23rd SS Volunteer Grenadier Division

The 23rd SS Volunteer Panzergrenadier Division "Nederland" (niederländische Nr. 1) was a Waffen-SS division composed primarily of Dutch volunteers, formed in 1943 from the SS-Freiwilligen-Legion Niederlande. It served mainly on the Eastern Front, particularly in areas like Leningrad, Narva, and the Courland Pocket, and later participated in the defense of Berlin in 1945. Known for its fierce resistance, especially during the Battle of Narva, the division earned a reputation as one of the more effective foreign volunteer units. Its members wore the SS runes on the right collar tab, and the left collar tab was often blank or bore a Wolfsangel symbol. The division’s cuff title read "Nederland" in silver Gothic script on a black band with silver piping. Despite its performance in combat, it remained controversial due to its affiliation with the Waffen-SS and Nazi ideology.