Demyansk Russia
1942 – present
Photo shows a clipping of a map from Frikorps Danmark, 1942.
The Demjansk area in Russia is a large swamp that never dries out, even in the driest summers you have to count on mud and mosquitos. The photo was taken during a visit in 1998 and the grassland is where the town of Biakowo used to be. Even when the Freikorps were there in 1942, there wasn’t much of the town left, but it was eventually burned down and completely wiped out by the advancing Russian troops at the end of 1942. It was believed that the local population had been too friendly to the Germans. On the left in the photo you can see a grass pole, it marks the town’s old water well. The Freikorps were given written orders not to drink from these wells due to the risk of infection. The Russians had thrown bodies into the water.
Photo shows the road sign from one of the access roads to the Demjansk area, 1942.
The legendary “Rollbahn” in Demjansk can still be seen today, although the tree trunks have partly rotted away, but you can see the remains of those that have been under water and partly protected by hard frost for a large part of the year. The “Rollbahn” or roller coaster was created by laying down tree trunks in the swamp area, first lengthwise, then a layer across, thereby creating a raised road that “floats” on the swamp. However, it is very uneven and unstable. Photo is from 1998.
Photo shows one of the official volunteer working groups under VDK/Volksbund working in the area near St. Petersburg 2012. All finds of bone remains and effects are reported to VDK. Bones etc. are reburied in official cemeteries/burial areas and registered.
Photo shows the Volksbund/VDK’s burial site at Uspenskaja. The large “Wiking” heroes’ cemetery was previously located here, but it was destroyed by the Russians and only rediscovered and rebuilt with the help of the German Volksbund in cooperation with the local population a few years ago.
The “Viking” burial site in Uspenskaja in 1941.
The old war areas can be visited without any problems today, and a visit gives a touch of history in a very special way.