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Ukrainian nationalists and neo-Nazis stage torchlight march in Kiev to mark Nazi collaborator’s birthday (VIDEO)
1000’s of individuals with torches marched by way of Kiev on Sunday on the primary day of the brand new 12 months to honor Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera who collaborated with Nazis throughout WWII and actively participated in ethnic cleansings.
Bandera was born on January 1, 1909 and rallies celebrating his birthday lately turned a type of a practice within the Ukrainian capital and different cities after the Euromaidan protests in 2014. They’ve since been staged with the blessing of the nation’s authorities, who declared the day a nationwide vacation.
The contributors of the march in Kiev carried torches, Bandera’s portrait in addition to flags of Ukraine and the nation’s nationalist and neo-Nazi organizations. Some got here to the occasion with youngsters.
An enormous banner held by these on the entrance of the procession reproduced a well-known nationalist slogan which requires Bandera to return again from the lifeless and produce order to Ukraine.
Different chants heard through the march included “Nationalism is our faith. Bandera is out prophet” and “Glory to Ukraine, glory to heroes!” The latter was a motto of Bandera-led items throughout World Warfare II that was redeemed by Ukrainian nationalists and is now formally used within the nation’s army.
The march concluded at Independence Sq. (Maidan) within the coronary heart of town the place the contributors had a second of silence to honor their ‘hero’.
Bandera was the chief of the Group of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and its armed wing, the Ukrainian Rebel Military (UPA), which collaborated with the Nazis and fought in opposition to the Armia Krajowa of Poland and the Pink Military in Western Ukraine through the remaining years of World Warfare II.
UPA is liable for the deaths of 1000’s of individuals, primarily Polish ladies and kids, in Volhynia and Japanese Galicia through the cruel marketing campaign of ethnic cleaning. The group additionally took half in Nazi operations in opposition to the Jews.
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Bandera managed to flee after his trigger failed and ultimately settled in Munich the place he continued to advertise the thought of a “free Ukraine,” impartial from the Soviet Union. In 1959, he was assassinated.
Russia, Poland, Israel and different nations, which think about Bandera a struggle felony, have been strongly opposing Kiev’s makes an attempt to show him right into a heroic determine. He was proclaimed ‘Hero of Ukraine’ in 2010, however the title was stripped by a courtroom a number of months later amid an unlimited worldwide outcry.
