Cossack Volunteers

[sandeepmukherjee196]

Hi everybody...

The Cossacks have a tragic history in modern times. "And Quiet Flows the Don" by Mikhail Sholokhov, is a deeply moving novel about the predicament of the Don Cossacks during and after WW I .. in the midst of the Bolshevik revolution and White Russian counter revolution.

Though crushed by the Communists, the Cossacks never really adapted to Soviet life nor internalised it. They remained free spirited and longing for their glory days. When WW II came, it was like salvation for many Cossacks. I was feeling sad looking at the pics posted on this thread because after they were ingloriously handed over by the western allies (along with families and civilians) to the Russians...most died horrible deaths. Including their German commander, Helmuth Von Pannwitz..GeneralLeutnant und Ataman, XV. Kosaken-Kavallerie-Korps.

Pannwitz was incredibly executed for leading the renegade Cossack forces even though he, being a German, was no way a traitor to the Soviet State !


Gen Pannwitz inspecting Cossack troops

pannwitz.jpg

" Ataman" Pannwitz

PannwitzHv-1.jpg

Ciao

Sandeep

[Marcus]

This thread was featured on our Facebook page recently.

/Marcus

[sandeepmukherjee196]

Thanks Marcus

[Art]

Pannwitz was incredibly executed for leading the renegade Cossack forces even though he, being a German, was no way a traitor to the Soviet State !

Pannwitz was sentenced and executed for war crimes on occupied territories.

most died horrible deaths

Well, most died eventually indeed.

[sandeepmukherjee196]

Pannwitz was incredibly executed for leading the renegade Cossack forces even though he, being a German, was no way a traitor to the Soviet State !

Pannwitz was sentenced and executed for war crimes on occupied territories.

most died horrible deaths

Well, most died eventually indeed.

Hi Art,

What war crimes was Gen Pannwitz executed for? Can you please elaborate?

The post Communist Russian government accepted that Gen Pannwitz was framed and killed in a Stalinist murder when he was exonerated and the guilty verdict overturned on 23 April, 1996. However on June 28, 2001 this acquittal verdict was again overturned on the ground that the 1996 proceedings lacked jurisdiction...mind you that's a technical ground!

This 2001 verdict played to both sides of the coin of political correctness. On one hand this played to the old Russian chauvinistic sentiments on Cossack sub-nationalism. On the other hand, by using technicalities, the verdict stopped short of justifying a Stalinist crime.

But I would love to know more from you.

Ciao
Sandeep

[Art]

What war crimes was Gen Pannwitz executed for?

Sentenced according to the decree of 19.04.43 ("murder and torture of civilians and prisoners of war"). See the doc attached:

There were no charges of treason naturally as opposed to Krasnov and others.

[AlifRafikKhan]

Cossack soldiers at Royan, Charente-Maritime region. Source: https://www.c-royan.com/histoire/histoi ... royan.html

[Mannet]

hi, are any photos of 1 Kosaken Kavallerie Division vehicles?

[carius]

cos1.jpg

Ebay
George

[carius]

cos8.jpg

Ebay
George

[carius]

cos9.jpg

Ebay
George

[carius]

cos2.jpg

Ebay
George

[carius]

kos.jpg

Ebay
George

[carius]

kos2.jpg

Ebay
George

[carius]

kos3.jpg

Ebay
George