Ukrainian Liberation Army

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Ukrainian Liberation Army
(Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо,
(German: Ukrainische Befreiungsarmee

Symbol of the Ukrainian Liberation Army
Active 1943 - 15 April 1945
Country Nazi Germany
Branch Army
Type Infantry
Size Division
Engagements World War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Pavlo Shandruk
Mykhajilo Omelianovych-Pavlenko

The Ukrainian Liberation Army (Ukrainian: Українське Визвольне Військо, Ukrayins’ke Vyzvol’ne Viys’ko, UVV) was formed by the German Army (Wehrmacht Heer) in 1943 to collect the Ukrainian volunteer units that came into being during the Russo-German War. It was composed of former Ukrainian Hiwis (Hilfswilliger), prisoners of war (POWs), and volunteers.

Headed by Ukrainian general Mykhajilo Omelianovych-Pavlenko, the unit grew to the size of 50,000 by 1944 and peaked at some 80,000 towards the end of the war. The army was nothing more than a fictional collection of units scattered all over Europe. In 1945, remnants of the UVV were attached to general Pavlo Shandruk's army, forming the Ukrainian National Army.