Danish volunteers at a parade in Copenhagen
History:
Freikorps Danmark (Frikorps Danmark) was formed 28th of June 1941. The first commander of the corps (C.P. Kryssing) wanted it to be unpolitical, but it was soon heavily dominated by the Danish nationalsocialist party. Commanders of the corps like von Schalburg and Martinsen were also members of the Danish nationalsocialist party (DNSAP).
Kryssing wanted the corps to wear Danish uniforms, but the Germans persuaded him - the Danish uniforms were too similar to the Russian. The corps should also have Danish as the main language - but this was later changed when more and more of the officers, NCOs and soldiers became ethnic Germans.
The first volunteers began their service 19th July 1941. The corps (of battalion strength) received its first training at the Langenhorn garrison in Hamburg. The corps is in September transferred to Poznan (Posen) in "Guvernement Polen" to receive further training at the Treskow camp.
February 1942 is the commander Obersturmbannführer Kryssing relieved of his command due to his wish to keep the Frikorps Danmark as an unpolitical Danish unit. Hauptsturmführer K.B. Martinsen commands the unit until von Schalburg takes over.
The unit (999 soldiers - 34 officers, 75 senior NCOs, 109 junior NCOs and 781 privates -additional 195 soldiers are undergoing training in Graz, Austria) is sent to the front 8th May 1942. They are sent to the Demjansk area to fight with the Totenkopf division.
Combat service:
Freikorps Danmark is airlifted into the Demjansk pocket and helps defend the narrow supply route into the pocket. The commander C.F. von Schalburg is killed during the fighting in the Demjansk pocket. 126 soldiers is killed until the Freikorps is pulled out of the pocket August 1942.
Freikorps Danmark is sent on leave in Denmark for 4 weeks. After the leave the Freikorps is sent to Mitau, Latvia and from there to a part of the front close to Velikije Luki under 1. SS-Brigade.
Freikorps Danmark is pulled back from the front March 1943 to Grafenwöhr where the corps is disbanded 20th May 1943 and most of the personnel transferred to SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 24 "Danmark" of 11. SS-Freiwilligen-PanzerGrenadier-Divsion "Nordland".
Commanders of Frikorps Danmark:
Obersturmbannführer Christian Peder Kryssing (19th July 1941 - 23rd February 1942)
Hauptsturmführer Knud Børge Martinsen (23rd February 1942 - 1st March 1942)
Sturmbannführer Christian Frederik von Schalburg (1st March 1942 - 2nd June 1942)
Hauptsturmführer Knud Børge Martinsen (2nd June 1942 - 9th June 1942)
Obersturmbannführer Hans Albert von Lettow-Vorbeck (9th June 1942 - 11th June 1942)
Sturmbannführer Knud Børge Martinsen (11th June 1942 - 20th May 1943)
