As the Flemings were considered ideal racial material by the Germans, Freiwilligen Legion Flandern was formed in 1941. Like Niederlande, Flandern had a rough beginning on the Eastern Front fighting the Soviet forces but was sent to the front near Leningrad in early 1942. There they were instrumental in halting a Soviet attack towards the city of Novogrod. They spent the rest of the year near Volklov, until being moved back to the vicinity of Leningrad early 1943. In February the Legion went into reserve. After some rest and refit the Legion was sent to the front near Krasny-Bor. In one week of fighting they lost around 1,000 men, with only some 60 surviving the fighting. The survivors were withdrawn in May, and the Legion was thereupon disbanded for lack of soldiers.