The certain interest to Volga Tatars appeared in Germany even before the Second World War. After the beginning of war against the USSR Tatar prisoners of war were separated in special of prisoner-of-war camp almost simultaneously with prisoners of war of other Turkic people. But Volgo-Tatar Legion was created after all others.

The Order of August 15, 1942 stated:

1. To create Legion from Tatars, Baskirs and Tatar speaking peoples of the Volga region.
2. Tatars from Turkestan Legion should be to transferred into Volgo-Tatar Legion.
3. Tatar prisoners of war should be urgently separated from others and directed to prisoner-of-war camp in Sedelz.
4. Created Legion should be used, first of all, in struggle against partisans.

Oskar von Zekkendorf was appointed as Commander of Volga-Tatar Legion.

In "Idel-Ural" Legion the were several battalions, but the most famous of them was 825. At the end of February 1943 near Vitebsk the battalion (about 900 men, almost in whole) joined one group of the first Vitebsk partisan brigade.