Ostlegionen (literally "Eastern Legions") or Osttruppen ("Eastern Troops") were conscripts and volunteers from the occupied eastern territories recruited into the German Army of the Third Reich during the Second World War.
The staff of the disbanded 162nd Infantry Division in Poland was charged with the raising and training of the six Eastern Legions. It eventually raised and trained 82 battalions. A total of 98 battalions were raised with 80 serving on the Eastern Front and in the Balkans. 12 were later transferred to France and Italy in 1943.
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The East Battalions were battalion size units that wore German uniforms and equipment that were integrated into larger German formations. They began as the private initiatives of individual military commanders, but eventually became formalized and by late 1943 they contained 427,000 volunteers and conscripts, a force equivalent to 30 German divisions. Many were utilized in the east, e.g. Yugoslavia.
The battalions of the Turkistani Legion formed part of the 162nd Infantry Division and saw much action in Yugoslavia and Italy.
A number of Osttruppen battalions were used to guard parts of the Normandy region prior to Operation Overlord, specifically Utah, Juno and Sword beaches. Ost units that fought in the Battle of Normandy were from the 243rd and 709th Static Infantry Divisions.
The majority of Ost soldiers were recruited from the Soviet Union and other occupied nations of Eastern Europe. Ost troops frequently provided valuable anti-partisan duties, freeing up regular German forces for front line service. The effectiveness of the Ost units varied, with some performing admirably and with considerable courage while others simply surrendered once attacked by enemy forces. In general, Ost troops were stationed away from critical areas and used for rear-guard duties whenever possible.
