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. The legion was disbanded in 1944, and its members absorbed into the Transportkorps Speer. It was named after Albert Speer.

Creation

Legion Speer was founded in 1942, as a corps of drivers and mechanics recruited in occupied Europe. Motor transportation for Organisation Todt 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.

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. A number of Norwegians were members of the Legion; some of them were drafted, but most of them had volunteered.

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 in Paris, Oslo, Belgrade and Kiev. From 1943 the organization of the Legion corresponded with the organization of the OT:
The Legion was disbanded on September 12, 1944, and its members transferred to Transportkorps Speer.

Ranks

Cited literature