Georgian Legion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Georgian Legion on parade displaying flag of Independent Georgia, Germany 1943.

The first Georgian Legion as an ethnic military legion was formed in the German army, based in Turkey, in 1915, during the World War I. The founder of this legion was Count Friedrich Werner von der Schulenburg, former German consul in Tbilisi. The commander was distinguished Georgian military General Leo Kereselidze, one of the leaders of the Committee of Independence of Georgia (1914-1918). Main goal of the legion was liberation of Georgia from the Russian Empire.

Georgian Legion was also the Wehrmacht’s ethnic military legion formed by the Georgian émigrés who were forced to leave their motherland after the Soviet occupation of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1921. The Georgian Legion was joined by former Red Army' volunteers' captured by the Germans and enlisted, while facing certain death from starvation, disease, forced labour and brutality, in POW lagers.

General Shalva Maglakelidze in German uniform.

The legion was formed in December 1941. The Georgians trained in the western Ukraine and became operational in the autumn of 1942. At least 30,000 Georgians served in the Nazi armed forces. Serving in the 13 field battalions, each having 5 companies and up to 800-strong, of the Wehrmacht's Georgia Legion, Georgians were also found in the Wehrmacht's North Caucasian Legion and in other Caucasian ethnic legions. The Georgian Legion was commanded by Major General Shalva Maglakelidze.

Georgian officers resting on the bench.

Across Europe, especially in Italy and France, many Georgian soldiers in the German Armed forces deserted and joined local Resistance Movements. In April-May 1945, a Georgian battalion staged an uprising on the Dutch island of Texel.