Winter effort at Nevel/ Weliki Luki, Russia

November 21, 1942 – March 24, 1943

Frikorps Denmark travels from the barracks in Mitau by train and dressed in new thermal winter clothing on November 21st and ends south of Ilmensøer in the open landscape at the Nevel railway line. The area of ​​Welki Luki. In the next period, you will primarily be used as a security force and will have to rotate around from time to time. It is impossible to dig caves and tunnels so that defenses are built in tree trunks. Fortunately, it will also be a quiet time and there will only be few clashes with the equally frozen Russian soldiers. The Russians are orthodox and known for attacking on Christmas Eve where they expect weak opponents, but the Danes have prepared themselves and will participate in a tough but successful defensive match on December 24th. The Russians withdraw and remain calm for the rest of the time. On March 24, 1943, the German army was being reorganized and a new 11th Panzer Grenadier Division named “Nordland” was established. Here the Danes are to be included as the 24th regiment and the withdrawal of the Free Corps begins to gather them in southern Germany for redeployment.

Winter War in Russia has always been feared by soldiers, and rightly so. Everything freezes, no food, no safety bunkers and no possibility of burying the dead.

Svend Nielsen (with glasses) from Tårs with his friends. The veterans talk about a calm time when it was frost and snow that they fought, not the Russians.

Frikorps Denmark’s 2nd company, 2nd group in full winter equipment.

Behind the front line, on a sunny frosty day, the soldiers are enjoying themselves.

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