Ukrainian Liberation Army

Ukrainian Liberation Army
Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо
German: Ukrainische Befreiungsarmee

Insignia of the Ukrainian Liberation Army
Active 1943 – 15 April 1945
Country  Nazi Germany
Branch Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Engagements World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders		 Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko
Petro Dyachenko

The Ukrainian Liberation Army (Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо, Ukrainske Vyzvolne Viysko, UVV) was a collective name given to all dispersed Ukrainian units serving with the Wehrmacht Heer in 1943 during World War II.[1] A single formation by that name did not exist.[1] A designation was used by Ukrainian nationalists in reference to a number of companies and local Ostbataillonen of Hiwi volunteers (Hilfswilliger) desiring to free their own territories from the Soviet rule. They included enlisted Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) captured from the Red Army.[1] The core of the Liberation Army wearing the УВВ sleeve badge (right, since 1945) originated from the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Ukrainian) reorganized in April 1945 into the Ukrainian National Army (UNA) active until the German surrender in May 1945.[2]

Command

Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko
Pavlo Shandruk
Prominent generals under the German command

Represented by Ukrainian general Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko, the Ukrainian units grew to the size of 50,000 by 1944 and peaked at some 80,000 towards the end of the war.[3]

The Ukrainian collaborationist forces were composed of a vast number of units scattered all over Europe. In April 1945, numerous remnants of the UVV were incorporated into the short-lived Ukrainian National Army commanded by general Pavlo Shandruk, disbanded in May 1945.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Michael A. Dorosh (1999). "Ostruppen (Eastern Troops)". types of German formations during the Second World War. CanadianSoldiers.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Marcus Wendel (29 Apr 2009). "14. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (ukrainische Nr. 1). Lineage" (Internet Archive). Waffen-SS Units. Axis History Factbook. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Ukrainian Liberation Army (Ukrainske Vyzvolne Vijsko - UVV)

Further reading

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.