In recent years, a historical review of the 5th SS Panzer Division during World War II has attracted much attention. This elite Nazi unit, made up of young people from the Nordic countries, performed well on the Eastern Front at that time and was called the "cleanest" SS unit. Although there were crimes committed by individual soldiers, on the whole they had almost no war crimes committed by prisoners of war or civilians during World War II. This makes one wonder what kind of person is the leader of this division?And how did they lead this force to the battlefield?The Viking Division was formed in 1940 and its first commander was Felix Tenna, a pure soldier with military command skills.
He brought the professional military skills of the Wehrmacht to the Viking Division, and changed the old habits of the Wehrmacht, and trained the SS from actual combat. Despite their inferior equipment, the Viking division, under the command of Tanina, fought bravely and fought in the Uman and Caucasus campaigns, achieving good results. In May 1943, Tyne was promoted to commander of the 3rd SS Panzer Corps, and the rank of Viking division commander was replaced by Helbert Otto Giller. Helbert Otto Giller was the second commander of the Viking Division, and during his tenure he continued to insist on actual combat training and focus on improving the quality of the troops. However, it was during his tenure that the Viking Division also experienced a number of important battles.
In the Caucasus campaign, the Viking divisions performed well, and although they were poorly equipped at the time, their tenacious fighting spirit and perseverance won the praise of the Wehrmacht generals. The reason why the Vikings were able to maintain a relatively "clean" record was not only the style of the leader, but also the fact that some of the members were from the Nordic countries. These members were disillusioned with the Nazism country, and they had some illusions about joining the SS and wished to find their own values and a way out in this organization. During the war years, this psychology may have also influenced the overall behavior of the Vikings to some extent. However, we cannot ignore the possible crimes of individual soldiers in the division.
Although no official historical documents have been found of large-scale crimes committed by Viking divisions, it remains an undeniable fact that individual soldiers committed murder and arson in private. This also leaves people with some thoughts on how discipline and norms of conduct within the army affect individual behavior in the context of warIn general, the history of the 5th Viking Panzer Division of the SS is not only a history of war, but also a history full of complex human and social psychology. In this history, we have seen the influence of the leader's style on the unit as a whole, as well as the behavioral choices of individual members in specific circumstances. All of this has made us more aware of the impact of war on people and how human nature behaves in extreme circumstances.
One unit that caught the spotlight in World War II was the Viking Division of Nazi Germany. The leadership of this unit has undergone a number of division commanders, the most famous of which is Otto Giller. Giller was not only a distinguished veteran, but also a highly respected veteran who demonstrated great command and military qualities during the war. Under his leadership, the Viking Division achieved some small victories in the war, but as the situation gradually deteriorated, the Viking Division eventually suffered defeat. It is worth mentioning that Carl Ulrich, who succeeded Giller as commander of the Viking Division, disbanded the Viking Division after the war, allowing them to fend for themselves, and the vast majority of officers and soldiers chose to surrender to the American army. What is the fate of this army?What kind of wind and rain did they go through in the war?
Next, we're going to do it. In the war, each commander of the Viking Division had important responsibilities, and their achievements and fates were also different. Let's find out. First, let's get to know Otto Giller. As the second commander of the Viking Division, Giller showed extraordinary military talent during the war, especially when he was surrounded into the Soviet Cherkasy pocket, he resolutely did not give up, and finally succeeded in leading the Viking Division out of the encirclement without leaving a single wounded. This exploit made him highly respected and became a military legend at the time. However, as the war progressed, the situation in Nazi Germany deteriorated day by day, and the Viking division gradually fell into passivity. Giller was held in captivity at the end of the war until his death from a heart attack in 1966.
After Giller, the commanders of the Viking division changed frequently. Edmund Desayhofen, Rudolf Mulenkemp, and Carl Ulrich served as commanders of the Viking Division, but they did not serve long, and after the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Viking Division was finally disbanded, and the officers and soldiers surrendered to the Allies. In the process, the Vikings have gone through countless battles and perseverance, and what is their fate in the end?What is the ultimate fate of the Vikings?What kind of ups and downs and storms did they go through in the war?The story of the Vikings, full of blood and tears, is worth pondering. Perhaps, it is through understanding this history that we can cherish peace more and warn mankind to never forget history and never repeat the mistakes of the past.
Perhaps, it is by understanding this history that we can better understand the cruelty and horror of war. Perhaps, it is through understanding this history that we can cherish peace more and cherish the happy life of the present. History should never be forgotten. And the story of the Vikings will always be remembered in people's hearts. Let us remember the heroes who fought for peace and sacrificed their lives for the country. May there be peace in the world, and may war never spread again.