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UKRAINIAN LIBERATION ARMY (UVV)
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Ukrainian Liberation Army (Ukrainske Vyzvolne Vijsko - UVV) was formed
in 1941 from former Hilsfwillige (Hiwis), captured Soviet soldiers, members of
UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) and volunteers from Eastern Ukraine. The main
purposed for such formation was to contradict the formation of ROA (Russian
Liberation Army) by gen. Vlassov, since most of Ukrainians who were taken to
Vlassov's army wanted to be in all-Ukrainian formation. Thus from Vlassov's
officer school in Saubersdorf all Ukrainian officer contingent 200 men (65% of
all Vlassov's cadre) had left and applied for Ukrainian Liberation Army,
despite all his tries to prevent them. Supported by gen. Kestring who was
responsible for formation of Eastern Legions, the UVV grew in size and by
1942 included up to 50,000 men. Towards the end of the war UVV had reached
80,000. The UVV was included as part of Wehrmacht and was supplied with a lot
of German officers.
The army was commanded by gen. Omelianovych-Pavlenko. The Chief of Staff was Col.
Petro Kryzhaniwsky (from Eastern Ukraine) and his right hand was M. Kapustiansky.
The armies patch was was a blue and yellow shield with white trident of St.
Volodymyr and cyrillic letters YBB (UVV in latin). Similar blue and yellow
shiled sliced diagonally was painted on the helmet. With the formation of
Ukrainian National Army (UNA) in 1945, the first battalion of UVV had joined
the 2nd UNA division and some were accepted into 1st UNA division (former 14th
Grenadier Division SS Galicia). The bulk of UVV continued to remain an
independent formation.
In 1945 its remaining parts were transfered from Southern France to help the 2nd
UNA division in Prague and most of them had parished in their struggle with the
Bolsheviks. Those who were captured were repatriated along with other Eastern
groups and died in the camps of Siberia. Some managed to break trough and reach the
French side, where they joined the French Foreigh Legion and fought in Pacific colonies.
HELMET INSIGNIAS
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The soldiers of UVV
used decals on their helmets to distinguish themselves from the other European Volunteers.
Photographical evidence exists which
proves an existence of at least four patters. The most common decal was a
white Trident of St. Volodymyr. Other examples included a blue and yellow shield
sliced diagonally and black-blue-yellow shield made out of metal.
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General Omelianovych-Pavlenko
(2nd from the left) with his staff.
UVV recruitment poster
Original small UVV flag
Swearing ceremony for UVV company.
Donbas, September 1942.
Turkestan mortar crue, which are assisted by
a soldier from UVV (first one from the right).
A white Trident is painted on his helmet.
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