing if there is any evidence of Black Africans in uniformed German Service?

here you are!

source: the Militaria collecting forum

cheers

Kevin

[Paul R]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for posting these interesting photos. The top two do not appear to be of African Decent, yet the soldier in the lower photo does appear to be non German. I cannot tell if he is of African or Middle Eastern/Indian decent. Regardless, interesting photos!!!

Regards

Paul

[Helmut Von Moltke]

yes, I was wondering about that one. The top soldier has a bit of middle Eastern features, or maybe Mediterranean ones. The same goes for the second soldier, the one in the Luftwaffe uniform. For the third one you mentioned, it is likely to be a black German from the Rhineland, born during the French occupation to African Colonial troops and German women, in 1923 in the Rhineland, considering he has a German wife (? not sure) in the pic, they would not be able to marry after 1935, so it's before. The mixed blacks from the Rhineland were sterilised by the NS regime, but some escpaed this by joining the Wehrmacht, so the picture is probably one of them. just my guess.

Kevin

[Guest Cameron Alexander]

Well...

Arab Legion on his arm?

Make of it what you will.

[Helmut Von Moltke]

hi Cameron, yes, the Freies Arabien.

source: Google search

cheers,

Kevin

[Paul R]

Awesome stuff guys! I guess that I have just seen my first African in German uniform! Now I have seen it all!!!