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The last prisoners – soldiers of Ukrainian Halych Army in Polish internment (April 1920 – October 1922)

Monday, January 27, 2020 — 3:00PM - 5:00PM 1 Devonshire Place, Toronto, ON, M5S 3K7

By the end of April 1920, three brigades of the Red Ukrainian Halych Army were staying on the frontline in the central Ukraine. This were the remains of Ukrainian forces, which after being thrown out from Eastern Galicia in July 1919, merged with the Army of Ukraine People’s Republic and together launched Kyiv offensive during the summer of 1919. However, because of typhus epidemy, the result of which was loss of combat capabilities, Galicians were forced to join the Denikin’s Volunteer Army in November 1919 and eventually crossed over to the side of Bolsheviks. After the riot against Soviets in the end of April, two brigades once again tried crossed over the sides in hope to re-merge with Petlura’s units, whereas third brigade stayed with Soviets until it was crushed near Korosten. Yet Polish military authorities with acceptance from Military Ministry of Ukrainian People’s Republic decided to disarm Galician units, put them into temporary camps in the Ukraine, then moved to Galicia, and eventually divided into two parts: vast majority of privates and N.C.Os were released to homes, whereas the smaller part, consisted mostly of officers, were transported to the camp of Tuchola for further internment. They have been staying in the Polish captivity for a few months, usually 8 – 9, though some of them were there for over one year, and the very last of Ukrainians were released only after over two years, in October 1922.


Speakers

Wiktor Weglewicz
Jagiellonian University in Cracow/ Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute

Contact

Olga Kesarchuk
416-946-8938

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