Waffen-SS : International Fighting Force

[Josef Weiss]

Short video showcasing the Italienische SS-Freiwilligen-Legion (also known as the Legione SS Italiana) which was formed in March 1944 from Italian volunteers in SS-Ausbildungsstab Italien under SS-Brigadeführer Peter Hansen. Two battalions from the Legion were sent to the Anzio front to combat the allies alongside the the 16. SS-PzG-Div-Reichsführer-SS. After the fighting at Anzio these two battalions would serve with SS-Kampfgruppe Binz until the end of the war. On 3 May 1944 Heinrich Himmler issued the below proclamation about the two battalions:

Because of the demonstration of courage and sense of duty displayed by the volunteers of the Italian SS, they are designated as units of the Waffen-SS with all of the duties and rights that that implies

-Heinrich Himmer