The German government recruited soldiers from almost every European country with greater success than is generally acknowledged. In popular films we see untold numbers of German soldiers involved in rear area operations. People might wonder where the Germans got so many soldiers. In Belgium as well as other occupied countries, evidence demonstrates that a variety of rear area operations, ranging from police duties up to anti-aircraft service was being supported by locals. Recruits in German units from eastern Europe and the Soviet Union alone must have numbered well over a hundred thousand, perhaps far more than that.

In addition from 1942 until the end of the war, volunteers were assigned to SS regiments by nationality. Since Belgium is composed of two national groups, the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons, two brigades were organized and sent to the Russian front. Leon Degrelle, formerly leader of a popular fascist movement in Belgium called Christus Rex, eventually rose to command the 28th SS Panzer-Grenadier Division and recieved the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

http://www.amazon.com/REX-BELGIUM-Degrelle-Political-Collaboration/dp/1874622329
http://rexcurry.net/rexists-rexism-christus-rex-rexiste-leon-degrelle.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/L%C3%A9on_Degrelle

After collecting my half weight in research materials, I decided to set it aside and write a thesis on Alabama in the Civil War. It's a study of companies recruited in Barbour County , Alabama and is titled, "Young Men of Barbour, Why Stand Ye Idle?" After moving the boxes on Belgium from place to place over the years, I gave it to the Shelby County AL library system last September. I actually left it on their doorstep and ran to my car. While in the process of moving to Arizona, I made a decision to lighten the load of things being carried about and stored for years without serious intention of working with them.