Ukraniska trupper i slaget vid Brody 1944

[Marcus]

Det kan vara av intresse att läsa vad Himmler skrev om insatserna av de ukraniska trupper i 14 SS Division under slaget vid Brody 1944, citatet är från rekommendationen till Fritz Freitags riddarkors:

"...SS-Brigadefuhrer Freitag displayed admirable and personal preparedness for action while leading his division during a single battle in the Brody Pocket. Up until the last battle, the division consisted not only of German soldiers, but also of Ukrainians from Galicia.These Ukrainians are soft inside and fickle, and lack much in comparison to fighting German soldiers.

The holding together and leadership of such men who are not used to war and lack hardness, and over and above that the carrying out of the most difficult orders in battle, such as those of the Brody pocket, requires the most of a responsible leader.

...During the further continuation of the battle, numerous volunteers of the division fled due to their inner cowardice, and in some cases used weapons to threaten their leaders and NCO's. During this crisis, it was again the decisive presence of the divisional commander, who was there in person to re-establish the situation by inflicting the required brutal measures against any whiners, that saved the situation.

The Division fulfilled its assigned objectives in the most difficult situation. This was achieved with Ukrainians, who, with very few exceptions, are not fighters and are only supported by the few German personnel.

Whenever the division was deployed in the focal point of the battle, and its success recognized and recorded, it can only be attributed to the service of the German leaders who were lead by their divisional commander.

/Marcus