VOLYNIAN SELF-DEFENCE LEGION
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Legion Volyn' was one of many anty-partizan batallions created by the Germans to hunt down the partizans. Originallly known as Ukrainskyi Legion Samooborony (Ukrainian Self-Defence Legion) this unit was part of Poliska Sich and UPA. Formed in 1943 the Legion had actually engaged in anti-german activities since some of the SD units while seeking out the red partizans would sometimes atack the innocent people. Being armed to the teeth, the Legion posessed a serious threat to the germans who now were not only faced with the Red partizans, but also with the nationalists. The germans decided to cooperate with the nationalists and propose a deal: Ukrainian Legion will be armed and equipped by the German army and SD units will never engage with the civilians in the future. In turn the Volynian Legion, as it was now officialy called, won't attack the Germans and would turn its attention to the Soviet partizans who had also endangered the civilians. All command in the Legion was in Ukrainian hands and from the German side Haupsturmfuehrer Asmus and Obersharfuehrer Rauling were added as aidees.

The Legion engaged in many raids against the partizans and even the regular Red Army units all over Northern Ukraine, especially in Volyn' and Kremjanets regions. The Legion was successfull in its actions and become even more armed. Now it posessed units with mortars and panzerfausts, its own artillery, pioneer regiment and field hostpital. Officers school was opened in Lutsk to train the new cadre. The legion even published its own magazine "Ukrainian Legionary" which was distributed all over the province.

With the advances of the Red Army, the Volynian Legion retrieved West. Along with other German units, it raided Bukovyna and Krakov regions and eventually was transferred by a train to Austria and Slovenia. The Legion took actions against the Slovenian partizans and eventually was attached to the 14th Grenadier division der SS Galicia in 1945 and since then siezed to exist as an independent unit.

Mykhailo Soltys, commander of the legion.
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Morochynsk Officers school near Lutsk
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Two members of the legion