One of the first Russian volunteer formations was RONA (Russian National Army of Liberation). It was organized in the winter of 1941-1942 under the command of a former Soviet captain by the last-name of Kaminski. He was promoted by the German army to the rank of Major-General. His army never exceeded the strength of a division. At first they fought against Soviet partisans and later on the front lines. In the summer of 1944 after very heavy losses, RONA was withdrawn to East Prussia, where Reichsführer Himmler took it over from the Wehrmacht and reorganized it into an SS brigade.