11.SS - Nordland

11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland was formed in 1943 to combine all the Scandinavian and Dutch volunteer formations, but the Dutch did in the end not end up in Nordland, instead it contained a majority of volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) and a minority of Scandinavians.

It was sent to Croatia in September 1943 for training where it was also used to fight partisans. It was sent to the Oranienbaum front near Leningrad in November and December 1943 and suffered heavy losses during the Soviet offensive in January 1944, fighting on the Luga River and at Narva before retreating to the Tannenberg Line July 1944 where it remained until September 1944 when it retreated into Latvia seeing action in the Kurland battles.

It was transferred to Pomerania in February 1945 where it fought until 19 March when it was evacuated and sent to the Oder front. Much of the surviving parts of Nordland were caught up in the battle for Berlin and only a few suvivors managed to break out of the city.

The surviving elemets of the divisions surrendered to the Allies at the Elbe river.

Despite most volunteers hailing from Scandinavia, the Nordland carried the widest range of nationalities found in any single division. By the end of the war, Danish, Hungarian, Dutch, Norwegian, Estonian, Finnish, French, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish, Swiss and British volunteers had either served in the division or been attached to it.

More Info about 11.SS Nordland at the links below!