Not only ‘Galicia’: Russian national formations in the service of the Third Reich and the uncomfortable memory of World War II

Russian propaganda has been using World War II as a political weapon for decades.

When it needs to attack Ukraine, it repeatedly recalls the SS Division 'Galicia', the battalions 'Nachtigall' and 'Roland', Ukrainian nationalism, individual episodes of collaborationism, and wartime crimes.

But as soon as it comes to Russian formations that served the Third Reich, the tone changes dramatically.

There, they no longer speak of a 'Russian trace.'

They speak of 'traitors,' 'Vlasovites,' 'renegades,' 'anti-Soviets,' as if these people existed outside of Russian history, outside of Russian society, and outside of Soviet reality.

In fact, on the side of Nazi Germany, there were numerous Russian, Cossack, and broader Soviet collaborationist structures: Vlasov's ROA, Kaminsky's RONA, Russian Corps in Serbia, Cossack units, Russian units in German service, auxiliary police, Hiwi, and eastern battalions.

But this topic requires not slogans, but precision.

Because not all Soviet collaborators were ethnic Russians.

And not all Russian collaborators can be hidden under the general phrase 'Soviet citizens.'
Why this topic is important today

Talking about Russian formations in the service…

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