Hiwi (volunteer)

Auxiliary volunteer
Hilfswilliger, Hiwi
Russia, January 1942, two former Soviet soldiers in the German Wehrmacht army, decorated with the General Assault Badge
Active1941–1944
CountryOccupied Soviet Union, Eastern Front (World War II), occupied Poland
AllegianceNazi Germany
Branch Wehrmacht
Schutzstaffel
TypeAuxiliary forces
Size600,000 (in 1944)
Nickname(s)Hiwi, Askari

Hiwi ([ˈhiːviː]), the German abbreviation of the word Hilfswilliger or, in English, auxiliary volunteer, designated, during World War II, a member of different kinds of voluntary auxiliary forces made up of recruits indigenous to the territories of Eastern Europe occupied by Nazi Germany.[1] Adolf Hitler reluctantly agreed to allow recruitment of Soviet citizens in the Rear Areas during Operation Barbarossa.[2] In a short period of time, many of them were moved to combat units.

  1. ^ Grasmeder, Elizabeth M.F. "Leaning on Legionnaires: Why Modern States Recruit Foreign Soldiers". International Security. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Thomas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).