K.Kocjancic wrote: ↑31 Oct 2021 09:43
Hayes wrote: ↑25 Oct 2021 13:45
Lasse wrote: ↑25 Oct 2021 13:31
A number of Swedish volunteers deserted from their respective SS-units to serve with the partisans under Joseph B. Tito, and actually came to serve as partisans as well. Several of these desertions occured when the Nordland-division was posted to the Balkans in late 1943.
Sincerely,
Fascinating, I had never heard of that! I always (perhaps stereotypically) assumed that the Nordic volunteers were among the better-motivated/reliable of Germany's foreign troops. Do you know anything about what motivated them to desert and join the partisans, and what sort of operations/activities they participated in with Tito's forces?
So, I checked the book '13. proletarska brigada Rade Končar' (by Todor Radošević) and in the list of brigade personnel are listed also:
- Hajnrich Hajder (from Sweden) - most likely: Heinrich Haider
- Antun Kurt (Saloncuburg, Sweden; 1924) - most likely: Anton Kurt
- Haellmer Lars (Ospegoor, Eskil, Sweden; 1921) - most likely: Hjalmar/Haelmer Lars
- Lindbergh Tage (Drachen, Gettebourg; 1918)
- Stig Ulsen (Stirmaus, Sweden; 1924)
Perhaps someone has any additional info on them?
Regards,
Klemen
Heinrich Haider and Anton Kurt are unknown to me. Neither sounds very Swedish either, and "Saloncuburg" is unheard of.
The others are:
Lars Helmér, from Eskilstuna, had recently completed service as a volunteer in Finland (Swedish Volunteer Corps in the winter war and Swedish Volunteer Company on the Jandeba Front in the continuation war). Returned to Sweden on 25th of Feb 1943, joined the SS on 14th of March 1943. Most likely deserted from Rgt. Norge of the Nordland-division.
Tage Lindborg, a communist from Borås/Göteborg. Had joined the SS with his brother in late 1942, ended up at the
Grini concentration camp, but was later allowed to join the SS. His brother was sent home already during the training, ended up in Finland (and was sent home for spreading communistic propaganda). Tage remained in the SS, and was sent to Grafenwöhr during the formation of the Nordland-division. Probably deserted from the SS-Pz-Aufkl-Abt 11.
Stig Olsén, a communist from Stockholm who spoke fluent russian. Joined the SS in March 1943. His parents were left clueless on why he joined the germans, and made attempts to have him released from his contract via the Swedish legation in Berlin. Most likely deserted with Lindborg.
Neither of these volunteers returned home. If you would have any information on the fate of them, this would be very interesting. Also regarding Carl-Eric Isgren and Frans Sundbye/Sundby. The last one was the only person who returned to Sweden of the Nordland deserters on the Balkans.