Lars T. Larsson - Hitlers Swedes: A History of the Swedish Volunteers in the Waffen-SS

A History of the Swedish Volunteers of the Waffen-SS

Lars T. Larsson

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Published by Helion & Company 2015

Designed and typeset by Bookcraft Limited, Stroud, Gloucestershire

Cover designed by Euan Carter, Leicester ( www.euancarter.com )

Text Lars T. Larsson 2014

Images as individually credited

Maps Steve Waites 2014

Cover: Front cover Sitting on the half-track to the right is the inexperienced and unpopular platoon leader Gunnar Eklf. (Bosse B. archive). Rear cover The group of Swedes at the Breslau camp, including Gsta Borg, Ragnar Linnr, Kurt Lundin, Frans Wahlberg and Lars Forssberg. (Bosse B. archive)

ISBN 978 1 909384 11 8

eISBN 978 1 912174 44 7

Mobi ISBN 978 1 912174 44 7

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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Swedish volunteers in Finland during the Winter War in 1939-40. Included in the group are Erik Wallin, Hans Lindn and Fred Nilsson, who were childhood friends from Stockholm and later came to join the SS. (Bosse B. archive)

Members of the NSAP parade through the streets of Stockholm announcing that leader Sven-Olof Lindholm is going to hold a speech the same day. (Erik R. archive)

Sven-Olof Lindholm, the leader of the NSAP, and later SSS party. The armband indicates this picture was taken before 1938 when the Swastika was abolished as the party symbol. (Erik R. archive)

The first Swedish national to join the SS in Norway Frank Gustavsson shortly after joining. (Bosse B. archive)

Fred Nilsson. (Bosse B. archive)

The young Hans Lindn dressed in the uniform he wore whilst serving in a Finnish anti-aircraft. (Bosse B. archive)

Frank Gustavsson swearing the oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler. (Bosse B. archive)

A post-war picture which could just as well have been taken in Norway in 1941. Top row from left: Gsta Borg, Bengt Rosmark and Ragnar Linnr. To the far right, lower row: Heino Meyer. (Authors archive)

The group of Swedes at the Breslau camp, including Gsta Borg, Ragnar Linnr, Kurt Lundin, Frans Wahlberg and Lars Forssberg. (Bosse B. archive)

Ulph Hamilton. (Authors archive)

Frans Wahlberg: a veteran of many wars. (Lennart Westberg)

The Hamilton group poses on the boat from Finland to Germany. (Authors archive)

The anti-aircraft gun on which Lindn served as crew member.

Fred Nilsson (right) poses with Tor Samuelsson following SS enlistment. (Mnsson-Westberg archive)

Ukraine 1941: strain and fatigue are clearly discernable on the faces of Gsta Borg (left) and Ragnar Linnr (right). (Gran Hargestam)

The Hamilton group poses for another photo shortly after arriving at training camp. The uniforms are of the standard drill pattern. (Authors archive)

4th Company of the SS-Infanterie-Ersatz-Btl. Westland at Klagenfurt. A total of ten Swedish volunteers, including amongst others Karl-Erik Blsta Nilsson, ke Forsell, Ulph Hamilton, Heino Meyer, Elis Hglund and Erik Dahlin, are in this picture. (Authors archive)

Lars Forssberg. (Mnsson-Westberg archive)

Hans Lindns grave at Stalino Military Cemetery. (Gran Hargestam)

Hans Lindn while serving in SS-Flak-Abt 5 Wiking . (Charles Trang)

A picture taken by Tor Samuelsson during the anti-partisan warfare in the Balkans, winter of 1941/42. (Bosse B. archive).

Gunnar Eklf was sent home to Sweden on leave in early 1942 following his illness in Yugoslavia. In Sweden he freely walked around dressed in his SS uniform. This photo is taken in Sweden during that period. He has pinned his Sveaborg and SSS party membership badges to the breast of his coat. (A.P.S archive)

Gerhard Olof Stolpen. (Bosse B. archive)

Marcus Ledin shortly after joining the SS in early 1942. (Authors archive)

Bengt Rosmark preparing to throw the M24 potato masher hand grenade. (Bosse B. archive)

Heino Meyer pictured whilst serving as an enlisted man. (Authors archive)

Lars Forssberg in a picture that was published in the many memorial articles by the Swedish National Socialist press. (Authors archive)

Blsta Nilsson and Stesse Olsson outside the local Feldpost office. (Authors archive)

The spoils of war: Arne Ericsson, unknown, Karl-Erik Blsta Nilsson and Sten Stesse Olsson pose on a wrecked Soviet bomber. (Authors archive)

Kurt Lundin in civilian life. (Bosse B. archive)

Bengt Rosmark. (Bosse B. archive)

Summer offensive 1942: Heino Meyers (second from left). Note the divisional sun wheel swastika insignia on the lorry. (Authors archive)

Summer Offensive 1942: Heino Meyers squad prepares a meal. (Authors archive)

GrW 34 8cm medium mortar: Karl-Erik Blsta Nilsson is on the far right. (Mnsson-Westberg archive)

A pre-war photo of Erik Dahlin. (Bosse B. archive)

Summer offensive 1942: the Soviet landscape is clearly seen in Marcus Ledins photograph. (Mnsson-Westberg archive)

Caucasus Front September 1942: Tor Samuelsson on the day he was promoted to SS-Sturmmann . (Authors archive)

Heino Meyer (kneeling to the right) with his squad during the Tuapse fighting. (Authors archive)

Karl-Erik Blsta Nilsson. (Bosse B. archive)

Erik Silfverhjelm. (Authors archive)

Per Hagberg, dressed in his Finnish uniform. (Authors archive)Lennart Nisseby. (Bosse B. archive)

Members of the Nordic Youth during a party meeting. Third man in the front row is Bo Wikstrm, who joined the SS during summer 1942. (Authors archive)

A photo published in the Swedish national socialist press, showing Swedish volunteers in training during 1942. (KB)

SS-Unterscharfhrer Arne Ericsson. (Bosse B. archive)

Marcus Ledin armed with the standard issue German MG34. (Martin Mnsson)

SS-Rottenfhrer Tor Samuelsson. The ribbon-bar denotes award of the Eastern Front Medal. (Martin Mnsson)

Nils-Sture Johansson. (Bosse B. archive)

Ragnar Johansson I. (Authors archive)

The young Sten Eriksson, who served in 6./Rgt. Germania . (Bosse B. archive)

Elis Hglund. (Authors archive)

Curt Sjgrd: the first Swede in 6./Rgt. Germania to fall in action. (Bosse B. archive)

Tor Samuelssons award documents. (Authors archive)

SS-Sturmmann Bo Wikstrm. (Authors archive)

Hans-Caspar Kreuger (far right) whilst participating in the war correspondent training course. Note he still proudly wears his Wiking cuff title. (Marc Rikmenspoel)

Gran Stlhammar dressed in his Swedish army uniform. He was serving in II./Rgt. Germania when he disappeared. (Bosse B. archive)

Gsta Borg at Narwa. (Authors archive)

Patrik Mineur: the last of the Swedish Wikings to fall in action. (Gran Hargestam)