Ukrainian Volonteurs in Normandy.

[Ponomarenko]

Hi anyone. I looking for some information about ukranian volonteurs in Normand campanian. I read that some thousands ukranian served in Hohenstaufen and Frundsberg divisions in summer 1944. Has anyone info about it? Biografical notes? Picture?

[Askold]

Hi!

Not thousands, but most likely few dozens While doing my research I found score of Ukrainians who were recruited into both of those divisions as they passed Ukraine. Some of them died in the West, during fights in France.

As for WH - there were Ukrainian UVV units posted in Normany and along West Wall (Coastal Artillery). Unfortunately I don't know exact unit numbers, the only bit of info I found was an article in UVV newspaper "Do Boju" about young UVV boy who singlehandedly defended a bunker against the American forces and got awarded as result.

[4king&country]

I'll have to look into my research material from the NARA, but I believe I came across at least two documents which indicated that Ukrainian volunteers (cannot recall the number) joined the Maquis. They were still wearing their German uniforms. The documentation dealt with the Operation Dragoon landings, so my assumption is that these volunteers were located in Southern France.

It only mentioned them in passing. No major details were provided.

[Daniel Laurent]

Hi, everybody,
I know of two cases of Ukrainians who joined the Resistance in the French Britanny.

A Polish soldiers, Marian Wilke, enrolled by force in the Wehrmacht, deserted on January 15, 1943 while he was with his unit at Coëtquidan and joined a group of FTPF where he became quickly the cammo specialist.

In 1944, few days before Overlord, as the Resistance combat activity was increasing everywhere, his group attacked a radar base at Monterfil. 2 Ukrainians guards were arrested after surrendering. The FTPF were a bit wondering what to do with them, but Marian Milke could manage to communicate with them : They were both willing to turn their weapons against the Germans.

Still with their Werhmacht uniforms, they were very precious trainers, instructors as the Maquisards were a bit puzzled with weapons stolen to the Germans but too unknown to them to be used efficiently.

Source: Resistance Veterans Association of the "Ille et Vilaine" (Centre North district of Britanny)
Regards
Daniel

[Rand]

The 102nd and 118th Battalions of the 30th Waffen SS deserted en masse and joined the FFI (Forces Francaises de l'Interieur) in 1944. The men were mostly Ukrainians, and were protected from being shipped back to the USSR at the end of the war by being all inducted into the 13th Demi-Brigade of the French Foreign Legion. Many of the Ukranians went on to die in the jungles of Indochina fighting with the Foreign Legion.

This was in an issue of "World War 2" Magazine.

[Ponomarenko]

Can you attash you article about awarding Ukranian in Atlantic Wall?
Thanks.

[Serbian boy]

The 102nd and 118th Battalions of the 30th Waffen SS deserted en masse and joined the FFI (Forces Francaises de l'Interieur) in 1944. The men were mostly Ukrainians, and were protected from being shipped back to the USSR at the end of the war by being all inducted into the 13th Demi-Brigade of the French Foreign Legion. Many of the Ukranians went on to die in the jungles of Indochina fighting with the Foreign Legion.

This was in an issue of "World War 2" Magazine.

In 30.Waffen-Grenadier Division der SS were few hundert Ukrainians from Polizeifuhrer Battalion from Pribyat.And in Belorussian Schuma battalions were also Ukrainians,so you can be right.

[Askold]

Hi, Ponomarenko,

I don't have the article at hand, but the same info is being mentioned in a book "Ukrains'ki vojenni formuvannia Tretiogo Reihu".