Commanders of the Battle of Texel
What Was the Battle for Texel?
The Battle for Texel, also known as the Georgian Revolt on Texel, was one of the final battles fought in Europe during the Second World War. The fighting took place on the Dutch island of Texel during the last weeks of the German occupation of the Netherlands. The uprising began during the night of 5 - 6 April 1945, when Georgian soldiers serving in the German army turned against their German commanders. Fighting continued until 20 May 1945, when Canadian troops finally arrived on the island, more than two weeks after the German surrender in the Netherlands on 5 May 1945.
Because the fighting continued after the official German capitulation, the Battle for Texel is often referred to as the last battlefield in the Netherlands, and sometimes even as one of the final battles of the Second World War in Europe.
The 822nd Georgian Battalion “Queen Tamar”
The uprising was carried out by the 822nd Georgian Infantry Battalion “Queen Tamar”, a unit that formed part of the German Ostlegionen (“Eastern Legions”). These units were largely made up of Soviet prisoners of war and volunteers from occupied Soviet territories.
After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, thousands of Georgian soldiers were captured by the Wehrmacht. Conditions in German prisoner-of-war camps were extremely harsh. Hunger, disease, cold, and mistreatment caused many deaths. For numerous prisoners, enlistment in German service appeared to be the only way to survive.
Some Georgians joined reluctantly, while others hoped that fighting alongside Germany might eventually help free their homeland from Soviet rule. Regardless of their motives, all former Soviet soldiers who served under German command were later regarded by the Soviet authorities as traitors.
Arrival on Texel
The battalion arrived on Texel on 6 February 1945 under the command of Major Klaus Breitner. Before reaching the island, the battalion had previously served in France and later near Zandvoort in the Netherlands. According to the final personnel count on 5 April 1945, the battalion consisted of approximately 756 Georgian soldiers and around 400 German personnel, including officers and support troops.
The Georgians were mainly quartered in the Texla bunker complex near Den Burg.
Strengthening the Atlantic Wall
The battalion’s main task on Texel was to strengthen the German Atlantic Wall defenses. On Texel, this defensive system consisted of hundreds of military structures, including coastal batteries, anti-aircraft positions, bunkers, minefields, and observation posts intended to defend the Dutch coast against an Allied invasion.
822nd Georgian battalion
German forces
Battle specifications
Date of the battle
Duration of the battle
Reason for the battle
Location
Battle result
Allied casualties
Axis casualties
The Revolt begins
On 5 April 1945, Major Klaus Breitner informed the Georgian commander, former Soviet Air Force captain Shalva “Shaliko” Loladze, that the battalion was to prepare for departure to the mainland the following morning. The Georgians would likely be deployed against advancing Allied forces in the eastern Netherlands.
The Georgians realised that Germany was losing the war and feared severe punishment by the Soviet Union for serving in German uniform. The battalion leadership therefore decided to revolt before being transferred to the front.
“Day of Birth”
At approximately 01:00 a.m. on 6 April 1945, the uprising began under the codename “Day of Birth”. Georgian soldiers attacked German troops across the island. To avoid raising alarm, many Germans were killed silently with knives and bayonets while they slept. During the first hours of the revolt, hundreds of German soldiers were killed. However, the Georgians failed to capture several strategic German positions, including the batteries at De Mok, Loodsmansduin, and the southern coastal defenses.
Major Klaus Breitner managed to escape and alerted German headquarters in Den Helder. German command immediately ordered the uprising to be crushed.
The German Counterattack
On 6 April 1945, German reinforcements crossed from Den Helder to Texel by ferry. Additional troops arrived with machine guns, mortars, artillery, and armoured vehicles under the command of Major Erich Neumann. That same afternoon, German artillery batteries at De Mok, Loodsmansduin, and Fort Erfprins opened fire on Den Burg. Heavy shelling caused severe destruction and civilian casualties.
Over the following days, more German reinforcements arrived on the island and gradually forced the Georgians northwards.
The Texel Resistance
Encouraged by the Georgians, members of the Texel resistance attempted to organise local support for the uprising. Posters appeared in Den Burg calling on Texel men to report to the Texla bunker complex and take up arms against the Germans. Although around 200 islanders responded, only a limited number had military experience or weapons. In practice, relatively few civilians became directly involved in the fighting.
Diary of Piet Bremer
In his diary, Texel resident Piet Bremer described the confusion and fear during the first days of the revolt. Rumours spread quickly that the “Russians” — the Georgian soldiers, had turned against the Germans.
Heavy artillery fire soon followed. Batteries around Texel and Den Helder opened fire, while machine-gun and rifle fire echoed through the streets of Den Burg. By the morning of 6 April 1945, German reinforcements had landed and retaken parts of the village after intense shelling.
The Georgians withdrew toward the northern part of the island, especially around Eierland, while civilians faced destruction, casualties, and uncertainty.
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