From summer 1941, some 100,000 Russians served in the German Wehrmacht, mostly as so called Schutzmannschaften under the command of the German Police (Höhere SS- und Polizeiführer) in the eastern occupied areas.

The most famous unit was the Brigade Kaminski, established by Bronislav Kaminski in the summer of 1941. In 1944 it became the Waffen-Sturmbrigade der SS “Rona” later the 29. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS “Rona” (russische Nr.1).

A second division was later established from various Schutzmannschafts-Bataillonen and was designated 30. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (russische Nr.2).[AuthorName]By Rolf Michaelis[/AuthorName][AuthorBio]Rolf Michaelis specializes in books on the Waffen-SS and has written over thirty to date, with many available in English from Schiffer Books. He lives in Berlin.[/AuthorBio][NumIllustration]over 100 bw images[/NumIllustration][CoAuthor][/CoAuthor][SubTitle][/SubTitle][ColorPattern]over 100 bw images[/ColorPattern]