Georgian Legion (Wehrmacht)

Nazi Germany during the invasion of the Soviet Union never seized the territory of Soviet Georgia (not counting the Russian village of Pskhu in Abkhazia). The Legion was formed in December 1941 and consisted of Georgians and individual representatives of other peoples of the Caucasus. ^[2]

The military-political goal of this formation was the state independence of Georgia from the Soviet Union, which was promised by Germany. ^[3]

Georgians were trained on the territory of Western Ukraine and began military operations in the autumn of 1942 . Georgians also served in the North Caucasus Legion of the Wehrmacht and in other legions, selected on an ethnic basis. The Georgian formation, however, served under the command of Prince Mikhail Tsulukidze, Colonel Solomon Nicholas Zaldastani and other officers who had previously served the Georgian Democratic Republic (1918-1921).

From the participation of Georgians and other Caucasians in other units, the special unit for propaganda and sabotage “Bergman” - “Highlander”, which consisted of 300 Germans, 900 Caucasians and 130 Georgian emigrants, who made up the special unit of Abwehr “Tamara II”, is known. It was created in Germany in March 1942. The first commander of the detachment was T. Oberlander, a career intelligence officer and a major specialist in Eastern issues. The unit had agitators in its composition and consisted of 5 companies: 1, 4, 5th Georgian; 2nd North Caucasian; 3rd - Azerbaijani. Since August 1942, "Bergman" - "Highlander" acted in the Caucasus Theater - carried out sabotage and agitation in the Soviet rear in the Grozny and Isker directions, in the region of Nalchik, Mozdok and Mineralnye Vody. During the period of fighting in the Caucasus, 4 rifle companies were formed from deserters and prisoners - Georgian, North Caucasian, Azerbaijani and mixed, four horse squadrons - 3 North Caucasian and 1 Georgian.

Later, after some time, Alfred Rosenberg intervened in the fate of the Georgian Legion. Across Europe, especially Italy and France , many Wehrmacht-Georgian soldiers deserted and joined the ranks of the local resistance movement. As a result, many were taken into custody and repressed by the relevant Reich authorities. Many Georgians under German command were saved only thanks to the intercession of Alexander Nikuradze, Mikhail Akhmeteli and some other Georgian leaders who had a voice in the Reich’s administrative bodies ^[4] .

The result of Hitler’s intervention in the affairs of the “eastern troops” was the situation when the remaining Georgian battalions were transported further inland into the occupied lands of Europe - to the Netherlands . With the advent of the Allied forces in Germany, the 88th Georgian Legion Battalion, located on Texel Island, rebelled against the German command. The result was a long battle, sometimes described as the last battle in Europe, which ran from April 5 to May 20, 1945 . It is known as the Georgian uprising on Texel Island .

In accordance with the agreements, all Soviet citizens who found themselves in the territories occupied by the allies at the time of the end of the war were transferred to the Soviet Union. All returnees were allowed through filtration camps, only a small number of accomplices of the invaders who participated in the atrocities in the territories of the USSR and Poland were executed or sent to camps. The vast majority of people who did not cooperate with the Nazis were released after necessary verification.

1941-1945

During the war, the Georgian Legion was called the volunteer formation from the Georgians in the Wehrmacht , and later as part of the SS troops during the Great Patriotic War . It consisted of four battalions, each of which totaled 1000 soldiers and officers. The battalions were named after the great historical figures of Georgian statehood and culture, who made a great contribution to the history of the nation. for example, “ George Saakadze ”, “ David the Builder ”, “ Queen Tamara ”, “ Ilya Chavchavadze ”.

List of Georgian Legion Formations

• 795th battalion " Shalva Maglakelidze " German. Bataillon 795 "Schalwa Maglakelidse" - military operations: 1942 in North Ossetia , 1943 in France
• 796th German Battalion Bataillon 796 - military operations: 1942-1943 in Tuapse , North Caucasus
• 797th battalion " George Saakadze " German. Bataillon 797 "Giorgi Saakadse" - military operations: 1943-1944 in France
• 798th battalion " Heraclius II " it. Bataillon 798 "König Irakli II. Bagrationi " - military operations: 1943-1944 in France
• 799th David the Builder battalion Bataillon 799 "König David Bagrationi-Agamaschenebli" - military operations: 1943-1944 in France
• 822th battalion " Queen Tamara " of it. Bataillon 822 "Königin Tamara" - military operations: 1943-1944 in France, the island of Texel , Holland .
• 823th Shota Rustaveli Battalion Bataillon 823 Schota Rustaweli
• 824th battalion " Ilya Chavchavadze " German. Bataillon 824 "Ilia Tschawtschawadse" - military operations: 1944, Lviv , Poland

Organizationally subordinate to the Headquarters of the command of the eastern legions ( German: Kommando der Ostlegionen )

• Georgian collaboration in World War II
• Georgian uprising on Texel Island

• Mamulia, G. The Georgian Legion in the struggle for freedom and independence of Georgia during the Second World War. - Tbilisi , 2003 .
• Lang, David Marshall . A Modern History of Georgia. - London : Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1962.

• Organization "Tamara" .
• Georgian Legion 1943-1944 (Recent battles on the Eastern Front) .