PANZERS
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It is impossible to estimate the exact number of Ukrainians, who served in the panzer armies. Most of them would be among captured Soviet tank crews or those with mechanical skills. Some recruitment would also be among the students, especially among those who stydied in Germany at that time and would be proficient in German language. Variety of duties was performed, from tank repair crues to upper ranks in the panzer armies. On some occasions Ukrainians from the panzers would be sent as morale boost to the regular Ukrainian troops in Waffen SS and Wehrmacht. Thus when 14th Grenadier Division SS Galicia was in Austria, they received a speaker Unterstumfuehrer Olesnytsky who gave them a lecture on the modern tank warfare and developments of the new models.

Besides the German army, some Ukrainians were among the panzer crews of the tanks with wich the Kaminsky Brigade was outfitted. Major Kostenko was in charge of KONR's armor units which composed of a number of T-43 and Hetzers.

One of the most famous Ukrainians in this part of the army was Obersturmfuehrer Roman Klymkevych. At age 20 he volunteered for the panzer coprs, while studying in Wienna in December of 1940. With the panzer armies he fought in Ukraine for Kiev and Chernigiv and latter in Belarus. In 1943-44 his unit was transfered to Yugoslavia where he engaged with Tito's partisans. In the Summer of 1944 he was transfered to Southern France where he was wounded and captured by the Allies and kept in POW campt until 1946. Troughout his service with the Panzers Obersturmfuehrer Roman Klymkevych was awarded with Iron Cross (Second Class), Merit Cross with Swords, Winter Campaign medal and Wound Badge.

click to enlarge
Markian Jaremych, an officer from the Wermacht Panzer corps, awarded EK 2 and silver Wound badge. On his left is Wermacht officer Jaroslaw Struminsky, who also wears EK 2.
Obersturmfuerhrer Roman Klymkevych
Major Kostenko's panzers in Prague
Panzers on the roll!