The Flemish Legion volunteers were transported to Debica in modern-day Poland in August 1941. There, the Germans attempted to amalgamate them with the Flemish Westland volunteers. Most of the new volunteers refused to join the Waffen SS and the units were instead joined into a new battalion-sized Flemish Legion, itself joined to the larger Dutch Legion.[6] Initially the VNV had been assured that the Flemish Legion would remain largely independent from the rest of the German military and would be commanded by Flemish officers.