Stalin's Nemesis

by Michael James Melnyk

  In view of the duration of the campaign and the nature of the fighting the approximate total number of casualties sustained by KGr. Wildner—approximately seventeen killed and sixty seven wounded121 was comparatively low. Several of the Ukrainian soldiers who had distinguished themselves were recommended for and subsequently received decorations. To supplement a variety of lesser combat awards that were made,122 an estimated total of thirty two soldiers were decorated with the Iron Cross II. Class123 (the German personnel received the award in both the I. and II. Class).124

  Ukrainian recipients of Iron Cross II. Class in this period included W.Ustuf. Omelan Kulchycky, W.Hptstuf. Volodymyr Tatarsky, W.Ustuf. Emil Korczak, W.Ustuf. Lubymyr Ortynsky, W.Gren. Orest Gregoraschtchuk (Gren. Rgt. 29), W.Gren. Synovij Dytschkovsky (II.btl. Gren. Rgt. 30), W.Uscha. Nikolaus Tscherewajkyk (Gren. Rgt. 31) W.Sturm. Mychailo Owsiany, W.Kan. Lev Jaskevytsch (Art.Rgt.14) and W.Uscharf. Wasyl Hensiorowsky (Pz. Jg. Abt. 14).125

  According to Heike the Galician Division sent a third group to the area of Ruzomberok (the strength and disposition of this group is currently unknown) but it encountered no partisans who had all dispersed by that time.126

  With the successful suppression of the uprising, Höfle honoured his pledge and assigned a significant portion of the predominantly Czech made armaments (with ammunition) and other war matériel from the captured stocks of the Slovak Army to the Galician Division. Small arms, rifles, light and heavy machine guns, infantry support artillery and other artillery pieces of all calibres (including three of the excellent 7.5 cm (Pak 40) anti-tank cannons),127 were obtained in quantity over the next few weeks. These further supplemented the weaponry acquired by its two Kampfgruppen during their operations. From the 309 artillery pieces captured by the Germans, the Division’s Artillery Regiment was able to obtain ninety per cent of the German-made field howitzers that it came to use128 and almost all of the light guns originated from the large caches of weapons found by KGr. Wittenmeyer.129 As a rule, the best equipment was retained by its combat elements while the remainder was passed to the support and supply units. Against regulations, not all the newly-acquired weaponry was registered. Later, at a critical juncture this was to pay dividends.

  Equally as important was the allocation of a number motor vehicles comprising mostly of Skoda private passenger cars, Slovak military trucks and motorcycles.130 In total over eight hundred trucks were captured, the bulk of which went to the 18.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Horst Wessel.131 At the end of the campaign additional drivers were despatched by the Galician Division’s command to bring these vehicles to the Division. Of those allotted to it, not all were in working order, however the workshop company under W.-Hstuf. Leonid Martyniuk was able to salvage and repair several which had been damaged. The acquisition of extra motor vehicles proved to be a major asset as they facilitated the formation of a motorised echelon which could be sent quickly to any sector where it was needed.

  The remaining equipment and stores of provisions it received included ammunition trucks, field kitchens, horse blankets, spades, items of uniform, helmets and much needed footwear. These were distributed by the Ib (Quartermaster) SS-Hauptsturmführer Herbert Schaaf to all sections in such an abundance that the Division could be considered fully armed and equipped and partly mobile. Lastly it received an unspecified quantity of horses, although of these a proportion were sick and in poor condition.

  Garrison Duties in Slovakia

  Following the suppression of the uprising and with the frontline in the east temporarily stabilised in the Carpathians, for the next few weeks the Schützzone of western Slovakia underwent a period of relative calm. The surviving elements of the Slovak Army and Communist partisan groups which had dissipated and managed to escape the final encirclement, fled to reorganise and establish bases high in remote mountain regions. Here, after making preparations for the rapid onset of winter they continued to conduct guerrilla warfare, launching raids on signal and administrative installations, bridges, storage and supply depots and other similarly susceptible targets.132

  The Galician Division’s remit included the defence of strategic points and sentry duty, but whenever possible these duties were entrusted to reserve German units. Instead, to accelerate combat training and gain vital practical experience for its soldiers, at every opportunity the Division’s command undertook extensive assignments which involved search and destroy missions against the remaining partisans. To assist with this, the location and other critical intelligence about these groups was carefully monitored at both divisional and regimental level.133 These missions extended as far as the Lower Tatras and Fatra Mountains and although they seldom resulted in any significant engagements, these were dangerous undertakings and fatalities continued to occur. This is illustrated in an account of a regimental sized operation involving WGR 29, which took place near the village of Erdutka (now Oravska Lesna). Waffen-Sturmmann Roman Chomicky from 11./III/WGR 31:

  Machine gun bunker constructed as a defensive emplacement by men from 10/III./WGR 29, Slovakia winter 1944; close-up of the main firing aperture in the bunker. On the left: Waffen-Sturmmann Mychailo Kormylo.

  Machine gun team inside the same bunker made by men from 10./III./WGR 29.

  Commander 1./I.WGR Waffen-Untersturmführer Roman Herasymowycz in Slovakia December 1944.

  Waffen-Untersturmführer Roman Herasymowycz with four of his NCOs. Left to right: SS-Oberscharführer Jost, Waffen Oberscharführer Bezchlibnyk, Waffen-Untersturmführer Herasymowycz, SS-Hauptscharführer (also company Spiess Meister, not known. Slovakia, December 1944.

  Waffen-Untersturmführer Roman Herasymowycz’s 1./I.WGR 30 during anti-partisan operations Slovakia, December 1944.

  This photo is of an unidentified unit was taken during the Wildner campaign. The caption reads ‘120km march during anti partisan action 5–7 November 1944’.

  […] In the first week in November two platoons went to the Nyz’ki Tatry (Low Tatras). Outside the village of Erdutka we met a man who claimed to be the forest ranger. He spoke with our company commander and told him that his forestry house was frequented by partisans. A dense young spruce forest grew before the village on the right. A group of soldiers crawling on their knees checked under the branches for partisans. Towards the evening, the company commander ordered the German group commander, an SS-Rottenführer, to guard the area in front of the forest. The other troops were quartered in the houses and in barns, where they slept on fresh straw. The night was very dark. Suddenly alarm! Outside the company commander ordered me and two other soldiers to go forward. As we went around one house and opened the garden gate, we saw three dead soldiers. Looking around, I called out, ‘Is anybody else in here’? ‘Yes, I’m here!’—a voice replied. One soldier had managed to hide. I came closer and said ‘Come out!’ He was not moving. I got under the haystack and pulled him out by the hand. I went inside the house. Inside were SS-Oberscharführer Dirkop and two women, one holding a child in her arms. I noticed the door to the room was riddled with bullet holes and splinters from the outside. As we went into the garden, we found the body of another soldier—Riznyk. The company commander told me to take two more soldiers and start to dig four graves.134 After returning from this mission we left this village and took the train to Turchanskyj Martin, south of Zilina.135

  Arriving at the scene shortly after, the lone survivor recounted what had happened to a platoon commander from 11./III WGR 31, Waffen-Untersturmführer Roman Kolisnyk:

  […] I had hardly fallen asleep when the alarm sounded. Our company commander, a German (SS-Hauptsturmführer) reported that the partisans had attacked us. We moved out in battle order in the dark of night along both sides of the road to the outskirts of the village. Across the fields in the forest the lights were burning in a house from which we could hear accordion music. Someone was playing a sad tango. Slowly we drew closer to the house where the attack took place. When I arrived, there was already a commotion. From the garden they carried the soldiers who ha
d been killed. Near the house a lonely soldier was feverishly shaking and his frightened eyes glancing around.

  What happened? Partisans had come out of the woods bypassing the house where music was playing, stalked through the garden and hid near the house where the group was sleeping in one room. Two sentries were posted near the gate in the high, solid fence, on the garden side. When the change of sentries occurred and the two entered the garden, the partisans surprised all four of them, disarmed them and kept them under guard. Then some of them went to the window of the room were the group was sleeping and threw a few grenades inside. When the grenades exploded, the partisans shot the sentries. Three were killed, the fourth fainted on the first shot and the bodies of the others covered him. He told us this is what happened when he regained his senses. Later I went to the forestry house with a group of soldiers and there to our surprise was Waffen-Untersturmführer Powalatschek with his platoon. They had not seen or heard anything.136

  These operations were also extremely arduous often taking place in snow and freezing cold winter weather in mountainous and heavily forested country. The strenuous physical effort was however beneficial in as much as it helped to build up the soldiers endurance threshold.

  To exploit the key element of surprise, small detachments and specially formed assault groups known as Jagdzugs were formed by several sub-units.137 To aid their activities, the Division received a limited supply of specialist equipment (such as skis and small sledges to tow machine guns), along with a large shipment of warm winter reversible camouflage uniforms and winter boots.138 This caused a certain degree of resentment amongst the less well-equipped regular army units stationed in the same area.139 Small detachments enjoyed a distinct advantage over larger groups whose movements were easily detectable. Acting independently or guided by friendly Slovak elements,140 they were sent deep into the snow covered mountains on reconnaissance missions and patrols with orders to concentrate on the discovery of partisan routes and camps. Continual harassment in this way compelled the partisans to move to other areas and prevented them from consolidating their positions. From time to time, this difficult and unique type of warfare with all its inherent peculiar tactics demanded extraordinary countermeasures from the Division’s soldiers.141 On other occasions these excursions had unforeseen benefits as recalled by Waffen-Sturmmann Roman Chomicky 11./III./WGR 31:

  […] One day a damaged plane flew over Oscadnica. Two pilots bailed out. A couple of days later a Slovak reported to our company commander that a crashed plane had been found in the mountains. Three wagons with 15 soldiers were sent into the mountains, led by a Slovak guide who took us to the mountain. We climbed and found the plane. It was totally destroyed. Some soldiers took a few metal tubes [from the wreck] which they later used to distil homebrew liquor. 142

  Occasional large scale anti-partisan actions were undertaken. Whenever these took place the commanders of the Division’s individual units liaised directly with Höfle and his staff who planned and supervised all major operations from his head quarters in Bratislava. As with the smaller actions, these met with varying degrees of success,143 the principal hindrance being the co-ordination of troop movements in the field although use of the Division’s Fieseler Storch light reconnaissance aeroplane partly offset the problem. Nevertheless maintaining communication via radio contact remained highly problematical because of the lack of portable radio sets and the variability of elevation which caused the sets to malfunction. Even when the sets did work, the Ukrainian operators sometimes had problems understanding German and translating commands.144 The partisans, who of necessity were extremely mobile, also enjoyed the advantage of operating on home territory. Furthermore according to Major Heike they benefited from the fact that the Ukrainians ‘when left to their own devices in impenetrable terrain, frequently failed to follow orders, neglected basic military principles and failed to pay attention to detail’.145 Fortunately the Division’s casualties during these operations were minimal. Provision was made for the burial of fatalities to take place in local village cemeteries, accompanied by appropriate religious rites.

  Men from 10./III.WGR 29 with supply wagon Slovakia.

  Men from 10./III.WGR 29 prior to leaving for security operations. On the right with machine gun around his neck: Waffen-Sturmmann Mychailo Kormylo.

  Five members of the Division’s signals battalion on a routine patrol.

  Machine gun team from the Galician Division in action Slovakia.

  Waffen-Obersturmführer Roman Lazurko (centre wearing white snow suit) with soldiers from his platoon 13./ WGR 30 in Velka Bytca, Slovakia, 14 January 1945.

  Group from 10./III.WGR 29 outside their billets in Slovakia, some of whom are armed with the excellent Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle, preparing for an anti-partisan patrol. Second from right: Waffen-Sturmmann Mychailo Kormylo.

  Marshova, Slovakia, winter 1944 the commander of 6./II./WGR 30 Waffen-Obersturmführer Bohdan Pidhayny (front left outstretched hands) explains an exercise to members of his company. On his left wearing binoculars: the battalion commander SS-Sturmbannführer Czermin.

  Regimental and battalion commanders of WGR 30 at a briefing during a tactical training exercise in Marshova, Slovakia, November 1944. Left to right: W.Ustuf. Andrij Komorowsky, W.Ustuf. Ivan Skira, not known, not known, Rgt Kdr Obstubf. Hans Forstreuter, not known, Stuf. Friedrich Wittenmeyer, (facing camera with binoculars) Kdr III Btl. Stuf. Czermin, Kdr II Batt (wearing binoculars) not known.

  The Division’s 1a Major Heike confirms in his memoirs that in Slovakia, all engagements were waged in a proper and controlled manner and that the execution of prisoners, taking of hostages and destruction of houses and public buildings (unless occupied by the enemy and therefore a legitimate target) was expressly prohibited under all circumstances.146 Notwithstanding this unintentional civilian casualties may have occurred as a result of artillery fire. It should also be acknowledged that in order to curtail their activities and force them into remote mountain areas, a number of outbuildings, haylofts, stables and foresters cabins used by the remaining partisans were destroyed in these operations. As regards prisoners, already on their own initiative, many of the Ukrainian soldiers had adopted a lenient attitude towards them and those who were not released straight away or unbeknown to the Germans allowed to escape,147 were well treated. On occasion some of the wounded received treatment by the Division’s medical personnel.148 Moreover, in some instances transgressions by the civilian population were deliberately overlooked.149 Waffen-Sturmmann Mychailo Kormylo recalled a subsequent encounter with a prisoner he had released:

  […] We entered Zilina through Zvolen and Prievidza. The town is a fine town and our barracks were modern and comfortable. The room they gave me accommodated the seven of us so that our heavy machine gun group could be billeted together and not be separated as often happened. We were fed good suppers and enjoyed showers before sleep. Similarly, on rising we had breakfast prepared by Slovak cooks who understood us and often smiled.

  One of the cooks spoke quietly to me one morning saying that we prefer you Ukrainians to the Germans because you often release your prisoners where the Germans take them into captivity. I confided in him and said that our group had done this. I asked did he know a Slovak Officer called Viktor Hlinka whose father had a dairy in Zilina. The Slovak cook said that he knew where Hlinka’s father had his dairy and that he would take me there on Saturday afternoon around 1500 hrs.

  Sure enough we met, went to the dairy and encountered a man around 65 years old. The cook asked him if his son Viktor was at home as this soldier wants to see him. The old man asked why would a soldier with the SS Death’s Head on his cap want to see my son? The cook informed him that I was in SS uniform but was a Ukrainian. 500 Ukrainians were billeted where he worked. Within minutes Viktor came down some stairs, stared at me in disbelief then embraced me, kissing my forehead with tears in his eyes. Viktor explained to his father that this NCO had captured them, ordered them to throw down their we
apons and had released them, whereas the Germans would have taken them prisoner. In a moment his wife appeared and asked why Viktor had tears in his eyes. He told her about the episode in the mountains and introduced me as the NCO who let them go. She said ‘this soldier is a child compared to you Viktor’. Viktor described the incident to her and emphasised that although we were young we seemed experienced and were armed to the teeth. She reminded him that we were generous and she offered me anything from the shop that I wished. I pointed to a large kovbasa (salami) but offered to pay for it. She would not accept payment and thanked me again for delivering her man back to her when other women ‘s men were in captivity. She thanked the cook for bringing me to meet them. She paid me a compliment saying that she liked my uniform—it was impressive, and my pistol belt clean and shining. She opened the door to usher us out and once again Viktor shook my hand and kissed my forehead. On the way back the cook could not stop talking about the sausage.

  Four pictures in the same sequence showing the burial of two members of the Division killed during anti-partisan operations, Turzovka near Cadca. The first picture shows the arrival of the Clergy and burial detail at the company HQ.

  Soldiers from the company act as pallbearers as the carry the coffins to the churchyard past local civilians who have turned out to watch.

  The funeral ceremony is now over and the funeral party leaves the church after the service.