1/35 German Don Cossack (Balkans 1944)

Viewed as a threat to the newly established Soviet regime, Cossacks were targeted and often deported in the wake of the Russian Civil War. In 1919-20, it is estimated anywhere between 300,000 and 500,000 Cossacks were killed by the Soviets. While many Cossacks served in the Red Army, this brutal repression explains why some Cossacks were so eager to side with the Germans during WWII, seeing hope for autonomy. The largest concentration of Cossacks in the German Army was those emanating from the Don Rover Basin. Known as the Don Cossacks, they relished the opportunity to fight the Soviets. They served within the 1st and 2nd Cossack Divisions, and they were commonly used in rear areas on anti-partisan duties.