I was reading Werner Haupts book on 'Elite German Divisions' and he states that the last two soldiers to win the Knights Cross were French volunteers from the 'Charlamagne' 33rd SS Div. They were part of the group that retreated to Berlin from the Koslin pocket and resisted till they gave up at the reichs chancellory... Anyone else know if this is correct or who they were?
That might well be correct. Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS "Charlemagne" After Pomerania the unit is rebuilding in Neusterlitz and reaches about 1000 men. Due to the lack of trucks only about 400 men reached Berlin, and that just while Russians were closing the encirclement around them. The "Sturmbataillon" sent to Berlin was equipped at 80% with StG 44, often two MG42 per squad, many Panzerfäuste, Panzerschrecks and handgrenades. They were organized in 5 "companies" : - Kampfschule (Weber) - Company Michel - Company Rostand - Company Olliver - Company Labourdette They were among the very last defenders of Berlin with remnants of the Nordland division. These volunteers destroyed officially 62 Russian tanks with Panzerfäuste in 1 week. At least 20 eiserne Kreuze and 4 Ritterkreuze had been earned in Berlin. Hauptstuf Fenet (RK) Uscha Vaulot (destroyed 8 tanks) (RK) Oscha Appolot (destroyed 6 tanks) (RK) Ostuf Weber (destroyed 13 tanks) (RK) Uscha Brunet (destroyed 4 tanks) (EK) From the 400 men only 30 survived the battle. Several were executed by the Russians and later four by the French forces of general Leclerc. http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=6142