During the military occupation of Ukriane by Nazi Germany some Ukrainians chose to collaborate with the Nazis for various reasons, including the hopes for self-rule, resurgent Ukrainian nationalism, dissatisfaction with Soviet control and resentment against the Russians over the Holodomor, which occurred only a few years before. These were coupled with rampant racism towards other ethnic groups (such as Jews, Tatars, Roma peoples and Poles) as well as a prevailing sentiment of antisemitism. However, the absence of Ukrainian autonomy under the Nazis, mistreatment by the occupiers, and the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians as slave laborers, soon led to a rapid change in the attitude among the collaborators.

Looks like at least some people in Soviet Ukraine were really happy when Nazis arrived to their land in 1941. Just see this selection of Ukrainian people showing hospitality to the Soviet enemy - German Wermacht soldiers [Via]

Many Ukrainians collaborated with the German occupiers, participating in the local administration, in German-supervised auxiliary police, Schutzmannschaft,in the German military, and serving as concentration camp guards. Nationalists in the west of Ukraine were among the most enthusiastic collaborators early on, hoping that their efforts would enable them to establish independent state later on.

Looks like at least some people in Soviet Ukraine were really happy when Nazis arrived to their land in 1941. Just see this selection of Ukrainian people showing hospitality to the Soviet enemy - German Wermacht soldiers [Via]

After the capture of Lviv, in important Ukrainian city, OUN leaders proclaimed a new Ukrainian State on June 30, 1941 and were simultaneously encouraging loyalty to the new regime, in hope that they would be supported by the Germans. Already in 1939, during the German-Polish war, the OUN had been “a faithful German auxiliary”, according to.

Looks like at least some people in Soviet Ukraine were really happy when Nazis arrived to their land in 1941. Just see this selection of Ukrainian people showing hospitality to the Soviet enemy - German Wermacht soldiers [Via]

On 28 April 1943 the German Governor of District Galicia and the local Ukrainian administration officially declared the creation of the SS-Freiwilligen-Schützen-Division Galizien. Volunteers signed for service as of 3 June 1943 numbered 80 thousand. On 27 July 1944 the Galizien division was formed into the Waffen SS as 14. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (gal. Nr. 1). Today, some hold that these men volunteered eagerly for war against the Soviets allied to Germany while others claim that at least some of them were victims of compulsory conscription as Germany suffered defeats and lost manpower on the eastern front.

Looks like at least some people in Soviet Ukraine were really happy when Nazis arrived to their land in 1941. Just see this selection of Ukrainian people showing hospitality to the Soviet enemy - German Wermacht soldiers [Via]

Distrikts Galizien Spring 1943. Celebrations dedicated to the creation of the SS-Freiwilligen-Schützen-Division «Galizien» [Via]

The volunteers of the SS-Freiwilligen-Schützen-Division «Galizien» marching in front of the Lviv University (1943) [Via]