Idel Ural Legion
One of the variants of the Idel Ural Legion patch
Active1942–1945
CountryNazi Germany
TypeOstlegionen
Size40,000
EngagementsWorld War II

The Volga-Tatar Legion (German: Wolgatatarische Legion) or Idel-Ural Legion (Tatar: Идел-Урал Легионы, romanized: İdel-Ural Legionı) denoted a series of units within the Wehrmacht in World War II. It was recruited among Muslim Volga Tatar in the Soviet Union, but also included other Idel-Ural peoples, including Bashkirs, Chuvashes, Maris, Tatars, Udmurts, and Mordvins. Germany promoted the Idel-Ural Legion as evidence that Muslim Turkic peoples were opposed to Russia and Bolshevism, but they also wanted to spare German blood.[1]

The legion was established in 1942 and comprised around 12,500 men, spread over seven battalions numbered 824 to 831. On February 23, 1943, near Vitebsk, Belarus, the entire 825th Battalion (about 900 soldiers) went over to the partisans.

Group of Tatar Soldiers marching in front of their German Officers

One of the most notable members of the legion was Soviet–Tatar poet Musa Cälil, who was later executed by the Gestapo for sabotage.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wigger, Leo (2020-05-27). "Tatars in the Wehrmacht: 'Almost half defected to the partisans'". Zenith. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  2. ↑ Mustafin, Rafael A. "Джалиль Муса" [Musa Dzhalil]. Tatarica (in Russian).


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