In Ukraine and southeastern Poland , the Poles fought against the Ukrainian nationalists and UPA ( Ukrainian Insurgent Army ) to protect the ethnic Poles from mass murder visited upon them during Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia . They were aided , until after the war was over , by the Soviet partisans . At least 60,000 Poles lost their lives , the majority of them civilians , men , women , and children . Some of the victims were Poles of Jewish descent who had escaped from the ghetto or death camp . The majority of the Polish partisans in Ukraine assisted the invading Soviet Army . Few of them got mistreated or killed by the Soviets or the Polish communists
Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia
Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia
Partisan (military)