Edgar Puaud
Encyclopedia
Edgar Joseph Alexandre Puaud (29 October 1889 to 5 March 1945),
was a French army officer, who in 1945 briefly became commander of
the Charlemagne Division, a French unit of the Waffen SS which
fought alongside the German Army against the Soviet Union.
, and joined the French Army
as a private
soldier in 1909. By 1914 he was a sergeant, and was selected to attend
the military academy at Saint-Maixent
for officer training. On the
outbreak of World War I
, however, he and fellow "aspirants"
were immediately given commissions. During the course of the war he was
promoted from Sub-Lieutenant to Captain, and won the Croix de guerre
and the Legion of Honour. After 1918 he served with the
French army of occupation in the Rhineland
, then with the
French Foreign Legion
in Morocco
, Syria
and
French Indo-China.
Septfonds
in the south-west of France, and as a result did not
see action during the German invasion of 1940. Following the French
defeat in 1940, he served in the much-reduced "Armistice Army" in
Vichy France
.
Although Puaud was initially hostile to French collaboration with the
German occupiers, his attitude changed following the entry of the
Soviet Union into the war in June 1941. He accepted the
collaborationist argument that "Bolshevism" was a greater threat to
French interests than the Germans. In October 1941, he joined the
Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
(Legion des
Volontaires Français Contre le Bolchevisme, LVF), which was fighting on the
eastern front, as a battalion commander.
It should be noted that the LVF was not a
unit of the French Army, and was not under the control of the Vichy
French government. It was part of the German Army and was officially
known as Infantry Regiment 638. The LVF, which had about 5,000 effective
members at its peak, took part in the Battle of Moscow
in December
1941, where it sustained severe losses. Thereafter it was not considered
by the Germans to be fit for front-line service, and it was used for
anti-partisan services, first around Bryansk
and then in Ukraine
.
appointed commander of the LVF. In July 1944 the Germans decided that all
foreign volunteers fighting in
the German Army should be transferred to the Waffen SS. The LVF was
therefore merged with the Sturmbrigade SS Frankreich (a French Waffen
SS unit formed in July 1943), and renamed the Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade
Charlemagne (after the Frankish king and German Emperor Charlemagne
).
Puaud was given the SS rank Oberführer (Brigadier). Although Puaud was the
official commander, actual control was exercised by SS Brigadeführer Dr
Gustav Krukenberg
, who spoke good French.
As well as survivors
of the LVF, the Charlemagne Brigade incorporated former members of the
Milice française
, Vichy fascist paramilitaries, who had escaped to
Germany following the Allied liberation of France. Puaud and other former French Army
officers were unhappy at the incorporation of the Milice members, who had a
reputation for undisciplined violence but little military training.
a division, with the title 33 Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS
"Charlemagne" (französische Nr 1), in February 1945. Because the Germans
would not have a foreigner commanding a division, Krukenberg became
the official commander with Puaud as the senior French officer.
Red Army
in Pomerania
, in eastern Germany. It saw action around
Köslin
(Koszalin) and Kolberg (Kołobrzeg) on the Baltic
coast, but it was not an effective fighting unit and suffered heavy
casualties while
proving completely unable to delay the Soviet advance.
On 4 March, Puaud was commanding the approximately 3,000 surviving members
of the Charlemagne Division near Belgard (Białogard). The division was
attacked by Soviet forces who heavily outnumbered them. Puaud, who was on
horseback, was severely wounded. He was taken to
Greifenberg (Gryfice),
where he was left in an inn with other wounded soldiers. There he either
died of his wounds or was executed by the Soviets when they captured the
town.
was a French army officer, who in 1945 briefly became commander of
the Charlemagne Division, a French unit of the Waffen SS which
fought alongside the German Army against the Soviet Union.
World War I
Puaud was born in OrléansOrléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
, and joined the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
as a private
soldier in 1909. By 1914 he was a sergeant, and was selected to attend
the military academy at Saint-Maixent
Saint-Maixent
Saint-Maixent is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France.-References:*...
for officer training. On the
outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, however, he and fellow "aspirants"
were immediately given commissions. During the course of the war he was
promoted from Sub-Lieutenant to Captain, and won the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
and the Legion of Honour. After 1918 he served with the
French army of occupation in the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, then with the
French Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and
French Indo-China.
World War II
By 1939 he was a Major, based atSeptfonds
Septfonds
Septfonds is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.-References:*...
in the south-west of France, and as a result did not
see action during the German invasion of 1940. Following the French
defeat in 1940, he served in the much-reduced "Armistice Army" in
Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
.
Although Puaud was initially hostile to French collaboration with the
German occupiers, his attitude changed following the entry of the
Soviet Union into the war in June 1941. He accepted the
collaborationist argument that "Bolshevism" was a greater threat to
French interests than the Germans. In October 1941, he joined the
Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism
The Legion of French Volunteers Against Bolshevism was a collaborationist French militia founded on July 8, 1941. It gathered various collaborationist parties, including Marcel Bucard's Mouvement Franciste, Marcel Déat's National Popular Rally, Jacques Doriot's French Popular Party, Eugène...
(Legion des
Volontaires Français Contre le Bolchevisme, LVF), which was fighting on the
eastern front, as a battalion commander.
It should be noted that the LVF was not a
unit of the French Army, and was not under the control of the Vichy
French government. It was part of the German Army and was officially
known as Infantry Regiment 638. The LVF, which had about 5,000 effective
members at its peak, took part in the Battle of Moscow
Battle of Moscow
The Battle of Moscow is the name given by Soviet historians to two periods of strategically significant fighting on a sector of the Eastern Front during World War II. It took place between October 1941 and January 1942. The Soviet defensive effort frustrated Hitler's attack on Moscow, capital of...
in December
1941, where it sustained severe losses. Thereafter it was not considered
by the Germans to be fit for front-line service, and it was used for
anti-partisan services, first around Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
and then in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
Appointed commander
In September 1943 Puaud, promoted to Général de Brigade (Brigadier), wasappointed commander of the LVF. In July 1944 the Germans decided that all
foreign volunteers fighting in
the German Army should be transferred to the Waffen SS. The LVF was
therefore merged with the Sturmbrigade SS Frankreich (a French Waffen
SS unit formed in July 1943), and renamed the Waffen-Grenadier-Brigade
Charlemagne (after the Frankish king and German Emperor Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
).
Puaud was given the SS rank Oberführer (Brigadier). Although Puaud was the
official commander, actual control was exercised by SS Brigadeführer Dr
Gustav Krukenberg
Gustav Krukenberg
Dr Gustav Krukenberg was Brigadeführer of the Charlemagne Division of the Waffen-SS and further commander of its remains and the SS Division Nordland during the Battle of Berlin in April 1945....
, who spoke good French.
As well as survivors
of the LVF, the Charlemagne Brigade incorporated former members of the
Milice française
Milice
The Milice française , generally called simply Milice, was a paramilitary force created on January 30, 1943 by the Vichy Regime, with German aid, to help fight the French Resistance. The Milice's formal leader was Prime Minister Pierre Laval, though its chief of operations, and actual leader, was...
, Vichy fascist paramilitaries, who had escaped to
Germany following the Allied liberation of France. Puaud and other former French Army
officers were unhappy at the incorporation of the Milice members, who had a
reputation for undisciplined violence but little military training.
Not allowed to command a Division
After spending late 1944 training, the Charlemagne Brigade was upgraded toa division, with the title 33 Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS
"Charlemagne" (französische Nr 1), in February 1945. Because the Germans
would not have a foreigner commanding a division, Krukenberg became
the official commander with Puaud as the senior French officer.
On the Russian Front
In February 1945 the division was sent into action against the advancingRed Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
in Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
, in eastern Germany. It saw action around
Köslin
Koszalin
Koszalin ; is the largest city of Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland. It is located 12 km south of the Baltic Sea coast. Koszalin is also a county-status city and capital of Koszalin County of West Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999...
(Koszalin) and Kolberg (Kołobrzeg) on the Baltic
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
coast, but it was not an effective fighting unit and suffered heavy
casualties while
proving completely unable to delay the Soviet advance.
On 4 March, Puaud was commanding the approximately 3,000 surviving members
of the Charlemagne Division near Belgard (Białogard). The division was
attacked by Soviet forces who heavily outnumbered them. Puaud, who was on
horseback, was severely wounded. He was taken to
Greifenberg (Gryfice),
where he was left in an inn with other wounded soldiers. There he either
died of his wounds or was executed by the Soviets when they captured the
town.