Early War Campaigns
Barkmann's Standarte (SS-equivalent for Regiment) was posted to East Prussia where it was to act as a part of 14.Armee. With the outbreak of war on 1 September 1939, Barkmann saw action with this formation in the Invasion of Poland, serving as a machine gunner with the 9./III.Battalion. He fought well during the campaign, receiving a promotion to Rottenführer. He was wounded during the campaign, and received the Wound Badge in black.
In October 1939, the Germania was used to form a part of the SS-Division (mot) Verfügungstruppe. In May 1940, Barkmann took part in the Invasion of France as a part of the division, earning the Infantry Assault Badge during this campaign. In late 1940, the Germania was detached from the division to form a cadre for a new division, the SS-Division (mot) Germania. The division was to comprise a large number of European volunteers.
Barkmann served with the division during Operation Barbarossa, before being seriously wounded near Dnipropetrovsk in July, 1941. He spent the remainder of 1941 convalescing, and received the Wound Badge in silver. In early 1942, Barkmann was posted as an instructor to a unit in the Netherlands where he was responsible for training European SS volunteers.
Read more about this topic: Ernst Barkmann
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