Published in „Siegrunen“ Magazine - Vol. X, No. 2,
Whole Number 58, Spring 1995
By H.T. Nielsen
ABOVE: Holger Thor Nielsen in 1938 at the age of 16, when he Joined the DNSAP, (Danish National Socialist Worker’s Party).
Holger Thor Nielsen was born on 2 November 1921 in Odense on Fynen, the second largest island of Denmark. He was the second of three brothers. The family was ill- treated by the economic crises of the thirties, so at a young age, Holger Thor Nielsen lost his belief in the old democratic systems in Europe. He also realized that the emergence of communism in Eastern Europe was a threat for the whole culture of Europe, so he looked at the new Germany, Denmark’s mighty neighbour to the south, with hope and admiration.
Therefore, on 26 January 1938, at the age of 16, he joined the „Danmarks National-Socialistiske Arbejder”, or simply the DNSAP, which was the Danish National Socialist Party led by Dr. Frits Clausen. He received the Party Member No. PM 16.713.
The war came to Denmark on 9 April 1940, when Germany took control over Denmark and Invaded Norway. Although very nationalistic, the Thor Nielsen family greeted the Germans as friends who would protect them against English/Jewish influence. In June 1940, the oldest son, Vagn Thor Nielsen took off with the first bunch of 72 Danish volunteers and went to Klagenfurt, Austria to join the SS- Verfügungstruppe or the SS-VT, serving with 2nd Company/SS-Standarte „Nordland“, (Feldpost Nr. 18 149 C). This was not the case with Holger Thor Nielsen, who stayed at home in Odense and on 15 October 1940 joined the „Storm-Afdelingen“, or simply the SA, the Danish Stormtroopers of Frits Clausen’s DNSAP movement. He served with 1/IV/Fyens Fylking.
But things were
boring at home in Odense. The war went on to new frontiers and everybody in the
family talked about the older brother, who was now in Vienna with 7th
Company/“Nordland“, (FP Nr. 19 272 D). The SS-VT was at this time officially
renamed the Waffen-SS. On 10 March 1941, it became Holger Thor Nielsen’s turn to
join up. The rules were different now, so he couldn’t join his brother in the
Ostmark. He was instead sent to Sennheim in Alsace and ended up in the newly
created SS-Standarte „Nordwest“, where he met fellow Germanic friends from
Denmark.
ABOVE: Holger Thor Nielsen (right) with his friend Slozarich, together with two German Wehrmacht soldiers in Odense, April 1940. Slozarich also ended up as an SS-Unterscharführer.
Norway, Holland and Flanders. When the Standarte was disbanded, he was transferred to 1st Company/SS- Standarte „Der Führer“ at Graz-Wetzelsdorf, (Feldpost Nr. 15 807 B). Since this regiment was intended only for Reichsdeutsche, he ended up in 5th Company/SS-Regiment „Germania“, (Feldpost Nr. 30 629 B), which was also stationed in Graz-Wetzelsdorf.
In the summer of 1941, the three SS Regiments „Germania“, „Nordland“ and „Westland“ were combined at Heuberg in Württemberg to create a new SS Division, the „Wiking”. This was the first division of Germanic volunteers, who in the spring of 1941, (before „Barbarossa“—the assault on Russia), comprised about 10% of the manpower strength. When Germany launched Operation „Barbarossa“ on 22 June 1941 against the Soviet Union, the SS Division „Wiking“ was attached to Army Group „South“ and Holger Thor Nielsen with 5./“Germania“ soon experienced his first front engagement. Holger Thor Nielsen and his company continued to fight on during the hard winter campaign, and he was soon promoted to SS-Sturmann.
ABOVE: SS-Sturmann Holger Thor Nielsen (center) with two friends. All three of them would go to the Germanic SS Training Camp at Sennheim. Note the SS belt buckle he is wearing.
ABOVE: SS-Sturmann Holger Thor Nielsen with 5./”Germania”.
After the hard fighting at Kamenka, where 5./“Germania“ was badly mauled, Holger Thor Nielsen received his first decoration, the Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, on 18 February 1942. As an indication of how he and his fellow Germanic brothers fought, their platoon leader, SS- Hauptscharfiihrer Heinz Hamel, became the first Unterführer (NCO) in the entire „Wiking“ Division to win the German Cross in Gold. Hämel received this award on 11 June 1942. For his participation in the winter battles, Holger Thor Nielsen was awarded the Medal for the Winter Campaign in Russia 1941/1941 on 1 September 1942.
But on 5 October 1942, nis good fortune was over. When „Germania“ attacked Malgobek, he was badly wounded in the shoulder. On 8 October 1941 he wrote his older brother, who was now with the 2nd Company/SS Supply/Maintenance Detachment 5/“Wiking“, (Feldpost Nr. 47 269), a letter in which he stated that: ...I have just got my “Heim ins Reich” ticket... I am now on a train heading for Germany. My wound will take a long time to heal, but in Germany or maybe even at home, I can stand it.“ He received the Wound Badge in Black in a German hospital on 22 November 1942.
Holger Thor Nielsen ended up in a German hospital in Kolding, Denmark, where he learned that he had been awarded the Iron Cross, 2nd Class on 10 November 1942. He was released from here on 23 March 1943 with a note stating that he had to serve with an „Ersatz-Truppenteil“ (replacement unit), until 30 June 1943. So he was again sent to Graz. This time he joined the Feldausbildung (training) Battalion of the 5. SS-Pz. Gr. Div. „Wiking“. It was with this unit on 1 May 1943 that he was promoted to SS-Unterscharführer (Sgt.).
In the meantime, the newly created III. (Germanic) SS Panzer Corps was being assembled at Grafenwöhr in Bavaria. The idea was to put most of the Germanic Waffen- SS volunteers into this corps. When Holger Thor Nielsen was ready for active duty again, he was therefore transferred into the 7th Company of the SS-Pz.Gr.Rgt. 24 „Danmark“, (Feldpost Nr. 37 826 D), of the new 11.SS-Pz.Gr.Division „Nordland“ at Grafenwöhr. It was into the regiment that most of his fellow countrymen from the „Wiking“ Division and the FREIKORPS DANMARK were grouped into a „national“ formation with many Danish officers.
But in the autumn of 1943, things were becoming ugly at home in Denmark. Supported by English propaganda, a massive hate campaign against the Germans and their Danish friends had arisen in Denmark. The father of Holger Thor Nielsen, Jens Chr. Thor Nielsen, who had joined the DNSAP on 29 August 1940, (PM 32.912), had his store destroyed by a mob in August 1943, not only because he had two sons fighting on the Eastern Front, but also because of his dose relationship with the DNSAP. He held the rank of „Distriktsleder“, (District-Leader), of the 167th District. He was a DNSAP candidate in the free elections of 1943 for the 2nd Constituency. As a result, even his third and youngest son was often attacked on his way to school.
Holger Thor Nielsen wanted to go home and find out who was behind the attacks on his family. In 1941 he had enlisted for two years duty, so now he wanted to go home and help the Germans in his own hometown. It took a lot of paperwork and of course his officers didn’t want him to go, as they couldn’t spare a single soldier. However, on 6 October 1943, he was released from active duty and transferred to the SS-Ergänzungstelle Kopenhagen, Denmark (an SS recruiting and replacement office). He immediately volunteered to help the SD (Sicherheitsdienst – SS Security Service) Commando stationed in Odense and he was gladly accepted with his old rank of SS- Unterscharführer.
In November 1943, all hell broke loose in Odense. A whole series of killings and assassinations started up, hitting all of the families who had thrown in their lot with the Germans. The first target was Jens Chr. Thor Nielsen. While sitting behind the desk in his store he was shot down on 3 November 1943 by two unknown civilians. Although badly wounded, he was able to call for help himself. He was immediately placed under German protection and brought to a German hospital.
ABOVE: Two freshly promoted SS-Unterscharführers at Graz-Wetzelsdorf. Holger Thor Nielsen (left) and Fritz Ihle. They were promoted on the same day. Fritz Ihle was a “Nordscheswiger”, or ‘Volksdeutsche’ – ethnic German), from Denmark.
Holger Thor Nielsen didn’t have a long time to investigate the mean attack on his father. On the morning of 20 November 1943, he was walking to a bus stop when he was shot in the head by an unknown civilian passing him on a bicycle. He died on the spot. The German Police immediately started a large investigation to find the assassin, but without any luck.
SS-Unterscharführer Vagn Thor Nielsen was in Croatia with 11./SS-P2.Gr. Rgt.24 „Danmark“, (FP Nr. 37 826 A), when he heard of these two attacks on his relatives. He took on a home leave in order to participate in the funeral of his brother. Back in Denmark, he learned that his father would recover from his wounds, but not without being marked by them for the rest of his life.
ABOVE LEFT: SS-Unterscharführer Holger Thor Nielsen (right) with a German friend at Graz-Wetzelsdorf. ABOVE RIGHT: SS-Unterscharführer Holger Thor Nielsen with the Regiment “Danmark” at Grafenwöhr in the summer of 1943.
„National-Socialisten“, the official organ of the DNSAP, wrote an obituary about Holger Thor Nielsen. Part of it went as follows:
„A young and brave companion of the party is gone. He fell against our number one enemy: Communism! He was cowardly attacked from behind. SS-Unterscharführer Holger Thor Nielsen was only about 20 years old when he died...Early in his youth, Holger Thor Nielsen became a member of the DNSAP, and he was an SA-Man (Stromtrooper) when he joined the SS to fight the communists. He quickly demonstrated that he was made of the right National-Socialist soldier stuff...For his participation on the Eastern Front he was awarded the Iron Cross, among other decorations. The promotion to Unterscharführer, despite his young age, showed that he was an excellent soldier...Our condolences go to his parents, the father still being badly wounded through a similar attack, and the two brothers, one with the SS at the front in the east...Holger Thor Nielsen has now gone to von Schalburg’s Brigade. In spirit, he marches with us for the new Europe, a free Denmark and the final victory over communism. Honoured be his memory!“.
In the spring of 1944, Vagn Thor Nielsen was serving as a Schirrmeister (Master Mechanic), with ll./“Danmark“ at the Narva Front in the celebrated „battle of the European SS“. Here his battalion commander was SS-Hauptsturmführer and bearer of the Knighfs Cross, Heinz Hämel. This was the same Hämel who had commanded Holger Thor Nielsen’s platoon in 5./“Germania“. When Vagn Thor Nielsen told Hämel about the fate of his former SS-Sturmann from the campaign of 1941/1942, Hämel’s reply was: „I hope you blew up half the city of Odensel“.
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