1st Edition

Cossacks in the German Army 1941-1945

By Samuel J. Newland Copyright 1991
    232 Pages
    by Routledge

    236 Pages
    by Routledge

    The Cossacks who wore German uniforms saw their service not as treason to the motherland, but as an episode in the revolution of 1917, part of an ongoing struggle against Moscow and against Communism. Their reward was forced repatriation into Stalin's Gulag at the hands of Western powers in 1945.

    Barbarossa - its origins and successes; exceptions to the rule; who can wear the field grey?; the Cossacks - the Tsar's praetorian force; the de-Slavization of the Cossacks; Mielau - organization and training; self-government for Soviet nationalities - a Wehrmacht initiative; who leads the Cossacks? - who champions their cause?; the Cossack division in combat; requiem for the Cossack Corps. Appendices: German - US army rank equivalencies; authorized strength of German military organizations; organization of the Cossack cavalry corps; corps staff structure, Cossack cavalry corps; organization of a horse cavalry regiment.

    Biography

    Samuel J. Newland

    Newland clarifies an unfamiliar, often misunderstood aspect fo the history of World War Two. The Cossacks who wore German uniforms saw their service not as treason to the motherland, but as an episode in the revolution of 1917, part of an ongoing struggle agains Moscow and against Communism. The reward was forced repatriation into Stalin's Gulag at the hands of the Western powers in 1945 - Professor Denis Showalter