GERMAN COSSACK OFFICER, WW2

Shortly after the start of Operation Barbarossa (June 1941), German troops recruited in one way or another anti-Soviet Cossack support units. In 1942, four cavalry regiments were formed from these Cossacks, and in August 1943, the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division (Ger. 1. Kosaken-Kavallerie-Division) in the strength of 6 regiments and about 13,000 men. The division consisted of two brigades, each with 3 cavalry regiments and a horse artillery regiment. Moreover, the division had a reconnaissance battalion, a separate horse artillery regiment, two engineers' battalions and a communications sub-unit. It is worth adding that the training of this unit took place in Poland, and later it was transferred to Yugoslavia. In November 1944, it was divided and the units thus created the XV Cossack Cavalry Corps of the SS was formed. The units of this corps fought in the offensive in the area of Lake Balaton in 1945, and after the German defeat, they began to withdraw to Austria, where they capitulated to the Allied forces. In total, about 20-22 thousand capitulated. people.