Reqest: Minorities in Wehrmacht/ WSS

Hey guys, I was just interested to know if any of you had information or had seen pictures of minorities in the Germany military during WWII, besides the usual mix of Asiatic and Indians. I know that some Negro volunteers from Afrika served in the Imperial Army, but wasn't sure about during WWII. Would be an interesting subject to research further. So.....post your pictures and information on non-Caucasian soldiers serving.

 

Now I thought I have seen this man in SS garb.



In all seriousness, I doubt very much if Hiter would have allowed any negroes into the Wehrmacht. He had a fit about Himmler's Indian legions. I have not heard of any nor think there will be any photo example of such. But it would be interesting to see some.

I could not find a photo of Kinchloe in SS garb.

 

As I recall, I thought there were a few Negro volunteers in the LVF. I could be wrong though, as I've never seen any pictures of them.

I've also heard there was an Arab Legion, but, again, never seen any pictures.

 

the axis history forum is always a good place to look:
Axis History Forum :: Foreign Volunteers & Collaboration

 

I have seen photos of volunteers that wore fez and they were from croatia. I believe they were with the 13th waffen SS Mountain Division Handschar.

For Example:



Plus, if there were any kind of minority groups as volunteers, they would not be in das heere because you could only be a German or Deutsches Volk to join. everybody else went into the Waffen SS. An exception made by Himmler so he could have his personal army.

 

Not entirely true. Heer had within it many groups of non Germans and Volksdeutsche. For examples, the Arab Legion, Turkistani, Armenians, Eastern Peoples, Russians, Cossacks, Indians, Spanish, French LVF, etc. Many of these units were absorbed into the Waffen SS, but many also remained part of the Heer regular volunteer units until the end of the war.

 

In The Polar Bears by Patrick Delaforce on page 135 is a sketch by Michael Bayley of 2nd Kensingtons.
One of the little images is of "German Army POW of Russian, African & other Nationality."
The African is black.

 

Most European countries contributed men to both Heer and Waffen-SS formations as well as the Luftwaffe.

Indian troops 'served' in the Wehrmacht but their relative combat usefulness is dubious at best.

Various eastern nationals served in Normandy, two Koreans were captured by US troops in June.

Perhaps the most bizarre was an Aboriginal member of the Waffen-SS...

 

Now that's what I call being an Aryan

 

13th SS Muslims from Bosnia



Grand Mufti of Jerusalem al-Husayni with Azerbaijani SS Muslims




Mohammad Amin al-Husayni assisted in recruiting a large number of Muslims in the SS and worked closely with the Nazis due to their anti-Semitic policies.

 

The Arab legion you mention (Deutsche-Arabische 'freiwilleger' units) might be worthy of further enquiry. I feel reasonably sure confused that I've seen pictures of these men that include black faces but I'm afraid I can't find any now.

Axis History Factbook: Deutsche-Arabische Lehr Abteilung
Axis History Factbook: Deutsche-Arabische Bataillon Nr 845

Cheers,
Adam.