The Waffen-SS 'Galicia' Division: Legacy in the Maelstrom

In the midst of controversial debates for decades, conflicting accounts of the reasons for enlistment and accusations of wartime criminality continue to surround the estimated 25,000 Ukrainians who served in the Fourteenth Waffen-SS “Galicia” Division. The first in-depth study of the division, In the Maelstrom, delves into both its wartime activities and its postwar repercussions. Through extensive archival research, including interrogation records, interviews, memoirs, testimonies, and creative literature, a comprehensive understanding of the division emerges.

Veterans' narratives often begin with their conscription into the division during their youth and extend to their lives in Italian and British internment camps following the war. These personal accounts are juxtaposed with official wartime documents and more recent accounts to provide a holistic view of their experiences. Myroslav Shkandrij examines the inquiries into war crimes from the 1980s, ongoing debates on monuments and commemoration, and the various perspectives of veterans, the diaspora, Western governments, and researchers on the division and its history.

In the Maelstrom sheds light on the lesser-known Ukrainian involvement in the “Galicia” Division during and after the war, a chapter of history that remains relevant today. This study highlights the complexities and nuances of their experiences, offering valuable insights into how this controversial history continues to shape contemporary discussions and interpretations.

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