Ostlegionen

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Ostlegionen or Ostgruppen (literally "Eastern Legion") were conscripts and volunteers from occupied territories who fought in the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) of the Third Reich during the Second World War. They were poorly paid, clothed, fed, armed and treated. Many Ostgruppen divisions were guarding the inland region of Normandy during Operation Overlord (specifically Utah and Juno and Sword.) The staff of the disbanded 162d Infantry Division in Poland was charged with the raising and training of the six Eastern Legions. It eventually raised and trained 82 battalions. A total of 98 battalions were raised with 80 serving on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans. 12 were later transferred to France and Italy in 1943.

[edit] Strength

There were six legions:

• Armenian Legion - 11 Armenian Battalions
• Azerbaijani Legion - 14 Azeri Battalions
• Georgian Legion - 14 Georgian Battalions
• Caucasian Muslim Legion - 5 North Caucasian Battalions
• Turkestan Legion - 34 Turkestani Battalions
• Volga-Tatar Legion - 8 Volga-Tatar Battalions