Azerbaijani Legion
Encyclopedia
The Azerbaijani Legion, or in German, Aserbaidschanische Legion, was one of the foreign units of the Wehrmacht
. The Azerbaijani Legion was formed in December 1941 as the Kaukasische-Mohammedanische Legion (Muslim Caucasus Legion) and was re-designated 1942 into two separate legions, the North Caucasian legion and the Azerbaijani legion. It was made up mainly of former Azerbaijani POW volunteers but also volunteers from other peoples in the area. It was part of the Ostlegionen
. It was used to form the 162nd (Turkistan) Infanterie-Division
of the Wehrmacht in 1943. Later, some of these Azerbaijanis joined the Azeri Waffen SS Volunteer Formations
.
Many Azerbaijanis joined here in hopes of liberating their homeland from Soviet occupation. One Azerbaijani soldier who was captured said to the Germans that he was anti-Nazi, anti-Bolshevik, and only wanted an opportunity to free his homeland.
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
. The Azerbaijani Legion was formed in December 1941 as the Kaukasische-Mohammedanische Legion (Muslim Caucasus Legion) and was re-designated 1942 into two separate legions, the North Caucasian legion and the Azerbaijani legion. It was made up mainly of former Azerbaijani POW volunteers but also volunteers from other peoples in the area. It was part of the Ostlegionen
Ostlegionen
Ostlegionen or Osttruppen were conscripts and volunteers from the occupied eastern territories recruited into the German Army of the Third Reich during the Second World War....
. It was used to form the 162nd (Turkistan) Infanterie-Division
162nd Turkoman Division
The 162nd Turkoman Division was a military division that was formed by the German Army during the Second World War. It drew its men from prisoners of war or refugees who came from the Caucasus and from Turkic lands further east. The soldiers were trained at Neuhammer...
of the Wehrmacht in 1943. Later, some of these Azerbaijanis joined the Azeri Waffen SS Volunteer Formations
Azeri Waffen SS Volunteer Formations
Azeri SS Volunteer Formations were volunteers prisoners of war from the USSR, and from the countries annexed by Russia after 1939. They were organized to fight against the Soviets on the German side.-Origins:...
.
Many Azerbaijanis joined here in hopes of liberating their homeland from Soviet occupation. One Azerbaijani soldier who was captured said to the Germans that he was anti-Nazi, anti-Bolshevik, and only wanted an opportunity to free his homeland.
See also
- OstlegionenOstlegionenOstlegionen or Osttruppen were conscripts and volunteers from the occupied eastern territories recruited into the German Army of the Third Reich during the Second World War....
- Reichskommissariat KaukasusReichskommissariat KaukasusReichskommissariat Kaukasus , literally "Reich Commissariat of the Caucasus ", was the theoretical political division and planned civilian occupation regime of Nazi Germany in the conquered territories of the Caucasus during World War II...
- Abdurrahman Fatalibeyli