Legion Speer was a Nazi German paramilitary motor transportation corps founded in 1942. The members of the Legion were non-German citizens, and as such could not belong to the Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps (NSKK). The legion was disbanded in 1944, and its members absorbed into the Transportkorps Speer. It was named after Albert Speer.

Creation

Legion Speer was founded in 1942, as a corps of drivers and mechanics recruited in occupied Europe. Motor transportation for Organisation Todt (OT) was organized by the NSKK, but non-Germans could not become members, as it was a sub-organization of the NSDAP, Nazi Party. Hence a special corps had to be created.

Personnel

The first members of the Legion were White émigré, White Russian emigrants. The majority of its members were Soviet POWs serving as Hiwi (volunteer), Hiwis. They were only allowed to serve in Western Europe. The Legion was open to all citizens of occupied Europe; Belgians, Czech, Norwegians, and others. Command positions were reserved for Germans. Some Germans also served as drivers. The Legionaries took a personal oath of allegiance to Adolf Hitler.''Handbook of the Organisation Todt'', p. 78. A number of Norwegians were members of the Legion; some of them were drafted, but most of them had volunteered.

Organization

The Legion was a motor transportation corps, operating within the framework of the NSKK, in the service of the OT, the Reich Ministry of Armaments and War Production, Ministry of Armament, the army, and the Luftwaffe. The Legion had ''Ersatzabteilungen'' (Regimental depot, depots) in Paris, Oslo, Belgrade and Kiev.Seidler 1984, p. 634. From 1943 the organization of the Legion corresponded with the organization of the OT:Lepage 2015, p. 121. * Legion Speer Italien, Rome * Legion Speer Norwegen, Oslo * Legion Speer Reich, Berlin *Legion Speer Südost, Belgrade * Legion Speer West, Paris

Disbandment

The Legion was disbanded on September 12, 1944, and its members transferred to Transportkorps Speer.Thomas 1992, p. 35.

Ranks

References

Notes

Cited literature

* ''Handbook of the Organisation Todt'' (1945), London: MIRS. * Lepage, Jean Denis G. G. (2015). ''Hitler’s Armed Forces Auxiliaries.'' McFarland & Co. * Seidler, Franz W. (1984), '"Das Nationalsozialistiche Kraftfahrkorps und die Organisation Todt im Zweitem Weltkrieg", ''Vierteljahrshefte für Zeitgeschichte'' 32(4): 625–636. * Thomas, Nigel (1992), ''Wehrmacht Auxiliary Forces'', London 1992. {{Ranks, uniforms and insignia of Nazi Germany Organizations established in 1942 Military history of Germany Economy of Nazi Germany 1942 establishments in Germany