Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz
The Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz was an ethnic-German self-protection militia, a paramilitary organization comprising ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) mobilized from among the German minority in Poland.
Selbstschutz leaders in Bydgoszcz at the time of the Bydgoszcz massacres of both Jewish and non-Jewish Poles (from left to right): SS-Standartenführer Ludolf Jakob von Alvensleben SS-Obersturmbannführer Erich Spaarmann, SS-Obersturmbannführer Hans Kölzow, and SS-Sturmbannführer Christian Schnug
Nazi Mayor of Bromberg Werner Kampe with Josef Meier and Ludolf von Alvensleben, leader of Selbstschutz in Pomerania, during inspection of Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz in 1939
Ludolf von Alvensleben as leader of Volksdeutscher Selbstschutz in West Prussia, 1939
Volksdeutsche Selbstschutz from Łobżenica
Selbstschutz is the name given to different iterations of ethnic-German self-protection units formed both after the First World War and in the lead-up to the Second World War.
Inspection of Selbstschutz unit in Bydgoszcz (in German, Bromberg), Poland. From l. to r.: Josef "Bloody" Meier, leader of Selbstschutz in Bydgoszcz; Werner Kampe, new SS mayor of Bydgoszcz; and Ludolf von Alvensleben, leader of Selbstschutz in Pomerania
Selbstschutz chiefs ready for SS-Aktionen in Gdańsk Pomerania
