Ukrainian Liberation Army
| Ukrainian Liberation Army Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо German: Ukrainische Befreiungsarmee |
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|---|---|
Insignia of the Ukrainian Liberation Army
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| 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]
Contents
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
Further reading
- Небелюк М. Під чужими прапорами. Paris 1947;
- Thorwald U. Wen sie verderben wollen. Stuttgart 1952;
- Anders W. Hitler's Defeat in Russia. Chicago 1953;
- Луць Горобець С. Курінь ім. Івана Богуна. Газ. "Шлях Перемоги", pp. 6–39. Munich 1967.
