The Belarusian SS Legion: Myths and Reality

Jury Hrybouski
The problem with the participation of Belarusian soldiers in Waffen-SS during World War II in the Soviet historiography, is that it was was concealed. In the post-Soviet period there appeared a lot of research concentrated on this question, but there are still many "blank spots". The Belarusians did not have a national legion and became soldiers of different foreign (Russian, Latvian) SS troops. The most well-known fact in the history of the Belarussian soldiers in foreign formations of SS was their participation in the 30th Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (2nd Russian). Most of them were former member of police Schutzmannschaften. Belarusan division of SS was called up only at the beginning of 1945 with the help of Belarusian Central Council (BCR). This division was never battle-worthy and was never at the battle-front. During World War II in Waffen-SS there were several thousand Belarusian soldiers, most of whom were not volunteers. The Belarusians joined Waffen-SS not because they shared the ideology of this organization, but as a consequence of complicated military and political processes… Read more»

The Fabian Akinčyc's group's activity (1939-1943)

Jury Turonak
Fabian Akinčyc, a Belarusian political figure, who worked toward the creation of the national-socialist party in Western Belarus, hoped that due to this kind of activity he would be charged with the ruling political position in Belarus after the German occupancy. These hopes were destroyed by the German authorities' prohibition of all activities for local parties, including the national-socialist one. As a result, Akinčyc made efforts to organize his own group of activity. In close cooperation with authorities it was aimed to contribute to the accomplishment of his ambition in the future. The group of Akinčyc supporters included his pre-war collaborators as well as new cadres from prisoners of war from the Polish and Red armies. The group's activity had resulted in some important achievements: creation and strengthening of the leadership of Belarusian Committee for Self-Help in Germany; the fight against the influence of Mikola Abramčyk, Ivan Jermačenka and other political opponents; training and sending out groups of prisoners of war to Belarus who worked then in German institutions as translators, propagandists, sometimes as collaborators of security service (SD) and organizers of The Union of Belarusian Youth… Read more»

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