Friends!

75 years ago, from Kharkov to Cologne was departed a train with Ostarbeiteren - "Eastern workers". So in Germany were called those workers, which the Germans took from the eastern occupied territories for forced labor.

The first Ostarbeiteren were citizens of Transcarpathia and Galicia in 1939. And mass phenomenon has started since 1942. Overall, during World War II for the forced labor in Germany were taken 2.2 million Ukrainians.

First, the Nazis hatched a plan "Ost", which involved the extermination of millions of residents of the occupied territories. Later, due to the lack of manpower and for support of the leadership of the Third Reich, was decided to use the "slave" power.

The offer to work in Germany, was served to Ukrainian as a candy in gold wrapper. Volunteer workers were promised decent wages, constant food and good living conditions. More than this - the families of those who worked in the Reich, was promised to be cared and helped. Thousands of people have decided to go and try a better life. But that was not planned.

Under the sweet promises hided the bitter truth. Volunteer character of sets, selection of employees by occupation, was quickly replaced by violent approach and true "round-up" for employees. Germany did not have enough volunteers, workers did they job well. People were exported without their consent, forced to work for private companies. Workers lived in camps under strict supervision, all had to wear blue stripes with the words "OST" ( "East"). It made them without rights, without provisions, could be degrade and use. Ukrainian earned less - 30% of the salary of the employee-German, but they needed to pay for "camp" housing and food.

Escape was impossible. One and only attempt - and a man were killed or sent to concentration camps.

In 1946, the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal acknowledged that forced labor was a crime against humanity and violation of international law. The Germans decided to pay those, who affected. On the 1st of September, 1999 in Ukraine humanitarian payments received over 600 thousand persons and payments reached almost 400 thousand marks.

Thousands of lives have been destroyed, families - lost. We should all remember this.