SS-Ustuf Zavadskiy of Wallonien

[Peter]

I have seen this NARA photo with a caption "Untersturmführer R.V.Zavadskiy. Commanded a detachment of Russian volunteers in 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade "Wallonien". Died in 1943 about Korsun." but I cant trace this officer, is the name wrong ? thanks

[Ustuf.33]

Here is the bio of this officer . He is not dead in 1943...
Sorry it is in french (source : "Waffen-SS Wallons volume 1 : officiers" )


Rostislav ZAVADSKY

SS-Fachführer / Untersturmführer

Nationalité : Russe
N°SS : NA. Entre dans la Waffen-SS le 01.06.1943 .

Promotions :
Sous-lieutenant / Sonderführer (Z)
SS-Fachführer / Untersturmführer1

Rostislav Zavadsky2 est né le 22 décembre 1908 à Saint-Petersburg. Réfugié en Serbie après la révolution bolchevique, il sert dans le corps des cadets russes de Sarajevo (dernière promotion). Il émigre ensuite à en Belgique, puis sert à Bruxelles, à l'école d'officiers, dans les rangs de la Drougina du général Vrangel, et nommé Lieutenant en 1938. Il est aussi diplômé ingénieur.
Engagé à la Légion Wallonie en août 19413. Sa nationalité russe ne lui permet d'obtenir que le grade hybride de Sonderführer. Il fait fonction d'interprète.
Nommé chef du troisième peloton de la 4ème compagnie de la SS-Sturmbrigade « Wallonien », composé uniquement de russes blancs émigrés en Belgique, et d'Hiwis russes recrutés courant 1942. Sans doute démobilisé après la campagne de Tcherkassy, il trouve refuge en Argentine après la guerre4.

1 Souvent dénommé comme « Sonderführer ». Or, dans la Waffen-SS, les grades hybrides « SS-Sonderführer » sont remplacés par « SS-Fachführer » à partir de juin 1942.
2 Souvent prénommé « Rotislav », voire « Ratislaw » ou « Rotislaw »... Il s'agit d'erreurs.
3 Son frère, Nicolas Zavadsky s'est aussi engagé à la Légion. Il est porté disparu durant la percée de Tcherkassy.
4 On le dit souvent porté disparu (ou déserteur) à Tcherkassy. C'est une erreur (on le confond avec son frère) ! Une photo de 1961 le montre en effet en Argentine, avec plusieurs anciens russes blancs de la Légion.

[Ustuf.33]

Are you sure the man on this photo is Zavadsky??

[Semenov]

I have seen this NARA photo with a caption "Untersturmführer R.V.Zavadskiy. Commanded a detachment of Russian volunteers in 5th SS Volunteer Sturmbrigade "Wallonien". Died in 1943 about Korsun." but I cant trace this officer, is the name wrong ? thanks

It right - Rostislaw Vadimovich Zavadskiy. He was MIA in Korsun, 1943.
In Russia few times ago was published his memories for 1941-1942 about his service in Legion Wallonie http://beloedelo.ru/market/item/?69

[Semenov]

Here is the bio of this officer . He is not dead in 1943...
Sorry it is in french (source : "Waffen-SS Wallons volume 1 : officiers" )
On le dit souvent porté disparu (ou déserteur) à Tcherkassy. C'est une erreur (on le confond avec son frère) ! Une photo de 1961 le montre en effet en Argentine, avec plusieurs anciens russes blancs de la Légion.

It is wrong. He was MIA in Korsun, 1943. On photo 1961 he isn't present

[Semenov]

Are you sure the man on this photo is Zavadsky??

Yes, he is.

[GregSingh]

So how did he die in Korsun in 1943? It was on German side in 1943.
I thought Korsun battle was in 1944?

[Semenov]

So how did he die in Korsun in 1943? It was on German side in 1943.
I thought Korsun battle was in 1944?

sorry, I copy dta from Peter post. He was missed 17/02/1944 near Komarovka

[Peter]

Thank you both !

[Alex Tijerina]

So what does it say? All I hear is individuals responding to each other statement. Could not read the bio because the pdf did not come up. Would like to know something more about this individual.

[Martinski]

Hello, I checked two publications which mention the SS-Ustuf (or in another source Sonderfuehrer) ZAVADSKY. The problem is that boh sources are not consistent. As the mentioned SS-Ustuf. ZAVADSKY had a brother in the same unit (but NOT serving as an officer), both sources use the names (Nicolas / Radislaw [Rotislow...!]) and even mix them.

1. Theo Verlaine: "La Légion Wallonie": very well documented and well written also publishes a picture of "Nicolas ZAVADSKY" - SS-Ustuf, MIA near Komarovka 17.02.1944 (the date of the great escape from Schenderowka towards Lyssianka). Komarovka is the next village West of Schenderowka on the planned marching route of the 5.SS-Frw.Sturmbrig. "Wallonie"

Verlaine mentions also ZAVADSKY on page 317 in his list of MIA Officers of this unit.

He also gives a list of known personnel where on page 351 both brothers are mentioned under the "Z" Here the author mixes both bothers up... He mentions Ratislaw as the brother of Nicolas and mentions that Ratislaw is the Sonderfuehrer and Platoon Commander. While, on page 316, above the picture, het states that the Sonderfuehrer is Nicolas...

[Martinski]

The other source is the book by Jean MABIRE / Eric LEVEFRE: "Leon Degrelle et la Légion Wallonie 1941 - 1945"> On pages 162 / 163, the authors give an OrBat of the 5.SS-Frw.Sturmbrigade "Wallonie". On page 163, they show the 4th Company, and... the 3th Platoon was commanded by SS-Ustuf. Ratislow (sic) ZAVADSKY - MIA 17.02.1944.

So - the date of MIA is stated by both sources... only the given name (Nicolas <> Ratislaw) is confusing.

The other brother (the one NOT serving as officer) is mentioned to be missing (or deserted !?) near MOSCHNY. The village of MOSCHNY is located to the North-East of Korsun and was used at the very beginning of the battle. The "Wallonie" occupied positions at the edge of MOSCHNY in December 1943 / January 1944. So, the first ZAVADSKY - brother disappeared at the start of the actions arounf Korsun, about 2 months before the other brother (the Sonderfuehrer).

Regards - Martin

[Martinski]

Went through Verlaine's book (La Légion Wallonie") and found this picture on page 241. The caption says:

"Interrogatoire d'un moujik par un officier wallon. Les Soviétiques envoyaient régulièrement des espions à l'arrière des lignes pour se fondre dans la population locale." = ['Interrogation of a peasant by a Walloon officer. The Soviets did send regularly spies behind the positions in order to mix up with the local population.']

Judging the other here published pictures, and regarding the fact that Sonderführer ZAVADSKY was engaged as an interpreter, I think the "Walloonn officer" in this picture is in fact the Sonderführer ZAVADSKY.

The picture is taken in the Korsun area, probably January 1944.

Regards - Martin

[Martinski]

the mentioned picture of ZAVADSKY (???) - Theo Verlaine - page 241

Martin