Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
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Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
I have been listening to the 'History Hit World Podcast' and during one of the episodes regarding D-Day the historian (I forget the name) mentioned the following:
"The majority of people manning the guns and defences for the Germans were foreign fighters, mainly brought in from Kazakhstan and Mongolia"
This is something I have never heard before, and I have never seen any reference to this at all? Is it true? Do we have any records or photos of these people. Obviously, foreigners were used in the German army during WW2, but it seems a bit much to ship people from Mongolia to fight in France - and how did these Mongols and Kazakh end up in the German army in the first place?
Link to the podcast main page, though I forget which episode it is there are hundreds.
https://play.acast.com/s/the-world-wars
"The majority of people manning the guns and defences for the Germans were foreign fighters, mainly brought in from Kazakhstan and Mongolia"
This is something I have never heard before, and I have never seen any reference to this at all? Is it true? Do we have any records or photos of these people. Obviously, foreigners were used in the German army during WW2, but it seems a bit much to ship people from Mongolia to fight in France - and how did these Mongols and Kazakh end up in the German army in the first place?
Link to the podcast main page, though I forget which episode it is there are hundreds.
https://play.acast.com/s/the-world-wars
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Re: Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
Hello
A bit here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostlegion ... ab5b0cba20
This topic on Axis: viewtopic.php?t=214833&msclkid=1999d2dc ... f1201cbc96
https://www.axishistory.com/list-all-ca ... 1fd17f9114
Regards
Kurt
kstdk
A bit here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostlegion ... ab5b0cba20
This topic on Axis: viewtopic.php?t=214833&msclkid=1999d2dc ... f1201cbc96
https://www.axishistory.com/list-all-ca ... 1fd17f9114
Regards
Kurt
kstdk
Re: Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
Germans habitually referred to Central Asian people as "Mongolians", which was not correct, of course. This habbit seems to confuse some authors. "True" Mongolians were not present in the German forces in any considerable numbers.
as POWs from the Soviet ArmyChemnitzFFFan wrote: ↑23 Apr 2022, 18:52Obviously, foreigners were used in the German army during WW2, but it seems a bit much to ship people from Mongolia to fight in France - and how did these Mongols and Kazakh end up in the German army in the first place?
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Re: Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
Thanks! That is exactly what I was looking for. There seems to have been quite a number of different foreign legions within the German army, crazy how you are never taught about this!kstdk wrote: ↑23 Apr 2022, 19:43Hello
A bit here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostlegion ... ab5b0cba20
This topic on Axis: viewtopic.php?t=214833&msclkid=1999d2dc ... f1201cbc96
https://www.axishistory.com/list-all-ca ... 1fd17f9114
Regards
Kurt
kstdk
I did try to have a good look on Axis before posting but didn't find anything.
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Re: Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
Thanks! Makes sense him being mistaken on the podcast now.Art wrote: ↑23 Apr 2022, 20:21Germans habitually referred to Central Asian people as "Mongolians", which was not correct, of course. This habbit seems to confuse some authors. "True" Mongolians were not present in the German forces in any considerable numbers.
as POWs from the Soviet ArmyChemnitzFFFan wrote: ↑23 Apr 2022, 18:52Obviously, foreigners were used in the German army during WW2, but it seems a bit much to ship people from Mongolia to fight in France - and how did these Mongols and Kazakh end up in the German army in the first place?
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Re: Central Asian & Mongol Troops manning German guns on D-Day?
Thanks as well! Again the type of stuff I was looking to find. Very interestingMichael Kenny wrote: ↑23 Apr 2022, 19:16Later than D-Day
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205415855
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205415856
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item ... /205379697