Petro Dyachenko
Encyclopedia
Petro Dyachenko was a Ukrainian military commander who served as a staff captain in the Russian Army (World War I), colonel in the Ukrainian People's Army
(1918–1920), major in the Polish Army (1938–1939), colonel in the Ukrainian Liberation Army
(1943–1945), the 104th Panzergrenadier brigade Vilna Ukraina (1945), and general in the Ukrainian National Army
(1945).
In the First World War Dyachenko was the commander of the Russian 333. Infantry Regiment. He joined the Ukrainian National Republic in its struggle against both White and Red Russian forces. On February 23, 1918 he was successively in command of the 2, Zaporozhian Rifle Regiment, 1. Zap. Rifle Div, UNR
army, as battalion commander. After the reorganization of the army on July 23, 1918, he command of the Independent Zaporozhian Rifle Regiment (formed from his battalion
). After the failed Kiev and the collapse of the Ukrainian state, he was interned in Poland together with the remaining Ukrainian soldiers. On July 20, 1928 he joined the Polish Army. In 1928 was company commander in the 1. Polish Chevauleger Regiment.
On January 1, 1934 was deputy commander of the 3. Polish Mazovian Chevauleger Regiment. As a major he fought in the Polish Army in September 1939. After capitulation, as an officer of the Polish army, was captured and sent to a German POW Camp.
On July 25 Dyachenko was the member of the Ukrainian Central Committee (UCC) formed in Kraków
on the German side. Dyachenko was the staff of Polisskaja Sich (later joined the Ukrainian Insurgent Army) in 1941-1944. In March 1944 took part in organizing the 31. Schutzmannschafts Battalion (Ukrainian Legion of self-defense in Holms) on the German side. In August 1944 commander of the 31. Schutzmannschafts-Bataillon der SD. After the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising
, Dyachenko was ordered to organize a military unit out of the battalion. From August 1944 Dyachenko's group took part in fighting in the Wola area
on the German side. For his actions during the Warsaw Uprising Dyachenko was awarded on 1944, the First Class to his Iron Cross
.
On January 30, 1945 commander of the 3. U.V.V
Regiment. In February 1945 commander of the Panzerjagd-Brigade Freie Ukraine (Vilna Ukraina). In April 1945 commander of the 2. UNA Division
. In 1945, remnants of the Vilna Ukraine were attached to general Pavlo Shandruk
's army, forming the Ukrainian National Army
. On May 7, 1945 Dyachenko was promoted to the rank of general by General Pavlo Shandruk
(2nd. UNA).
In May 1945 he and the remnants of the 2nd UNA Division surrendered to the US forces in Austria. Later on, he lived in Germany
and the USA.
Ukrainian People's Army
The Ukrainian People's Army , also known as the Ukrainian National Army were often quickly reorganized units of the former Russian Imperial Army or newly formed volunteer detachments that later joined the national armed forces. The army for a long period lacked a certain degree of uniformity,...
(1918–1920), major in the Polish Army (1938–1939), colonel in the Ukrainian Liberation Army
Ukrainian Liberation Army
The Ukrainian Liberation Army was formed by the German Army in 1943 to collect the Ukrainian volunteer units that came into being during World War II...
(1943–1945), the 104th Panzergrenadier brigade Vilna Ukraina (1945), and general in the Ukrainian National Army
Ukrainian National Army
Ukrainian National Army was a World War II Ukrainian military group, created on March 17, 1945 in Weimar, Germany, and subordinate to Ukrainian National Committee....
(1945).
In the First World War Dyachenko was the commander of the Russian 333. Infantry Regiment. He joined the Ukrainian National Republic in its struggle against both White and Red Russian forces. On February 23, 1918 he was successively in command of the 2, Zaporozhian Rifle Regiment, 1. Zap. Rifle Div, UNR
UNR
UNR can mean:* National University of Rwanda * University of Nevada, Reno* Universidad Nacional de Rosario, National University of Rosario, Argentina...
army, as battalion commander. After the reorganization of the army on July 23, 1918, he command of the Independent Zaporozhian Rifle Regiment (formed from his battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
). After the failed Kiev and the collapse of the Ukrainian state, he was interned in Poland together with the remaining Ukrainian soldiers. On July 20, 1928 he joined the Polish Army. In 1928 was company commander in the 1. Polish Chevauleger Regiment.
On January 1, 1934 was deputy commander of the 3. Polish Mazovian Chevauleger Regiment. As a major he fought in the Polish Army in September 1939. After capitulation, as an officer of the Polish army, was captured and sent to a German POW Camp.
On July 25 Dyachenko was the member of the Ukrainian Central Committee (UCC) formed in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
on the German side. Dyachenko was the staff of Polisskaja Sich (later joined the Ukrainian Insurgent Army) in 1941-1944. In March 1944 took part in organizing the 31. Schutzmannschafts Battalion (Ukrainian Legion of self-defense in Holms) on the German side. In August 1944 commander of the 31. Schutzmannschafts-Bataillon der SD. After the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
, Dyachenko was ordered to organize a military unit out of the battalion. From August 1944 Dyachenko's group took part in fighting in the Wola area
Wola massacre
The Wola massacre was the scene of the largest single massacre in the history of Poland. According to different sources, some 40,000 to 100,000 Polish civilians and POWs were killed by the German forces during their suppression of the Warsaw Uprising...
on the German side. For his actions during the Warsaw Uprising Dyachenko was awarded on 1944, the First Class to his Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
.
On January 30, 1945 commander of the 3. U.V.V
Ukrainian Liberation Army
The Ukrainian Liberation Army was formed by the German Army in 1943 to collect the Ukrainian volunteer units that came into being during World War II...
Regiment. In February 1945 commander of the Panzerjagd-Brigade Freie Ukraine (Vilna Ukraina). In April 1945 commander of the 2. UNA Division
Ukrainian National Army
Ukrainian National Army was a World War II Ukrainian military group, created on March 17, 1945 in Weimar, Germany, and subordinate to Ukrainian National Committee....
. In 1945, remnants of the Vilna Ukraine were attached to general Pavlo Shandruk
Pavlo Shandruk
Pavlo Shandruk was a general in the army of the Ukrainian National Republic, a colonel of the Polish Army, and a prominent general of the Ukrainian National Army, a military force that fought against the Soviets under German command at the close of World War II.-Biography:Shandruk was born on...
's army, forming the Ukrainian National Army
Ukrainian National Army
Ukrainian National Army was a World War II Ukrainian military group, created on March 17, 1945 in Weimar, Germany, and subordinate to Ukrainian National Committee....
. On May 7, 1945 Dyachenko was promoted to the rank of general by General Pavlo Shandruk
Pavlo Shandruk
Pavlo Shandruk was a general in the army of the Ukrainian National Republic, a colonel of the Polish Army, and a prominent general of the Ukrainian National Army, a military force that fought against the Soviets under German command at the close of World War II.-Biography:Shandruk was born on...
(2nd. UNA).
In May 1945 he and the remnants of the 2nd UNA Division surrendered to the US forces in Austria. Later on, he lived in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the USA.