in november 1943, the new ss-"sturmbrigade" wallonia was deployed for the first time to the ukraine in response to the soviet dnieper–carpathian offensive. there, the brigade fought as part of the ss "wiking" panzer division in the korsun–cherkassy pocket in february 1944 and suffered 70 percent casualties. among those killed was the unit's commander lucien lippert. a detachment also fought at the tannenberg line in estonia in june 1944, suffering heavy losses. degrelle, however, was widely celebrated for his role in the battle at cherkassy and received the knight's cross, becoming "the poster boy for all european collaborators" and being featured in "signal" magazine. the remnants of the unit returned to belgium where parades were held in brussels and charleroi in april 1944. ahead of its return, largely to encourage more enlistments, the unit was even loaned armoured vehicles by other german units to make it seem more prestigious.