Legion Speer

Legion Speer was a Nazi German paramilitary motor transportation corps founded in 1942. The members of the Legion were non-German citizens, and as such could not belong to the Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps (NSKK). The legion was disbanded in 1944, and its members absorbed into the Transportkorps Speer. It was named after Albert Speer.

Legion Speer
Agency overview
Formed1942
Dissolved1944
TypeParamilitary
JurisdictionGerman-occupied Europe
HeadquartersBerlin
Employees7,700
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • NSKK-Gruppenführer Martin Jost, Kommandeur der Legion Speer

Creation

Legion Speer was founded in 1942, as a corps of drivers and mechanics recruited in occupied Europe. Motor transportation for Organisation Todt (OT) was organized by the NSKK, but non-Germans could not become members, as it was a sub-organization of the Nazi Party. Hence a special corps had to be created.[1]

Personnel

The first members of the Legion was White Russian emigrants. The majority of its members were Soviet POWs serving as Hiwis. They were only allowed to serve in Western Europe. The Legion was open for all citizens of occupied Europe; Belgians, Czech, Norwegians, and others. Command positions were reserved for Germans. Some Germans also served as drivers. The Legionaries took a personal oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler.[2] A number of Norwegians were members of the Legion; some of them were drafted, but most of them had volunteered.[3]

Organization

The Legion was a motor transportation corps, operating within the framework of the NSKK, in the service of the OT, the Ministry of Armament, the army, and the Luftwaffe. The Legion had Ersatzabteilungen (depots) in Paris, Oslo, Belgrade and Kiev.[1][2] From 1943 the organization of the Legion corresponded with the organization of the OT:[4]

  • Legion Speer Italien, Rome
  • Legion Speer Norwegen, Oslo
  • Legion Speer Reich, Berlin
  • Legion Speer Südost, Belgrade
  • Legion Speer West, Paris

Disbandment

The Legion was disbanded on September 12, 1944, and its members transferred to Transportkorps Speer.[5]

Ranks
Insignia Ranks Comparative ranks
in the Wehrmacht
Generalkapitän Generalmajor
Chefkapitän Oberst
Stabskapitän Oberstleutnant
Kapitän Major
Hauptzugführer Hauptmann
Oberzugführer Oberleutnant
Zugführer Leutnant
Stabsfahrmeister Stabsfeldwebel
Hauptfahrmeister Oberfeldwebel
Oberfahrmeister Feldwebel
Fahrmeister Unterfeldwebel
Unterfahrmeister Unteroffizier
Hauptkraftfahrer Obergefreiter
Oberkraftfaher Gefreiter
Kraftfahrer Grenadier
Source: [5]

See also

References

Notes
  1. Seidler 1984, p. 634.
  2. Handbook of the Organisation Todt, p. 78.
  3. "NSSK/Transportkorps Speer." Arkivverket. 2019-02-09.
  4. Lepage 2015, p. 121.
  5. Thomas 1992, p. 35.

Cited literature
  • Handbook of the Organisation Todt (1945), London: MIRS.
  • Lepage, Jean Denis G. G. (2015). Hitler’s Armed Forces Auxiliaries. McFarland & Co.
  • Seidler, Franz W. (1984), '"Das Nationalsozialistiche Kraftfahrkorps und die Organisation Todt im Zweitem Weltkrieg", Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte 32(4): 625-636.
  • Thomas, Nigel (1992), Wehrmacht Auxiliary Forces, London 1992.
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