×
Home Intro People Events Equipment Places Maps Books Photos Videos Other Reference FAQ About
     

World War II Database

Georgian Texel Uprising file photo [25699]

Georgian Texel Uprising

6 Apr 1945 - 20 May 1945

Contributor:

ww2dbaseGeorgian Legion of the German Army was formed in Jun 1943 from captured Georgian soldiers on the Eastern Front. In Feb 1945, it was posted to the Dutch island of Texel. In Mar 1945, the legion's German officers began preparing several units for transfer back on the mainland for combat duty against the advancing Allies. Several of the Georgians began plotting against their German officers. Shortly after 0000 hours on 6 Apr 1945, 800 Georgians attacked with complete surprise, killing 246 Germans before dawn. The Georgians, now with aid from the local Dutch resistance, gained control of several key military installations, but failed in their attempt to capture the naval batteries on the southern and northern coasts of the island. While the two naval batteries turned their guns inland to fire on Georgian positions, 2,000 men of the German 163rd Marine-Schützenregiment landed. Fighting between the Germans and the Georgians saw the death of 565 Georgians (some killed in combat, others executed as mutineers), about 570 additional Germans, and 117 Dutch civilians (both resistance fighters and innocent bystanders). Fighting continued into mid-May despite the German surrender earlier that month, ceasing only after the arrival of Canadian troops on 20 May 1945.

ww2dbaseEpilogue

ww2dbaseThe Canadians took custody of 1,535 Germans and 228 Georgians. The Georgians were turned over to SMERSH agents. Most of the Georgians, sometimes with their entire families, were imprisoned in the gulag system for having allowed themselves to be captured by the Germans.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Update: May 2016

Photographs

Georgian soldiers on Texel, the Netherlands, 19 Nov 1945Georgian troops at Oudeschild on Texel island, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands, late 1945

Georgian Texel Uprising Timeline

6 Apr 1945 On the Island of Texel off the Dutch coast, the Georgian troops serving as volunteers with the German army mutinied. Some 246 German troops were killed in their sleep by the Georgians (most of whom had originally been captured on the Eastern Front) and battle broke out which eventually results in about 800 Germans, about 500 Georgian and 117 Texel civilian fatalities. The fighting ended only when the Canadians arrived on 20 May 1945, two weeks after the end of the European war.
20 May 1945 Canadian troops landed on the island of Texel off the Dutch coast unopposed.




Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

 Facebook
 Reddit
 Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds




Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Change View
Desktop View

Search WW2DB
More on Georgian Texel Uprising
Participant:
» Loladze, Shalva

Georgian Texel Uprising Photo Gallery
Georgian soldiers on Texel, the Netherlands, 19 Nov 1945Georgian troops at Oudeschild on Texel island, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands, late 1945


Famous WW2 Quote
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

George Patton, 31 May 1944


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!