Henri Fenet of the 33rd SS Charlemagne Division. "Ok, so how did you come to join the Waffen-SS? It is said they hated non-Aryans and looked down on the French."
Henri: Oh, that is false. The SS of Heinrich Himmler was pan-European, meaning it was for all people of European blood. There are many lies told today about the SS, and indeed all of National Socialist Germany. I felt more welcomed by the SS than I did by the German Army. A comrade told one example I will share with you. He was almost finished with training and was in a small bar. He wore our nation's flag on his uniform, as we all did. An old salty army NCO who had been drinking yelled over that it was a shame French were in Germany and wearing the uniform, implying cowardice. There was a Waffen-SS officer eating with his wife and overheard this outburst. He rose up, wiped his mouth, and went over to the soldier, saying he should feel honored that brave men were willing to fight for Germany and National Socialism. He told him that if he ever utters disrespectful comments about volunteers again, he would make sure he comes to the SS to serve with the bravest men on earth. He then came over to my comrade and bought him a drink of his choice and thanked him for his service.
That left a deep impression, and we had been approached about the idea of forming a French SS regiment, and to go to France to help recruit. Every single one of us agreed and the response was very impressive, beyond our expectations. Our morale was raised very high to see so many Frenchmen volunteer to defend Europe. I never felt belittled or less important by anyone in the SS; they only showed great respect and admiration. If there had been hatred or contempt, they would not have allowed non-Germans to attend officer schools, as I did. I was sent to Bad Tölz in early 1944 to become an officer and was greeted by many high-level leaders. The training was hard, but very fair, and I left feeling confident in leading my compatriots to war.
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