| Ukrainian Liberation Army | |
|---|---|
| Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо German: Ukrainische Befreiungsarmee | |
.jpg) Ukrainian Liberation Army | |
| Active | 10 February 1943 – 15 April 1945 |
| Country |  Reichskommissariat Ukraine |
| Allegiance | Germany |
| Branch |  German Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko Petro Dyachenko |
| Insignia | |
| Insignia of the Ukrainian Liberation Army |  |
The Ukrainian Liberation Army (Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо, УВВ; Ukrainske Vyzvolne Viysko, UVV) was an umbrella organization created in 1943,[1] providing collective name for all Ukrainian units serving with the German Army during World War II.[2] A single formation by that name did not exist.[2] The designation was used by Ukrainian nationalists in reference to a number of companies and local Ostbataillonen of Hiwi volunteers desiring to free their own territories from the Soviet rule. They included enlisted Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) of the Red Army.[2] 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.[3]
Some UVV battalions deployed to France joined the French Resistance's Maquis guerrillas. The Ivan Bohun and Taras Shenvchenko battalions were later transferred to the French Foreign Legion in 1944.[4]
- ^ Peter Abbott; Eugene Pinak (2012). Ukrainian Armies 1914–55. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 16, 47. ISBN 978-1780964034.
- ^ a b c Michael A. Dorosh (1999). "Ostruppen (Eastern Troops)". types of German formations during the Second World War. CanadianSoldiers.com. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ Marcus Wendel (29 Apr 2009). "14. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (ukrainische Nr. 1). Lineage". Waffen-SS Units. Axis History Factbook. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2017 – via Internet Archive (April 30, 2009).
- ^ Abbott, Paul (2012). Ukrainian Armies 1914-55. Osprey Publishing Limited. p. 40.