The ultimate Council of Ukraine late announced a decision to change the names of 327 localities as part of the “derusify” processcia’. 1 of the most controversial changes is the transformation of the Red village, located in the Lviv region, to Halyćke. This change sparked a wave of discussion as the fresh name refers to SS Galizien (knownIn Ukrainian as SS Halyczyn) is simply a collaboration unit of Waffen-SS from planet War II. This information was confirmed in an authoritative communication published on the website of the Lviv Oblast Administration on 19 September.
Memory of SS Galizien – what is behind the name Halyćke?
The village of Halyćke, formerly known as Red, is the burial site of many SS Galizien soldiers. The 14th Waffen-SS Galizien Grenadiers Division was a unit created by the Germans in 1943, which included Ukrainian volunteers from erstwhile Galicia, who were Polish citizens under global law. This formation was established to fill the staff shortages of the German armed forces. The Germans besides formed Galician police regiments that recruited from among the volunteers to SS-Galizien. These units were celebrated for many crimes in Poles in east Małopolska and Lublin in 1944, including in a tragic death in Pieniacka Huta.
SS Galizien recognized as a criminal organisation by the Nuremberg global Military Court
After the end of planet War II, during the Nuremberg Processes, the global Military Court considered Nazi organizations specified as the NSDAP, SS, SD and Gestapo to be criminal. This means that any units of their members, including Waffen-SS, to which the SS Galizien belonged, were considered to be active in war crimes. Nevertheless, in fresh years, especially in western Ukraine, Waffen-SS Galizien enjoys a certain degree of designation and is glorified.
Kult Waffen-SS Galizien in Ukraine – a controversial topic
In Ukraine, especially in its western part, SS Galizien is increasingly popular. Members of this formation are frequently honored during various types of celebrations, and the dead Waffen-SS soldiers are buried with honors. In Lviv alone, an yearly march is regularly held in honor of this cooperative division, which is causing large controversy, especially in Poland. For fresh years, the cult of this formation has been promoted throughout Ukraine, including by the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (IPN).
Deruptification process or historical policy?
The change of the name of the Red village to Halyćke is officially part of an extended run to derusify the names of the localities in Ukraine. However, this decision raises questions about how much this is an effort to destruct Russian influences, and how much an component to advance controversial symbols and historical figures. In the context of the Ukrainian War and current political tensions, this movement is interpreted by any as an effort to strengthen the national identity, which at the same time creates controversy, especially in relation to Polish-Ukrainian historical relations.
International reactions and expert opinions
The decision to commemorate the SS Galizien by changing the name of the village to Halyćke sparked criticism from both Polish and global experts and historians. Many of them point out that whitening the past of collaboration with Nazi Germany is irresponsible and incompatible with historical truth. It is worth noting that Poland consistently condemns all forms of promotion of fascist ideology and collaboration with the Nazis. This situation is reminiscent of the painful and hard past of both nations, which continues to affect common relations.
Summary: Historical Memory and Modern Politics
Changing the name of Ukrainian Red village to Halyćke is an expression of a complex approach to Ukrainian national past and identity. While the authoritative goal is to derustify, the choice of a name referring to the controversial SS Galizien unit raises discussions about how past is interpreted and presented in today's politics. This decision questions ethical and historical issues and affects relations between Ukraine and Poland.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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Banderowska Ukraine renames the village to commemorate SS Galizien
