SS in Britain

[steve_vlasenko]

Due to work I'm unable to post a reference response to this program at present, however this is the response from the Brotherhood of Veterans of the 1st-Division of the Ukrainian National Army, to the programs first transmission.

Reference are available from them and they will be more than willing to respond.

I have reprinted this document without permission and if this is a problem please email me and I'll delete it.

Response to the recent TV documentary "SS in Britain"


This documentary lacks the objectivity, that should be the fundamental premise of any documentary, and continues to disseminate half-truths and outright falsehoods about the division "Galicia". It contains some excerpts from the interviews with supposedly knowledgeable individuals about the subject, and witnesses, but these fragments were manipulated in such a way, as to convey the impression directed at discrediting the division veterans, and portraying them as heavily indoctrinated Nazi sympathisers and even war criminals.


By omission and suppression of several important issues and crucial points, that could shed some unbiased light on the subject, which were available for the producers beforehand, and by stressing all negative aspects, a completely false impression of the division "Galicia" was conveyed to the viewers.
For instance: The statement was made that the volunteers were heavily indoctrinated Nazi sympathizers, but the fact was suppressed, that Galicia division was the only division in the Waffen SS where Greek-catholic priests were in charge of spiritual well being of the soldiers and whose sermons stressed love for Ukraine and conspicuously ignored Hitler and Germany

A quotation of Himmlers statement, when he visited the division, was included that "if Ukrainians were given an order to slaughter the Poles, they would gladly do so". But the reply of Dmytro Palijiw, one of Ukrainian officers in the divisional staff, was suppressed, where he said that "the division was not created to fight Poles but Bolsheviks and pointed out the fallacy of the German policy in the occupied territories in Eastern Europe".

It was stated that soldiers of the division swore allegiance to Hitler, but it was suppressed that this obedience was limited only to "the struggle against Bolshevism", spelled out in the text of the oath. No mention was made that a second oath of allegiance to Ukraine was administered later, without any reference to Hitler, when the division joined the Ukrainian National Army in the spring of 1945.

Various witnesses were interviewed, but none of available division veterans were produced to testify.

The commentator Mr. Ceaserani left the impression that the division veterans in Britain and Canada were never properly investigated, but the fact is that the division was screened the first time in the POW camp Bellaria in Italy by the British and Soviet commissions in 1945. Later by the "Commission of Inquiry on War Crimes" headed by honorable Justice Jules Deschenes in Canada, which after thorough investigation lasting several years was not able to establish any basis to the accusations of war crimes. This report was issued in 1986 and confirmed later after another investigation by the minister of justice in Canada Anne McLellan in 1998. At the conclusion of the program it was only casually mentioned that subsequent investigation did not uncover any new evidence, without being more specific in naming Justice Deschenes or minister of justice Anne McLellan.
All this clearly shows a strong bias and prejudice against the Galicia division veterans by the producers of this program, which apparently was created to further spread the stereotype of a Ukrainian villain created in the western media.
A viewer of this program was intentionally left unaware of the fact that the volunteers of the division "Galicia", almost without exceptions, were Ukrainian patriots who made a conscious Faustian bargain with the devil in order to obtain arms and training so as to have a fighting force at the ready to defend an independent Ukraine after the wishfully hoped-for collapse of both Soviet and German occupations.


In the spring of 2000, at the request of the Brotherhood of Division Galicia veterans, a reputable scholar initiated an independent research in Slovakia, tracking the trail of the History Channel interviewers, visiting the sites named in the resulting TV documentary, and even speaking to the same individuals who were interviewed for this program. The results are unmistakably clear: the Division was never present in the locations named in these interviews, and the answers of witnesses, aired in the documentary were apparently edited and suitably manipulated to discredit the Division veterans. These same witnesses, interviewed in the current independent research, flatly denied the participation of Ukrainians in any misconduct. It should be noted that during the Division Galicia's stay in Slovakia, the civilian population accepted the Ukrainian military personnel with particular warmth, friendliness and hospitality.


Taken from Brotherhood of Veterans of the 1st-Division of the Ukrainian National Army

Take Care

Vlas

[steve_vlasenko]

Excerpts from The Report of the
"Commission of Inquiry on War Crimes"
by Honourable Justice Jules Deschenes, Commissioner
Ottawa Dec. 30, 1986 pertaining to Galicia Division

Page 261.
The Commission accordingly FINDS that:
56- The Galicia Division ( 14. Waffengrenadierdivision der SS [gal. #1]) should not be indicted as a group.
57- The members of Galicia Division were individually screened for security purposes before admission to Canada.
58- Charges of war crimes of Galicia Division have never been substantiated, either in 1950 when they were first preferred, or in 1984 when they were renewed, or before this Commission.
59- Further, in the absence of evidence of participation or knowledge of specific war crimes, mere membership in the Galicia Division is insufficient to justify prosecution.
60- No case can be made against members of Galicia Division for revocation of citizenship or deportation since the Canadian authorities were fully aware of the relevant facts in 1950 and admission to Canada was not granted them because of any false representation, or fraud, or concealment of material circumstances.
61- In any event, of the 217 officers of the Galicia Division denounced by Mr. Simon Wiesenthal to the Canadian government, 187 (i.e., 86 percent never set foot in Canada, 11 have died in Canada, 2 have left for another country, no prima facie case has been established against 16 and the last one could not be located.


Independent evidence NOT from any nationalist perspective.

Take care

Vlas

[Bartosz]

Originally posted by steve_vlasenko
Excerpts from The Report of the
"Commission of Inquiry on War Crimes"
by Honourable Justice Jules Deschenes, Commissioner
Ottawa Dec. 30, 1986 pertaining to Galicia Division

[...]
Vlas

I like when Vlas with so engegement defends old fellows from SS who contributed Nazis effort during WW2. Thanks to these fellows, who are responsible for massacre of 830 Polish civils in Huta Pieniacka [Swiatomir Fostyn; in interview for Gazeta Wyborcza - yes, our fellows participated in it(maybe your grandpa too, Vlas, what of you are proud now)], guys from Waffen SS who were of German nationality could defend from allies from west and east their fatherland. Thanks to this great war effort the war lasted few days longer, what en somme costed few dozens thausands livings more of fellows from US, GB (where now are living fellows from Ukrainian SS), Canada (the same case), Poland (we had some looses, I guess that not one Ukrainian veteran from Albion knows something about it), Russia (at least that they don't deny), etc., etc.

Thanks to them chimneys in Dachau smoked few days longer, what let German produce of gathered there Jews and Poles few tons more of soap and paillasses, what later in some part was distributed amoung brave fellows from SS.


And guys in Albion celebrate their great battles (Huta Pieniacka) and make themselve great heroes of the democratic world.

Sic!

Traditionally take cure before posting a mail

Bartosz

[steve_vlasenko]

Bartosz,

Once again you don't read the post and attempt to compile the UPA with the 1st division Halicia. Insult my grandfather if you wish, it evidence further the level of your intelligence and ability to argue.

I nor any one else has ever sort to deny the 1st Division Halicia existance, (or for that matter the kappo's or the Ukrainian Policemen) what we have done is to attempt to get the less able to understand to grasp that the UPA were a separate organization operating as partisans, NOT a military division of the German army.

Bring the undeniable evidence to the table that supports your accusation. You are evidently certain of your beliefs, so bring forth the evidence.

As for losses in the war. Which country lost the greatest percentage of it's population? Do you know?

Any attempt to discuss rationally with you is futile in the extreme as evidenced by your recent posts. If you wish to take the debate up again by all means come back, but if all you're going to do is return with failed attempts at humor in English don't bother.

Sadly, I await you next stock reply.

Vlas.

[Bartosz]

Originally posted by steve_vlasenko
Bartosz,

Once again you don't read the post and attempt to compile the UPA with the 1st division Halicia. Insult my grandfather if you wish, it evidence further the level of your intelligence and ability to argue.

I nor any one else has ever sort to deny the 1st Division Halicia existance, (or for that matter the kappo's or the Ukrainian Policemen) what we have done is to attempt to get the less able to understand to grasp that the UPA were a separate organization operating as partisans, NOT a military division of the German army.

Bring the undeniable evidence to the table that supports your accusation. You are evidently certain of your beliefs, so bring forth the evidence.

As for losses in the war. Which country lost the greatest percentage of it's population? Do you know?

Any attempt to discuss rationally with you is futile in the extreme as evidenced by your recent posts. If you wish to take the debate up again by all means come back, but if all you're going to do is return with failed attempts at humor in English don't bother.

Sadly, I await you next stock reply.

Vlas.

Stating that I insulted your grandpa is a bit an abuse, but your deep feelings to your ancestor trully me tauched, what probably haven't happened since few good years. I was sure that you was proud of his participation in action in Huta Pieniacka, where few hundred underhumans(in this case Poles, but what's difference?) were massacred (sorry, wiped off of Ukrainian holy territory) by fellows from SS Galitzen, and mentionning about his brave atchievments would you give pleasure.

I'm not sure if my intelligence is sufficent to argue with you, but certainly enough to find pleasure in provoking your answers. You are exeptionally suceptible target. And I like treat people instrumentally.

As for proofes, Polish special comission responsible for gathering materials about crimes commited against citizens of Poland during WW2 has few dozens of reports including names of myrmidons, and in 1992 already once applied for their extradition. Than this prompt was rejected. But now, who knows? Maybe your grandpa soon will come to Poland? Come together, maybe we'll drop(not grandpa, he will be slightly grounded) for one beer?

[steve_vlasenko]

Okay big man, I'll be in Poland in the last week of February, Warsaw, would be most convenient for me.
You'll get to buy me that beer. Bring your skin head friends.

Vlas.

I used to argue with the chaps in my company's American branchies when they insulted Polacks, but after reading your bile, I think they have a piont.

[Shevster]

Bartosz,

After reading your posts I now know why you have the obsession with the UPA and Vlas's granddad! It because of what your grandparents did in the war. Vlas's grandparents fought for a free Ukraine, whilst your grandfathers did nothing. The first sign of the Germans and your grandfathers stood there with the excrement running down their legs. While at the same time your grandmothers were already on there backs, legs open waiting for their delivery of German sausage.

You obviously the son of a German b*stard brought up by a coward and a whore. Insulting all that is Ukrainian will not remove this shame.

I know what the Polish did to the Jews and you'll never hide this shame by transferring the guilt to Ukrainians.

You are a disgrace to the Polish nation and to all Slavs.

Stepan.