Аукцион Bidspirit | Dutch Volunteers in the Waffen

Dutch Volunteers in the Waffen SS - Arys Training Camp - Dutch NSB leader Anton Mussert - THE ALBUM The album measures 24 × 18 cm (9.5 × 7 inches) and contains a total of 48 big photographs , . It bears the personal stamp of Arthur Seyss-Inquart , the Reichs kommissarof the occupied Netherlands during the Second World War. The stamp is believed to be original, and only a handful of photo albums from the Seyss-Inquart estate are known to exist. The album is believed to be original and not a later copy. The photographs document the visit of Dutch NSB leader Anton Mussert and Hanns Albin Rauter , Higher SS and Police Leader in the occupied Netherlands, to the Arys training camp during the winter of 1941–1942. Also present was Cornelis van Geelkerken , leader of the NSB Youth Movement. Although the exact date of the visit has not been identified, it is believed to have taken place before the Freiwilligen Legion ”Niederlande” was deployed to the Eastern Front in January 1942. Among the photographs are: Anton Mussert discussing with Dutch volunteers. Military exercises. Parades and oath ceremonies. A friendship evening and concert. HISTORY Arys Training Camp The Arys training camp (today Orzysz, northeastern Poland), officially known as Truppenübungsplatz Ostpreussen , was established in 1891 for the Imperial German Army. The camp consisted of several subcamps including barracks, wooden barracks, and training grounds located south of the town. The main training camp remains in use today by the Polish Army. During the Second World War, Arys was located approximately 50 km southeast of Hitler's headquarters, the Wolfschanze (”Wolf's Lair”), near Rastenburg (today Ketrzyn, Poland).Numerous German military units trained there throughout the war. Historic photographs of the camp: Arys Camp Photos – Page 1 Arys Camp Photos – Page 2 Dutch Volunteers in the Waffen-SS Following the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, Dutch volunteers were permitted to enlist in the Waffen-SS. Initially, many served in the SS Regiment ”Westland” of the 5th SS Division ”Wiking” . In April 1941, the Regiment ”Nordwest” was created for Dutch and Flemish volunteers. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, the regiment was dissolved.Dutch volunteers were transferred to the newly formed Freiwilligen Legion ”Niederlande” , while Flemish volunteers joined the Freiwilligen Legion ”Flandern” . Both units were approximately reinforced regiments intended for service on the Eastern Front. In November 1941, the Dutch Legion departed the Netherlands for training at Arys in East Prussia. After only a few weeks of training, the Legion was transferred to the Eastern Front in January 1942.