
Reorganized as the “Sturmbattalion Charlemagne” (Assault Battalion Charlemagne), around 330 French troops, after taking a long detour to escape the Soviet forces reached Berlin on 24 April. On 23rd April 1945, Krukenberg was ordered by the Reich Chancellery of Berlin himself to lead his men to the capital. While 400 of these were sent to serve in a construction battalion, the remaining 350 opted to go to Berlin to delay the coming of the Soviet forces. The Charlemagne Unit and the Defence of BerlinĪs of April 1945, Krukenberg was left with only 700 men under his command, who were segregated into a single heavy support battalion with no equipment and an infantry regiment consisting of two battalions (57 and 58). The crest equally represents France and Germany, with the Fleur-de-Ly’s on the right representing France (or West Francia, as it was called), and the Imperial Eagle on the left representing Germany. The unit’s crest represented the dual Charlemagne Empire that had united the Franks – a historical event that would contribute to the formation of France and Germany.

They were also among the last remaining to surrender and as they knew very well that they could never survive if Germany got defeated, they continued to fight till the last days of the Battle of Berlin.
