Stalin's Nemesis

by Michael James Melnyk

  60Verbally to author M. Scharko, 4 December 1999.

  61While some Ukrainians were promoted to the rank of Waffen-Unterscharführer (sergeant) they almost always held the lowest rank of Waffen-Rottenführer (corporal).

  62The figures for the relative strengths of the various categories as of 10.9.44, were:

  Soll (should be) Ist (is)

  Führer 480 148

  Unterführer - 2,587 572

  Mannschaften - 11,622 5,796

  The breakdown for the A.u.E.Rgt.14. was 45 Führer, 293 Unterführer, and 7,196 Mannschaften = total 7,534. See Der Reichsführer-SS Adjutantur, Feldkommandostelle, den 16.9.1944, Kdo.Stab RF-SS Tgb.Nr.Ia/3765/44 g.Kdos. Stärkemeldungen Stand vom: 10 September 1944. See T175, roll 141 frame 2668956.

  63Vide supra.

  64The figures for the relative strengths of the various categories as of 20.9.44, were:

  Soll (should be) Ist (is)

  Führer 480 261

  Unterführer - 2,587 673

  Mannschaften - 11,622 11,967

  See Stärkemeldungen Stand vom: 20 September 1944. See T175 roll 141 frame 2668949.

  65Herasymowycz, The Formation …, p. 1.

  66The Training and Reserve Regiment was only officially incorporated into the Division as part of the order to transfer the Division to Slovakia. Even then the transfer of cadre personnel (staff officers, and NCOs) from it to the Division was still expressly forbidden.

  67For example an estimated 50–60 per cent of the Division’s Training and Reserve Regiment, the strength of which stood at around seven thousand men, comprised of east Ukrainian youths. See V. Gotsky, ‘Na Slovachchyni’ Visti, No. 9 (11) p. 5, Vyprava na partyzan u Slovachchyni, No’s. 2-3 (16-17) p. 11. The Military Board was fully cognisant of the fact that large groups were volunteering for the Division to avoid being drafted into the Red Army as is evident from the discussion which took place on 21 June 1944. It should also be noted that during the same discussion the Military Board stated that it would be willing to agree to a ‘general mobilisation’ but the Ukrainian Central Committee rejected it as it was a ‘Political matter’. See Minutes of the Military Board Galicia.

  68See Abschrift, 14.Waffen-Gren.Div.der SS (Ukrain.Nr.1), VI, Div.St.Qu.,d.17.11.44, Betr.: Weltanschauliche. ABFC and SA.

  69These were taken principally from the Buchach, Pidhaitsi and Rohatyn, where the German frontline had stood. The author’s father was among those taken in this way. Another man from his village taken within days of my father wrote, ‘On the 28 June 1944, Hungarian soldiers rounded us up and took us from our homes to a camp in our village (Koropets). From there we were taken to L’viv and then we were escorted by members of our own Division to Neuhammer’. Q12: Sadiwsky.

  70Other Waffen-SS Divisions in which young Galician Ukrainians were known to have served included: ‘5 SS-Panzerdivision Wiking’, 18.SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadierdivision Horst Wessel, 9.SS-Panzerdivision Hohenstaufen, and 10.SS-Panzerdivision Frundsberg, all of which had been active (or had elements active) in western Ukraine in the spring and summer of 1944. In July 1944, a further 900 men from the ‘14 Reserve Regiment’ were sent to the ’22.Freiwilligen-Kavalleriedivision der SS ‘Maria Theresa’ and subsequently took part in the defence of Budapest in November 1944. The only survivors of this group were those who deserted or had sustained injuries and were sent to hospitals in Hungary. Interview Marian Kohut, Toronto, 1 June 1993. See also Vasyl Horbatyuk, Visti Kombatanta, No. 3, 1977, pp. 54-55. To fill their depleted ranks the Germans evacuated entire villages and took all the young men for service. Letter to author O. Sokolsky, 11 September 1992.

  71By way of example, upon arrival at Neuhammer a thorough physical examination was carried out on those taken from the village of Koropets in June 1944, after which eight were rejected as unfit for service. S. Dmytryk Interview Rushden, England 21 October 1990. Likewise, a number of UPA soldiers were discharged in May/June 1944 because of injury or prolonged periods of sickness and were advised to join the Division. Letter to author O. Sokolsky, 9 January 1997.

  72Email to author J. Ferencevych, 12 June 2010.

  73Verbally to author R. Drazniowsky, 4 May 1996. Ferkuniak, Spomyny …, op cit.; pp. 30-31.

  74In the Minutes of the Meeting of the Military Board, held in Lüben on October 26-27, morale in the Division was described as ‘very low’. pp. 114-122. ABFC.

  75According to Heike as a sign of disapproval no message of congratulations was received from Dr Wächter, or the Ukrainian Central Committee. Heike, Eng. ed., op cit.; p. 71. A message from the Military Board to this effect was not sent until 8 November 1944. See Der Leiter des Wehrausschuss Galizien, z.zt. Kracow 8 November 1944. SA.

  76Freitag was nominated for the award by General Raus on 23 August 1944. The award was approved by Himmler on 16 September and made on 30 September 1944. See Vorschlag fur die Vorleihung des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes Verliehen 30.9.44: Nr.3692. uber SS-Brigadeführer Freitag Kdr. 14. Waffen-Gren.-Div. der SS (galiz.Nr.1). Der Reichsführer-SS, Reichsführer-SS Personl.Stab Verb. Offz. b.OKH/PA/P5 Eingang 16 September 1944 Tgb.Nr.843/449/1. (Proposal for the awarding of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross) and also the accompanying review by Der Oberbefehlshaber A.H.Qu., 23.8.1944 der 3. Panzerarmee General Raus. NA A3343-SSO-220. Public announcement of the award was made in Das Schwarze Korps–Berlin 28 December 1944.

  77Verbally to author Roman Chomicky, 21 January 2011.

  78See SS-Personalhauptamt II W, II W II–Abteilung 3, Pe./P. Berlin January 1945, Betr.; Waffen-Hauptsturmführer Michailo Brygidyr, [sic], geb.24.9.02; Bezug.: Dortiges Schreiben Alc (1) Az. W.-SS Co. vom 28.11.44, An das Reichsicherheitshauptamt, Amt I A 1, Personal-Akt, NA A3343-SSO-112. According to Rev Dr Ivan Hrynokh, after his discharge from the Division in late 1944, Brygidyr was with a German-backed unit which specialised in supporting partisans. He later crossed the lines in Slovakia and managed to make his way to the western Lemko region of Galicia where he took over command of a newly formed UPA company which according to his orders, he lead to the Carpathian Mountains in Moravia. See article by Rev Dr Hrynokh entitled ‘Division ‘Galicia’ and the Ukrainian Underground Movement’, p. 53, taken from book by Oleh Lysiak, Brody …, His service record indicates that he moved to the RSHA which controlled the Abwehr elements which were active in the Lemko region of Ukraine (near the villages Krynytsia and Mushyn). Here they organised special diversionary courses and military units from Ukrainians. Through them the Abwehr attempted to establish contact with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (the UPA) in order to persuade them to fight together against the Soviet Union. Brygider was given command of one of these units. In January 1945 when the elements of the Abwehr were relocated from the Lemko region, this ‘UPA company’ ceased to exist. It’s two groups were taken under command of OUN-B; the biggest one under command of Brygidyr ‘was taken to the Ukrainian Division’. It is unclear as to whether they moved to the ‘Galician division’ or the 2 Ukrainian Division of UNA. He survived the war and died in Toronto, Canada.

  79Ferkuniak, Spomyny …, op cit.; p. 31.

  80Division’s–Tagegbefehl, 19.10.44. An original copy of this document is in the author’s possession.

  81Waffen-Untersturmführer Jurij Krokhmaliuk who served with the Division’s staff suggests that prior to the battle of Brody, Freitag would never have singled out the Ukrainians for special mention.

  82In a speech to his officers on the same theme (i.e.; his receipt of the Ritterkreuze), made at Christmas 1944 in Zilina, Slovakia, Freitag also overlooked his previously complaints about the Ukrainians, while at the same time acknowledging their ‘heroic bravery’ whose sacrifices and valour made the distinction [that he now wore] possible. Hawrylak, Memoir, op cit.; p. 15.

  83Kommandeur 14.Waffen-Gren.Div.der SS (galiz.Nr.1) Div.St.Qu.,28.10.1944, 1357/44, Betr.: Politische Führung der Truppe, ABFC. For full text see Melnyk, To Battle …, op cit.; Appendix XIV pp. 336-337.

  84Heike, Eng. ed., op cit.; p. 68.

 
85Ibid., p. 69.

  86The Germans drafted youths from all occupied nations between 14–18 years of age to undergo pre-military training as Flak-helfers (Flak helpers) with the Luftwaffe. The programme was administered by the Hauptstelle (Main Office) of the Hitler Youth organisation in Berlin. Recruitment and training were the responsibility of Hauptbannführer Nickel and the newly formed ‘Dienstelle Nickel’ which had a staff of about 100 officers, 200 NCOs and men and over 100 boys and girls from the Hitlerjugend. This organisation operated through 3 branches: Kommando Nord (Baltic), Kommando Mitte (Belarus and East Ukraine and Kommando Sud (Generalgouvernment) ‘Dienstelle Nickel’ delivered the conscripts to the Oberkommado der Luftwaffe (OKL) for distribution through Luftgaukommandos (LKG) which undertook the training as required. Neither the Ukrainian Central Committee nor the Military Board approved of the programme but Alfred Bisanz acting on his own initiative, issued a poster under the names of members of the Military Board (i.e.; Zeleny and Navrotsky) without their knowledge or consent. For the Military Boards’ involvement with recruitment of Flak helpers see ‘Minutes of the Military Board’, op cit.; entry for 13 June 1944.

  87The two respective groups who were geographically separated, were distinguished by arm brassards in the Ukrainian national colours of blue and gold, bearing either the Galician lion emblem (for Galician Ukrainians) or Trident emblem (for those from the Reichkommisariat Ukraine) and diamond shaped cap badges in those colours.

  88By way of an inducement the Galician recruits only were promised that their schooling would continue throughout their training and service, although the evidence suggests that this was only honoured in part. 6,547 boys and 1,121 girls from Galicia were registered although the total number employed was in the region of approximately 14,000.

  89Paziuk, Victim …, p. 40. See also P. Pilkiv, ‘Ukrainian Youths in the Division’ (Visti Kombatanta, Nr.2, 1995). I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Paziuk for placing his comprehensive photographic collection on this subject at my disposal for the purposes of my research.

  90As the result of an order dated 28 June 1944, all Waffen-SS divisions lost their Flak-Abteilungen. See Jüttner’s circular, Führungshauptamt Amt II Org.Abt.1a/II Tgb.Nr.1757/44g.Kdos. Betr.: Kriegsgliederungen der 14.Galiz.SS-Freiw.Div und der Waffen-Gren.Divisionen-SS. 28 Juni 1944, Geheime Kommandosache. NA, T175 roll 141, frames 2669258-2669260.

  91Letter to author M. Paslij, 15 March 1994. SS-Obersturmführer Freit commanded the 3.7 cm battery. Letter to author R. Kolisnyk, 10 February 1997.

  92Born 20 March 1909, Party Nr.8,348, 592. Drapatz was formerly a zugführer with a motorised Feldgendarmerie-Trupp of the 15.Waffen-Gren.Div.-SS (Lett.Nr.1). For Freitag’s favourable appraisal of Drapatz see 14.Waffen-Gren.Div.der SS (gal.Nr.1) IIa, Div.St.Qu., den 4 November 1944, Beurteilungsnotiz fur SS-Untersturmführer Drapatz, See Personal-Akt Wilhelm Drapatz, NA A3343-SSO-162.

  93Moroz verbally to author, 21 June 1999, and letter 17 September 1999.

  94Heike, Eng. ed., op cit.; p. 69. See also Edensor, Tim and Kelly, MIJ, (editors) Moving Worlds, Personal recollections of twenty one immigrants to Edinburgh, memoirs of Jaroslav Bobak, pp. 135-136.

  95V. Gotsky, ‘Na Slovachchyni’ Visti, No. 9 (11) p. 5, ‘Vyprava na partyzan u Slovachchyni’, No’s. 2-3 (16-17), p. 11.

  96Letter to author O. Sokolsky, 14 July 1992 and verbally to author M. Sadiwsky, 24 February 1997.

  97Heike, Eng. ed., op cit.; p. 68.

  98The official complement of nurses was: 20 for the hospital and a further ten for the Division’s dental unit. See ‘O.U., den 16 November 1944, Betr.: Besprechung des Div. Arztes mit den leitenden Artz von ukrainischen-wehrausschuss D. Bilosor, Volodymyr ’. ABFC.

  99Letters to author O. Sokolsky, 11 September 1992, 20 August 1994.

  100The Military Board had relocated its head quarters in Lüben and established three additional branches in Vienna, Berlin and Cracow. See circular letter issued by Bisanz dated 14 September 1944. ABFC.

  101Prior to Brody a significant number of families of Division members did receive monetary assistance from the German authorities—as is evidenced by an alphabetical list entitled, ‘Leistungsnachweisung über von der Kreishauptmannschaft Lemberg-Land verauslagten Familienunterhalt für den Monat April 1944, für SS.Schützen Division Galizien’ AA. In his memoirs Heike explains the failure to provide the soldier’s families with the aid to which they were entitled on two main contributory factors; sabotage by lower-echelon Polish functionaries in the German local administration, and on the Ukrainian soldiers themselves who ‘regardless of the constant reminders and published guidelines, did not send the requisite formal requests for assistance or did not complete them properly’. Heike, Eng. ed., op cit.; p. 18. In any event, by September 1944 sabotage by Polish functionaries was no longer applicable.

  2: Slovak Rebellion and the Red Army

  1Entries in every Soldbuch of former members of the unit that the author has seen refer exclusively to ‘Einsatz Bataillon Wildner’. For example Soldbuchs belonging to Volodymyr Kosak, Volodymyr Keczun, Mychailo Kormylo and Theo Andruszko. Not withstanding this, the unit was popularly referred to as ‘Kampfgruppe Wildner’.

  2For a detailed study of the origins of the uprising, the forces involved and their subsequent military actions, see Wolfgang Venohr, ‘Aufstand in der Tatra’.

  3In a report on the situation in Slovakia dated 7 November 1944, following the suppression of the uprising the list of captured or destroyed weaponry included; 2 Armoured trains, 267 aircraft (63 of them usable) and 104 tanks. Der Wehrmachtbevollmächtigte beim Deutschen Staatsminister für Böhmen u.Mähren u.Befehlshaber im Wehrkreis Böhmen u.Mähren Nr.1878/44 geheim. Feindlageoffizer. Prag, den 7.11.44, Betr.; Lage in der Slowakei. Statni ustredni archiv v Praze (hereafter abbreviated SUAP).

  4This unit was formed by the Soviets from Slovak prisoners who served in the Slovak Army on the eastern front and were captured or deserted and parachuted into Slovakia in the Zarnovica region. See M. Matchak, ‘Z boiv kurenia ‘Wildner’’ Visti, September–October 1951, Nr.9, pp. 3-5.

  5Venohr, Aufstand .…, op cit.; pp. 211-212.

  6In all probability, Berger was appointed to deal with uprising on 31 August 1944, because he had been instrumental in the establishment of the Tiso regime in Slovakia in 1939.

  7This Kampfgruppe commanded by SS-Obersturmbannführer Rudolf Otto Klotz, had strength of 2,200 men and was made up of staff and cadets from the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Schule Kienschlag in the protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.

  8Kampfgruppe Schäfer consisted of 1,200 troops of the 18.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadierdivision ‘Horst Wessel’, supported by a reinforced battalion of 1,200 men of the 86 Infantry Division. For a detailed day by day account of the activities of KGr. Schäfer during the campaign in Slovakia see ‘Einsatz der Kampfgruppe Schäfer beim Aufstand in der Slowakei 31.August bis 10.Oktober 1944’ in … im Letzten …, op cit.; pp. 61-80.

  9This unit was made up of 6,000 regular army men from replacement units of the 85 and the 178 Infantry Divisions. According to Venohr, between them these units had additional armoured support of 28 tanks, and 16 assault guns. Venohr, Aufstand …, op cit.; p. 212.

  10Born 12.9.1898, in Augsburg, tried and condemned to death. Executed 1948. SS Nr.463, 093. Former HSSPF- Wehrkreis XI (Hannover).

  11See SS-FHA/Amt II Org.Abt. Ia/II–Tgb.Nr.3045/44 g.Kdos. v. 22.9.1944 betr.: Zuführung eines vesrt. Bataillons der 14. W.Gren.Div. der SS (galiz. Nr.1) nach Pressburg. NA, T175 roll 141, frames 2669159-2669160.

  12‘One evening I came late to the company and I was told that Ostuf. Michel was there and had assigned 9 soldiers, Brody veterans, to the I.G. Zug. They had to report the next day to a location in the vicinity of 30 regiment. I went with them. A German NCO was assigned to be the platoon commander. There I met my fiend I.K. and I asked him if he would be willing to let me replace him. He said ‘ok’. Ostuf. Michel appeared and the NCO reported to him. Then Ostuf. Michel read all the names of
the soldiers designated to be members of the I.G Zug. I was standing nearby and he recognised me and asked me what I was doing there. I told him that I would like to join the I.G.Zug. He answered—‘don’t you see that that I checked the list of platoon members, the list is complete’. Then I told him that I.K’s brother just arrived as a new volunteer and I.K. who was on the list would like to stay. Then he told me to step in, I did and I.K. left’. Letter to author Jurij Ferencevych, 12 June 2010.

  13Matchak, Z boiv …, op cit.; pp. 3-5. These men replaced several German officers and NCOs who had volunteered but opted out when they discovered the destination of the battle group.

  14Email to author Theo Andruszko, 18 January 2010.

  15Kormylo, Memoirs of a Forgotten ..., op cit.; pp. 47-48.

  16R. Drazniowsky verbally to author, 7 December 1996.

  17Previously the author gave the strength of this unit as being 1,500 men (Melnyk, To Battle …, op cit.; p. 196). This was based on the unanimous opinion of all former members of the unit whom I interviewed or corresponded, for example, interview M. Klymchuk, London, 28 November 1996, verbally to author R. Drazniowsky, 7 December 1996. In his account another participant M. Matchak in Z boiv …, op cit.; cites the strength of the Kampfgruppe as being 900 men. Having examined all the available evidence it is reasonable to conclude that the strength was in excess of 900, but less than 1,500. The figure of approx 1200 would appear to be a good compromise.

  18Heike, Eng. ed., op cit.; p. 73.

  19Letter to author W. Popadynec, 11 March 1998.

  20Karl Wildner, born: 17.12.1897, Königshof. Completed two grades at the business academy in Prague (1913–1915). During the WWI he volunteered and completed the School for Reserve Infantry Officers in Budapest (1915–1916) and later fought as a Reserve Officer on the Russian and Italian fronts. After the war he completed his studies in 1919. In August 1921 he became a regular army officer. During his service in the Czechoslovak Army he was a platoon and later a company commander. In September 1936 he was promoted to the rank of staff captain in the infantry. He held this rank in the Slovak Army on 16.05.1939 and was attached to the 5 Infantry Regiment. He variously commanded a technical company, an NCO school and a training company. With the technical company he fought in the campaign against Poland, then later as the commander of III. Infantry Battalion. From 15.02.1940 he commanded II. battalion of 3 Infantry Regiment in Banska Stiavnica and from October 1940 was commander of Signal battalion No. 2 in Presov. As an officer of German nationality he was a great admirer of the armed forces of the Third Reich, a factor which contributed to his career development. On 01.01.1941 he was promoted to the rank of major of Infantry. On 01.01.1942 he became lieutenant colonel of Infantry. From 27.06.1941 to 08.09.1942 he was active on the eastern front as a commander of a signal battalion of the Fast Division. After the reorganisation of this unit to 1. Infantry Division from 05.04.1943 to 10.11.1943 he held the post of commander of Replacement Signal Battalion No. 11 and garrison commander of Turciansky Svaty Martin. Later he transferred to the Waffen-SS on 21 August 1944, and held the rank of SS-Obersturmbannführer. He survived the war and died on 18 October 1960, in Unterstein, Germany.