Helmuth von Pannwitz was a German cavalry officer who rose through the ranks of the Wehrmacht before becoming an SS general and commander of thousands of Cossack soldiers fighting for Nazi Germany during the Second World War. His career took him from the battlefields of the First World War to the Eastern Front, occupied Yugoslavia and, ultimately, Soviet captivity. Born into a Prussian noble family, Pannwitz served in the German Army during the First World War and later joined nationalist paramilitary organisations. After Adolf Hitler came to power, he returned to military service, participating in the German invasion of Poland, the campaign in France and Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. As Germany’s campaign in the east continued, Pannwitz became commander of the 1st Cossack Cavalry Division, formed largely from Cossacks who had entered German service. Although initially intended for operations against the Red Army, the division was deployed to occupied Yugoslavia, where it fought communist-led Partisans.
The conduct of his troops soon provoked serious complaints. Villages suffered widespread looting, violence and abuse, prompting protests even from authorities allied with Nazi Germany. Despite Pannwitz’s attempts to restore discipline, the suffering of civilians continued. In February 1945, Pannwitz joined the SS and assumed command of the 15th SS Cossack Cavalry Corps. Following Germany’s surrender, he and his soldiers entered British custody in Austria before being handed over to Soviet authorities. This World History documentary examines Helmuth von Pannwitz’s biography, the history of the Cossacks during World War Two, Soviet collaboration with Nazi Germany, the Waffen-SS, the Yugoslav Partisans and the controversial postwar proceedings in Moscow. It also explores the later Russian decisions concerning his conviction and the lasting questions surrounding his wartime command.
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