By midday on the 26th February 1945, the bulk of the SS-French Division had reached Neustettin. Of the 4500 troops that formed the Division, 1000 of them including 15 officers were missing in action. Overall about 50 Russian tanks were destroyed and inflicted more then double of Russian casualties.

At Neustettin about thirty Iron Crosses were awarded.

On the 27th of February two convoys carrying the remaining elements of the II/58 Regiment and the FLAK Co as well as eight 105mm howitzers of the Artillery Group arrived at Neustettin. Unfortunately the town of Neustettin was already being surrounded and attacked by Russian forces. A decision was made to evacuate the town and reform at the town of Belgard, which was 72 Kms away. About 250 men stayed behind in defensive positions to guard the withdrawal of the Charlemagne and remaining German units. This caused the French forces to re-organize on the 1st of March 1945, near the town of Belgard with three small battle groups. By the 2nd of March 1945, the new organization consisted of the following battle groups:

The first group was referred as the 1st "Régiment de Marche," which had the best elements of Waffen-Gren. der SS 57, under the command of Waffen-Ostuf. Fenet.
The second group was the 2nd "Régiment de Marche" of the Waffen-Gren, Rgt. der SS 58, which was mostly made up of ex-LVF and Miliciens under the command of W-Hstuf. Bassompierre.
The third group was the "Régiment de Reserve" unit composed of two small battalion size groups placed under the command of Hstuf. Monneuse.

On the 2nd of March, Brigf. Krukenberg received orders from headquarters to move to the town of Körlin and set up defensive positions, which was 8 kms north-west of Belgard, in order to contain the Russian offensive.

By the 5-7 March 1945, the remnants of the Charlemagne Division was already surrounded by strong Russian forces at Körlin. Regiment size battle groups were preparing to breakout from Körlin towards Belgard.
One battle group the "Régiment de Reserve," which was under the Command of Waffen-Hstuf. de Bourmont tried to escape through the woods under cover of the fog, unfortunately the fog cleared, and they were exposed to a murderous fire from the Russian artillery. Oberführer Puaud was among those missing.

Another battle group, the 2nd "Régiment de Marche," thought that the Baltic ports were in enemy hands and attempted a fighting retreat westward. All were either killed or taken captive including the Commander W-Ostuf. Bassompierre.

The third group, the 1st "Régiment de Marche," under the Command of W-Osuf. Fenet made it in the woods south of Belgard undetected. Eventually reaching the Baltic Coast in Danzig but was trapped in a pocket.

SS-Brigaderführer Krukenberg, received orders to evacuate his remaining troops via the German Navy. The remnants split into small groups and dispersed in all directions. During this withdrawal, the group of mostly LVF veterans engaged ex-German POWs of the "Seydlitz Division." This German Division fought on the Soviet side.

On the 10th March the French SS reached the Oder and crossing by pontoon bridge they broke the Soviet circle. In mid-March all that was left of the division regrouped at Neustrelitz. A regimental strength and a small battalion size of men were reorganized.

Press photo showing two French SS men dug in an underground trench. The soldier manning the machine-gun looks like Henri Fenet. He would later fight defending Berlin earning him the Knight Cross.
In the background you can see another trench with some soldiers, one of them is wearing what seems to be a black fur cap. Notice the clear image of the soldier wearing a German issued "French SS" shield attached on the left sleeve of his SS uniform. The helmets are void of any insignia they seem well worn or smother with mud and dirt.

In Neustrelitz, Krukenberg received a telegram ordering him to reach Berlin with one battalion. He asked for volunteers, those who didn't want to continue fighting were absolved, one officer and 300 other ranks elected to call it quits.

In spite of fighting a loosing war 500 men volunteered. They eventually reached Neukolln, East Berlin. However, due to the very heavy Russian air attack 100 of them perished on their way.

In East Berlin the remaining 400 men were attached to the 11th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division Nordland. They fought with undeniable heroism and terrible losses, 30 Russian tanks were destroyed at the very beginning of the battle. Street fighting raged on, within a week it's strength had been reduced to 120 men. Every street and house was hotly contested by French SS men.
By 29 April, 60 more Russian tanks had been knockout. Such was the courage of the "CHARLEMAGNE" Division.

Three Frenchmen "Apolot" "Fenet" and "Vaulot" have received the Knights Cross to the Iron Cross during the Battle for Berlin.
It is estimated that more than 100,000 Frenchmen collaborated with the Germans during World War II.
It should be noted that Frenchmen from Alsace and Lorraine were drafted into the German Army. Alsace and Lorraine was annexed by Germany on August 1940.

Official Waffen-SS French Tricolore Shield

In July 1944, the first official SS pattern French shield was introduced in the Neweklau training camp during the formation of the French SS-Sturmbrigade. This shield differed noticeably from the LVF counterpart because it only shows the national tricolore stripes on a black field. Interestingly upon receipt of the first French sleeve shields it was the German instructors who were first to sport them, whereas the Alsatian NCOs held out as long as possible.

According to SS-FHA regulations the national shield was to be worn on the left sleeve directly under the SS sleeve eagle as shown in the example below.

During January and early February 1945 the French SS Brigade was expanded into the "33. Waffen-Gren der SS Charlemagne." The defensive battles in Pomerania started on the 23 February 1945 with the Charlemagne Division refitting at Hammerstein Camp. On 8 March 1945, the remnants of the Division assembled in Jargelin North-west of Anklam. During that time Brigaderführer Krukenberg awards 16 EKII to French volunteers. The EKII Document was given to SS Rottenführer Andre Lamy. It is dated 15 March 1945 and handstamped with the Divisional Seal of the Charlemagne. The document also has the signature of SS-Brigadeführer Krukenberg who would later command the remaining remnants of the Nordland Division. Also shown is the original EKII awarded to the Charlemagne volunteer.