Description
Waffen-SS 29th Grenadier Division Brief History
The 29th Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (Russische Nr. 1) was a division of the Waffen-SS during World War II. It was formed in 1944, primarily composed of Soviet prisoners of war who were recruited into the German military. The division was also known as the Russian Liberation Army, as it was intended to be used for anti-Soviet propaganda purposes.
The division saw action on the Eastern Front, particularly in Slovakia and Hungary. Its effectiveness in combat was limited, partly due to the questionable loyalty of its troops, many of whom were former Soviet soldiers with little allegiance to the Nazi cause.
Despite its shortcomings, the division was involved in various operations until the end of the war, including the fighting in Hungary and the defense of Vienna. After the war, some members of the division faced prosecution for their involvement in war crimes, while others were recruited by Western intelligence agencies for their knowledge of the Soviet Union.
