The Formation of the Structures of the West Ukrainian People's Republic (Zunr) in Ternopil Region in 1918
Vìsnik - Kiïvsʹkij nacìonalʹnij unìversitet ìmenì Tarasa Ševčenka. Ìstorìâ, 2020
The article deals with the peculiar features of the formation, legitimization and development of ... more The article deals with the peculiar features of the formation, legitimization and development of administrative, judicial and military structures of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR) in the territory of the southern and central parts of the modern Ternopil region in November – December 1918. Particular attention is paid to the characteristics of the transfer of power by the Austrian administration to the Ukrainian side in the city of Tarnopol (modern Ternopil) – this example is important because, unlike in Lviv, the city mostly managed to preserve the peaceful coexistence of Ukrainian, Polish and Jewish people during the revolutionary events. The study also examines the formation of local administrative structures and law enforcement agencies, such as the Zbarazh, Chortkiv and Berezhany counties, in the context of significant militarization of society, and the deployment of the Ukrainian‑Polish war in Eastern Galicia in 1918–1919. An analysis of the formation of the ZUNR structures in the Ternopil region, in November – December 1918, makes it possible to observe state-building processes in rural areas, at the level of counties and one of the largest cities of Galicia – Tarnopol. Thus, attention is drawn to such issues on the history of ZUNR, which are virtually absent in contemporary Ukrainian and Polish historiography. Studying the creation of administrative structures, the article examines the attitude of the local Polish and Jewish population to building a local national administrative apparatus by the Ukrainians. The cases of involvement of representatives of other peoples who inhabited the territory of Ternopil region to the power vertical of the Western Ukrainian state were emphasized.
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Papers by Andrii Rukkas
on a career in the Polish Army. After the outbreak of World War II, Nahnybida managed to get to Romania and then to Great Britain, where he continued his military service in the Polish Army. After the dissolution of the Polish forces in Europe, he remained in the British Isles. Throughout
his stay in England, he maintained contact with leading representatives of the State Centre of the UPR in exile and was honoured with many Polish and Ukrainian decorations. The circumstances of Serhij Nahnybida’s life and military service make us aware that some Ukrainian émigrés managed to adapt to life in Poland in a relatively short period of time, and
furthermore, to become part of Polish society. At the same time, they retained their national identity and were aware of the tasks set before them by the UPR State Centre in exile.
military service of Ukrainians as Polish citizens within the Polish armed forces. Accordingly, the legal grounds for military service will be analyzed at the beginning. This will be followed by a description of the organizational structure of the conscription campaigns, especially within the context of the establishment of state structures in Eastern Poland. Furthermore, the aim of this article is to study most of the specific features of the service of Ukrainians as a national minority in the Polish Armed Forces between the two
World Wars.
Within just one month, September 1939, an ancient city of Kremenets in Vohlynia region experienced a lot of dramatic and tragic events. In the middle of August, 1939, in the eve of World War II, the 12th Lancers Regiment that in peacetime garrisoned in the nearest village of Bilokrynitsa was mobilized and transferred to the Polish-German border where it faced the outbreak of hostilities. In barracks the only depot and replacement units were left but they were too weak to organize a strong protection in a case of Soviet invasion. Thus, the city was totally defenseless.During September 8 – 13, evacuated from Warsaw, the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and foreign diplomats sheltered in Kremenets. On September 12 the city
suffered a terrible and barbaric air attack of German bombers. About 50 – 60 civilians were liked and 120 wounded. Five days later, in the morning of September 17, performing the secret agreement of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Soviet troops crossed the eastern border of Poland and soon entered defenseless Kremenets. Polish troops and police forces that
were stationed in the city and its vicinity did not offer any resistance. Most of the Polish soldiers and policemen became the prisoners of war. Many of them were later executed by Soviet security officers. In this paper. Based on previously unknown documents, mostly the memories of participants and eyewitnesses, author describes the last days of the Polish authorities in the city, the arrival of the Red Army and its first steps.
Having been defeated in the struggle against «red» and «white» Russia, in late 1919 the Ukrainian
People’s Republic for some time had to step off the political arena. Its armed forces were partially
interned by Poles, partially were in guerilla raid in deep enemy’s rear. The resumption of the struggle
for the independence of Ukraine was related with the presence of foreign allies. Such ally became
only Poland. In April 1920 Ukraine had to sign with it difficult and unfair Warsaw treaties. The article
is devoted to the common struggle of the Polish Army and the Army of Ukrainian People’s Republic
against Soviet Russia. However, it did not bring the independence, having ended with signing of the
Peace of Riga, which divided Ukrainian lands between Warsaw and Moscow.
(UPR), with the support of the Polish authorities, launched an intensive activity aimed
at the armed liberation of Ukraine. Within such context the training of officers for the
future Army of UPR had a key importance. With this purpose the Ukrainian young men
from the UPR exile political circles were sent to the Polish Officers Schools. Based on
previously unknown documents of Polish intelligence service and War Ministry of UPR
exile government, which are now stored in the Central Military Archive of the Republic
of Poland, the article reveals the features of search and selection of candidates, mechanism
of their admission to the Polish officers Schools. Also the exact number and the
names of Ukrainian cadets are given.