28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division Wallonien was formed when 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade Wallonien was upgraded to a division. It consited of mainly Belgian volunteers but also some French and Spanish. In September 1944 all Rexist refugees in Germany aged 16-55 were conscripted into the division and Rexist volunteers in other units such as the NSKK, Garde Wallonne, Kriegsmarine and Ersatz-Bataillon 36 were also used to expand the brigade into a division.

It fought on the Eastern front until the end of the war when parts of the unit managed to retreat to Denmark while the rest surrendered to the Soviets.

Honor titles
Wallonien (or “Wallonie” in French) is the name of the French-language part of Belgium south of the Flemish-French language border.

Holders of high awards
Holders of the Knight's Cross (1, unofficial/unconfirmed)
  Leroy, Jaques 20.04.1945 SS-Untersturmführer Führer 1./SS-Freiw-Gren.Rgt 69 / 28. SS-Freiw-Pz.Gren.Div „Wallonien“
[no proof in Bundesarchiv ; assumed by Fellgiebel : an award via Chef HPA Gen Burgdorf in Berlin -> statement by V.S. : this is not very probable because 28. SS-Div was in action in Pommerania with HGr Weichsel during march/april 1945 and not in the area Berlin ; files of the Ordenskommission of the OdR in this case not open due to Bundesarchivgesetz [-> 30 years after death of a person files are open , in case of L. -> 2026] ; according to Krätschmer the award was confirmed by the ex Div-Adjutant in 1957 and by the Div.Kdr in 1973]

Order of battle

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 69

  I./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 69

  II./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 69

SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 70

  I./SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 70

SS-Artillerie Regiment 28

SS-Panzerjäger Abteilung 28

SS-Panzeraufklärungs Abteilung 28

SS-Nachrichten Abteilung 28

SS-Pionier-Bataillon 28

SS-Nachschub-Kompanie 28

SS-Flak-Kompanie 28

SS-Verwaltungskompanie 28

SS-Sanitäts-kompanie 28

SS-Veterinär-Kompanie 28

SS-Ersatz-Bataillon 28

SS-Sturm-Bataillon

Kampfgruppe Capelle

Insignia

The "Wallonien" cuff title was authorized for this unit.

A collar insignia with the cross of Burgundy was issued but soon replaced by the SS runes.

Published sources used

John R. Angolia - Cloth insignia of the SS

Georges M. Croisier - Waffen-SS (PDF)

Eddy De Bruyne & Marc Rikmenspoel - For Rex and for Belgium: Leon Degrelle and Walloon Political & Military Collaboration 1940-45

Dr. K-G Klietmann - Die Waffen-SS: eine Dokumentation

Richard Landwehr - The "Wallonien": The history of the 5th SS-Sturmbrigade and 28th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division

Marc J. Rikmenspoel - Waffen-SS Encyclopedia

George H. Stein - The Waffen-SS: Hitler's Elite Guard at War 1939-1945

Frank Thayer - SS Foreign volunteer collar insignia and their reproductions (in The Military Advisor, Vol 4 No 2)

Gordon Williamson & Thomas McGuirl - German military cuffbands 1784-present

Gordon Williamson - The Waffen-SS: 24. to 38. Divisions and Volunteer Legions

Mark C. Yerger - Waffen-SS Commanders: The Army, corps and divisional leaders of a legend (2 vol)

Reference material on this unit

Massimiliano Afiero - Wallonie: I volontari belgi valloni sul fronte dell'est

Eddy De Bruyne & Marc Rikmenspoel - For Rex and for Belgium: Leon Degrelle and Walloon Political & Military Collaboration 1940-45

Eddy De Bruyne - Les Wallons meurent à l'Est

Léon Degrelle - La Campagne de Russie 1941-1945

Richard Landwehr - The "Wallonien": The history of the 5th SS-Sturmbrigade and 28th SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division

Jean Mabride - Brigade d'assaut Wallonie

Jean Mabride - Division de choc Wallonie