Serbian SS Unit (& SDK)

[Malbret17]

The "Charlemagne"'s Headquarter's secretary Robert S. told me, a long time ago (about 40 years ago), there were between 350 to 400 french soldiers in Berlin.
An other Charlemagne's man, who was my chief at work, told me that two trucks could not join Berlin. He was in one of this two trucks. He affirmed me there were about 400 men going to Berlin. Him Bernard B. will join Danmark from where he went back to France, but this is an other story.

[Serbian heavy cavalry]

This is the first time that I see the official SS sign/runes near the name of SVC. The unit above is Indische Freiwilligen-Legion 950, also transferred to the W-SS in late 1944.

But even if Serbian volunteers were SS soldiers, I highly doubt they were aware of it.

Stand 1.2.1945

http://i35.tinypic.com/10n6n9e.jpg

[Twiggy]

The Serbs weren't affiliated with the Waffen-SS.
Few Chetniks under Draza Mihajlovic's command went to cooperate with the nearby in Bosnian/Croat territory SS Handzar, which were Bosnian Muslims and extremist Croatian Catholics.

[G. Trifkovic]

The Serbs weren't affiliated with the Waffen-SS.
Few Chetniks under Draza Mihajlovic's command went to cooperate with the nearby in Bosnian/Croat territory SS Handzar, which were Bosnian Muslims and extremist Croatian Catholics.

Twiggy,

the topic is the connection between the SDK and the SS; please, stay on it.

Thanks,

G.

[Twiggy]

This is a false topic.
The Serbians were never in the Waffen-SS, Nor were they eligible to join the National Socialists in Yugoslavia.
That myth of the eleged SDK and Serbs in the SS are fake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng61---XFws

[Annelie]

Is there a more clear photo of Strahinja Janjić available please?

Annelie

[JGZupan]

Can anyone identify the SDK unit (regiment/company?) that passed through the Loibl Tunnel (Ljubelj Pass, Slovenia-Austria border) on May 10, 1945? And the identity of the CO of this SDK unit?

[Srbac]

Hello everyone.

I've found so many great Waffen-SS photos in this forum, that i just had to register myself.

In return for all the photos i got from you people, I shall post a photo of a Serbian SS commander Strahinja Janjić.
He commanded Serbian SS unit (about 100 Serbs).
This unit is often mistaken for Srpski dobrovoljački korpus (or SDK),
which was not an SS unit.

Anyway, Janjić was also a member of SDK until he was sentenced to death (he raped a school teacher).
He was also a German (undercover) agent, so Germans set him free and, in return, he founded Serbian SS unit.
It was truly a lousy unit with soldiers that mostly arrested their former comrades, members of SDK, and bit them in their (SS) headquarters.
Members of Serbian SS wore SD uniforms.

(source: B.N.Kostić "Za istoriju naših dana")

Hello Ivan!
I’m very sorry for replying to this forum 17 years later, but I wanna know the answer for curiosity sake.

Was Janjic’s SS unit considered to be foreign Serbian legion in the SS and was it classed just like (ex: British free corps, Danish Free Corps, all those SS that weren’t division because of a small number of people)

And, one last question, is there any way they have gotten any insignia on their sleeve that was given to almost all foreign volunteer units in Wehrmacht/Waffen SS? Thank you.

[Srbac]

Is there a more clear photo of Strahinja Janjić available please?

Annelie

I have one but it’s not that clear but it’s rare I suppose:
https://prnt.sc/E-au7cTgVMMW
Sorry for replying years later..

[Ivan Ž.]

Was Janjic’s SS unit considered to be foreign Serbian legion in the SS and was it classed just like (ex: British free corps, Danish Free Corps, all those SS that weren’t division because of a small number of people)

And, one last question, is there any way they have gotten any insignia on their sleeve that was given to almost all foreign volunteer units in Wehrmacht/Waffen SS? Thank you.

Hello, Srbac

No, there was no Serbian legion. Janjić's gang worked for the Gestapo, not Waffen-SS. It was a police unit, not military. No foreign sleeve insignia. As was implied before, Serbian collaborationist forces were unique in different ways and shouldn't be compared to those from other countries.

Cheers,
Ivan

[Srbac]

Was Janjic’s SS unit considered to be foreign Serbian legion in the SS and was it classed just like (ex: British free corps, Danish Free Corps, all those SS that weren’t division because of a small number of people)

And, one last question, is there any way they have gotten any insignia on their sleeve that was given to almost all foreign volunteer units in Wehrmacht/Waffen SS? Thank you.

Hello, Srbac

No, there was no Serbian legion. Janjić's gang worked for the Gestapo, not Waffen-SS. It was a police unit, not military. No foreign sleeve insignia. As was implied before, Serbian collaborationist forces were unique in different ways and shouldn't be compared to those from other countries.

Cheers,
Ivan

One more question, what kind of SD uniforms did they wear? If I may see the picture.. thanks!

[Srbac]

This is probbably how did their uniform look like

Oh wait nevermind you already mentioned what Janjic’s army would have worn.. it would be awesome if there were any picture which there are none..

Also, if to compare SDK, and Janjic’s detachement to all foreign volunteer legions/formations/hiwis/collaborator units there are, who are they closest to?

[Srbac]

Here's an interesting photo of Serbs in Wehrmacht's uniforms.
Unfortunately i have no info on this unit.
Photo can be found in various Yugoslav communist books.
Caption was (something like) Branko Gašparević (Gestapo agent) and his diversion (sabotage) group...

I believe these men were probbably members of Serbian SS.

If anyone has some info about Branko Gašparević, please post it.

Branko’s unit was Wehrmacht (abwehr) I believe, but the unit was way smaller then Janjic’s. Alright, stopping this discussion because this is very old.

[Ivan Ž.]

Also, if to compare SDK, and Janjic’s detachement to all foreign volunteer legions/formations/hiwis/collaborator units there are, who are they closest to?

As I wrote only hours ago, Serbian collaborationist forces were unique in different ways and shouldn't be compared to those from other countries. The SDK and Janjić's little gang cannot be compared in the first place. Completely different in every aspect.

Branko’s unit was Wehrmacht (abwehr) I believe

NO. As I already advised you, please start reading more and remembering what you've read. Otherwise, you'll be starting the same discussions over and over. I replied to you about Gašparević only three months ago: viewtopic.php?f=51&t=8543#p2445094

As for Gašparević's unit, it was a Serbian formation, only trained by and subordinated to the Germans. The picture of them (temporarily) wearing German uniforms was taken on their way back to Serbia, when they were disguised as Germans (their route led through Croatia, where Serbian uniforms weren't welcome). Upon their return, the majority of the men fled back to Serbian (Chetnik/SDK) forces. Read more about it here.

And, yes, this thread here is indeed very old and outdated.

Cheers,
Ivan

[Srbac]

Also, if to compare SDK, and Janjic’s detachement to all foreign volunteer legions/formations/hiwis/collaborator units there are, who are they closest to?

As I wrote only hours ago, Serbian collaborationist forces were unique in different ways and shouldn't be compared to those from other countries. The SDK and Janjić's little gang cannot be compared in the first place. Completely different in every aspect.

Branko’s unit was Wehrmacht (abwehr) I believe

NO. As I already advised you, please start reading more and remembering what you've read. Otherwise, you'll be starting the same discussions over and over. I replied to you about Gašparević only three months ago: viewtopic.php?f=51&t=8543#p2445094

As for Gašparević's unit, it was a Serbian formation, only trained by and subordinated to the Germans. The picture of them (temporarily) wearing German uniforms was taken on their way back to Serbia, when they were disguised as Germans (their route led through Croatia, where Serbian uniforms weren't welcome). Upon their return, the majority of the men fled back to Serbian (Chetnik/SDK) forces. Read more about it here.

And, yes, this thread here is indeed very old and outdated.

Cheers,
Ivan

Also about Janjic’s detachment (one last question) did they wear any hats with the SD uniforms? And were the SD uniforms their official? Or was it mixed? And was it in any way saw or documented to be Serbian? Since the name I believe was Belgrade special combat detachment and was made majority from Serbs