Take a rare look at a little known Third Reich badge awarded to volunteers from the occupied eastern territories who served in various German formations. As the German military situation worsened in 1942, Hitler authorized formation of so-called eastern units made up of Slavic volunteers. With the number of eastern volunteers rising rapidly and many of them already having distinguished themselves in action, the question of how to honor their service arose. In July 1942, Hitler ordered the awarding of the Decoration for Eastern Peoples. Those permitted to be awarded included Turkish units, Cossack units, Crimean Tatar units, Auxiliary Police (Schutzmannschaft) Battalions, unarmed auxiliaries (Hilfswilligen, or Hiwis) in German units, and domestic security units in the operations zone. Very rare examples of actual badges, award documents and soldbuchs, and never before seen war era images are presented here.
Group
Books (first-hand)
Author
Michaelis, Rolf
Title
The Third Reich Bravery and Merit Decoration for Eastern Peoples
Details
English text, numerous bw-photos and reproductions of award certificates.56 pages.
State
new
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 77 Lower Valley Road PA 19310 Atglen, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
