Are These Russians (serving with 5 Pz Division)?

[hucks216]

I have just obtained a private photo album that belonged to a member of Schutzen Rgt 13 / Pz.Gren.Rgt 13 of 5 Pz Division which seems to span the period late 1941 to mid 1943 and one of the photos shows what appears to be Russian troops forming up for the Germans. Can anyone confirm that the troops in the picture are indeed Russian?
Also, another picture shows a field camp belonging to the Spanish Blue Division (another photo on the page is dated for April 1942) but I thought that the Spanish Division fought exclusively on AG Nord's sector whereas the 5 Pz Division was fighting on the central sector?

[hucks216]

Pic 2...

[Adrian Stevenson]

Very interesting photo! The helmets and rifles are certainly Soviet issue.

Cheers, Ade.

[hucks216]

Spanish...

[jmark]

Can anyone confirm that the troops in the picture are indeed Russian?

Definitely Russian. The captions reads: "Volunteer company goes into position..."

It's a very interesting photo, particularly because they are armed. Several books mentions Hiwis who were so loyal that they took up arms alongside the Germans, but I struggle to remember even seeing a photo of Russians - with Red Army helmets and weapons - working closely with the Germans. Perhaps the unit history mentions something about it?

All the best,
Jason

[hucks216]

Thanks for the replies. Going by the captions on other photos on the preceding pages of the photo album it was taken in the vicinity of Rzhev in March/April 1942.

Edit: Thanks to a member of another forum this is what the publication for the 5 Pz.Div has to say for the date of May 26/27th 1942...

Die Freiwilligen Kompanie von Rentelen, die in den letzten Wochen aus russischen Uberläufern aufgestellt worden ist, erhält den Auftrag, das Waldgebiet zwischen Nadesha, Janino und Wjasowez durchzukämen.

[F L Clemens]

From what I have seen in the archival records, in the second year of the Russian campaign, units in the field sometimes took the initiative of forming their own small units of armed Russian volunteers. This was usually a matter of a German officer with Russian experience and language ability. They had mixed successes, but they were cracked down upon by the high command because of the political implications. The implied promises to the men and then the dissolution/imprisonment of the units during the crackdown did not help the German cause.

This photo is a very rare historical document of those experiments.

[hucks216]

That is very interesting. Thanks for that.

[Mixer]

There are cossack volunteers of 5 Pz Division Volunteers Company. Survivors of 1942 Rzhev-battle became a base of Cossack Grenadier Regiment 360 (commander Colonel d.R. Ewert von Renteln). Very unique photo!!!

[hucks216]

Thanks Mixer for the additional input