European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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and after that, we came to the English, and later on to the Americans.
and after that, we came to the English, and later on to the Americans.
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The 999 Bataillon
The 999 Bataillon
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The political prisoners, who were unworthy for the army, were living in Germany.
The political prisoners, who were unworthy for the army, were living in Germany.
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And the Germans were dying at all possible fronts.
And the Germans were dying at all possible fronts.
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Slowly but surely, they were short on personnel.
Slowly but surely, they were short on personnel.
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So there was the idea to establish these as kamikaze mission you just throw in.
So there was the idea to establish these as kamikaze mission you just throw in.
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That was why we were militarily equipped like a self-dependent unit,
That was why we were militarily equipped like a self-dependent unit,
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we were able to absorb counter strikes of the allies.
we were able to absorb counter strikes of the allies.
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If we would have moved back, we would have been shot down from behind.
If we would have moved back, we would have been shot down from behind.
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We were downright kamikaze missions.
We were downright kamikaze missions.
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That is how it was meant for the bigger units, for divisions.
That is how it was meant for the bigger units, for divisions.
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And that was how the operations were.
And that was how the operations were.
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Typical: our operation on a hillside,
Typical: our operation on a hillside,
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were we would have been shot down by the American artillery straight after our first shot.
were we would have been shot down by the American artillery straight after our first shot.
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No one would have survived.
No one would have survived.
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So was the military operation on many sections of the front.
So was the military operation on many sections of the front.
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Literature about this does exist.
Literature about this does exist.
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The principle was: extermination of the politicals; they were to perish in the war and not survive.
The principle was: extermination of the politicals; they were to perish in the war and not survive.
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The companies were assembled as follows:
The companies were assembled as follows:
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1/3 political prisoners, 1/3 criminals and 1/3 officers, corporals
1/3 political prisoners, 1/3 criminals and 1/3 officers, corporals