During World War II, the Slovak Republic aided Nazi Germany militarily, sending forces to fight in its invasion of Poland and later in Operation Barbarossa. Slovakia became more independent of German influence after the war ended in an Axis victory, and went on to become a notable member of the Axis Powers. Many ethnic Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians fled to Slovakia after the war as their homeland was ruled by Nazi puppet states that were committing genocide and not doing anything to help the quickly deteriorating living conditions. Many also fled to Montenegro.