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UKRAINIAN LEGION (VVN)
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This formation was created before the outset of Hitlers invasion
of Poland and was along with Slovenian volunteers to be the only Eastern
European group to participate in the Polish Campaign.
The unit was formed in secrecy and was called by Ukrainians - Vijskovi
Viddily Natsionalistiv (Military Groups of Nationalists) - which in Latin
letters looked BBH, so Germans code-named this formation Berg-Bauern Hilfe
(Help for Mountainers). Both of these names were not used, and more popular
name Ukrainian Legion was given. The unit was formed mainly out of members
of OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists), Ukrainian students, who
studied in Austria and Germany and from former soldiers of Karpatho-Ukraine
Army. The latter ones, because of their status were given officers ranks. The
training school was in Saubersdorff in Austria, and the main headquarters in
Breslau. The training included sniper shooting, various weapons handeling,
cirminology, police rules and regulations, propaganda, self-defence and
various sabotage techniques.
From all the volunteers two infantry regiments were formed, which were
outfitted in the Czecho-slovakian uniformes dyed black. The only distinctions
known were the head pin - a styalized OUN Trident with sword in the middle and
a larger metal shield with the same emblem and Glogy to Ukraine slogan. The
Legion was armed with light arms and also contained motorcycle detachment. The
regimets moved in through Axis Slovakia and were attached in smaller groups to
various German formations. The groups of Ukrainian Legion marched then through
the river San and marched on Stryj and Lviv. The main tasks of the Legion was
to informs the civilians about the Ukrianian movement, spread the propaganda
and seek out the remains of Polish Army, preventing them to escape to Romania.
After the end of the Polish campaign in December 1939 the Legion was demobilized
and those who were students, returned to their studies while others joined the
local police forces or joined D.U.N. Legion.
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One of the commanders of the legion, Ivan Jurkiw.
Ukrainian Legion in Zakopane, Slovakia
On Slovako-Ukrainian border
During break in Galicia
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