Léon Degrelle Speech in Berlin (1944)

The Belgian fascist leader SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") gives a speech for Walloon soldiers and workers who resided in Berlin. An excerpt from 'Die Deutsche Wochenschau' Nr. 722 - 5 July 1944.

Source :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHL8cxpPj1w

Léon Degrelle in Color

Léon Degrelle as a Leutnant in German Army uniform. The picture was probably taken in 1942 when he was a part of Wallonische Infanterie-Bataillon 373 / 97.Infanterie-Division. In October 1941 the first volunteers of Walloon Legion completed their training, and by the end of that month the decision was made to send them to the front. Because the Legion was too small a formation to fight on its own, the Germans tasked them with the protection of communication lines in the Dniepropietrovsk region in the Ukraine. In February 1942 Degrelle took part in the fighting at Gromowaja-Balka but was evacuated by Leutnant Lisein because he was in "shell-shock". He then participated in the Caucasus campaign as an orderly officer at the general staff until the end of the year.

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the award ceremony for the "Heroes of Cherkassy" with Hitler on 20 February 1944. Degrelle’s Ritterkreuz recommendation reads as follows: "The SS-Sturmbrigade ‘Wallonien’ belongs to the formations of the Heer and Waffen-SS that defied all enemy attacks during the weeks of combat in the Cherkassy pocket, fighting all alone. Degrelle took over leadership of the Brigade after its former brave commander, SS-Sturmbannführer Lucien Lippert, died in battle on 13 February 1944 after a shot to the chest. Prior to this Degrelle had already distinguished himself several times through his personal bravery, and in his new role he demonstrated outstanding leadership during the decisive breakthrough fighting of the last days. He and his brave Walloons acquitted themselves very well as they struggled side by side with soldiers of the Heer and the Germanic men of the Waffen-SS in a true comradely fashion."

SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") photographed by Walter Frentz at the Führerhauptquartier Wolfsschanze in Rastenburg, East Prussia, after the award ceremony with Hitler on 27 August 1944. Degrelle’s Eichenlaub recommendation reads as follows: "An enemy attack on 23 August 1944 that focused against Estonian formations led to the total disintegration of these units. With this the entire west/southwest flank of Dorpat was exposed, and only defended by alarm units of minimal combat minor. Meanwhile, during the morning hours of this day, SS-Sturmbannführer Degrelle was driving to a heavy Kompanie positioned further to the southwest. After discovering the situation he assembled the disorganized units in the vicinity of Lemmatsi that were fleeing towards Dorpat. He reformed them into a Kampfgruppe buttressed by weak German units, and on the very same day he used this unit to create a firm security line along the axis of the main enemy advance. His personal devotion to duty is characterized by the fact that he was able to persuade the less steadfast Estonians to hold their ground by giving his orders to them directly from the trenches themselves. It was only his commitment to the action that prevented an enemy advance towards the city of Dorpat and the consequent cutting-off of friendly elements that were still positioned south of the city.”

Source :
Mark C. Yerger photo collection
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/ss-standartenfuhrer-leon-degrelle.html
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/8721/Degrelle-Leon-Marie-Joseph-Ignace-Waffen-SS.htm
https://www.walter-frentz-collection.de/fotoarchiv/personenarchiv-a-z/personen-c-f/
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/photos-papers-propaganda-third-reich/signatures-waffen-ss-knights-cross-winners-6478-2/
https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/german-forces/41155/leon-degrelle-heer
https://x.com/GermanScholarrr/status/1802039067288191330/photo/1

Léon Degrelle and Herbert Otto Gille in Cherkassy

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (left, Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") and SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Otto Gille (Kommandeur 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking") during the Battle of Cherkassy Pocket (24 January – 16 February 1944). This picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Briessa with the original press photo caption as follow: "Zu den Durchbruckskämpfen westlich Tscherkassy. Die für die erfolgreichen Durchbruchskämpfe westlich Tscherkassy Ausgezeichneten. Im Vordergrund der vom Führer mit den Schwertern zum Eichenlaub des Ritterkreuzes ausgezeichneten SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Waffen-SS Herbert Gille und der mit dem Ritterkreuz ausgezeichnete SS-Hauptsturmführer Leon Degrelle." (On the breakthrough battles west of Cherkasy. Those awarded for the successful breakthrough battles west of Cherkasy. In the foreground, SS-Gruppenführer and Lieutenant General of the Waffen-SS Herbert Gille, who was awarded the Swords to the Oak Leaves of the Knight's Cross by the Führer, and SS-Hauptsturmführer Leon Degrelle, who was awarded the Knight's Cross).

Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/detail/cfe82f10-0259-11e7-904b-d89d6717b464/media/eecd18f7-1791-1002-347c-fb72791b3337?mode=detail&view=horizontal&q=gille&rows=1&page=5
https://dutchmilitaria.com/product/pressphoto-ss-gruppenfuhrer-ss-panzergrenadier-division-wiking-herbert-gille-ss-hauptsturmfuhrer-leon-degrelle-extremeley-rare/
http://www.mourningtheancient.com/truth4z3.htm

Léon Degrelle with Subordinates in the Cherkassy Pocket

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (smiles to the camera, Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") with a group of subordinates in the Cherkassy pocket, Ukraine, February 1944. For the 56,000 Wehrmacht soldiers trapped there at the end of January 1944, this siege was perhaps the most brutal, incredibly tiring and mentally draining struggle they had ever experienced. The battle that raged centered on the joint efforts of Heer and Waffen-SS units attempting to free their comrades from other Heer and Waffen-SS units trapped in the Russian rear lines.

Source :
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/album-foto-leon-degrelle.html
https://stabswache-de-euros.blogspot.com/2011/07/copyright-and-license-text-articles-on.html
https://waralbum.ru/236483/

Léon Degrelle with Captured Russian Gun

SS-Hauptsturmführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (in front) from 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien" with his Walloon soldiers at the end of the Battle of Cherkassy on the Eastern Front, 8 March 1944. In the foreground is a Soviet 76,2-mm ZiS-3 cannon. Degrelle became acting commander of the brigade after the death of their first commander, Lucien Lippert, on 13 February 1944. Constant fighting and repeated attacks by enemy troops drastically reduced the brigade's members from 2,000 to only 632 men! However, until the German troops were withdrawn from the encirclement, the Russians were unable to penetrate the determined defense of the Belgian volunteers.

Source :
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive (Image-No.: 30033248)
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/album-foto-leon-degrelle.html
https://en.topwar.ru/165494-trofejnye-sovetskie-762-mm-orudija-opyt-nemcev-vo-vtoroj-mirovoj-vojne.html
https://waralbum.ru/156837/

Léon Degrelle and SS General

SS-Sturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade "Wallonien") and SS-Gruppenführer und Generalleutnant der Polizei Richard Jungclaus (Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer Belgien-Nordfrankreich). The picture was taken on 1 April 1944 at Place Charles II Charleroi, Belgium, during the Sturmbrigade Wallonien's "Return to Homeland" parade. Other pictures from this sequence can be seen HERE.

Colorized image by R. White.

Source :
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryPorn/comments/8lu9fp/commander_of_the_5th_walloon_volunteers_ss/
https://waralbum.ru/172049/

Léon Degrelle with His Soldiers in the Trench

SS-Obersturmbannführer der Reserve Léon Degrelle (Kommandeur 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Wallonien") distributes cigarettes to his soldiers. The picture was taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Niquille near Stargard, Pomerania (Bayerische Staatsbibliothek said that the photo was taken on 7 March 1945, while Bundesarchiv said that it was taken at the end of February 1945). The Soviet counter-offensive, launched on 1 March 1945, pushed the Wallonien before it, and over the next few weeks was in almost constant combat throughout Central Pomerania until it reached the Oder near Stettin. The Wallonien, fighting alongside the Langemarck managed to hold a thin strip of land on the eastern bank of the Oder until it was forced back across the river in early April, 1945.

Source :
Bundesarchiv Bild 183-J28764
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek photo archive (Image-No.: 50090409)
https://albumwar2.com/commander-of-the-28th-ss-division-wallonien-leon-degrelle-distributes-cigarettes-to-his-soldiers/
http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2010/10/album-foto-leon-degrelle.html
https://waralbum.ru/45175/