Battleground 289. The Georgian Texel Uprising - The War Beyond Surrender
May 21, 2025
Eric Lee, author of 'Night of the Bayonets', shares his expertise on the Georgian Uprising on Texel during World War II. He discusses the motivations of Georgian soldiers who turned against their German captors in a desperate bid for freedom. The conversation dives into the brutal military response they faced and the complex aftermath of their uprising. Lee debunks Soviet propaganda surrounding the event, contrasting the fate of Georgian soldiers with that of other Soviet POWs. A gripping tale of loyalty, survival, and historical memory unfolds.
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Georgians' Survival Strategy
- The Georgians joined the German army to avoid death in POW camps and feast on three meals a day.
- This pragmatic survival choice complicates their identity as collaborators or victims.
Silent Deadly Start
- The uprising began by killing Germans silently with razors and bayonets to maintain surprise.
- Killing 400 Germans in the first hours was the largest armed resistance on Dutch soil during WWII.
Major’s Narrow Escape
- Major Breitner escaped the surprise attack because he was with his girlfriend, not in his barracks.
- He mistook the uprising celebrations for excitement about fighting the British at Arnhem.