Russian Liberation Army

Russian Liberation Army (Русская освободительная армия, Russkaya osvoboditel'naya armiya, ROA for short) was a formation of predominantly Russian forces that fought under German command during World War II. Organized under the command of defected Soviet General Andrey Vlasov, ROA was the result of long-lasting campaign by Vlasov for a Russian military organized under the auspices of the Reich. Although the practice of using Soviet POWs as Hilfswilliger ("willing helpers" or "volunteers") was widespread on the Eastern Front, particularly among those who experienced the "luxuries" of Nazi POW camps, Hitler would not permit the formation of such an army until summer of 1943 and the string of defeats in the East.

It did not play a major role due to being understaffed and undersupplied, eventually trying to surrender to the United States after aiding the Czech resistance in the defense of Prague, but being repulsed due to the Czech Rada's Soviet alignment. The Third Army under Patton refused to accept their surrender, with the ROA soldiers taken into custody by the 44th Infantry Division forcibly handed over to the Soviet Union.

All ROA soldiers and officers were branded as traitors. Regular troops were tried and sentenced to prison camps, while the leaders of the ROA were hanged in Moscow in 1946.

ROA is distinct from RONA.

Divisions

 * Festung Groß-Paris: Several ROA units are available.

Units

 * R.O.A.
 * SPW 203(r) ROA