| Belarusian Home Defence | |
|---|---|
| Беларуская краёвая абарона Bielaruskaja krajovaja abarona | |
| Active | February 23, 1944 – April 28, 1945 |
| Country |  Reichskommissariat Ostland |
| Allegiance |  Belarusian Central CouncilNazi Germany |
| Size | 28,000 troops[1] |
| Patron | Radasłaŭ Astroŭski |
| Anniversaries | February 23 |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Barys Rahula Francišak Kušal Ivan Yermachenka |
TheBelarusian Home Defence,[2] orBelarusian Home Guard (Belarusian:Беларуская краёвая абарона,romanized: Biełaruskaja krajovaja abarona,BKA;German:Weißruthenische Heimwehr)[3] werecollaborationist volunteerbattalions formed by theBelarusian Central Council (1943–1944), a pro-Nazi Belarusian self-government withinReichskommissariat Ostland during World War II.[4]The BKA operated from February 23, 1944, to April 28, 1945. The 20,000 strong Belarusian Home Defence Force was formed under the leadership of Commissioner-GeneralCurt von Gottberg,[4] with logistical help from the GermanSS-Sonderbataillon Dirlewanger, " commanded byOskar Dirlewanger.[4]
After the Wehrmacht suffered two major strategic defeatsat Stalingrad (in February 1943) and atKursk (in August 1943) the Germans made some concessions to the Belarusian collaborators by proposing a Belarusian quasi-state.[5] Assistance was offered by the local administrative governments from the Soviet era, and former members of public organizations including the Soviet Belarusian Youth.[6]
On March 6, 1944 the general mobilization of all healthy men born between 1908 and 1924 into the BKA started. Some 40,000 individuals reported to recruitment bureaus set up in seven cities; although 30% of them were sent back home on German orders for overcrowding.[1] From each region (Uezd) about 500 to 600 men were recruited,[6] for the total of 28,000 soldiers ready for training.[1]
On March 26, all men already enlisted to the BKA gave their oath at Freedom Square inMinsk:
"I swear, that arm to arm with the German soldier, I will not lay down my weapons until there is peace and security in our farms and cities, until in our land the last enemy of the Belarusian people is destroyed."
The oath was accepted by the BKA commanderIvan Yermachenka,[7] in the presence of theSS and Police LeaderCurt von Gottberg. The president of the Belarusian Central Council,Radasłaŭ Astroŭski, had concerns that some Soviet partisans might have infiltrated the new BKA structures and that therefore it would need a thorough inspection afterwards.[6]
On March 31, 1944, the BKA battalions received their individual designations. In total, there were 45 battalions formed, mostlyinfantry. However, to prevent possible staged desertions to "forest people" weapons were handed out only during training exercises with nothing to spare.[1] The GermanSS didn't have enough officers to train all of them, therefore a few thousand members of theBelarusian Auxiliary Police,[8] not older than 57 years andUnteroffiziers not older than 55 years of age (except those protecting the collaborationist government), were brought into the fold of BKA. Organization was controlled by the German Police and SD commandants.[6]
In mid-June 1944 an officer school for BKA volunteers was started by the German SS in Minsk, but the city was overrun by the Soviets only two weeks later.[1] After evacuating the Council toKönigsberg and soon to Berlin in November 1944 along with upper echelon, the 1st personnel battalion was formed. Meanwhile, battalions of BKA on Belarusian territory, were mainly used in anti-partisanoperations and later at the front against theRed Army.
The BKA ceased to exist afterRed Army regained control in the Byelorussian SSR. Some BKA units retreated to the West and became the base for the creation of theSchutzmannschaft-Brigade Siegling.[6] Many conscripts quietly went back home to their Belarusian villages.[1]
The BCR existed till late 1980s in theUnited States and presidentRadasłaŭ Astroŭski worked till 1960. Most of its members, as members of other organizations, receivedpolitical asylum asimmigrants. In April and May 1945, most of the BKA and SBM submitted toRussian Liberation Army surrendered to the western Allies. Later propagandists hold that the Belarusian Liberation Armies 1st personnel battalion in Berlin in fact was a reserve for the30th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Russian). Eleven its officers, includingBarys Rahula and others entered the1st Grenadier Sturm Brigade SS "Belarus", formed inNazi Germany; it was sent to theBattle of Monte Cassino, and acted against theII Corps (Poland) of GeneralWładysław Anders (Anders Army). BKA soldiers were not trusted by the Germans, which explains why Russian Liberation Army formations weren't sent to theEastern Front, and combat atWestern Front.[6]
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| Rank group | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belarusian Home Defence[9] |  | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
| Палкоўнік Palkoŭnik | Падпалкоўнік Padpalkoŭnik | Маёр Major | Капітан Kapitan | Старшы лейтэнант Staršy liejtenant | Лейтэнант Liejtenant | |||||||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Enlisted | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belarusian Home Defence[9] | | | | | | |
| Сьцяжны Ściažny | Старшыня Staršyna | Зьвязны Źviazny | Дружыновы Družynny | Старшы стралец Staršy straliec | Стралец Straliec | |
Национальные Добровольческие формирования в Вермахте и Ваффен-СС.
Media related toBelarusian Home Defense at Wikimedia Commons