Freiwilligen Units Oath

Discussion in 'Axis Units' started by Gerard, Dec 13, 2011.

  1. Gerard

    Gerard Seelow/Prora

    Arising from the SS recruiting drive in the Occupied Territories, The Freiwilligen Units were part of a concerted effort to get recruits to fight for the Third Reich. According to Bruce Quarrie in Hitler's Samurai the different classes of foreign Volunteers swore different oaths. It appears that these recruitment drives were aimed towards the individuals nationalism rather than National Socialism, with the objective of the defeat of Communism.
    He states in the Book the oath given to Dutch and Flemish individuals who enlisted to serve in Freiwilligen Standarte Nordwest was as follows:

    "I Swear by God this holy oath that in the Struggle against Bolshevism I will unconditionally obey the Commander in Chief of the German Armed Forces, Adolf Hitler, and as a loyal servant I am ready, at any time he may wish, to lay down my life for this oath"

    Its noticeable from this oath that they are swearing to participate in the struggle against Bolshevism as opposed to a General Oath of service to the Fuehrer.

    Seems the SS were quite pragmatic in trying to attract people to their cause utilising whatever methods they could to gain members
     
  2. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    I cannot say that I have read any literature that states the percentage of anti Communist strength in the Volunteer SS Units.

    But if it was analysed I believe the percentage would have been high.
    The Baltic countries and ethnic Russians, like the Cossacks, spring readily to mind.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  3. Stig O'Tracy

    Stig O'Tracy Senior Member

    I recall seeing Wochenschau of Freiwilligen soldiers, I think that they were Dutch or perhaps Danes, swearing their oath. If I'm not mistaken there were a number of Wochenschau produced in 1941 which included this content, naturally the anti communist element, included the oath, was what the authorities were selling to the public.
     
  4. ducatim901

    ducatim901 Junior Member

    Some Dutch SS volunteers did not want the oath placed at Hitler.
    I do not remember what happend with them after they refused.
    Greetings Jack.
     

Share This Page