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Revision as of 16:01, 20 July 2013 view source77.99.31.74 (talk) Ethnic cleansing of Poles in Volhynia and Galicia← Previous edit Revision as of 16:12, 20 July 2013 view source 77.99.31.74 (talk) Previous text contained a historical lies because of a nationalistics reasons.Tags: nowiki added Visual editNext edit →
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By the end of summer 1944, mass acts of terror aimed at Poles were taking place in Eastern Galicia to force them to resettle on the western bank of the ]. A popular slogan during the period was "Poles beyond the San".<ref name=motykaupa>], Ukraińska Partyzantka 1942-1960, Warszawa 2006, p. 303-381</ref> Ukrainian peasants sometimes joined the UPA in the violence,<ref name=autogenerated10>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, </ref> and large bands of armed marauders, unaffiliated with the UPA, brutalized civilians.<ref></ref> In other cases however, Ukrainian civilians took significant steps to protect their Polish neighbors, either hiding them during UPA raids or vouching that the Poles were actually Ukrainians. By the end of summer 1944, mass acts of terror aimed at Poles were taking place in Eastern Galicia to force them to resettle on the western bank of the ]. A popular slogan during the period was "Poles beyond the San".<ref name=motykaupa>], Ukraińska Partyzantka 1942-1960, Warszawa 2006, p. 303-381</ref> Ukrainian peasants sometimes joined the UPA in the violence,<ref name=autogenerated10>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, </ref> and large bands of armed marauders, unaffiliated with the UPA, brutalized civilians.<ref></ref> In other cases however, Ukrainian civilians took significant steps to protect their Polish neighbors, either hiding them during UPA raids or vouching that the Poles were actually Ukrainians.


The total number of Poles murdered specifically by UPA is unknown. Estimates of the Polish deaths in Volhynia are over 300,000. The number of UPA victims in Volhynia, Galicia and current Poland combined ranges from 300,000 to 350,000 <ref>] wiosną i latem 1944 r.<ref>] ''Przemiany narodowościowe i ludnościowe...'' s. 254-255. Analogiczny szacunek: ] ''Partyzantka ukraińska...''s. 391</ref> The total number of Poles murdered specifically by UPA is unknown. Estimates of the Polish deaths in Volhynia are over 300,000. The number of UPA victims in Volhynia, Galicia and current Poland combined ranges from 300,000 to 350,000 <ref><nowiki>]</nowiki> wiosną i latem 1944 r.<nowiki><ref>] ''Przemiany narodowościowe i ludnościowe...'' s. 254-255. Analogiczny szacunek: ] ''Partyzantka ukraińska...''s. 391</ref></nowiki>


===Post-war=== ===Post-war===
After Galicia had been taken over by the Red Army, many units of UPA abandoned the anti-Polish course of action and some even began cooperating with local ] against the Soviets and the NKVD. Many Ukrainians, who had nothing to do with earlier massacres against the Poles, seeking to defend themselves against communists, joined UPA after the war on both the Soviet and Polish sides of the border.<ref> ]. New York Review of Books. February 24, 2010.</ref> After Galicia had been taken over by the Red Army, many units of UPA abandoned the anti-Polish course of action and some even began cooperating with local ] against the Soviets and the NKVD. Many Ukrainians, who had nothing to do with earlier massacres against the Poles, seeking to defend themselves against communists, joined UPA after the war on both the Soviet and Polish sides of the border.<nowiki><ref> ]. New York Review of Books. February 24, 2010.</ref>
Local agreements between the UPA and the Polish post-AK units began to appear as early as April/May 1945 and in some places lasted until 1947, for example in the ] region. One of the most notable joint actions of UPA and the post-AK ] (WiN) organization took place in May 1946, when the two partisan formations coordinated their attack and took over of the city of ].<ref name=Mot1>Grzegorz Motyka, "W Kreguy ''Lun w Bieszczadach'', Rytm, Warsaw, 2009, pg. 12-14, 43</ref> Local agreements between the UPA and the Polish post-AK units began to appear as early as April/May 1945 and in some places lasted until 1947, for example in the </nowiki>] region. One of the most notable joint actions of UPA and the post-AK ] (WiN) organization took place in May 1946, when the two partisan formations coordinated their attack and took over of the city of ].<nowiki><ref name=Mot1>Grzegorz Motyka, "W Kreguy ''Lun w Bieszczadach'', Rytm, Warsaw, 2009, pg. 12-14, 43</ref>
The cooperation between UPA and the post-AK underground came about partly as a response to increasing communist terror and the deportations of Ukrainians to the Soviet Union, and Poles into the new </nowiki>]. According to official statistics, between 1944 and 1956 around 789,000 Ukrainians and 488,000 Poles were deported by the Soviets.<nowiki><ref name=Mot1/>

On the territories of present day Poland, 8-12 thousand Ukrainians were killed and 6-8 thousand Poles, between 1943 and 1947. However, unlike in Volhynia, most of the casualties occurred after 1944 and involved UPA soldiers and Ukrainian civilians on one side, and members of the </nowiki>] (UB) and border forces (WOP).<nowiki><ref name=Mot1/></nowiki> Out of the 2200 Poles who died in the fighting between 1945 and 1948, only a few hundred were civilians, with the remainder being functionaries or soldiers of the Communist regime in Poland.<nowiki><ref name=Mot1/></nowiki>
The cooperation between UPA and the post-AK underground came about partly as a response to increasing communist terror and the deportations of Ukrainians to the Soviet Union, and Poles into the new ]. According to official statistics, between 1944 and 1956 around 789,000 Ukrainians and 488,000 Poles were deported by the Soviets.<ref name=Mot1/>

On the territories of present day Poland, 8-12 thousand Ukrainians were killed and 6-8 thousand Poles, between 1943 and 1947. However, unlike in Volhynia, most of the casualties occurred after 1944 and involved UPA soldiers and Ukrainian civilians on one side, and members of the ] (UB) and border forces (WOP).<ref name=Mot1/> Out of the 2200 Poles who died in the fighting between 1945 and 1948, only a few hundred were civilians, with the remainder being functionaries or soldiers of the Communist regime in Poland.<ref name=Mot1/>


==Soviet Union== ==Soviet Union==
===German occupation=== ===German occupation===
The total number of local ] acting in Western Ukraine was never high, due to the region enduring only two years of Soviet rule (in some places even less).<ref></ref> Only towards the end of the war, in 1944, did the numbers and activity of Soviet Partisans in Ukraine increase. The UPA first encountered them in late 1942. The total number of local ] acting in Western Ukraine was never high, due to the region enduring only two years of Soviet rule (in some places even less).<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki> Only towards the end of the war, in 1944, did the numbers and activity of Soviet Partisans in Ukraine increase. The UPA first encountered them in late 1942.
In 1943, the Soviet partisan leader ] was sent to the ], with help from ]. He described his mission to the western Ukraine in his book ''Vid Putivlia do Karpat'' (From ] to the ]). Well armed by supplies delivered to secret airfields, he formed a group consisting of several thousand men<nowiki><ref name="Subtelny476">Subtelny, p. 476</ref></nowiki> which moved deep into the ]. Attacks by the German air force and military forced Kovpak to break up his force into smaller units in 1944; these groups were attacked by UPA units on their way back. Soviet ] agent ] was captured and executed by UPA members, after unwittingly entering their camp while wearing a Wehrmacht officer uniform.<nowiki><ref>Ihor Sundiukov, "The Other Side of the Legend: Nikolai Kuznetsov Revisited", 24 January 2006. on 18 December 2007.</ref></nowiki>

In 1943, the Soviet partisan leader ] was sent to the ], with help from ]. He described his mission to the western Ukraine in his book ''Vid Putivlia do Karpat'' (From ] to the ]). Well armed by supplies delivered to secret airfields, he formed a group consisting of several thousand men<ref name="Subtelny476">Subtelny, p. 476</ref> which moved deep into the ]. Attacks by the German air force and military forced Kovpak to break up his force into smaller units in 1944; these groups were attacked by UPA units on their way back. Soviet ] agent ] was captured and executed by UPA members, after unwittingly entering their camp while wearing a Wehrmacht officer uniform.<ref>Ihor Sundiukov, "The Other Side of the Legend: Nikolai Kuznetsov Revisited", 24 January 2006. on 18 December 2007.</ref>


===Fighting=== ===Fighting===
As the Red Army approached Galicia, the UPA avoided clashes with the regular units of the Soviet military fearing their offensive action would annihilate them.<ref name="Perekrest"></ref> Instead, the UPA focused its energy on NKVD units and Soviet officials of all levels, from NKVD and military officers to the school teachers and postal workers attempting to establish Soviet administration.<ref name="Krohmaliuk">{{Cite book| author=Krokhmaluk, Y. | title=UPA Warfare in Ukraine| location= New York | publisher= Vantage Press | year = 1972| page = (page 242)}}</ref> Soviet archival data shows that UPA attacks were focused on small units and groups of Soviet soldiers, often ending with killing of the captured and wounded. The UPA opposed the mobilization of able-bodied men into the Soviet Army through the extermination of whole families of those who joined.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} The UPA also disrupted Soviet efforts at ]. As the Red Army approached Galicia, the UPA avoided clashes with the regular units of the Soviet military fearing their offensive action would annihilate them.<nowiki><ref name="Perekrest"></ref></nowiki> Instead, the UPA focused its energy on NKVD units and Soviet officials of all levels, from NKVD and military officers to the school teachers and postal workers attempting to establish Soviet administration.<nowiki><ref name="Krohmaliuk">{{Cite book| author=Krokhmaluk, Y. | title=UPA Warfare in Ukraine| location= New York | publisher= Vantage Press | year = 1972| page = (page 242)}}</ref></nowiki> Soviet archival data shows that UPA attacks were focused on small units and groups of Soviet soldiers, often ending with killing of the captured and wounded. The UPA opposed the mobilization of able-bodied men into the Soviet Army through the extermination of whole families of those who joined.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} The UPA also disrupted Soviet efforts at ].
In March 1944, UPA insurgents mortally wounded front commander Army General ], who led the liberation of ].<nowiki><ref name="Grenkevich,">{{Cite book| author=Grenkevich, L., translated by David Glantz. | title=The Soviet Partisan Movement, 1941-1944: Critical analysis of | publisher= Routledge | year = 1999 | page = 134}}</ref></nowiki> Several weeks later an NKVD battalion was annihilated by the UPA near ]. This began a full-scale operation in the spring of 1944, initially involving 30,000 Soviet troops against the UPA in Volyn. Estimates of casualties vary depending on the source. A letter to the state defense committee of the USSR, ]<nowiki> stated that in spring 1944 clashes between Soviet forces and UPA resulted in 2,018 killed and 1,570 captured UPA fighters and only 11 Soviet killed and 46 wounded. Soviet archives show that a captured UPA member stated that he received a reports about UPA losses of 200 fighters while the Soviet forces lost 2,000.<ref name="UPA15_p213">Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, , p. 213-214</ref> The first significant sabotage operations against communications of the Soviet Army before their offensive against the Germans was conducted by the UPA in April–May 1944. Such actions were promptly stopped by the Soviet Army and NKVD troops, after which the OUN/UPA submitted an order to temporarily cease anti-Soviet activities and prepare for further struggle against the Soviets.<ref name=autogenerated2>Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 pp.549-570</ref>

Despite heavy casualties on both sides during the initial clashes, the struggle was inconclusive. New large scale actions of the UPA, especially in </nowiki>]<nowiki>, were launched in July–August 1944, when the Red Army advanced West.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> By the autumn of 1944, UPA forces enjoyed virtual freedom of movement over an area of 160,000 square kilometers in size and home to over 10 million people and had established a shadow government.<ref name="Zhukov"></ref>
In March 1944, UPA insurgents mortally wounded front commander Army General ], who led the liberation of ].<ref name="Grenkevich,">{{Cite book| author=Grenkevich, L., translated by David Glantz. | title=The Soviet Partisan Movement, 1941-1944: Critical analysis of | publisher= Routledge | year = 1999 | page = 134}}</ref> Several weeks later an NKVD battalion was annihilated by the UPA near ]. This began a full-scale operation in the spring of 1944, initially involving 30,000 Soviet troops against the UPA in Volyn. Estimates of casualties vary depending on the source. A letter to the state defense committee of the USSR, ] stated that in spring 1944 clashes between Soviet forces and UPA resulted in 2,018 killed and 1,570 captured UPA fighters and only 11 Soviet killed and 46 wounded. Soviet archives show that a captured UPA member stated that he received a reports about UPA losses of 200 fighters while the Soviet forces lost 2,000.<ref name="UPA15_p213">Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, , p. 213-214</ref> The first significant sabotage operations against communications of the Soviet Army before their offensive against the Germans was conducted by the UPA in April–May 1944. Such actions were promptly stopped by the Soviet Army and NKVD troops, after which the OUN/UPA submitted an order to temporarily cease anti-Soviet activities and prepare for further struggle against the Soviets.<ref name=autogenerated2>Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 pp.549-570</ref>

Despite heavy casualties on both sides during the initial clashes, the struggle was inconclusive. New large scale actions of the UPA, especially in ], were launched in July–August 1944, when the Red Army advanced West.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> By the autumn of 1944, UPA forces enjoyed virtual freedom of movement over an area of 160,000 square kilometers in size and home to over 10 million people and had established a shadow government.<ref name="Zhukov"></ref>

In November 1944, Khrushchev launched the first of several large-scale Soviet assaults on the UPA throughout Western Ukraine, involving according to OUN/UPA estimates at least 20 NKVD combat divisions supported by artillery and armored units. They blockaded villages and roads and set forests on fire.<ref name="Krohmaliuk" /> Soviet archival data states that on October 9, 1944 1 NKVD Division, eight NKVD brigades, and an NKVD cavalry regiment with the total number of 26,304 NKVD soldiers stationed in Western Ukraine. In addition, 2 regiments with 1,500 and 1,200 persons, 1 battalion (517 persons) and three armored trains with 100 additional soldiers each, as well as 1 border guards regiment and 1 unit were starting to relocate there in order to reinforce them.<ref>According to Soviet archives, the NKVD units located in Western Ukraine were: the 9th Rifle division; 16, 20, 21, 25, 17, 18, 19, 23rd brigades; 1 cavalry regiment. Sent to reinforce them: 256, 192nd regiments; 1 battalion three armored trains (45, 26, 42). The 42nd border guard regiment and another unit (27th) were sent to reinforce them. From Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P.478-482</ref> In November 1944, Khrushchev launched the first of several large-scale Soviet assaults on the UPA throughout Western Ukraine, involving according to OUN/UPA estimates at least 20 NKVD combat divisions supported by artillery and armored units. They blockaded villages and roads and set forests on fire.<ref name="Krohmaliuk" /> Soviet archival data states that on October 9, 1944 1 NKVD Division, eight NKVD brigades, and an NKVD cavalry regiment with the total number of 26,304 NKVD soldiers stationed in Western Ukraine. In addition, 2 regiments with 1,500 and 1,200 persons, 1 battalion (517 persons) and three armored trains with 100 additional soldiers each, as well as 1 border guards regiment and 1 unit were starting to relocate there in order to reinforce them.<ref>According to Soviet archives, the NKVD units located in Western Ukraine were: the 9th Rifle division; 16, 20, 21, 25, 17, 18, 19, 23rd brigades; 1 cavalry regiment. Sent to reinforce them: 256, 192nd regiments; 1 battalion three armored trains (45, 26, 42). The 42nd border guard regiment and another unit (27th) were sent to reinforce them. From Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P.478-482</ref>
During late 1944 and the first half of 1945, according to Soviet data, the UPA suffered approximately 89,000 killed, approximately 91,000 captured, and approximately 39,000 surrendered while the Soviet forces lost approximately 12,000 killed, approximately 6,000 wounded and 2,600 MIA. In addition, during this time, according to Soviet data UPA actions resulted in the killing of 3,919 civilians and the disappearance of 427 others.<ref>Exact statistics of UPA casualties by the Soviets and Soviet casualties by UPA, in specific time periods, according to data compiled by the NKVD of the Ukrainian SRR: during February - December 1944 the UPA suffered the following casualties: 57,405 killed; 50,387 captured; 15,990 surrendered. During the period from January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 the following casualties were reported: 31,157 killed; 40,760 captured; 23,156 surrendered. The UPA's actions numbered 2,903 in 1944, and from January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 - 1,289. During February until December 1944 Soviet losses were: 9,521 "killed and hanged"; 3,494 wounded; 2,131 MIA; amongst them NKVD-NKGB suffered 401 killed and hanged, 227 wounded, 98 MIA and captured. From January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 the NKVD and Soviet Army troops suffered 2,513 killed, 2,489 wounded, 524 MIA and captured. Soviet Authorities personnel suffered 1,225 killed or hanged, 239 wounded, 427 MIA or captured. In addition, 3,919 civilians were killed or hanged, 320 wounded, and 814 MIA or captured. From Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 pp.604-605</ref> Despite the heavy losses, as late as summer 1945, many </nowiki>]<nowiki> UPA units still continued to control and administer large areas of territory in Western Ukraine.<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', pp. 489, University of Toronto Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref> In February 1945 the UPA issued an order to liquidate kurins (battalions) and sotnya’s (companies) and to act predominantly by choty’s (</nowiki>]s).<nowiki><ref>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army </ref></nowiki>

During late 1944 and the first half of 1945, according to Soviet data, the UPA suffered approximately 89,000 killed, approximately 91,000 captured, and approximately 39,000 surrendered while the Soviet forces lost approximately 12,000 killed, approximately 6,000 wounded and 2,600 MIA. In addition, during this time, according to Soviet data UPA actions resulted in the killing of 3,919 civilians and the disappearance of 427 others.<ref>Exact statistics of UPA casualties by the Soviets and Soviet casualties by UPA, in specific time periods, according to data compiled by the NKVD of the Ukrainian SRR: during February - December 1944 the UPA suffered the following casualties: 57,405 killed; 50,387 captured; 15,990 surrendered. During the period from January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 the following casualties were reported: 31,157 killed; 40,760 captured; 23,156 surrendered. The UPA's actions numbered 2,903 in 1944, and from January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 - 1,289. During February until December 1944 Soviet losses were: 9,521 "killed and hanged"; 3,494 wounded; 2,131 MIA; amongst them NKVD-NKGB suffered 401 killed and hanged, 227 wounded, 98 MIA and captured. From January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 the NKVD and Soviet Army troops suffered 2,513 killed, 2,489 wounded, 524 MIA and captured. Soviet Authorities personnel suffered 1,225 killed or hanged, 239 wounded, 427 MIA or captured. In addition, 3,919 civilians were killed or hanged, 320 wounded, and 814 MIA or captured. From Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 pp.604-605</ref> Despite the heavy losses, as late as summer 1945, many ] UPA units still continued to control and administer large areas of territory in Western Ukraine.<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', pp. 489, University of Toronto Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref> In February 1945 the UPA issued an order to liquidate kurins (battalions) and sotnya’s (companies) and to act predominantly by choty’s (]s).<ref>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army </ref>


===Spring 1945–late 1946=== ===Spring 1945–late 1946===
{{Details|Sluzhba Bezbeky}} {{Details|Sluzhba Bezbeky}}
After Germany surrendered in May 1945, the Soviet authorities turned their attention to insurgencies taking place in Ukraine and the Baltics. Combat units were re-organised and special forces were sent in. One of the major complications that arose was the local support the UPA had from the population. <nowiki>After Germany surrendered in May 1945, the Soviet authorities turned their attention to insurgencies taking place in Ukraine and the Baltics. Combat units were re-organised and special forces were sent in. One of the major complications that arose was the local support the UPA had from the population.

Areas of UPA activity were depopulated. The estimates on numbers deported vary; officially Soviet archives state that between 1944 and 1952 a total of 182,543 people<ref>{{uk icon}}</ref><ref>Theses include deported (1944-47): families of OUN/UPA members–– 15,040 families (37,145) persons; OUN/UPA underground families – 26,332 (77,791 persons) taken from: Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P.545-546</ref> were deported while other sources indicate the number may have been as high as to 500,000.<ref name="Subtelny489">Subtelny, p. 489</ref> Areas of UPA activity were depopulated. The estimates on numbers deported vary; officially Soviet archives state that between 1944 and 1952 a total of 182,543 people<ref>{{uk icon}}</ref><ref>Theses include deported (1944-47): families of OUN/UPA members–– 15,040 families (37,145) persons; OUN/UPA underground families – 26,332 (77,791 persons) taken from: Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P.545-546</ref> were deported while other sources indicate the number may have been as high as to 500,000.<ref name="Subtelny489">Subtelny, p. 489</ref>

Mass arrests of suspected UPA informants or family members were conducted; between February 1944 and May 1946 over 250,000 people were arrested in Western Ukraine.<ref name=Burds97>Burds, p.97</ref> Those arrested typically experienced beatings or other violence. Those suspected of being UPA members underwent torture; (reports exist of some prisoners being burned alive). The many arrested women believed to be affiliating with the UPA were subjected to torture, deprivation, and rape at the hands of Soviet security in order to "break" them and get them to reveal UPA members' identities and locations or to turn them into Soviet double-agents.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> Mutilated corpses of captured rebels were put on public display.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11</ref> Ultimately, between 1944 and 1952 as many as 600,000 people may have been arrested in Western Ukraine, with about one third executed and the rest imprisoned or exiled.<ref>]. (2004). ]. ISBN 0-393-05144-7 ] pg. 195</ref> Mass arrests of suspected UPA informants or family members were conducted; between February 1944 and May 1946 over 250,000 people were arrested in Western Ukraine.<ref name=Burds97>Burds, p.97</ref> Those arrested typically experienced beatings or other violence. Those suspected of being UPA members underwent torture; (reports exist of some prisoners being burned alive). The many arrested women believed to be affiliating with the UPA were subjected to torture, deprivation, and rape at the hands of Soviet security in order to "break" them and get them to reveal UPA members' identities and locations or to turn them into Soviet double-agents.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> Mutilated corpses of captured rebels were put on public display.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11</ref> Ultimately, between 1944 and 1952 as many as 600,000 people may have been arrested in Western Ukraine, with about one third executed and the rest imprisoned or exiled.<ref>]. (2004). ]. ISBN 0-393-05144-7 ] pg. 195</ref>
The UPA responded to the Soviet methods by unleashing their own terror against Soviet activists, suspected collaborators and their families. This work was particularly attributed to the </nowiki>] (SB), the anti-espionage wing of the UPA. In a typical incident in Lviv region, in front of horrified villagers, UPA troops gouged out the eyes of two entire families suspected of reporting on insurgent movements to Soviet authorities, before hacking their bodies to pieces. Due to public outrage concerning these violent punitive acts, the UPA stopped the practice of killing the families of collaborators by mid 1945. Other victims of the UPA included Soviet activists sent to Galicia from other parts of the Soviet Union; heads of village Soviets, those sheltering or feeding Red Army personnel, and even people turning food in to collective farms. The effect of such terrorist acts was such that people refused to take posts as village heads, and until the late 1940s villages chose single men with no dependants as their leaders.<nowiki><ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pp. 106 - 110</ref>

The UPA also proved to be especially adept at assassinating key Soviet administrative officials. According to </nowiki>] data, between February 1944 and December 1946 11,725 Soviet officers, agents and collaborators were assassinated and 2,401 were "missing", presumed kidnapped, in Western Ukraine.<nowiki><ref name=autogenerated4>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pp. 113-114</ref></nowiki> In one ] in ] alone, from August 1944 until January 1945 Ukrainian rebels killed ten members of the Soviet activ and a secretary of the county Communist party, and also kidnapped four other officials. The UPA travelled at will throughout the area. In this county, there were no courts, no prosecutor's office, and the local NKVD only had three staff members.<nowiki><ref name=autogenerated4 />
The UPA responded to the Soviet methods by unleashing their own terror against Soviet activists, suspected collaborators and their families. This work was particularly attributed to the ] (SB), the anti-espionage wing of the UPA. In a typical incident in Lviv region, in front of horrified villagers, UPA troops gouged out the eyes of two entire families suspected of reporting on insurgent movements to Soviet authorities, before hacking their bodies to pieces. Due to public outrage concerning these violent punitive acts, the UPA stopped the practice of killing the families of collaborators by mid 1945. Other victims of the UPA included Soviet activists sent to Galicia from other parts of the Soviet Union; heads of village Soviets, those sheltering or feeding Red Army personnel, and even people turning food in to collective farms. The effect of such terrorist acts was such that people refused to take posts as village heads, and until the late 1940s villages chose single men with no dependants as their leaders.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pp. 106 - 110</ref>
According to a 1946 report by Khrushchenv's deputy for West Ukrainian affairs A.A. Stoiantsev, out of 42,175 operations and ambushes against the UPA by Destructive Battalions in Western Ukraine, only 10 percent had positive results - in the vast majority there was either no contact or the individual unit was disarmed and pro-Soviet leaders murdered or kidnapped.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pg. 123</ref></nowiki> Morale amongst the NKVD in Western Ukraine was particularly low. Even within the dangerous context of Soviet state service in the late-Stalin era, West Ukraine was considered to be a "hardship post", and personnel files reveal higher rates of transfer requests, alcoholism, and nervous breakdowns and refusal to serve among NKVD field agents there at that time.<nowiki><ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pg. 120</ref>

The first success of the Soviet authorities came in early 1946 in the Carpathians, which were blockaded from January 11 until April 10. The UPA operating there ceased to exist as a combat unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/22.pdf|title=Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|publisher=Institute of Ukrainian History, ]|accessdate=26 May 2013|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060529064950/http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/22.pdf|archivedate=2006-05-29}}{{uk icon}}</ref></nowiki> The continuous heavy casualties elsewhere forced the UPA to split into small units consisting of 100 soldiers. Many of the troops demobilized and returned home, when the Soviet Union offered three amnesties during 1947-1948.<nowiki><ref name="Perekrest" />
The UPA also proved to be especially adept at assassinating key Soviet administrative officials. According to ] data, between February 1944 and December 1946 11,725 Soviet officers, agents and collaborators were assassinated and 2,401 were "missing", presumed kidnapped, in Western Ukraine.<ref name=autogenerated4>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pp. 113-114</ref> In one ] in ] alone, from August 1944 until January 1945 Ukrainian rebels killed ten members of the Soviet activ and a secretary of the county Communist party, and also kidnapped four other officials. The UPA travelled at will throughout the area. In this county, there were no courts, no prosecutor's office, and the local NKVD only had three staff members.<ref name=autogenerated4 />
By 1946, the UPA was reduced to a core group of 5-10 thousand fighters, and large-scale UPA activity shifted to the Soviet-Polish border. Here, in 1947, they allegedly killed the Polish Communist deputy defense minister General </nowiki>]. In spring 1946, the OUN/UPA established contacts with the Intelligence services of France, Great Britain and the USA.<nowiki><ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/23.pdf|title=Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|publisher=Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine|accessdate=26 May 2013|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080411143934/http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/23.pdf|archivedate=2008-04-11}}{{uk icon}}</ref></nowiki> Although the UPA obtained some help from the CIA and British intelligence during the latter phase of its struggle, the operation was betrayed by ]. After the huge winter 1945/46 operation by the NKVD, the UPA/OUN fielded 479 units and had 3,735 fighters, according to an NKVD estimate from April 1, 1946. By January 1, 1947 the Soviets estimated the OUN and UPA as having 530 fighting units with 4,456 fighters.

According to a 1946 report by Khrushchenv's deputy for West Ukrainian affairs A.A. Stoiantsev, out of 42,175 operations and ambushes against the UPA by Destructive Battalions in Western Ukraine, only 10 percent had positive results - in the vast majority there was either no contact or the individual unit was disarmed and pro-Soviet leaders murdered or kidnapped.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pg. 123</ref> Morale amongst the NKVD in Western Ukraine was particularly low. Even within the dangerous context of Soviet state service in the late-Stalin era, West Ukraine was considered to be a "hardship post", and personnel files reveal higher rates of transfer requests, alcoholism, and nervous breakdowns and refusal to serve among NKVD field agents there at that time.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pg. 120</ref>

The first success of the Soviet authorities came in early 1946 in the Carpathians, which were blockaded from January 11 until April 10. The UPA operating there ceased to exist as a combat unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/22.pdf|title=Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|publisher=Institute of Ukrainian History, ]|accessdate=26 May 2013|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060529064950/http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/22.pdf|archivedate=2006-05-29}}{{uk icon}}</ref> The continuous heavy casualties elsewhere forced the UPA to split into small units consisting of 100 soldiers. Many of the troops demobilized and returned home, when the Soviet Union offered three amnesties during 1947-1948.<ref name="Perekrest" />

By 1946, the UPA was reduced to a core group of 5-10 thousand fighters, and large-scale UPA activity shifted to the Soviet-Polish border. Here, in 1947, they allegedly killed the Polish Communist deputy defense minister General ]. In spring 1946, the OUN/UPA established contacts with the Intelligence services of France, Great Britain and the USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/23.pdf|title=Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|publisher=Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine|accessdate=26 May 2013|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080411143934/http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/23.pdf|archivedate=2008-04-11}}{{uk icon}}</ref> Although the UPA obtained some help from the CIA and British intelligence during the latter phase of its struggle, the operation was betrayed by ]. After the huge winter 1945/46 operation by the NKVD, the UPA/OUN fielded 479 units and had 3,735 fighters, according to an NKVD estimate from April 1, 1946. By January 1, 1947 the Soviets estimated the OUN and UPA as having 530 fighting units with 4,456 fighters.


===End of UPA resistance=== ===End of UPA resistance===
The turning point in the struggle against the UPA came in 1947, when the Soviets established an intelligence gathering network within the UPA and shifted the focus of their actions from mass terror to infiltration and espionage. After 1947 the UPA's activity began to subside. On May 30, 1947 Shukhevych issued instructions joining the OUN and UPA in underground warfare . In 1947-1948 UPA resistance was weakened enough to allow the Soviets to begin implementation of large-scale ] throughout Western Ukraine.<ref name="Zhukov">{{Cite journal| first = Yuri | last = Zhukov | authorlink = Y. Zhukov | year = 2007| month = | title = Examining the Authoritarian Model of Counterinsurgency: The Soviet Campaign Against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army | journal = Small Wars and Insurgencies | volume = 18 | issue = 3 | pages = 439–466 | id = | url= http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a785924288~db=all~order=page | doi = 10.1080/09592310701674416 }}</ref> The turning point in the struggle against the UPA came in 1947, when the Soviets established an intelligence gathering network within the UPA and shifted the focus of their actions from mass terror to infiltration and espionage. After 1947 the UPA's activity began to subside. On May 30, 1947 Shukhevych issued instructions joining the OUN and UPA in underground warfare . In 1947-1948 UPA resistance was weakened enough to allow the Soviets to begin implementation of large-scale ] throughout Western Ukraine.<nowiki><ref name="Zhukov">{{Cite journal| first = Yuri | last = Zhukov | authorlink = Y. Zhukov | year = 2007| month = | title = Examining the Authoritarian Model of Counterinsurgency: The Soviet Campaign Against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army | journal = Small Wars and Insurgencies | volume = 18 | issue = 3 | pages = 439–466 | id = | url= http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a785924288~db=all~order=page | doi = 10.1080/09592310701674416 }}</ref>

In 1948, the Soviet central authorities purged local officials who had mistreated peasants and engaged in "vicious methods". At the same time, Soviet agents planted within the UPA had taken their toll on morale and on the UPA's effectiveness. According to the writing of one slain Ukrainian rebel, "the Bolsheviks tried to take us from within...you can never know exactly in whose hands you will find yourself. From such a network of spies, the work of whole teams is often penetrated...". In November 1948, the work of Soviet agents led to two important victories against the UPA: the defeat and deaths of the heads of the most active UPA network in Western Ukraine, and the removal of "Myron", the head of the UPA's counterintelligence SB unit.<ref></ref> In 1948, the Soviet central authorities purged local officials who had mistreated peasants and engaged in "vicious methods". At the same time, Soviet agents planted within the UPA had taken their toll on morale and on the UPA's effectiveness. According to the writing of one slain Ukrainian rebel, "the Bolsheviks tried to take us from within...you can never know exactly in whose hands you will find yourself. From such a network of spies, the work of whole teams is often penetrated...". In November 1948, the work of Soviet agents led to two important victories against the UPA: the defeat and deaths of the heads of the most active UPA network in Western Ukraine, and the removal of "Myron", the head of the UPA's counterintelligence SB unit.<ref></ref>
The Soviet authorities tried to win over the local population by making significant economic investment in Western Ukraine</nowiki>{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}, and by setting up rapid reaction groups in many regions to combat the UPA. According to one retired ] major, "By 1948 ideologically we had the support of most of the population."<nowiki><ref name="Perekrest" /></nowiki> The Soviets skillfully exploited Polish-Ukrainian ethnic friction by recruiting Poles as informants. This contributed to the growing isolation of the UPA which was further helped by the Polish government implementing ] in 1947. On September 3, 1949 Shukhevych issued an order, dissolving UPA units and headquarters and integrating UPA's personnel into the OUN (B) underground.

The UPA's leader, ], was killed during an ambush near ] on March 5, 1950. Although sporadic UPA activity continued until the mid-1950s, after Shukhevich's death the UPA rapidly lost its fighting capability. An assessment of UPA manpower by Soviet authorities on 17 April 1952 claimed that UPA/OUN had only 84 fighting units consisting of 252 persons. The UPA's last commander, ], was captured on May 24, 1954. Despite the existence of some insurgent groups, according to a report by the ] of the Ukrainian SSR, the "liquidation of armed units and OUN underground was accomplished by the beginning of 1956".<nowiki><ref></ref>
The Soviet authorities tried to win over the local population by making significant economic investment in Western Ukraine{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}, and by setting up rapid reaction groups in many regions to combat the UPA. According to one retired ] major, "By 1948 ideologically we had the support of most of the population."<ref name="Perekrest" /> The Soviets skillfully exploited Polish-Ukrainian ethnic friction by recruiting Poles as informants. This contributed to the growing isolation of the UPA which was further helped by the Polish government implementing ] in 1947. On September 3, 1949 Shukhevych issued an order, dissolving UPA units and headquarters and integrating UPA's personnel into the OUN (B) underground.
Controversially, it has been suggested that there were </nowiki>]<nowiki><ref name="Wilson">{{Cite book| author=Wilson, A. | title=Virtual Politics: Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World| location= New Haven | publisher= ] | year = 2005 | page = 15}}</ref></nowiki> which committed atrocities in order to demoralize the ]<nowiki> population.<ref>]]</ref> among these NKVD units were those composed of former UPA fighters working for the NKVD.<ref>Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kyiv Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P 460-464, 470-477</ref> The </nowiki>] (SBU) recently published information about 150 such special groups consisting of 1,800 people operated until 1954.<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki>] was ex-UPA turned MVD fighter who would then climb the ladder of MGB (and later KGB) hierarchy to become a foreign agent who assassinated the OUN chief ] in 1957 and later ] in 1959.

Prominent people killed by UPA insurgents during the anti-Soviet struggle included Metropolitan Oleksiy (Hromadsky) of the ], killed while travelling in a German convoy,<nowiki><ref name="Armstrong">John Armstrong (1963). ''Ukrainian Nationalism''. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 205-206</ref></nowiki> and pro-Soviet writer ].<nowiki><ref name="Perekrest" />
The UPA's leader, ], was killed during an ambush near ] on March 5, 1950. Although sporadic UPA activity continued until the mid-1950s, after Shukhevich's death the UPA rapidly lost its fighting capability. An assessment of UPA manpower by Soviet authorities on 17 April 1952 claimed that UPA/OUN had only 84 fighting units consisting of 252 persons. The UPA's last commander, ], was captured on May 24, 1954. Despite the existence of some insurgent groups, according to a report by the ] of the Ukrainian SSR, the "liquidation of armed units and OUN underground was accomplished by the beginning of 1956".<ref></ref>
In 1951 CIA covert operations chief </nowiki>] estimated that some 35,000 Soviet police troops and Communist party cadres had been eliminated by guerrillas affiliated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the period after the end of World War II. Official Soviet figures for the losses inflicted by all types of "Ukrainian nationalists" during the period 1944-1953 referred to 30,676 persons; amongst them were 687 NKGB-MGB personnel, 1,864 NKVD-MVD personnel, 3,199 Soviet Army, Border Guards, and NKVD-MVD troops, 241 communist party leaders, 205 ] leaders and 2,590 members of self-defense units. According to Soviet data the remaining losses were among civilians, including 15,355 peasants and kolkhozniks.<nowiki><ref>http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/24.pdf p.439</ref></nowiki> Soviet archives state that between February 1944 and January 1946 the Soviet forces conducted 39,778 operations against the UPA, during which they killed a total of 103,313, captured a total of 8,370 OUN members and captured a total of 15,959 active insurgents.<nowiki><ref>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ''Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army'', Chapter 21, pp. 385-386 </ref></nowiki>

===<!---
Controversially, it has been suggested that there were ]<ref name="Wilson">{{Cite book| author=Wilson, A. | title=Virtual Politics: Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World| location= New Haven | publisher= ] | year = 2005 | page = 15}}</ref> which committed atrocities in order to demoralize the ] population.<ref>]]</ref> among these NKVD units were those composed of former UPA fighters working for the NKVD.<ref>Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kyiv Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P 460-464, 470-477</ref> The ] (SBU) recently published information about 150 such special groups consisting of 1,800 people operated until 1954.<ref></ref>] was ex-UPA turned MVD fighter who would then climb the ladder of MGB (and later KGB) hierarchy to become a foreign agent who assassinated the OUN chief ] in 1957 and later ] in 1959.

Prominent people killed by UPA insurgents during the anti-Soviet struggle included Metropolitan Oleksiy (Hromadsky) of the ], killed while travelling in a German convoy,<ref name="Armstrong">John Armstrong (1963). ''Ukrainian Nationalism''. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 205-206</ref> and pro-Soviet writer ].<ref name="Perekrest" />

In 1951 CIA covert operations chief ] estimated that some 35,000 Soviet police troops and Communist party cadres had been eliminated by guerrillas affiliated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the period after the end of World War II. Official Soviet figures for the losses inflicted by all types of "Ukrainian nationalists" during the period 1944-1953 referred to 30,676 persons; amongst them were 687 NKGB-MGB personnel, 1,864 NKVD-MVD personnel, 3,199 Soviet Army, Border Guards, and NKVD-MVD troops, 241 communist party leaders, 205 ] leaders and 2,590 members of self-defense units. According to Soviet data the remaining losses were among civilians, including 15,355 peasants and kolkhozniks.<ref>http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/24.pdf p.439</ref> Soviet archives state that between February 1944 and January 1946 the Soviet forces conducted 39,778 operations against the UPA, during which they killed a total of 103,313, captured a total of 8,370 OUN members and captured a total of 15,959 active insurgents.<ref>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ''Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army'', Chapter 21, pp. 385-386 </ref>
<!---
==Women in the UPA== ==Women in the UPA==
{{POV|section|date=July 2008}} {{POV|section|date=July 2008}}
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Over 130 periodicals were published, along with 500 brochures, dozens of training manuals, memoirs, poetic collections, thousands of leaflets, appeals and responses.<ref>(Ukrainian) Українська Повстанська Армія - Історія нескорених - Львів, 2007 p.227</ref> Over 130 periodicals were published, along with 500 brochures, dozens of training manuals, memoirs, poetic collections, thousands of leaflets, appeals and responses.<ref>(Ukrainian) Українська Повстанська Армія - Історія нескорених - Львів, 2007 p.227</ref>
--->Soviet infiltration===
--->

===Soviet infiltration===
From the beginning of 1944, the Soviets waged an active campaign against the UPA, launching a large-scale assault against the Ukrainian underground in several directions: propaganda among the population; military operations; repression against members and their families. Soviet anti-insurgent propaganda was concentrated on discrediting and dividing the national liberation movement. Soviet propaganda emphasised their thesis on the treason and crimes of "Ukrainian-German nationalists" and their collaboration with "fascist invaders". From the beginning of 1944, the Soviets waged an active campaign against the UPA, launching a large-scale assault against the Ukrainian underground in several directions: propaganda among the population; military operations; repression against members and their families. Soviet anti-insurgent propaganda was concentrated on discrediting and dividing the national liberation movement. Soviet propaganda emphasised their thesis on the treason and crimes of "Ukrainian-German nationalists" and their collaboration with "fascist invaders".

From 1944 through the 1950s, frontal sections of the Red Army and ] operated against the UPA. Later the function of fighting the UPA fell to the NKVD. From 1944 through the 1950s, frontal sections of the Red Army and ] operated against the UPA. Later the function of fighting the UPA fell to the NKVD.
In 1944-1945 the NKVD carried out 26,693 operations against the Ukrainian underground. These resulted in the deaths of 22,474 Ukrainian soldiers and the capture of 62,142 prisoners. During this time the NKVD formed special groups known as ''spetshrupy'' made up of former Soviet partisans. The goal of these groups was to discredit and disorganize the OUN and UPA. In August 1944 Sydir Kovpak was placed under NKVD authority. Posing as Ukrainian insurgents these special formations used violence against the civilian population of Western Ukraine. In June 1945 there were 156 such special groups with 1783 members.<nowiki><ref name=autogenerated7>(Ukrainian) Українська Повстанська Армія - Історія нескорених - Львів, 2007 p.307-310</ref>

The Soviets used "extermination battalions" (</nowiki>''strybky'') recruiting secret collaborators in each population point. Attempts were made to place agents at all leading levels of the OUN and UPA.
In 1944-1945 the NKVD carried out 26,693 operations against the Ukrainian underground. These resulted in the deaths of 22,474 Ukrainian soldiers and the capture of 62,142 prisoners. During this time the NKVD formed special groups known as ''spetshrupy'' made up of former Soviet partisans. The goal of these groups was to discredit and disorganize the OUN and UPA. In August 1944 Sydir Kovpak was placed under NKVD authority. Posing as Ukrainian insurgents these special formations used violence against the civilian population of Western Ukraine. In June 1945 there were 156 such special groups with 1783 members.<ref name=autogenerated7>(Ukrainian) Українська Повстанська Армія - Історія нескорених - Львів, 2007 p.307-310</ref>
From December 1945 – 1946 15,562 operations were carried out in which 4,200 were killed and more than 9,400 were arrested. From 1944-1953,the Soviets killed 153,000 and arrested 134,000 members of the UPA. 66,000 families (204,000 people) were forcibly deported to Siberia and half a million people were subject to repressions. In the same period Polish communist authorities deported 450,000 people.<nowiki><ref name=autogenerated7 /></nowiki>

The Soviets used "extermination battalions" (''strybky'') recruiting secret collaborators in each population point. Attempts were made to place agents at all leading levels of the OUN and UPA.

From December 1945 – 1946 15,562 operations were carried out in which 4,200 were killed and more than 9,400 were arrested. From 1944-1953,the Soviets killed 153,000 and arrested 134,000 members of the UPA. 66,000 families (204,000 people) were forcibly deported to Siberia and half a million people were subject to repressions. In the same period Polish communist authorities deported 450,000 people.<ref name=autogenerated7 />


==UPA and Jews== ==UPA and Jews==
] ]


There is a lack of consensus among historians about the involvement of the UPA in the massacre of Western Ukraine's Jews. Numerous accounts ascribe to the UPA a role in the fate of the Ukrainian Jews under the German occupation.<ref name=EncHol>''Ukrainian Insurgent Army'' in the '']'', Israel Gutman, editor-in-chief. New York: Macmillan, 1990. 4 volumes. ISBN 0-02-896090-4.</ref><ref name=Piotr>], ''Ukrainian Collaboration'' in ''Poland's Holocaust: Ethnic Strife, Collaboration with Occupying Forces and Genocide in the Second Republic, 1918–1947'' pp. 220–59, McFarland & Company, 1998, ISBN 0-7864-0371-3</ref> Other historians, however, do not support the claims that the UPA was involved in anti-Jewish massacres.<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', University of Toronto Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref><ref></ref> <nowiki>There is a lack of consensus among historians about the involvement of the UPA in the massacre of Western Ukraine's Jews. Numerous accounts ascribe to the UPA a role in the fate of the Ukrainian Jews under the German occupation.<ref name=EncHol>''Ukrainian Insurgent Army'' in the '']'', Israel Gutman, editor-in-chief. New York: Macmillan, 1990. 4 volumes. ISBN 0-02-896090-4.</ref><ref name=Piotr>], ''Ukrainian Collaboration'' in ''Poland's Holocaust: Ethnic Strife, Collaboration with Occupying Forces and Genocide in the Second Republic, 1918–1947'' pp. 220–59, McFarland & Company, 1998, ISBN 0-7864-0371-3</ref> Other historians, however, do not support the claims that the UPA was involved in anti-Jewish massacres.<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', University of Toronto Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref><ref></ref>
Antisemitism did not play a central role in Ukrainian nationalist ideology, notwithstanding the antisemitic rhetoric that was obligatory in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany. German documents of the period give the impression that Ukrainian ultranationalists were indifferent to the plight of the Jews; they would either kill them or help them, whichever was more appropriate for their political goals.<ref name=autogenerated8> by John-Paul Himka, University of Alberta. Taken from ''The Fate of the European Jews, 1939-1945: Continuity or Contingency'', ed. Jonathan Frankel (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), Studies in Contemporary Jewry 13 (1997): 170-89.</ref> According to specialist John Paul Himka, OUN militias were responsible for a wave of pogroms in Lviv and western Ukraine in 1941 that claimed thousands of Jewish lives. The OUN had earlier repudiated pogroms but changed its stand when the Germans, with whom the OUN sought an alliance, demanded participation in them.<ref> By John Paul Himka. Kyiv Post September 23, 2010.</ref> Recently declassified documents have shown that the OUN (</nowiki>]) was most likely not strongly involved in anti-Jewish activities in 1941.<nowiki><ref>http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-234844.html</ref>

The OUN pursued a policy of infiltrating the German police in order to obtain weapons and training for its fighters. In this role they helped the Germans to implement the </nowiki>]. Although most Jews were actually killed by Germans, the OUN police working for them played a crucial supporting role in the liquidation of 200,000 Jews in Volyn in the second half of 1942 <nowiki><ref name="Nations. pg. 162">]. (2004) ''The Reconstruction of Nations.'' New Haven: Yale University Press: pg. 162</ref></nowiki> (although in isolated cases Ukrainian policemen also helped Jews to escape <nowiki><ref>Timothy Snyder. (2008). "The life and death of Volhynian Jewry, 1921-1945." In Brandon, Lowler (Eds.) ''The Shoah in Ukraine: history, testimony, memorialization.'' Indiana: Indiana University Press, pg. 95</ref></nowiki>) Most of these police deserted in the following spring and joined UPA.<nowiki><ref name="Nations. pg. 162"/>
Antisemitism did not play a central role in Ukrainian nationalist ideology, notwithstanding the antisemitic rhetoric that was obligatory in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany. German documents of the period give the impression that Ukrainian ultranationalists were indifferent to the plight of the Jews; they would either kill them or help them, whichever was more appropriate for their political goals.<ref name=autogenerated8> by John-Paul Himka, University of Alberta. Taken from ''The Fate of the European Jews, 1939-1945: Continuity or Contingency'', ed. Jonathan Frankel (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), Studies in Contemporary Jewry 13 (1997): 170-89.</ref> According to specialist John Paul Himka, OUN militias were responsible for a wave of pogroms in Lviv and western Ukraine in 1941 that claimed thousands of Jewish lives. The OUN had earlier repudiated pogroms but changed its stand when the Germans, with whom the OUN sought an alliance, demanded participation in them.<ref> By John Paul Himka. Kyiv Post September 23, 2010.</ref> Recently declassified documents have shown that the OUN (]) was most likely not strongly involved in anti-Jewish activities in 1941.<ref>http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-234844.html</ref>

The OUN pursued a policy of infiltrating the German police in order to obtain weapons and training for its fighters. In this role they helped the Germans to implement the ]. Although most Jews were actually killed by Germans, the OUN police working for them played a crucial supporting role in the liquidation of 200,000 Jews in Volyn in the second half of 1942 <ref name="Nations. pg. 162">]. (2004) ''The Reconstruction of Nations.'' New Haven: Yale University Press: pg. 162</ref> (although in isolated cases Ukrainian policemen also helped Jews to escape <ref>Timothy Snyder. (2008). "The life and death of Volhynian Jewry, 1921-1945." In Brandon, Lowler (Eds.) ''The Shoah in Ukraine: history, testimony, memorialization.'' Indiana: Indiana University Press, pg. 95</ref>) Most of these police deserted in the following spring and joined UPA.<ref name="Nations. pg. 162"/>

Jews played an important role in the Soviet partisan movement in Volhynia and participated in its actions. The Soviet partisans were known for their brutality, retaliating against entire villages suspected of working with the Germans, killing individuals deemed to be collaborators, and provoking the Germans to attack villages. UPA would later attempt to match that brutality.<ref name = "Snydershoah">Timothy Snyder. (2008). "The life and death of Volhynian Jewry, 1921-1945." In Brandon, Lowler (Eds.) ''The Shoah in Ukraine: history, testimony, memorialization.'' Indiana: Indiana University Press, pg. 101</ref> Jews played an important role in the Soviet partisan movement in Volhynia and participated in its actions. The Soviet partisans were known for their brutality, retaliating against entire villages suspected of working with the Germans, killing individuals deemed to be collaborators, and provoking the Germans to attack villages. UPA would later attempt to match that brutality.<ref name = "Snydershoah">Timothy Snyder. (2008). "The life and death of Volhynian Jewry, 1921-1945." In Brandon, Lowler (Eds.) ''The Shoah in Ukraine: history, testimony, memorialization.'' Indiana: Indiana University Press, pg. 101</ref>
By early 1943 the OUN had entered into open armed conflict with Nazi Germany. According to Ukrainian historian and former UPA soldier Lew Shankowsky, immediately upon assuming the position of commander of UPA in August 1943 </nowiki>]<nowiki> issued an order banning participation in anti-Jewish activities. No written record of this order, however, has been found.<ref>Phillip Friedman. (1980). ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Occupation. From ''Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust.'' New York: Conference on Jewish Social Studies, pg. 203</ref> In 1944, the OUN formally "rejected racial and ethnic exclusivity"<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', p. 474, ], 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref> Nevertheless, Jews hiding from the Germans with Poles in Polish villages were often killed by UPA along with their Polish saviors, although in at least one case they were spared as the Poles were murdered.<ref name = "Snydershoah"/>

Despite the earlier anti-Jewish statements by the OUN, and UPA's involvement in the killing of some Jews, there were cases of Jewish participation within the ranks of UPA, some of whom held high positions. Jewish participation included fighters,<ref>Leo Heiman, "We Fought for Ukraine - The Story of Jews Within the UPA", ''Ukrainian Quarterly'' Spring 1964, pp.33-44.</ref> but was particularly visible among its medical personnel. These included Dr. </nowiki>], who headed UPA-West's medical service, Dr. ], who was the Chief Physician of the UPA's officer school, and Dr. ], the director of an underground hospital in the Carpathians. The latter individual was the recipient of the UPA's Golden Cross of Merit. A claim exists that a Jewish woman, Stella Krenzbach, the daughter of a rabbi and a Zionist, joined the UPA as a nurse and intelligence agent. She is alleged to have written "I attribute the fact that I am alive today and devoting all the strength of my thirty-eight years to a free Israel only to God and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. I became a member of the heroic UPA on 7 November 1943. In our group I counted twelve Jews, eight of whom were doctors." <nowiki><ref> posted on the website of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine</ref></nowiki> although her particular account has been dismissed as a hoax by several sources.<nowiki><ref>John Paul Himka. . Himka notes that Bohdan Kordiuk an OUN member who had been incarcerated in a concentration camp (Auschwitz), described Krenzbach's memoirs as false in the newspaper Suchasna Ukraina (no. 15/194, 20 July 1958), where he wrote “...None of the UPA men known to the author of these lines knows the legendary Stella Krenzbach or have heard of her. The Jews do not know her either. It is unlikely that anyone of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees after the war met Stella Krenzbach.” Himka also noted the Philip Friedman faield to find evidence of her existence.</ref><ref>Philip Friedman. ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation.'' In Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. (1980) New York: Conference of Jewish Social Studies. pp.203-204</ref>
By early 1943 the OUN had entered into open armed conflict with Nazi Germany. According to Ukrainian historian and former UPA soldier Lew Shankowsky, immediately upon assuming the position of commander of UPA in August 1943 ] issued an order banning participation in anti-Jewish activities. No written record of this order, however, has been found.<ref>Phillip Friedman. (1980). ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Occupation. From ''Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust.'' New York: Conference on Jewish Social Studies, pg. 203</ref> In 1944, the OUN formally "rejected racial and ethnic exclusivity"<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', p. 474, ], 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref> Nevertheless, Jews hiding from the Germans with Poles in Polish villages were often killed by UPA along with their Polish saviors, although in at least one case they were spared as the Poles were murdered.<ref name = "Snydershoah"/>
One Ukrainian historian has claimed that almost every UPA unit included Jewish support personnel. Many Jews, particularly those whose skills were useful to UPA, were sheltered by them.<ref name= Friedman>{{Cite journal| author=Friedman, P. | title=Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation, ''YIVO Annual of Jewish Social Science'' v. 12, pp. 259–96, 1958–59}} Friedman gives the examples of two camps, one numbering 100 Jews and another with 400 Jews</ref></nowiki> It has been claimed that UPA sometimes executed its Jewish personnel, although such claims are either uncorroborated or mistaken.<nowiki><ref>Philip Friedman. ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation.'' In Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. (1980) New York: Conference of Jewish Social Studies. pg. 189 and footnotes pp. 204-205. Friedman notes that claims by Eisenstein-Keshev that UPA liquidated its physicians did not include any detailed data about this, and reported that another claim is questionable. Eisenstein claimed that at the approach of the Soviet army UPA liquidated the 400 Jews they had employed in Kudrynki in Volhynia (only 17 of whom survived). In reality, Friedman notes that the camp did not disperse due to the advance of Soviet forces as erroneously written by Eisenstein but was overrun by a German motorized battalion. Friedman notes that "conceivably, some of the Jewish inmates were left behind, fell into the hands of the Germans, and were exterminated." Friedman noted that he personally met one Jewish physician and his wife who had been with the Bandera group and knew of another physician and his brother who also served in the UPA and settled near Tel Aviv after the war.</ref>

Soviet propaganda complained about Zionist membership in UPA <ref name=autogenerated3></ref></nowiki> and during the period of persecution of Jews in the early 1950s described the alleged connection between Jewish and Ukrainian nationalists .<nowiki><ref>Iwan S Koropecky (Ed.) ''The Selected Works of Viacheslav Holubnychy.'' Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press. pg. 123.</ref>
Despite the earlier anti-Jewish statements by the OUN, and UPA's involvement in the killing of some Jews, there were cases of Jewish participation within the ranks of UPA, some of whom held high positions. Jewish participation included fighters,<ref>Leo Heiman, "We Fought for Ukraine - The Story of Jews Within the UPA", ''Ukrainian Quarterly'' Spring 1964, pp.33-44.</ref> but was particularly visible among its medical personnel. These included Dr. ], who headed UPA-West's medical service, Dr. ], who was the Chief Physician of the UPA's officer school, and Dr. ], the director of an underground hospital in the Carpathians. The latter individual was the recipient of the UPA's Golden Cross of Merit. A claim exists that a Jewish woman, Stella Krenzbach, the daughter of a rabbi and a Zionist, joined the UPA as a nurse and intelligence agent. She is alleged to have written "I attribute the fact that I am alive today and devoting all the strength of my thirty-eight years to a free Israel only to God and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. I became a member of the heroic UPA on 7 November 1943. In our group I counted twelve Jews, eight of whom were doctors." <ref> posted on the website of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine</ref> although her particular account has been dismissed as a hoax by several sources.<ref>John Paul Himka. . Himka notes that Bohdan Kordiuk an OUN member who had been incarcerated in a concentration camp (Auschwitz), described Krenzbach's memoirs as false in the newspaper Suchasna Ukraina (no. 15/194, 20 July 1958), where he wrote “...None of the UPA men known to the author of these lines knows the legendary Stella Krenzbach or have heard of her. The Jews do not know her either. It is unlikely that anyone of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees after the war met Stella Krenzbach.” Himka also noted the Philip Friedman faield to find evidence of her existence.</ref><ref>Philip Friedman. ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation.'' In Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. (1980) New York: Conference of Jewish Social Studies. pp.203-204</ref>
One can conclude that the relationship between the UPA and Western Ukraine's Jews was complex and not one-sided.<ref>Peter J. Potichnyj "As for the killings of Jews and Poles, Potichnyj argues that no matter where guerrillas fight for liberation, it's a messy affair."; "With respect to Jews," he said, "obviously, in the situation there must have taken place some killing of the Jews, although in 1943, when the UPA was quite strong, there were hardly any Jews left because the Germans had, unfortunately, killed them all off. But there were some remnants, and the remnants were either working with the Ukrainian underground or they were working with the Soviets." Those allied with the Red partisans were obviously enemies of the underground, he said." and ] "He estimates that UPA fighters killed several thousand Jews, "but perhaps the number was much higher."; "Although what UPA did to the Jews may not have been, in the larger scheme of things, a major contribution to the Holocaust, it remains a large and inexpugnable stain on the record of the Ukrainian national insurgency, ... Potichnyj said the underground made a terrible mistake in not condemning the Germans' efforts to exterminate the Jews. But he strongly denies that there is any document showing that the underground ordered the "systematic" killing of Jews.". In Ukraine, movement to honor members of the World War II underground sets off debate. ]. January 8, 2010</ref></nowiki>

One Ukrainian historian has claimed that almost every UPA unit included Jewish support personnel. Many Jews, particularly those whose skills were useful to UPA, were sheltered by them.<ref name= Friedman>{{Cite journal| author=Friedman, P. | title=Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation, ''YIVO Annual of Jewish Social Science'' v. 12, pp. 259–96, 1958–59}} Friedman gives the examples of two camps, one numbering 100 Jews and another with 400 Jews</ref> It has been claimed that UPA sometimes executed its Jewish personnel, although such claims are either uncorroborated or mistaken.<ref>Philip Friedman. ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation.'' In Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. (1980) New York: Conference of Jewish Social Studies. pg. 189 and footnotes pp. 204-205. Friedman notes that claims by Eisenstein-Keshev that UPA liquidated its physicians did not include any detailed data about this, and reported that another claim is questionable. Eisenstein claimed that at the approach of the Soviet army UPA liquidated the 400 Jews they had employed in Kudrynki in Volhynia (only 17 of whom survived). In reality, Friedman notes that the camp did not disperse due to the advance of Soviet forces as erroneously written by Eisenstein but was overrun by a German motorized battalion. Friedman notes that "conceivably, some of the Jewish inmates were left behind, fell into the hands of the Germans, and were exterminated." Friedman noted that he personally met one Jewish physician and his wife who had been with the Bandera group and knew of another physician and his brother who also served in the UPA and settled near Tel Aviv after the war.</ref>

Soviet propaganda complained about Zionist membership in UPA <ref name=autogenerated3></ref> and during the period of persecution of Jews in the early 1950s described the alleged connection between Jewish and Ukrainian nationalists .<ref>Iwan S Koropecky (Ed.) ''The Selected Works of Viacheslav Holubnychy.'' Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press. pg. 123.</ref>

One can conclude that the relationship between the UPA and Western Ukraine's Jews was complex and not one-sided.<ref>Peter J. Potichnyj "As for the killings of Jews and Poles, Potichnyj argues that no matter where guerrillas fight for liberation, it's a messy affair."; "With respect to Jews," he said, "obviously, in the situation there must have taken place some killing of the Jews, although in 1943, when the UPA was quite strong, there were hardly any Jews left because the Germans had, unfortunately, killed them all off. But there were some remnants, and the remnants were either working with the Ukrainian underground or they were working with the Soviets." Those allied with the Red partisans were obviously enemies of the underground, he said." and ] "He estimates that UPA fighters killed several thousand Jews, "but perhaps the number was much higher."; "Although what UPA did to the Jews may not have been, in the larger scheme of things, a major contribution to the Holocaust, it remains a large and inexpugnable stain on the record of the Ukrainian national insurgency, ... Potichnyj said the underground made a terrible mistake in not condemning the Germans' efforts to exterminate the Jews. But he strongly denies that there is any document showing that the underground ordered the "systematic" killing of Jews.". In Ukraine, movement to honor members of the World War II underground sets off debate. ]. January 8, 2010</ref>


==Reconciliation== ==Reconciliation==
{{POV-Section|date=July 2013}} {{POV-Section|date=July 2013}}
During the following years the UPA was officially taboo in the Soviet Union, mentioned only as a terrorist organization.<ref name = washpost>{{Cite news|title = In Ukraine, debate over history| first = John| last = Pancake| publisher = Washington Post|date=6 January 2010| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503610.html}}</ref> Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, there have been heated debates about the possible award of official recognition to former UPA members as legitimate combatants, with the accompanying pensions and benefits due to war veterans.<ref name = washpost/> UPA veterans have also striven to hold parades and commemorations of their own, especially in Western Ukraine. This, in turn, led to opposition from ] veterans and some Ukrainian politicians, particularly from the south and east of the country.<ref name = washpost/> The government in ] has also reacted negatively. During the following years the UPA was officially taboo in the Soviet Union, mentioned only as a terrorist organization.<nowiki><ref name = washpost>{{Cite news|title = In Ukraine, debate over history| first = John| last = Pancake| publisher = Washington Post|date=6 January 2010| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503610.html}}</ref></nowiki> Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, there have been heated debates about the possible award of official recognition to former UPA members as legitimate combatants, with the accompanying pensions and benefits due to war veterans.<nowiki><ref name = washpost/></nowiki> UPA veterans have also striven to hold parades and commemorations of their own, especially in Western Ukraine. This, in turn, led to opposition from ] veterans and some Ukrainian politicians, particularly from the south and east of the country.<nowiki><ref name = washpost/></nowiki> The government in ] has also reacted negatively.

Attempts to reconcile the two groups of veterans have made little progress. An attempt to hold a joint parade in ] in May 2005, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of ], proved unsuccessful. The assessment of the historical role of UPA remains a controversial issue in Ukrainian society, although ] ] joined several public Ukrainian organizations in calls for reconciliation, pensions, and other benefits for UPA veterans which would give them equal status with the veterans of the ], and aid the understanding of their role in the chaotic times of UPA operations. In 2007, president Yushchenko awarded the title "]", the country's highest honour, to UPA leader ]. Attempts to reconcile the two groups of veterans have made little progress. An attempt to hold a joint parade in ] in May 2005, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of ], proved unsuccessful. The assessment of the historical role of UPA remains a controversial issue in Ukrainian society, although ] ] joined several public Ukrainian organizations in calls for reconciliation, pensions, and other benefits for UPA veterans which would give them equal status with the veterans of the ], and aid the understanding of their role in the chaotic times of UPA operations. In 2007, president Yushchenko awarded the title "]", the country's highest honour, to UPA leader ].
Recently, attempts to reconcile former ] and UPA soldiers have been made by both the Ukrainian and Polish sides. Individual former UPA members have expressed their readiness for mutual apology. Some of the past soldiers of both organisations have met and asked for forgiveness for the past misdeeds.<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki> Restorations of graves and cemeteries in Poland where fallen UPA soldiers were buried have been agreed to by the Polish side.<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki>

Recently, attempts to reconcile former ] and UPA soldiers have been made by both the Ukrainian and Polish sides. Individual former UPA members have expressed their readiness for mutual apology. Some of the past soldiers of both organisations have met and asked for forgiveness for the past misdeeds.<ref></ref> Restorations of graves and cemeteries in Poland where fallen UPA soldiers were buried have been agreed to by the Polish side.<ref></ref>


==Monuments (for combatants or victims)== ==Monuments (for combatants or victims)==
{{POV-Section|date=July 2013}} {{POV-Section|date=July 2013}}
Without waiting for official notice from Kiev, many regional authorities have already decided to approach the UPA history on their own. In some western cities and villages monuments, memorials and plaques to the leaders and troops of the UPA have been erected, including a monument to Stepan Bandera himself which opened in October 2007. In late 2006 the ] city administration announced the future transference of the tombs of ], ], ] and other key leaders of OUN/UPA to a new area of ] specifically dedicated to Ukrainian nationalists.<ref></ref> Without waiting for official notice from Kiev, many regional authorities have already decided to approach the UPA history on their own. In some western cities and villages monuments, memorials and plaques to the leaders and troops of the UPA have been erected, including a monument to Stepan Bandera himself which opened in October 2007. In late 2006 the ] city administration announced the future transference of the tombs of ], ], ] and other key leaders of OUN/UPA to a new area of ] specifically dedicated to Ukrainian nationalists.<nowiki><ref></ref>
In response to this, many southern and eastern provinces, despite the fact that the UPA did not operate in these regions, have responded by opening memorials of their own dedicated the UPA's victims. The first one of these, titled "</nowiki>]", was unveiled by the ] in ] in September 2007,<nowiki><ref>Lenta.ru В Крыму открыт монумент жертвам бандеровцев 14.September 2007. 2 April 2008.</ref></nowiki> and in 2008 one was erected in ], ], and ] on May 8, 2010 by the city deputy Arsen Klinchaev and the ].<nowiki><ref name=Luhansk/></nowiki> The unveiling ceremony was attended by ] ], the leader of the parliamentary faction of the Pro-Russian ] ], ] deputy ], Luhansk Regional Governor Valerii Holenko, and Luhansk Mayor Serhii Kravchenko.<nowiki><ref name=Luhansk>, ] (May 9, 2010)</ref></nowiki>

In response to this, many southern and eastern provinces, despite the fact that the UPA did not operate in these regions, have responded by opening memorials of their own dedicated the UPA's victims. The first one of these, titled "]", was unveiled by the ] in ] in September 2007,<ref>Lenta.ru В Крыму открыт монумент жертвам бандеровцев 14.September 2007. 2 April 2008.</ref> and in 2008 one was erected in ], ], and ] on May 8, 2010 by the city deputy Arsen Klinchaev and the ].<ref name=Luhansk/> The unveiling ceremony was attended by ] ], the leader of the parliamentary faction of the Pro-Russian ] ], ] deputy ], Luhansk Regional Governor Valerii Holenko, and Luhansk Mayor Serhii Kravchenko.<ref name=Luhansk>, ] (May 9, 2010)</ref>


<gallery> <gallery>
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==Recognition== ==Recognition==
{{POV-Section|date=July 2013}} {{POV-Section|date=July 2013}}
According to ] professor John Armstrong "If one takes into account the duration, geographical extent, and intensity of activity, the UPA very probably is the most important example of forceful resistance to an established Communist regime prior to the decade of fierce Afghan resistance beginning in 1979...the Hungarian revolution of 1956 was, of course, far more important, involving to some degree a population of nine million...however it lasted only a few weeks. In contrast, the more-or-less effective anti-Communist activity of the Ukrainian resistance forces lasted from mid-1944 until 1950".<ref>John Armstrong, ''Ukrainian Nationalism'', 3rd edition. Englewood, Colorado: Ukrainian Academic Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87287-755-8 (2nd edition: New York: Columbia University Press, 1963) pp.223-224</ref> According to ]<nowiki> professor John Armstrong "If one takes into account the duration, geographical extent, and intensity of activity, the UPA very probably is the most important example of forceful resistance to an established Communist regime prior to the decade of fierce Afghan resistance beginning in 1979...the Hungarian revolution of 1956 was, of course, far more important, involving to some degree a population of nine million...however it lasted only a few weeks. In contrast, the more-or-less effective anti-Communist activity of the Ukrainian resistance forces lasted from mid-1944 until 1950".<ref>John Armstrong, ''Ukrainian Nationalism'', 3rd edition. Englewood, Colorado: Ukrainian Academic Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87287-755-8 (2nd edition: New York: Columbia University Press, 1963) pp.223-224</ref>
On January 10, 2008 </nowiki>] ] submitted a draft law "On the official Status of Fighters for Ukraine’s Independence from the 1920s to the 1990s". Under the draft, persons who took part in political, guerrilla, underground and combat activities for the freedom and independence of Ukraine from 1920-1990 as part of the:

On January 10, 2008 ] ] submitted a draft law "On the official Status of Fighters for Ukraine’s Independence from the 1920s to the 1990s". Under the draft, persons who took part in political, guerrilla, underground and combat activities for the freedom and independence of Ukraine from 1920-1990 as part of the:
* ] (UVO) * ] (UVO)
* Karpatska Sich * Karpatska Sich
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* ''UPA'' * ''UPA''
* Ukrainian Main Liberation Army, * Ukrainian Main Liberation Army,
as well as persons who assisted these organizations shall be recognized as war veterans.<ref></ref> as well as persons who assisted these organizations shall be recognized as war veterans.<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki>
] ]
In 2007, the ] (SBU) set up a special working group to study archive documents of the activity of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in order to make public original sources.<ref></ref> In 2007, the ] (SBU) set up a special working group to study archive documents of the activity of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in order to make public original sources.<nowiki><ref></ref>

Since 2006 the SBU has been actively involved in declassifying documents relating to the operations of Soviet security services and the history of liberation movement in Ukraine. The SBU Information Center provides an opportunity for scholars to get acquainted with electronic copies of archive documents. The documents are arranged by topics (1932-1933 Holodomor, OUN/UPA Activities, Repression in Ukraine, Movement of Dissident).<ref>http://en.for-ua.com/analytics/2008/10/15/120230.html</ref> Since 2006 the SBU has been actively involved in declassifying documents relating to the operations of Soviet security services and the history of liberation movement in Ukraine. The SBU Information Center provides an opportunity for scholars to get acquainted with electronic copies of archive documents. The documents are arranged by topics (1932-1933 Holodomor, OUN/UPA Activities, Repression in Ukraine, Movement of Dissident).<ref>http://en.for-ua.com/analytics/2008/10/15/120230.html</ref>
As of September 2009, Ukrainian schoolchildren will take a more extensive course of the history of the </nowiki>] and OUN and UPA fighters.<nowiki><ref>, ] (June 12, 2009)</ref>

As of September 2009, Ukrainian schoolchildren will take a more extensive course of the history of the ] and OUN and UPA fighters.<ref>, ] (June 12, 2009)</ref> President Yushchenko took part in the celebration of the 67th anniversary of the UPA and the 65th of </nowiki>] on October 14, 2009.<nowiki><ref>, ] (October 14, 2009)</ref>
To commemorate National Unity Day, on January 22, 2010 President Yushchenko awarded Stepan Bandera the </nowiki>] honor posthumously. A district administrative court in ], Ukraine cancelled on April 2, 2010, the presidential decree granting the Hero of Ukraine title to Bandera. Lawyer Vladimir Olentsevych argued in a lawsuit that the title of Hero of Ukraine is the highest state award which is granted exclusively to citizens of Ukraine. Bandera was not a Ukrainian citizen, as he was killed in emigration in 1959 before the ].<nowiki><ref>, ] (April 2, 2010)</ref><ref>, ] (April 3, 2010)</ref>

On January 16, 2012 the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine upheld the Presidential decree of January 28, 2010 "About recognition of OUN members and soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as participants in struggle for independence of Ukraine" after it was challenged by the leader of the </nowiki>], ], recognizing the UPA as war combatants.<nowiki><ref>. 2013-2-5</ref><ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/high-court-upholds-decree-recognizing-upa-partisans-as-world-war-ii-combatants-320057.html</ref></nowiki>
President Yushchenko took part in the celebration of the 67th anniversary of the UPA and the 65th of ] on October 14, 2009.<ref>, ] (October 14, 2009)</ref>

To commemorate National Unity Day, on January 22, 2010 President Yushchenko awarded Stepan Bandera the ] honor posthumously. A district administrative court in ], Ukraine cancelled on April 2, 2010, the presidential decree granting the Hero of Ukraine title to Bandera. Lawyer Vladimir Olentsevych argued in a lawsuit that the title of Hero of Ukraine is the highest state award which is granted exclusively to citizens of Ukraine. Bandera was not a Ukrainian citizen, as he was killed in emigration in 1959 before the ].<ref>, ] (April 2, 2010)</ref><ref>, ] (April 3, 2010)</ref>

On January 16, 2012 the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine upheld the Presidential decree of January 28, 2010 "About recognition of OUN members and soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as participants in struggle for independence of Ukraine" after it was challenged by the leader of the ], ], recognizing the UPA as war combatants.<ref>. 2013-2-5</ref><ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/high-court-upholds-decree-recognizing-upa-partisans-as-world-war-ii-combatants-320057.html</ref>


==Popular culture== ==Popular culture==
The Ukrainian ] band ] made a song entitled ''Ukrainian Insurgent Army'' on its 2006 release, ''Кров у Наших Криницях'' ('']''). Ukrainian black metal band ] have a song titled "Hailed Be the Heroes" (''Слава героям'') on the ]/''Мировоззрение'' album which contains lyrics pertaining to World War II and Western Ukraine (Galicia), and it's title, ''Slava Heroyam'', is a traditional UPA salute. The Ukrainian ] band ] made a song entitled ''Ukrainian Insurgent Army'' on its 2006 release, ''Кров у Наших Криницях'' ('']''). Ukrainian black metal band ] have a song titled "Hailed Be the Heroes" (''Слава героям'') on the ]/''Мировоззрение'' album which contains lyrics pertaining to World War II and Western Ukraine (Galicia), and it's title, ''Slava Heroyam'', is a traditional UPA salute.

Two Czech films by ], ] (], 1977) and ] (], 1983) are set in 1947, and feature UPA guerrillas in significant supporting roles. The first film resembles ]'s ] (1971), in that it's about a farmer whose family is taken hostage by five UPA guerrillas, and he has to resort to his own ingenuity, plus reserves of violence that he never knew he possessed, to defeat them. In the second, the shepherd boy (actually a cowherd) imagines that a group of UPA guerrillas is made up of fairytale characters of his grandfather's stories, and that their leader is the Goblin King. Two Czech films by ], ] (], 1977) and ] (], 1983) are set in 1947, and feature UPA guerrillas in significant supporting roles. The first film resembles ]'s ] (1971), in that it's about a farmer whose family is taken hostage by five UPA guerrillas, and he has to resort to his own ingenuity, plus reserves of violence that he never knew he possessed, to defeat them. In the second, the shepherd boy (actually a cowherd) imagines that a group of UPA guerrillas is made up of fairytale characters of his grandfather's stories, and that their leader is the Goblin King.

Also films such as Neskorenyj (Undefeated), Zaliznya Sotnya (Company of Heroes)and Atentant (Assassination in Munich) feature more description about the role of UPA on their terrain. Undefeated is about the life of Roman Shuhevych and the hunt for him by both German and Soviet forces, Company of Heroes shows how UPA soldiers had everyday life as they fight far more superior forces, Assassination in Munich is about the life of Bandera and how treacherous KGB agents murdered him. Also films such as Neskorenyj (Undefeated), Zaliznya Sotnya (Company of Heroes)and Atentant (Assassination in Munich) feature more description about the role of UPA on their terrain. Undefeated is about the life of Roman Shuhevych and the hunt for him by both German and Soviet forces, Company of Heroes shows how UPA soldiers had everyday life as they fight far more superior forces, Assassination in Munich is about the life of Bandera and how treacherous KGB agents murdered him.


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===Songs=== ===Songs===
The most obvious characteristic of the insurgent songs genre is the theme of rising up against occupying powers, enslavement and tyranny. Insurgent songs express an open call to battle and to revenge against the enemies of Ukraine, as well as love for the motherland and devotion to her revolutionary leaders (Bandera, Chuprynka and others). UPA actions, heroic deeds of individual soldiers, the hard underground life, longing for one's girl, family or boy are also important subject of this genre.<ref>Zenon Lavryshyn. Songs of the UPA. Toronto: Litopys UPA, 1996, p. 19</ref> The most obvious characteristic of the insurgent songs genre is the theme of rising up against occupying powers, enslavement and tyranny. Insurgent songs express an open call to battle and to revenge against the enemies of Ukraine, as well as love for the motherland and devotion to her revolutionary leaders (Bandera, Chuprynka and others). UPA actions, heroic deeds of individual soldiers, the hard underground life, longing for one's girl, family or boy are also important subject of this genre.<nowiki><ref>Zenon Lavryshyn. Songs of the UPA. Toronto: Litopys UPA, 1996, p. 19</ref></nowiki>
* Taras Zhytynsky "To sons of UPA"<ref></ref> * Taras Zhytynsky "To sons of UPA"<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki>
* Tartak "Not saying to anybody"<ref></ref> * Tartak "Not saying to anybody"<nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki>
* Folk song "To the source of Dniester"<ref></ref> * Folk song "To the source of Dniester"<nowiki><ref></nowiki></ref>


==See also== ==See also==

Revision as of 16:12, 20 July 2013

This article's lead section may be too long. Please read the length guidelines and help move details into the article's body. (November 2012)
Ukrainian Insurgent Army
Українська Повстанська Армія
Ukrayins’ka Povstans’ka Armiya
Flag of the UPA
LeadersVasyl Ivakhiv
Dmytro Klyachkivsky
Roman Shukhevych
Vasyl Kuk
Dates of operation14 October 1942 – 1949 (Active)
1949–1956 (Localised)
Active regionsVolhynia
Polesia
Halychyna
Podilia
Carpathia
Part ofOUN-B
OpponentsNazi Germany Schutzstaffel
Nazi Germany Wehrmacht
Soviet Union NKGB/NKVD/Soviet partisans
Soviet Union Red Army (SMERSH)
Armia Krajowa
Poland People's Army

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Template:Lang-ua, "Ukrayins’ka Povstans’ka Armiya", or UPA) was a large and well organized Ukrainian nationalist military and later partisan army that engaged in a series of guerrilla conflicts during World War II against Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and both Underground and Communist Poland. The group was the military wing of the Organization of Ukrainian NationalistsBandera faction (the OUN-B), originally formed in Volyn (northwestern Ukraine) in the spring and summer of 1943. Its official date of creation is 14 October 1942, day of Intercession of the Theotokos feast.

The OUN's stated immediate goal was the establishment of a united, independent national state on Ukrainian ethnic territory. Violence was accepted as a political tool against foreign as well as domestic enemies of their cause, which was to be achieved by a national revolution led by a dictatorship that would drive out the occupying powers and set up a government representing all regions and social groups. The organization began as a resistance group and developed into a guerrilla army.

During its existence, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought against the Poles and the Soviets as their primary opponents, although the organization also fought against the Germans starting from February 1943. From late spring 1944, the UPA and Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists-B (OUN-B) — faced with Soviet advances — also temporarily cooperated with German forces against the Soviets and Poles in the hope of creating an independent Ukrainian state. The army also played a substantial role in ethnic cleansing of the Polish population of Volhynia and East Galicia, as well as subsequent defending the Ukrainian population and preventing deportation of the Ukrainians in southeastern Poland.

After the end of World War II, the Polish communist army — the People's Army of Poland — fought extensively against the UPA. The UPA remained active and fought against the People's Republic of Poland until 1947, and against the Soviet Union until 1949. It was particularly strong in the Carpathian Mountains; the entirety of Galicia and in Volyn — in modern Western Ukraine. Among the anti-Nazi resistance movements, it was unique in that it had no significant foreign support. Its growth and strength were a reflection of the popularity it enjoyed among the people of Western Ukraine. Outside of Western Ukraine, support was minimal, and the majority of the Soviet (eastern) Ukrainian population considered the OUN/UPA to have been primarily collaborators with the Germans.

The UPA was formally disbanded in early September, 1949. However, some of its units continued operations until 1956.

Another separate, independent UPA also existed in Volyn from 1941 until July 1943. It was nominally formed earlier in late November 1941, and from the spring of 1942 was a most active Ukrainian nationalist armed group before the formal formation of the UPA in the spring of 1943. This group belonged to political opponents of the OUN(B) - OUN(UNR), and allied itself politically with OUN(M). This grouping led by Taras Bulba-Borovets had links to the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) in exile. It was renamed the Ukrainian People's Revolutionary Army in July 1943 before being later partially and forcibly absorbed into the UPA of the OUN(B).

Organization

File:UPA.jpg
UPA propaganda poster. OUN/UPAs formal greeting is written in Ukrainian on two of the horizontal lines Glory to Ukraine- Glory to (her) Heroes. The soldier is standing on the banners of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

The UPA's command structure overlapped with that of the underground nationalist political party, the OUN, in a sophisticated centralized network. The UPA was responsible for military operations while the OUN was in charge of administrative duties; each had its own chain of command. The six main departments were military, political, security service, mobilization, supply, and the Ukrainian Red Cross. Despite the division between the UPA and the OUN, there was overlap between their posts and the local OUN and UPA leaders were frequently the same person. Organizational methods were borrowed and adapted from the German, Polish and Soviet military, while UPA units based their training on a modified Red Army field unit manual.

The General Staff, formed at the end of 1943 consisted of operations, intelligence, training, logistics, personnel and political education departments. UPA's largest units, Kurins, consisting of 500-700 soldiers, were equivalent to battalions in a regular army, and its smallest units, Riys (literally bee swarm), with 8-10 soldiers, were equivalent to squads. Occasionally, and particularly in Volyn, during some operations three or more Kurins would unite and form a Zahin or Brigade.

UPA's leaders were: Vasyl Ivakhiv (spring – 13 of May 1943), Dmytro Klyachkivsky, Roman Shukhevych (January 1944 until 1950) and finally Vasyl Kuk.

In November 1943, the UPA adopted a new structure, creating a Main Military Headquarters and three areas (group) commands: UPA-West, UPA-North and UPA-South. Three military schools for low-level command staff were also established.

Former policemen constituted a large proportion of the UPA leadership, and they comprised about half of the UPA membership in 1943. In terms of UPA soldiers' social background, 60% were peasants of low to moderate means, 20-25% were from the working class (primarily from the rural lumber and food industries), and 15% members of the intelligentsia (students, urban professionals). The latter group provided a large portion of the UPA's military trainers and officer corps. With respect to the origins of UPA's members, sixty percent were from Galicia and 30% from Volyn and Polesia.

The number of UPA fighters varied. A German Abwehr report from November 1943 estimated that the UPA had 20,000 soldiers; other estimates at that time placed the number at 40,000. By the summer of 1944, estimates of UPA membership varied from 25-30 thousand fighters up to 100,000 or even 200,000 soldiers

Structure

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army was structured into four units:

  1. UPA-North
    Regions: Volyn, Polissia.
    • Military District «Turiv»
      Commander — Maj. Rudyj.
      Squads: «Bohun», «Pomsta Polissja», «Nalyvajko».
    • Military District «Zahrava»
      Commander — Ptashka (Sylvester Zatovkanjuk).
      Squads: «Konovaletsj», «Enej», «Dubovyj», «Oleh».
    • Military District «Volyn-South»
      Commander — Bereza.
      Squads: «Kruk», «H.».
  2. UPA-West
    Regions: Halychyna, Bukovyna, Zakarpattia, Zakerzonia.
    • Military District «Lysonja»
      Commander — Maj. Hrim, V.
      Kurins: «Holodnojarci», «Burlaky», «Lisovyky», «Rubachi», «Bujni», «Holky».
    • Military District «Hoverlja»
      Commander — Maj. Stepovyj (from 1945 — Major Hmara).
      Kurins: «Bukovynsjkyj», «Peremoha», «Haidamaky», «Huculjskyi», «Karpatsjkyi».
    • Military District «Black Forest»
      Commander — Col. Rizun-Hrehit (Mykola Andrusjak).
      Kurins: «Smertonosci», «Pidkarpatsjkyi», «Dzvony», «Syvulja», «Dovbush», «Beskyd», «Menyky».
    • Military District «Makivka»
      Commander — Maj. Kozak.
      Kurins: «Ljvy», «Bulava», «Zubry», «Letuny», «Zhuravli», «Boiky of Chmelnytsjkyi», «Basejn».
    • Military District «Buh»
      Commander — Col. Voronnyi
      Kurins: «Druzhynnyky», «Halajda», «Kochovyky», «Perejaslavy», «Tyhry», «Perebyjnis»
    • Military District «Sjan»
      Commander — Orest
      Kurins: «Vovky», «Menyky», Kurin of Ren, Kurin of Eugene.
  3. UPA-South
    Regions: Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, southern region of Kyiv Oblast, southern regions of Ukraine,
    and especially in cities Odessa, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk, Mariupol, Donetsk.
    • Military District «Holodnyj Yar»
      Commander — Kost'.
      Kurins: Kurin of Sabljuk, Kurin of Dovbush.
    • Military District «Umanj»
      Commander — Ostap.
      Kurins: Kurin of Dovbenko, Kurin of Buvalyj, Kurin of Andrij-Shum.
    • Military District «Vinnytsia»
      Commander — Jasen.
      Kurins: Kurin of Storchan, Kurin of Mamaj, Kurin of Burevij.
  4. UPA-East
    Regions: northern strip of Zhytomyr Oblast, northern region of Kyiv Oblast, and Chernihiv Oblast.

Anthem

The organization adopted the Ukrainian Army song of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen "Chervona Kalyna" as their anthem. Audio sample (youtube)

Ukrainian language version

Ой, у лузі червона калина похилилася.
Чогось наша славна Україна зажурилася.
А ми тую червону калину підіймемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей! гей! розвеселимо!

Не хилися, червона калина – маєш білий цвіт.
Не журися, славна Україна – маєш добрий рід.
А ми тую червону калину підіймемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей! гей! розвеселимо!

Марширують наші добровольці у кривавий тан,
Визволяти братів-українців з ворожих кайдан.
А ми тії ворожі кайдани розіб'ємо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей! гей! розвеселимо!

Ой, у полі ярої пшенички золотистий лан,
Розпочали наші добровольці з ворогами тан!
А ми тую ярую пшеничку ізберемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей! гей! розвеселимо!

Як повіє буйнесенький вітер з широких степів,
То прославить по всій Україні січових стрільців.
А ми тую стрілецькую славу збережемо,
А ми нашу славну Україну, гей! гей! розвеселимо!

English language version

Hey, in meadow the red viburnum has tilted.
For some reason our glorious Ukraine has saddened.
And we will lift up that red viburnum back to the top,
And we will cheer up our glorious Ukraine!

Do not tilt, the red viburnum, for you have a white bloom.
Do not be saddened, the glorious Ukraine, for you have a good heritage.
And we lift up that red viburnum,
And we make our glorious Ukraine to rejoice!

There are marching our volunteers into bloody dance,
To liberate brothers-Ukrainians out of enemies chains.
And we will break those hostile chains,
And we make our glorious Ukraine to rejoice!

Hey, the field is flooded with the golden wheat,
Our volunteers have begun the dance with enemies!
And we will harvest that wheat,
And we make our glorious Ukraine to rejoice!

As the strong-like wind will blow out of the wide steppes,
He will glorify the Sich Riflemen across the whole Ukraine.
And we will keep the Riflemen glory,
And we make our glorious Ukraine to rejoice!

Oath of the Soldier of Ukrainian Insurgent Army

This oath approved by the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council and implemented by General Order No. 7, dated 19 July 1944.

I am a fighter in Ukrainian Insurgent Army,

with weapons in my hands, proudly swear with my honour and conscience in front of the Great Nation of Ukraine, in front of the Holy earth of Ukraine, in front of spilled blood of all the Best sons of Ukraine and in front of the Highest Political Leadership of Ukrainian Nation:

To fight for complete liberation of all Ukrainian lands and Ukrainian people from the invaders and to succeed in creating Ukrainian Independent Sovereign State.

In this battle I will not have any remorse for my blood or my life and will fight until my final breath and definite victory over all of the enemies of Ukraine. Will be brave, courageous and valiant in the battle and pitiless to the enemies of Ukrainian land. Will be honest, disciplined and vigilant revolutionary. Will do all of the commands from the ranks above me. Strictly will preserve all military and all national secrets. Will be worth my brothers in the battlefield and in battle life to all of my brothers in arms.

When I will breach, or back down from this oath, I should be rightly punished by the just law of Ukrainian National Revolution and let the dishonour of Ukrainian People fall on me.

Military ranks

The UPA made use of a dual rank system which included functional command position designations and traditional military ranks. The functional system was developed due to an acute shortage of qualified and politically reliable officers during the early stages of organization.

Holovnyi Komandyr UIA Krayevyi Komandyr Komandyr Okrugu Komandyr zagonu Kurinnyi Sotennyi Chotovyi Royovyi
SUPREME
COMMANDER
REGIONAL
COMMANDER
DIVISION
(MILITARY DISTRICT)
COMMANDER
BRIGADE
(TACTICAL SECTOR)
COMMANDER
BATTALION
COMMANDER
COMPANY
COMMANDER
PLATOON LEADER
SQUAD LEADER

UPA rank structure consisted of at least seven commissioned officer ranks, four non-commissioned officer ranks, and two soldier ranks. The hierarchical order of known ranks and their approximate US Army equivalent is as follows:

UPA RANKS US ARMY EQUIVALENTS
Heneral-Khorunzhyi Brigadier General
Polkovnyk Colonel
Pidpolkovnyk Lieutenant Colonel
Maior Major
Sotnyk Captain
Poruchnyk First Lieutenant
Khorunzhyi Second Lieutenant
Starshyi Bulavnyi Master Sergeant
Bulavnyi Sergeant First Class
Starshyi Vistun Staff Sergeant
Vistun Sergeant
Starshyi Strilets Private First Class
Strilets Private

Also rank scheme provided for three more higher general officer ranks: Heneral-Poruchnyk (Major General), Heneral-Polkovnyk (Lieutenant General), and Heneral-Pikhoty (General with Four Stars).

Armaments

Initially, the UPA used the weapons collected from the battlefields of 1939 and 1941. Later they bought weapons from peasants and individual soldiers, or captured them in combat. Some light weapons were also brought by deserting Ukrainian auxiliary policemen. For the most part, the UPA used light infantry weapons of Soviet and, to a lesser extent, German origin (for which ammunition was less readily obtainable). In 1944, German units armed the UPA directly with captured Soviet arms. Many kurins were equipped with light 51 mm and 82 mm mortars. During large-scale operations in 1943-1944, insurgent forces also used artillery (45 mm and 76.2 mm). In 1943 a light Hungarian tank was used in Volyn.

In 1944, the Soviets captured a Polikarpov Po-2 aircraft and one armored car and one personnel carrier from UPA; however, it was not stated that they were in operable condition, while no OUN/UPA documents noted the usage of such equipment. By end of World War II in Europe the NKVD had captured 45 artillery pieces (45 and 76.2 mm calibers) and 423 mortars from the UPA. In the attacks against Polish civilians, axes and pikes were used. However, the light infantry weapon was the basic weapon used by the UPA.

Formation

Armies of Ukraine
Kievan Rus
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Zaporizhian Host
Austria-Hungary
Ukrainian People's Republic
West Ukrainian People's Republic
Makhnovshchina
Carpatho-Ukraine
Ukrainian People's Republic in exile
  • Sich Regiment of Horlis-Horskyi (1939–40)
  • Polissia Sich (1941–42)
Ukrainian National Government
Ukrainian SSR / Soviet Union
Ukraine

1941

In a Memorandum from August 14, 1941 the OUN (B) proposed to the Germans, to create a Ukrainian Army “which will join the German Аrmy ... until the latter will win” (preferable translation: "which will unite with the German Army ... until final victory"), in exchange for German recognition of an allied Ukrainian independent state. The Ukrainian Army was planned to have been formed on the basis of DUN (Detachments of Ukrainian nationalists - Druzhyny Ukrainskykh Natsiоnalistiv) and specifically on the basis of the “Ukrainian legion”, at that time composed of two battalions “Nachtigall” and “Roland.” These two battalions were included in the Abwehr special regiment “Brandenburg-800”. However, these proposals were not accepted by the Germans, and by the middle of September 1941 the Germans began a campaign of repression against the most proactive OUN members.

At the beginning of October 1941, during the first OUN Conference, the OUN formulated its future strategy. This called for transferring part of its organizational structure underground, in order to avoid conflict with the Germans. It also refrained from open anti-German propaganda activities. At the same time, the OUN tried to infiltrate its own members into and create its own network within the German Auxiliary police.

A captured German document of November 25, 1941 (Nuremberg Trial O14-USSR) ordered: "It has been ascertained that the Bandera Movement is preparing a revolt in the Reichskommissariat which has as its ultimate aim the establishment of an independent Ukraine. All functionaries of the Bandera Movement must be arrested at once and, after thorough interrogation, are to be liquidated..." By the end of November 1941, both the “Ukrainian Legions” Roland and Nachtigall were disbanded and the remaining soldiers (approximately 650 persons) were given the option of signing a contract for military service after being transferred to Germany for further military training. At the same time (end of November 1941) the Germans started a second wave of repression in Reichskommissariat Ukraine specifically targeting OUN (B) members. Most of the captured OUN activists in Reichskommissariat Ukraine however, belonged to OUN (M) wing.

1942

At the Second Conference of the OUN(B), held in April 1942, the policies for the “creation, build-up and development of Ukrainian political and future military forces” and “action against partisan activity supported by Moscow” were adopted. Although German policies were criticized, the Soviet partisans were identified as the primary enemy of OUN (B).

In July 1942 OUN (B) issued a statement in which it stated that the main enemy targeted was “Moscow”, while Germany was criticized for its policy concerning the Ukrainian independent state. Until December 1942, OUN (B)'s principal activity was propaganda and the development of its own underground network; at that time, actions against the Germans were described as undesirable and provocative.

The “Military conference of OUN (B)” met in December 1942 near Lviv. The conference resulted in the adoption of a policy for the accelerated growth for the establishment of OUN(B)'s military forces. The conference emphasized that “all combat capable population must support, under OUN banners, the struggle against the Bolshevik enemy”. On May 30, 1947 the Main Ukrainian Liberation Council (Головна Визвольна Рада) adopted the date of October 14, 1942 as the official day for celebrating the UPA's creation.

Germany

Despite the stated opinions of Dmytro Klyachkivsky and Roman Shukhevych that the Germans were a secondary threat compared to their main enemies (the communist forces of the Soviet Union and Poland), the Third Conference of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - held near Lviv from 17–21 February 1943 - took the decision to begin open warfare against the Germans (OUN fighters had already attacked a German garrison earlier that year (7 February)). Accordingly, the OUN (B) leadership on March 20, 1943 issued secret instructions ordering their members who had joined the German auxiliary police in 1941-1942 to desert with their weapons and join with UPA units in Volyn. This process often involved engaging in armed conflict with German forces as they tried to prevent desertion. The number of trained and armed soldiers who now joined the ranks of the UPA was estimated to be between 4 and 5 thousand. Initially, the military formation of the OUN under Bandera's leadership was called the "military detachment of OUN (SD)" but after April 1943 the name "Ukrainska Povstanska Armiya" (UPA) was adopted as the official title.

Anti-German actions were limited to situations where the Germans attacked the Ukrainian population or UPA units. Indeed, according to German Eastern Front General Ernst Kostring, UPA fighters "fought almost exclusively against German administrative agencies, the German police and the SS in their quest to establish an independent Ukraine controlled by neither Moscow nor Germany."

During the German occupation, the UPA conducted hundreds of raids on police stations and military convoys. In the region of Zhytomyr insurgents were estimated by the German General-Kommissar Leyser to be in control of 80% of the forests and 60% of the farmland. The UPA was able to send small groups of raiders deep into eastern Ukraine. According to the OUN/UPA, on May 12, 1943 Germans attacked the town of Kolki using several SS-Divisions (SS units operated alongside the German Army who were responsible for intelligence, central security, policing action, and mass extermination), where both sides suffered heavy losses. Soviet partisans reported the reinforcement of German auxiliary forces at Kolki for the end of April until the middle of May, 1943

In June 1943 German SS and police forces under the command of General von dem Bach-Zelewski, chosen by Himmler and seen as an expert in anti-guerrilla warfare, attempted to destroy UPA-North in Volyn during Operation "BB" (Bandenbekämpfung). According to Ukrainian accounts, the initial stage of Operation “BB” (Bandenbekämpfung) against the UPA had produced no results whatsoever. This development was the subject of several discussions by Himmler's staff that resulted in General von dem Bach-Zelewski being sent to Ukraine. He failed to eliminate the UPA, which grew steadily, and the Germans, apart from terrorizing the civilian population, were virtually limited to defensive actions.

From July through September 1943, as a result of an estimated 74 clashes between German forces and the UPA, the Germans lost over 3,000 men killed or wounded while the UPA lost 1,237 killed or wounded. In the fall of 1943, clashes between the UPA and the Germans declined, so that Erich Koch in his November 1943 report and New Year 1944 speech could mention that “nationalistic bands in forests do not pose any major threat” for the Germans.

In autumn 1943 some detachments of the UPA attempted to find rapprochement with the Germans. Although doing so was condemned by an OUN/UPA order from November 25, 1943, these actions did not end. In early 1944 UPA forces in several Western regions engaged in cooperation with the German Wehrmacht, Waffen SS, SiPo and SD. However, in the winter and spring of 1944 it would be incorrect to state that there was a complete cessation of armed conflict between UPA and German forces, because the UPA continued to defend Ukrainian villages against the repressive actions of the German administration.

For example, on January 20, 200 German soldiers on their way to the Ukrainian village of Pyrohivka were forced to retreat after a several-hours long firefight with a group of 80 UPA soldiers after having lost 30 killed and wounded. In March–July 1944 a senior leader of OUN(B) in Galicia conducted negotiations with SD and SS officials, resulting in a German decision to supply the UPA with arms and ammunition. In May of that year, the OUN issued instructions to "switch the struggle, which had been conducted against the Germans, completely into a struggle against the Soviets.".

In a top secret memorandum, General-Major Brigadeführer Brenner wrote in mid-1944 to SS-Obergruppenführer General Hans Prutzmann, the highest ranking German SS officer in Ukraine, that “The UPA has halted all attacks on units of the German army. The UPA systematically sends agents, mainly young women, into enemy-occupied territory, and the results of the intelligence are communicated to Department 1c of the Army Group” on the southern Front. By the autumn of 1944, the German press was full of praise for UPA for their anti-Bolshevik successes, referring to the UPA fighters as "Ukrainian fighters for freedom" After the front had passed, by the end of 1944 the Germans supplied OUN/UPA by air with arms and equipment. There even existed, in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, a small landing strip for German transport planes. Some German personnel trained to conduct terrorist and intelligence activities behind Soviet lines, as well as some OUN-B leaders, were also transported through this channel.

The UPA, fighting a two-front war against both the Germans and approaching Soviets (as well as Soviet partisans), did not focus all of its efforts against the Germans. Indeed, it considered the Soviets to be a greater threat. Adopting a strategy analogous to that of the Chetnik leader General Draža Mihailović, the UPA limited its actions against the Germans in order to better prepare itself for and engage in the struggle against the Communists. Because of this, although the UPA managed to limit German activities to a certain extent, it failed to prevent the Germans from deporting approximately 500,000 people from Western Ukrainian regions and from economically exploiting Western Ukraine. Due to its focus on the Soviets as the principal threat, UPA's anti-German struggle did not contribute significantly to the liberation of Ukrainian territories by Soviet forces.

Poland

Ethnic cleansing of Poles in Volhynia and Galicia

The mass grave of the victims of UPA discovered during the exhumation in Wola Ostrowiecka (August 2011)
Main article: Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia

Beginning in 1943, the UPA adopted a policy of massacring and expelling the Polish population of Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. The ethnic cleansing operation against the ethnic Polish population began on a large scale in late February of that year and lasted until the end of 1944. In Volhynia deadly acts of aggression, including the mass murder of Poles, occurred throughout 1943 before spreading to eastern Galicia in early 1944. In June 1943, Dmytro Klyachkivsky head-commander of UPA-North made a general decision to exterminate all male Poles living in Volhynia. July 11, 1943, was one of the bloodiest days of the massacres, with UPA units marching from village to village, killing Polish civilians. On that day UPA units surrounded and attacked 99 of Polish villages and settlements in three counties – Kowel, Horochow, and Włodzimierz Wołyński. On the following day fifty additional villages were attacked.

Between August 21 and 25, 1943, during the Third Convention of the OUN, Roman Shukhevych accepted the "Volhynia stategy," an operation which aimed at Poles and had been conducted by Dmytro Klyachkivsky.

The methods used by the Ukrainian nationalists in both Galicia and Volhynia consisted of killing all Poles in the villages, then pillaging the villages and burning them to the ground. Victims, regardless of age or gender, were routinely tortured to death.

In late 1943 and early 1944, after most Poles of Volhynia had either been murdered or had fled, the killings moved to the neighboring province of Galicia. In March 1944, the main Command of the UPA ordered the ethnic cleansing of all Poles from Galicia. Unlike Volhynia, where Polish villages were destroyed and their inhabitants murdered without warning, Poles in eastern Galicia were sometimes given the choice of fleeing or being killed.

By the end of summer 1944, mass acts of terror aimed at Poles were taking place in Eastern Galicia to force them to resettle on the western bank of the San river. A popular slogan during the period was "Poles beyond the San". Ukrainian peasants sometimes joined the UPA in the violence, and large bands of armed marauders, unaffiliated with the UPA, brutalized civilians. In other cases however, Ukrainian civilians took significant steps to protect their Polish neighbors, either hiding them during UPA raids or vouching that the Poles were actually Ukrainians.

The total number of Poles murdered specifically by UPA is unknown. Estimates of the Polish deaths in Volhynia are over 300,000. The number of UPA victims in Volhynia, Galicia and current Poland combined ranges from 300,000 to 350,000 Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).</nowiki>

Post-war

After Galicia had been taken over by the Red Army, many units of UPA abandoned the anti-Polish course of action and some even began cooperating with local Polish anti-communist resistance against the Soviets and the NKVD. Many Ukrainians, who had nothing to do with earlier massacres against the Poles, seeking to defend themselves against communists, joined UPA after the war on both the Soviet and Polish sides of the border.<ref> ]. New York Review of Books. February 24, 2010.</ref> Local agreements between the UPA and the Polish post-AK units began to appear as early as April/May 1945 and in some places lasted until 1947, for example in the Lublin region. One of the most notable joint actions of UPA and the post-AK Freedom and Independence (WiN) organization took place in May 1946, when the two partisan formations coordinated their attack and took over of the city of Hrubieszów.<ref name=Mot1>Grzegorz Motyka, "W Kreguy ''Lun w Bieszczadach'', Rytm, Warsaw, 2009, pg. 12-14, 43</ref> The cooperation between UPA and the post-AK underground came about partly as a response to increasing communist terror and the deportations of Ukrainians to the Soviet Union, and Poles into the new socialist Poland. According to official statistics, between 1944 and 1956 around 789,000 Ukrainians and 488,000 Poles were deported by the Soviets.<ref name=Mot1/> On the territories of present day Poland, 8-12 thousand Ukrainians were killed and 6-8 thousand Poles, between 1943 and 1947. However, unlike in Volhynia, most of the casualties occurred after 1944 and involved UPA soldiers and Ukrainian civilians on one side, and members of the Polish security services (UB) and border forces (WOP).<ref name=Mot1/> Out of the 2200 Poles who died in the fighting between 1945 and 1948, only a few hundred were civilians, with the remainder being functionaries or soldiers of the Communist regime in Poland.<ref name=Mot1/>

Soviet Union

German occupation

The total number of local Soviet Partisans acting in Western Ukraine was never high, due to the region enduring only two years of Soviet rule (in some places even less).<ref></ref> Only towards the end of the war, in 1944, did the numbers and activity of Soviet Partisans in Ukraine increase. The UPA first encountered them in late 1942. In 1943, the Soviet partisan leader Sydir Kovpak was sent to the Carpathian Mountains, with help from Nikita Khrushchev. He described his mission to the western Ukraine in his book Vid Putivlia do Karpat (From Putivl to the Carpathian Mountains). Well armed by supplies delivered to secret airfields, he formed a group consisting of several thousand men<ref name="Subtelny476">Subtelny, p. 476</ref> which moved deep into the Carpathians. Attacks by the German air force and military forced Kovpak to break up his force into smaller units in 1944; these groups were attacked by UPA units on their way back. Soviet intelligence agent Nikolai Kuznetsov was captured and executed by UPA members, after unwittingly entering their camp while wearing a Wehrmacht officer uniform.<ref>Ihor Sundiukov, "The Other Side of the Legend: Nikolai Kuznetsov Revisited", 24 January 2006. on 18 December 2007.</ref>

Fighting

As the Red Army approached Galicia, the UPA avoided clashes with the regular units of the Soviet military fearing their offensive action would annihilate them.<ref name="Perekrest"></ref> Instead, the UPA focused its energy on NKVD units and Soviet officials of all levels, from NKVD and military officers to the school teachers and postal workers attempting to establish Soviet administration.<ref name="Krohmaliuk">{{Cite book| author=Krokhmaluk, Y. | title=UPA Warfare in Ukraine| location= New York | publisher= Vantage Press | year = 1972| page = (page 242)}}</ref> Soviet archival data shows that UPA attacks were focused on small units and groups of Soviet soldiers, often ending with killing of the captured and wounded. The UPA opposed the mobilization of able-bodied men into the Soviet Army through the extermination of whole families of those who joined. The UPA also disrupted Soviet efforts at collectivization. In March 1944, UPA insurgents mortally wounded front commander Army General Nikolai Vatutin, who led the liberation of Kiev.<ref name="Grenkevich,">{{Cite book| author=Grenkevich, L., translated by David Glantz. | title=The Soviet Partisan Movement, 1941-1944: Critical analysis of | publisher= Routledge | year = 1999 | page = 134}}</ref> Several weeks later an NKVD battalion was annihilated by the UPA near Rivne. This began a full-scale operation in the spring of 1944, initially involving 30,000 Soviet troops against the UPA in Volyn. Estimates of casualties vary depending on the source. A letter to the state defense committee of the USSR, Lavrentiy Beria stated that in spring 1944 clashes between Soviet forces and UPA resulted in 2,018 killed and 1,570 captured UPA fighters and only 11 Soviet killed and 46 wounded. Soviet archives show that a captured UPA member stated that he received a reports about UPA losses of 200 fighters while the Soviet forces lost 2,000.<ref name="UPA15_p213">Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, , p. 213-214</ref> The first significant sabotage operations against communications of the Soviet Army before their offensive against the Germans was conducted by the UPA in April–May 1944. Such actions were promptly stopped by the Soviet Army and NKVD troops, after which the OUN/UPA submitted an order to temporarily cease anti-Soviet activities and prepare for further struggle against the Soviets.<ref name=autogenerated2>Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 pp.549-570</ref> Despite heavy casualties on both sides during the initial clashes, the struggle was inconclusive. New large scale actions of the UPA, especially in Ternopil Oblast, were launched in July–August 1944, when the Red Army advanced West.<ref name=autogenerated2 /> By the autumn of 1944, UPA forces enjoyed virtual freedom of movement over an area of 160,000 square kilometers in size and home to over 10 million people and had established a shadow government.<ref name="Zhukov"></ref> In November 1944, Khrushchev launched the first of several large-scale Soviet assaults on the UPA throughout Western Ukraine, involving according to OUN/UPA estimates at least 20 NKVD combat divisions supported by artillery and armored units. They blockaded villages and roads and set forests on fire.<ref name="Krohmaliuk" /> Soviet archival data states that on October 9, 1944 1 NKVD Division, eight NKVD brigades, and an NKVD cavalry regiment with the total number of 26,304 NKVD soldiers stationed in Western Ukraine. In addition, 2 regiments with 1,500 and 1,200 persons, 1 battalion (517 persons) and three armored trains with 100 additional soldiers each, as well as 1 border guards regiment and 1 unit were starting to relocate there in order to reinforce them.<ref>According to Soviet archives, the NKVD units located in Western Ukraine were: the 9th Rifle division; 16, 20, 21, 25, 17, 18, 19, 23rd brigades; 1 cavalry regiment. Sent to reinforce them: 256, 192nd regiments; 1 battalion three armored trains (45, 26, 42). The 42nd border guard regiment and another unit (27th) were sent to reinforce them. From Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P.478-482</ref> During late 1944 and the first half of 1945, according to Soviet data, the UPA suffered approximately 89,000 killed, approximately 91,000 captured, and approximately 39,000 surrendered while the Soviet forces lost approximately 12,000 killed, approximately 6,000 wounded and 2,600 MIA. In addition, during this time, according to Soviet data UPA actions resulted in the killing of 3,919 civilians and the disappearance of 427 others.<ref>Exact statistics of UPA casualties by the Soviets and Soviet casualties by UPA, in specific time periods, according to data compiled by the NKVD of the Ukrainian SRR: during February - December 1944 the UPA suffered the following casualties: 57,405 killed; 50,387 captured; 15,990 surrendered. During the period from January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 the following casualties were reported: 31,157 killed; 40,760 captured; 23,156 surrendered. The UPA's actions numbered 2,903 in 1944, and from January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 - 1,289. During February until December 1944 Soviet losses were: 9,521 "killed and hanged"; 3,494 wounded; 2,131 MIA; amongst them NKVD-NKGB suffered 401 killed and hanged, 227 wounded, 98 MIA and captured. From January 1, 1945 until May 1, 1945 the NKVD and Soviet Army troops suffered 2,513 killed, 2,489 wounded, 524 MIA and captured. Soviet Authorities personnel suffered 1,225 killed or hanged, 239 wounded, 427 MIA or captured. In addition, 3,919 civilians were killed or hanged, 320 wounded, and 814 MIA or captured. From Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 pp.604-605</ref> Despite the heavy losses, as late as summer 1945, many battalion-size UPA units still continued to control and administer large areas of territory in Western Ukraine.<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', pp. 489, University of Toronto Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref> In February 1945 the UPA issued an order to liquidate kurins (battalions) and sotnya’s (companies) and to act predominantly by choty’s (platoons).<ref>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army </ref>

Spring 1945–late 1946

Further information: Sluzhba Bezbeky

After Germany surrendered in May 1945, the Soviet authorities turned their attention to insurgencies taking place in Ukraine and the Baltics. Combat units were re-organised and special forces were sent in. One of the major complications that arose was the local support the UPA had from the population. Areas of UPA activity were depopulated. The estimates on numbers deported vary; officially Soviet archives state that between 1944 and 1952 a total of 182,543 people<ref>{{uk icon}}</ref><ref>Theses include deported (1944-47): families of OUN/UPA members–– 15,040 families (37,145) persons; OUN/UPA underground families – 26,332 (77,791 persons) taken from: Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kiev Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P.545-546</ref> were deported while other sources indicate the number may have been as high as to 500,000.<ref name="Subtelny489">Subtelny, p. 489</ref> Mass arrests of suspected UPA informants or family members were conducted; between February 1944 and May 1946 over 250,000 people were arrested in Western Ukraine.<ref name=Burds97>Burds, p.97</ref> Those arrested typically experienced beatings or other violence. Those suspected of being UPA members underwent torture; (reports exist of some prisoners being burned alive). The many arrested women believed to be affiliating with the UPA were subjected to torture, deprivation, and rape at the hands of Soviet security in order to "break" them and get them to reveal UPA members' identities and locations or to turn them into Soviet double-agents.<ref name=autogenerated6 /> Mutilated corpses of captured rebels were put on public display.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11</ref> Ultimately, between 1944 and 1952 as many as 600,000 people may have been arrested in Western Ukraine, with about one third executed and the rest imprisoned or exiled.<ref>]. (2004). ]. ISBN 0-393-05144-7 ] pg. 195</ref> The UPA responded to the Soviet methods by unleashing their own terror against Soviet activists, suspected collaborators and their families. This work was particularly attributed to the Sluzhba Bezbeky (SB), the anti-espionage wing of the UPA. In a typical incident in Lviv region, in front of horrified villagers, UPA troops gouged out the eyes of two entire families suspected of reporting on insurgent movements to Soviet authorities, before hacking their bodies to pieces. Due to public outrage concerning these violent punitive acts, the UPA stopped the practice of killing the families of collaborators by mid 1945. Other victims of the UPA included Soviet activists sent to Galicia from other parts of the Soviet Union; heads of village Soviets, those sheltering or feeding Red Army personnel, and even people turning food in to collective farms. The effect of such terrorist acts was such that people refused to take posts as village heads, and until the late 1940s villages chose single men with no dependants as their leaders.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pp. 106 - 110</ref> The UPA also proved to be especially adept at assassinating key Soviet administrative officials. According to NKVD data, between February 1944 and December 1946 11,725 Soviet officers, agents and collaborators were assassinated and 2,401 were "missing", presumed kidnapped, in Western Ukraine.<ref name=autogenerated4>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pp. 113-114</ref> In one county in Lviv region alone, from August 1944 until January 1945 Ukrainian rebels killed ten members of the Soviet activ and a secretary of the county Communist party, and also kidnapped four other officials. The UPA travelled at will throughout the area. In this county, there were no courts, no prosecutor's office, and the local NKVD only had three staff members.<ref name=autogenerated4 /> According to a 1946 report by Khrushchenv's deputy for West Ukrainian affairs A.A. Stoiantsev, out of 42,175 operations and ambushes against the UPA by Destructive Battalions in Western Ukraine, only 10 percent had positive results - in the vast majority there was either no contact or the individual unit was disarmed and pro-Soviet leaders murdered or kidnapped.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pg. 123</ref> Morale amongst the NKVD in Western Ukraine was particularly low. Even within the dangerous context of Soviet state service in the late-Stalin era, West Ukraine was considered to be a "hardship post", and personnel files reveal higher rates of transfer requests, alcoholism, and nervous breakdowns and refusal to serve among NKVD field agents there at that time.<ref>, Jeffrey Burds (1997) ]'', v.11, pg. 120</ref> The first success of the Soviet authorities came in early 1946 in the Carpathians, which were blockaded from January 11 until April 10. The UPA operating there ceased to exist as a combat unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/22.pdf|title=Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|publisher=Institute of Ukrainian History, ]|accessdate=26 May 2013|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060529064950/http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/22.pdf|archivedate=2006-05-29}}{{uk icon}}</ref> The continuous heavy casualties elsewhere forced the UPA to split into small units consisting of 100 soldiers. Many of the troops demobilized and returned home, when the Soviet Union offered three amnesties during 1947-1948.<ref name="Perekrest" /> By 1946, the UPA was reduced to a core group of 5-10 thousand fighters, and large-scale UPA activity shifted to the Soviet-Polish border. Here, in 1947, they allegedly killed the Polish Communist deputy defense minister General Karol Świerczewski. In spring 1946, the OUN/UPA established contacts with the Intelligence services of France, Great Britain and the USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/23.pdf|title=Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army|publisher=Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine|accessdate=26 May 2013|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080411143934/http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/23.pdf|archivedate=2008-04-11}}{{uk icon}}</ref> Although the UPA obtained some help from the CIA and British intelligence during the latter phase of its struggle, the operation was betrayed by Kim Philby. After the huge winter 1945/46 operation by the NKVD, the UPA/OUN fielded 479 units and had 3,735 fighters, according to an NKVD estimate from April 1, 1946. By January 1, 1947 the Soviets estimated the OUN and UPA as having 530 fighting units with 4,456 fighters.

End of UPA resistance

The turning point in the struggle against the UPA came in 1947, when the Soviets established an intelligence gathering network within the UPA and shifted the focus of their actions from mass terror to infiltration and espionage. After 1947 the UPA's activity began to subside. On May 30, 1947 Shukhevych issued instructions joining the OUN and UPA in underground warfare . In 1947-1948 UPA resistance was weakened enough to allow the Soviets to begin implementation of large-scale collectivization throughout Western Ukraine.<ref name="Zhukov">{{Cite journal| first = Yuri | last = Zhukov | authorlink = Y. Zhukov | year = 2007| month = | title = Examining the Authoritarian Model of Counterinsurgency: The Soviet Campaign Against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army | journal = Small Wars and Insurgencies | volume = 18 | issue = 3 | pages = 439–466 | id = | url= http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a785924288~db=all~order=page | doi = 10.1080/09592310701674416 }}</ref> In 1948, the Soviet central authorities purged local officials who had mistreated peasants and engaged in "vicious methods". At the same time, Soviet agents planted within the UPA had taken their toll on morale and on the UPA's effectiveness. According to the writing of one slain Ukrainian rebel, "the Bolsheviks tried to take us from within...you can never know exactly in whose hands you will find yourself. From such a network of spies, the work of whole teams is often penetrated...". In November 1948, the work of Soviet agents led to two important victories against the UPA: the defeat and deaths of the heads of the most active UPA network in Western Ukraine, and the removal of "Myron", the head of the UPA's counterintelligence SB unit.<ref></ref> The Soviet authorities tried to win over the local population by making significant economic investment in Western Ukraine, and by setting up rapid reaction groups in many regions to combat the UPA. According to one retired MVD major, "By 1948 ideologically we had the support of most of the population."<ref name="Perekrest" /> The Soviets skillfully exploited Polish-Ukrainian ethnic friction by recruiting Poles as informants. This contributed to the growing isolation of the UPA which was further helped by the Polish government implementing Operation Vistula in 1947. On September 3, 1949 Shukhevych issued an order, dissolving UPA units and headquarters and integrating UPA's personnel into the OUN (B) underground. The UPA's leader, Roman Shukhevych, was killed during an ambush near Lviv on March 5, 1950. Although sporadic UPA activity continued until the mid-1950s, after Shukhevich's death the UPA rapidly lost its fighting capability. An assessment of UPA manpower by Soviet authorities on 17 April 1952 claimed that UPA/OUN had only 84 fighting units consisting of 252 persons. The UPA's last commander, Vasyl Kuk, was captured on May 24, 1954. Despite the existence of some insurgent groups, according to a report by the MGB of the Ukrainian SSR, the "liquidation of armed units and OUN underground was accomplished by the beginning of 1956".<ref></ref> Controversially, it has been suggested that there were NKVD units dressed as UPA fighters<ref name="Wilson">{{Cite book| author=Wilson, A. | title=Virtual Politics: Faking Democracy in the Post-Soviet World| location= New Haven | publisher= ] | year = 2005 | page = 15}}</ref> which committed atrocities in order to demoralize the civilian population.<ref>]]</ref> among these NKVD units were those composed of former UPA fighters working for the NKVD.<ref>Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kyiv Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 P 460-464, 470-477</ref> The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) recently published information about 150 such special groups consisting of 1,800 people operated until 1954.<ref></ref>Bohdan Stashynsky was ex-UPA turned MVD fighter who would then climb the ladder of MGB (and later KGB) hierarchy to become a foreign agent who assassinated the OUN chief Lev Rebet in 1957 and later Stepan Bandera in 1959. Prominent people killed by UPA insurgents during the anti-Soviet struggle included Metropolitan Oleksiy (Hromadsky) of the Ukrainian Autonomous Orthodox Church, killed while travelling in a German convoy,<ref name="Armstrong">John Armstrong (1963). ''Ukrainian Nationalism''. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 205-206</ref> and pro-Soviet writer Yaroslav Halan.<ref name="Perekrest" /> In 1951 CIA covert operations chief Frank Wisner estimated that some 35,000 Soviet police troops and Communist party cadres had been eliminated by guerrillas affiliated with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army in the period after the end of World War II. Official Soviet figures for the losses inflicted by all types of "Ukrainian nationalists" during the period 1944-1953 referred to 30,676 persons; amongst them were 687 NKGB-MGB personnel, 1,864 NKVD-MVD personnel, 3,199 Soviet Army, Border Guards, and NKVD-MVD troops, 241 communist party leaders, 205 komsomol leaders and 2,590 members of self-defense units. According to Soviet data the remaining losses were among civilians, including 15,355 peasants and kolkhozniks.<ref>http://history.org.ua/oun_upa/upa/24.pdf p.439</ref> Soviet archives state that between February 1944 and January 1946 the Soviet forces conducted 39,778 operations against the UPA, during which they killed a total of 103,313, captured a total of 8,370 OUN members and captured a total of 15,959 active insurgents.<ref>Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, ''Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army'', Chapter 21, pp. 385-386 </ref>

Soviet infiltration

From the beginning of 1944, the Soviets waged an active campaign against the UPA, launching a large-scale assault against the Ukrainian underground in several directions: propaganda among the population; military operations; repression against members and their families. Soviet anti-insurgent propaganda was concentrated on discrediting and dividing the national liberation movement. Soviet propaganda emphasised their thesis on the treason and crimes of "Ukrainian-German nationalists" and their collaboration with "fascist invaders". From 1944 through the 1950s, frontal sections of the Red Army and SMERSH operated against the UPA. Later the function of fighting the UPA fell to the NKVD. In 1944-1945 the NKVD carried out 26,693 operations against the Ukrainian underground. These resulted in the deaths of 22,474 Ukrainian soldiers and the capture of 62,142 prisoners. During this time the NKVD formed special groups known as spetshrupy made up of former Soviet partisans. The goal of these groups was to discredit and disorganize the OUN and UPA. In August 1944 Sydir Kovpak was placed under NKVD authority. Posing as Ukrainian insurgents these special formations used violence against the civilian population of Western Ukraine. In June 1945 there were 156 such special groups with 1783 members.<ref name=autogenerated7>(Ukrainian) Українська Повстанська Армія - Історія нескорених - Львів, 2007 p.307-310</ref> The Soviets used "extermination battalions" (strybky) recruiting secret collaborators in each population point. Attempts were made to place agents at all leading levels of the OUN and UPA. From December 1945 – 1946 15,562 operations were carried out in which 4,200 were killed and more than 9,400 were arrested. From 1944-1953,the Soviets killed 153,000 and arrested 134,000 members of the UPA. 66,000 families (204,000 people) were forcibly deported to Siberia and half a million people were subject to repressions. In the same period Polish communist authorities deported 450,000 people.<ref name=autogenerated7 />

UPA and Jews

Ukrainian Insurgent Army Spring 1944 Instruction abstract. Text in Ukrainian: "Jewish question" Jewish question" -"No actions against Jews to be taken. Jewish issue is no longer a problem (only few of them remain). This does not apply to those who stand out against us actively.

There is a lack of consensus among historians about the involvement of the UPA in the massacre of Western Ukraine's Jews. Numerous accounts ascribe to the UPA a role in the fate of the Ukrainian Jews under the German occupation.<ref name=EncHol>''Ukrainian Insurgent Army'' in the '']'', Israel Gutman, editor-in-chief. New York: Macmillan, 1990. 4 volumes. ISBN 0-02-896090-4.</ref><ref name=Piotr>], ''Ukrainian Collaboration'' in ''Poland's Holocaust: Ethnic Strife, Collaboration with Occupying Forces and Genocide in the Second Republic, 1918–1947'' pp. 220–59, McFarland & Company, 1998, ISBN 0-7864-0371-3</ref> Other historians, however, do not support the claims that the UPA was involved in anti-Jewish massacres.<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', University of Toronto Press, 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref><ref></ref> Antisemitism did not play a central role in Ukrainian nationalist ideology, notwithstanding the antisemitic rhetoric that was obligatory in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany. German documents of the period give the impression that Ukrainian ultranationalists were indifferent to the plight of the Jews; they would either kill them or help them, whichever was more appropriate for their political goals.<ref name=autogenerated8> by John-Paul Himka, University of Alberta. Taken from ''The Fate of the European Jews, 1939-1945: Continuity or Contingency'', ed. Jonathan Frankel (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), Studies in Contemporary Jewry 13 (1997): 170-89.</ref> According to specialist John Paul Himka, OUN militias were responsible for a wave of pogroms in Lviv and western Ukraine in 1941 that claimed thousands of Jewish lives. The OUN had earlier repudiated pogroms but changed its stand when the Germans, with whom the OUN sought an alliance, demanded participation in them.<ref> By John Paul Himka. Kyiv Post September 23, 2010.</ref> Recently declassified documents have shown that the OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) was most likely not strongly involved in anti-Jewish activities in 1941.<ref>http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-234844.html</ref> The OUN pursued a policy of infiltrating the German police in order to obtain weapons and training for its fighters. In this role they helped the Germans to implement the Final Solution. Although most Jews were actually killed by Germans, the OUN police working for them played a crucial supporting role in the liquidation of 200,000 Jews in Volyn in the second half of 1942 <ref name="Nations. pg. 162">]. (2004) ''The Reconstruction of Nations.'' New Haven: Yale University Press: pg. 162</ref> (although in isolated cases Ukrainian policemen also helped Jews to escape <ref>Timothy Snyder. (2008). "The life and death of Volhynian Jewry, 1921-1945." In Brandon, Lowler (Eds.) ''The Shoah in Ukraine: history, testimony, memorialization.'' Indiana: Indiana University Press, pg. 95</ref>) Most of these police deserted in the following spring and joined UPA.<ref name="Nations. pg. 162"/> Jews played an important role in the Soviet partisan movement in Volhynia and participated in its actions. The Soviet partisans were known for their brutality, retaliating against entire villages suspected of working with the Germans, killing individuals deemed to be collaborators, and provoking the Germans to attack villages. UPA would later attempt to match that brutality.<ref name = "Snydershoah">Timothy Snyder. (2008). "The life and death of Volhynian Jewry, 1921-1945." In Brandon, Lowler (Eds.) ''The Shoah in Ukraine: history, testimony, memorialization.'' Indiana: Indiana University Press, pg. 101</ref> By early 1943 the OUN had entered into open armed conflict with Nazi Germany. According to Ukrainian historian and former UPA soldier Lew Shankowsky, immediately upon assuming the position of commander of UPA in August 1943 Roman Shukhevych issued an order banning participation in anti-Jewish activities. No written record of this order, however, has been found.<ref>Phillip Friedman. (1980). ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Occupation. From ''Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust.'' New York: Conference on Jewish Social Studies, pg. 203</ref> In 1944, the OUN formally "rejected racial and ethnic exclusivity"<ref name=Subtelny367>], '''', p. 474, ], 2000, ISBN 0-8020-8390-0</ref> Nevertheless, Jews hiding from the Germans with Poles in Polish villages were often killed by UPA along with their Polish saviors, although in at least one case they were spared as the Poles were murdered.<ref name = "Snydershoah"/> Despite the earlier anti-Jewish statements by the OUN, and UPA's involvement in the killing of some Jews, there were cases of Jewish participation within the ranks of UPA, some of whom held high positions. Jewish participation included fighters,<ref>Leo Heiman, "We Fought for Ukraine - The Story of Jews Within the UPA", ''Ukrainian Quarterly'' Spring 1964, pp.33-44.</ref> but was particularly visible among its medical personnel. These included Dr. Margosh, who headed UPA-West's medical service, Dr. Marksymovich, who was the Chief Physician of the UPA's officer school, and Dr. Abraham Kum, the director of an underground hospital in the Carpathians. The latter individual was the recipient of the UPA's Golden Cross of Merit. A claim exists that a Jewish woman, Stella Krenzbach, the daughter of a rabbi and a Zionist, joined the UPA as a nurse and intelligence agent. She is alleged to have written "I attribute the fact that I am alive today and devoting all the strength of my thirty-eight years to a free Israel only to God and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. I became a member of the heroic UPA on 7 November 1943. In our group I counted twelve Jews, eight of whom were doctors." <ref> posted on the website of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine</ref> although her particular account has been dismissed as a hoax by several sources.<ref>John Paul Himka. . Himka notes that Bohdan Kordiuk an OUN member who had been incarcerated in a concentration camp (Auschwitz), described Krenzbach's memoirs as false in the newspaper Suchasna Ukraina (no. 15/194, 20 July 1958), where he wrote “...None of the UPA men known to the author of these lines knows the legendary Stella Krenzbach or have heard of her. The Jews do not know her either. It is unlikely that anyone of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees after the war met Stella Krenzbach.” Himka also noted the Philip Friedman faield to find evidence of her existence.</ref><ref>Philip Friedman. ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation.'' In Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. (1980) New York: Conference of Jewish Social Studies. pp.203-204</ref> One Ukrainian historian has claimed that almost every UPA unit included Jewish support personnel. Many Jews, particularly those whose skills were useful to UPA, were sheltered by them.<ref name= Friedman>{{Cite journal| author=Friedman, P. | title=Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation, ''YIVO Annual of Jewish Social Science'' v. 12, pp. 259–96, 1958–59}} Friedman gives the examples of two camps, one numbering 100 Jews and another with 400 Jews</ref> It has been claimed that UPA sometimes executed its Jewish personnel, although such claims are either uncorroborated or mistaken.<ref>Philip Friedman. ''Ukrainian-Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation.'' In Roads to Extinction: Essays on the Holocaust. (1980) New York: Conference of Jewish Social Studies. pg. 189 and footnotes pp. 204-205. Friedman notes that claims by Eisenstein-Keshev that UPA liquidated its physicians did not include any detailed data about this, and reported that another claim is questionable. Eisenstein claimed that at the approach of the Soviet army UPA liquidated the 400 Jews they had employed in Kudrynki in Volhynia (only 17 of whom survived). In reality, Friedman notes that the camp did not disperse due to the advance of Soviet forces as erroneously written by Eisenstein but was overrun by a German motorized battalion. Friedman notes that "conceivably, some of the Jewish inmates were left behind, fell into the hands of the Germans, and were exterminated." Friedman noted that he personally met one Jewish physician and his wife who had been with the Bandera group and knew of another physician and his brother who also served in the UPA and settled near Tel Aviv after the war.</ref> Soviet propaganda complained about Zionist membership in UPA <ref name=autogenerated3></ref> and during the period of persecution of Jews in the early 1950s described the alleged connection between Jewish and Ukrainian nationalists .<ref>Iwan S Koropecky (Ed.) ''The Selected Works of Viacheslav Holubnychy.'' Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press. pg. 123.</ref> One can conclude that the relationship between the UPA and Western Ukraine's Jews was complex and not one-sided.<ref>Peter J. Potichnyj "As for the killings of Jews and Poles, Potichnyj argues that no matter where guerrillas fight for liberation, it's a messy affair."; "With respect to Jews," he said, "obviously, in the situation there must have taken place some killing of the Jews, although in 1943, when the UPA was quite strong, there were hardly any Jews left because the Germans had, unfortunately, killed them all off. But there were some remnants, and the remnants were either working with the Ukrainian underground or they were working with the Soviets." Those allied with the Red partisans were obviously enemies of the underground, he said." and ] "He estimates that UPA fighters killed several thousand Jews, "but perhaps the number was much higher."; "Although what UPA did to the Jews may not have been, in the larger scheme of things, a major contribution to the Holocaust, it remains a large and inexpugnable stain on the record of the Ukrainian national insurgency, ... Potichnyj said the underground made a terrible mistake in not condemning the Germans' efforts to exterminate the Jews. But he strongly denies that there is any document showing that the underground ordered the "systematic" killing of Jews.". In Ukraine, movement to honor members of the World War II underground sets off debate. ]. January 8, 2010</ref>

Reconciliation

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During the following years the UPA was officially taboo in the Soviet Union, mentioned only as a terrorist organization.<ref name = washpost>{{Cite news|title = In Ukraine, debate over history| first = John| last = Pancake| publisher = Washington Post|date=6 January 2010| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503610.html}}</ref> Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, there have been heated debates about the possible award of official recognition to former UPA members as legitimate combatants, with the accompanying pensions and benefits due to war veterans.<ref name = washpost/> UPA veterans have also striven to hold parades and commemorations of their own, especially in Western Ukraine. This, in turn, led to opposition from Soviet Army veterans and some Ukrainian politicians, particularly from the south and east of the country.<ref name = washpost/> The government in Russia has also reacted negatively. Attempts to reconcile the two groups of veterans have made little progress. An attempt to hold a joint parade in Kiev in May 2005, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, proved unsuccessful. The assessment of the historical role of UPA remains a controversial issue in Ukrainian society, although Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko joined several public Ukrainian organizations in calls for reconciliation, pensions, and other benefits for UPA veterans which would give them equal status with the veterans of the Soviet Army, and aid the understanding of their role in the chaotic times of UPA operations. In 2007, president Yushchenko awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine", the country's highest honour, to UPA leader Roman Shukhevych. Recently, attempts to reconcile former Armia Krajowa and UPA soldiers have been made by both the Ukrainian and Polish sides. Individual former UPA members have expressed their readiness for mutual apology. Some of the past soldiers of both organisations have met and asked for forgiveness for the past misdeeds.<ref></ref> Restorations of graves and cemeteries in Poland where fallen UPA soldiers were buried have been agreed to by the Polish side.<ref></ref>

Monuments (for combatants or victims)

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Without waiting for official notice from Kiev, many regional authorities have already decided to approach the UPA history on their own. In some western cities and villages monuments, memorials and plaques to the leaders and troops of the UPA have been erected, including a monument to Stepan Bandera himself which opened in October 2007. In late 2006 the Lviv city administration announced the future transference of the tombs of Stepan Bandera, Yevhen Konovalets, Andriy Melnyk and other key leaders of OUN/UPA to a new area of Lychakiv Cemetery specifically dedicated to Ukrainian nationalists.<ref></ref> In response to this, many southern and eastern provinces, despite the fact that the UPA did not operate in these regions, have responded by opening memorials of their own dedicated the UPA's victims. The first one of these, titled "The Shot in the Back", was unveiled by the Communist Party of Ukraine in Simferopol, Crimea in September 2007,<ref>Lenta.ru В Крыму открыт монумент жертвам бандеровцев 14.September 2007. 2 April 2008.</ref> and in 2008 one was erected in Svatove, Luhansk oblast, and another in Luhansk on May 8, 2010 by the city deputy Arsen Klinchaev and the Party of Regions.<ref name=Luhansk/> The unveiling ceremony was attended by Vice Prime Minister Viktor Tykhonov, the leader of the parliamentary faction of the Pro-Russian Party of Regions Oleksandr Yefremov, Russian State Duma deputy Konstantin Zatulin, Luhansk Regional Governor Valerii Holenko, and Luhansk Mayor Serhii Kravchenko.<ref name=Luhansk>, ] (May 9, 2010)</ref>

Recognition

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According to Columbia University professor John Armstrong "If one takes into account the duration, geographical extent, and intensity of activity, the UPA very probably is the most important example of forceful resistance to an established Communist regime prior to the decade of fierce Afghan resistance beginning in 1979...the Hungarian revolution of 1956 was, of course, far more important, involving to some degree a population of nine million...however it lasted only a few weeks. In contrast, the more-or-less effective anti-Communist activity of the Ukrainian resistance forces lasted from mid-1944 until 1950".<ref>John Armstrong, ''Ukrainian Nationalism'', 3rd edition. Englewood, Colorado: Ukrainian Academic Press, 1990. ISBN 0-87287-755-8 (2nd edition: New York: Columbia University Press, 1963) pp.223-224</ref> On January 10, 2008 President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko submitted a draft law "On the official Status of Fighters for Ukraine’s Independence from the 1920s to the 1990s". Under the draft, persons who took part in political, guerrilla, underground and combat activities for the freedom and independence of Ukraine from 1920-1990 as part of the:

as well as persons who assisted these organizations shall be recognized as war veterans.<ref></ref>

Ukrainian postage stamp honoring Roman Shukhevych on 100th anniversary (2007) of his birth.

In 2007, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) set up a special working group to study archive documents of the activity of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in order to make public original sources.<ref></ref> Since 2006 the SBU has been actively involved in declassifying documents relating to the operations of Soviet security services and the history of liberation movement in Ukraine. The SBU Information Center provides an opportunity for scholars to get acquainted with electronic copies of archive documents. The documents are arranged by topics (1932-1933 Holodomor, OUN/UPA Activities, Repression in Ukraine, Movement of Dissident).<ref>http://en.for-ua.com/analytics/2008/10/15/120230.html</ref> As of September 2009, Ukrainian schoolchildren will take a more extensive course of the history of the Holodomor and OUN and UPA fighters.<ref>, ] (June 12, 2009)</ref> President Yushchenko took part in the celebration of the 67th anniversary of the UPA and the 65th of Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council on October 14, 2009.<ref>, ] (October 14, 2009)</ref> To commemorate National Unity Day, on January 22, 2010 President Yushchenko awarded Stepan Bandera the Hero of Ukraine honor posthumously. A district administrative court in Donetsk, Ukraine cancelled on April 2, 2010, the presidential decree granting the Hero of Ukraine title to Bandera. Lawyer Vladimir Olentsevych argued in a lawsuit that the title of Hero of Ukraine is the highest state award which is granted exclusively to citizens of Ukraine. Bandera was not a Ukrainian citizen, as he was killed in emigration in 1959 before the 1991 Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine.<ref>, ] (April 2, 2010)</ref><ref>, ] (April 3, 2010)</ref> On January 16, 2012 the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine upheld the Presidential decree of January 28, 2010 "About recognition of OUN members and soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army as participants in struggle for independence of Ukraine" after it was challenged by the leader of the Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine, Nataliya Vitrenko, recognizing the UPA as war combatants.<ref>. 2013-2-5</ref><ref>http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/high-court-upholds-decree-recognizing-upa-partisans-as-world-war-ii-combatants-320057.html</ref>

Popular culture

The Ukrainian black metal band Drudkh made a song entitled Ukrainian Insurgent Army on its 2006 release, Кров у Наших Криницях (Blood in our wells). Ukrainian black metal band Nokturnal Mortum have a song titled "Hailed Be the Heroes" (Слава героям) on the Weltanschauung/Мировоззрение album which contains lyrics pertaining to World War II and Western Ukraine (Galicia), and it's title, Slava Heroyam, is a traditional UPA salute. Two Czech films by František Vláčil, Shadows of a Hot Summer (Stíny horkého léta, 1977) and The Little Shepherd Boy From The Valley (Pasáček z doliny, 1983) are set in 1947, and feature UPA guerrillas in significant supporting roles. The first film resembles Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs (1971), in that it's about a farmer whose family is taken hostage by five UPA guerrillas, and he has to resort to his own ingenuity, plus reserves of violence that he never knew he possessed, to defeat them. In the second, the shepherd boy (actually a cowherd) imagines that a group of UPA guerrillas is made up of fairytale characters of his grandfather's stories, and that their leader is the Goblin King. Also films such as Neskorenyj (Undefeated), Zaliznya Sotnya (Company of Heroes)and Atentant (Assassination in Munich) feature more description about the role of UPA on their terrain. Undefeated is about the life of Roman Shuhevych and the hunt for him by both German and Soviet forces, Company of Heroes shows how UPA soldiers had everyday life as they fight far more superior forces, Assassination in Munich is about the life of Bandera and how treacherous KGB agents murdered him.

Films

  • The Undefeated (2000)
  • The White Bird Marked with Black (1970)
  • The Last Bunker (1991)
  • Vyshnevi Nochi (1992)
  • The Company of Heroes (2005)
  • Assassination. An Autumn Murder in Munich (1995)
  • Stracheni Svitanky (1995)
  • One - the soldier in the field (2003)
  • Goodbye, Girl (1994)
  • OUN - UPA war on two fronts (2006)
  • UPA. Third Force (2007)
  • Security Service of OUN. "Closed Doors" (2012)
  • Memories about UPA (1993)
  • Freedom or death! (2006)

Songs

The most obvious characteristic of the insurgent songs genre is the theme of rising up against occupying powers, enslavement and tyranny. Insurgent songs express an open call to battle and to revenge against the enemies of Ukraine, as well as love for the motherland and devotion to her revolutionary leaders (Bandera, Chuprynka and others). UPA actions, heroic deeds of individual soldiers, the hard underground life, longing for one's girl, family or boy are also important subject of this genre.<ref>Zenon Lavryshyn. Songs of the UPA. Toronto: Litopys UPA, 1996, p. 19</ref>

  • Taras Zhytynsky "To sons of UPA"<ref></ref>
  • Tartak "Not saying to anybody"<ref></ref>
  • Folk song "To the source of Dniester"<ref></ref>

See also

References

  1. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/ukraine/detail/114845/
  2. Myroslav Yurkevich, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Orhanizatsiia ukrainskykh natsionalistiv) This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 3 (1993).
  3. Українська Повстанська Армія — Історія нескорених, Lviv, 2007 p.28 Template:Uk icon
  4. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Chapter 4 pp. 193–199 Chapter 5
  5. Norman Davies. (1996). Europe: a History. Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. Aleksander V. Prusin. Ethnic Cleansing: Poles from Western Ukraine. In: Matthew J. Gibney, Randall Hansen. Immigration and asylum: from 1900 to the present. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. 2005. pp. 204-205.
  7. Timothy Snyder. The reconstruction of nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999. Yale University Press. 2003. pp. 169-170, 176
  8. John Paul Himka. Interventions: Challenging the Myths of Twentieth-Century Ukrainian History. University of Alberta. 2011. p.4.
  9. Grzegorz Rossoliński Liebe. "The Ukrainian National Revolution" of 1941. Discourse and Practice of a Fascist Movement. Kritika: Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History. Vol. 12/No. 1 (Winter 2011). p. 83.
  10. Timothy Snyder. The reconstruction of nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999. Yale University Press. 2003. p. 192.
  11. Subtelny, p. 474 Subtelny, Orest (1988). Ukraine: A History. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 800. ISBN 0-8020-8390-0.
  12. Interview with historian Viktor Korol "The very fact that in contrast to practically all the other resistance movements in the countries occupied in World War II by Nazi Germany, the Ukrainian resistance movement was not getting any outside help, and the fact that it could go on fighting first against the Germans and later against the Soviets showed that the UPA had a very substantial support of the local Ukrainian population."
  13. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 4, p. 180
  14. Організація українських націоналістів і Українська повстанська армія Chapter 3 p.118-153
  15. ^ Yuri Zhukov, "Examining the Authoritarian Model of Counter-insurgency: The Soviet Campaign Against the Ukrainian Insurgent Army", Small Wars and Insurgencies, v.18, no. 3, pp.439-466] Cite error: The named reference "Zhukov" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 12, p. 169
  17. Пастка для «Щура» 4 листопада одному з засновників УПА Дмитрові Клячківському виповнилося 95 років in Ukrainian-Russian "Zerkalo Nedeli" Magazine
  18. Ivan Katchanovski, Terrorists or National Heroes? Politics of the OUN and the UPA in Ukraine, http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2010/Katchanovski.pdf.
  19. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 12, p. 172
  20. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 14, p. 188
  21. ^ Magoscy, R. (1996). A History of Ukraine. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
  22. Petro Sodol - Ukrainian Insurgent Army 1943-1949. Handbook. New – York 1994 p.28
  23. John Armstrong. (1963). Ukrainian Nationalism. New York: Columbia University Press. pg. 156
  24. William Taubman. (2004). Khrushchev: The Man and His Era W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-05144-7 pg. 193
  25. Петро Мірчук, Українська Повстанська Армія. 1942-1952. Мюнхен, 1953. - 233-234 ст.
  26. "Hey, in meadow the red viburnum has tilted..." from "Narodna Pravda" on April 9, 2008 Template:Uk icon
  27. Template:Uk iconSo, who is the author of the famous song "Hey, in meadow the red viburnum has tilted"?
  28. Avramenko, O.M., Shabelnykova, L.P. Chapter 12. Riflemen songs. Ukrainian literature. Sixth grade. (textbook)
  29. Major Petro R.Sodol, USA (RET.). UPA: THEY FOUGHT HITLER AND STALIN. New York 1987. p. 34
  30. Major Petro R.Sodol, USA (RET.). UPA: THEY FOUGHT HITLER AND STALIN. New York 1987. p. 36
  31. ^ Motyka, p. 148
  32. However it is not true that UPA had a Soviet T-35 tank.
  33. Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kyiv Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 p.585
  34. Template:Uk icon Українська Повстанська Армія - Історія нескорених - Львів, 2007 p.203
  35. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Chapter 1 p.69
  36. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Chapter 2 P.92
  37. InfoUkes: Ukrainian History - World War II in Ukraine
  38. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army Chapter 2 P.95-97.
  39. Banderivtsi Nationalistic Portal (Бандерівці ідуть! in Націоналістичний портал) Template:Uk icon
  40. Template:Uk icon Організація українських націоналістів і Українська повстанська армія p.164
  41. p.181
  42. Template:Uk icon Організація українських націоналістів і Українська повстанська армія p.165
  43. Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Military Formations of the OUN During World War II, by Ivan Mukovsky, 2002 (Ukrainian)
  44. Template:Uk icon Організація українських націоналістів і Українська повстанська армія p.178
  45. Debriefing of General Kostring Department of the Army, 3 November 1948, MSC - 035, cited in Sodol, Petro R., 1987, UPA: They Fought Hitler and Stalin, New York: Committee for the World Convention and Reunion of Soldiers in the UIA, pg. 58.
  46. Toynbee, T.R.V. (1954). Survey of International Affairs: Hitler's Europe 1939-1945. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. (page # missing).
  47. Yuriy Tys-Krokhmaluk, UPA Warfare in Ukraine. New York, N.Y. Society of Veterans of Ukrainian Insurgent Army Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-80823 P.58-59
  48. Ivan Bilas. Repressive-punishment system in Ukraine. 1917-1953 Vol.2 Kyiv Lybid-Viysko Ukrainy, 1994 ISBN 5-325-00599-5 p, 384 p.391
  49. James K. Anderson, Unknown Soldiers of an Unknown Army, Army Magazine, May 1968, p. 63
  50. Yuriy Tys-Krokhmaluk, UPA Warfare in Ukraine. New York, N.Y. Society of Veterans of Ukrainian Insurgent Army Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-80823 p.238-239
  51. Yuriy Tys-Krokhmaluk, UPA Warfare in Ukraine. New York, N.Y. Society of Veterans of Ukrainian Insurgent Army Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 72-80823 p.242-243
  52. According to post-war estimates, the UPA had the following number of clashes with the Germans in mid-to-late 1943 in Volyn: in July, 35; in August, 24; in September, 15; October–November, 47. See Ukrainian Institute of Military History, Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Military Formations of the OUN During the Second World War, Ivan Mukovsky, Oleksander Lysenko, #5-6, 2002
  53. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 14, p. 186
  54. L. Shankovskyy (1953). History of Ukrainian Army (Історія українського війська). Winnipeg. p. 32.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  55. Ukrainian Insurgent Army and Military Formations of the OUN During World War II, by Ivan Mukovsky, 2002 (Ukrainian) "...Ось сумна статистика тих боїв: у липні відбулося 35 сутичок, у серпні - 24, у вересні - 15; втрати повстанців становили 1237 бійців і старшин, ворожі втрати склали 3000 чоловік..."
  56. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 4, pg. 190
  57. p.190-194
  58. p.192
  59. p.192-194
  60. Yaroslav Hrytsak, "History of Ukraine 1772-1999"
  61. p.196
  62. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 14, pg. 197
  63. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 14
  64. http://www.history.neu.edu/fac/burds/Gender.pdf
  65. Martovych O. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). – Munchen, 1950 p.20
  66. Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, p.338
  67. Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 3, pp. 179-180
  68. Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 4, pp. 179-180
  69. Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 4, pg. 199
  70. Krzysztof Ogiolda, Dr Leon Popek interview, "Ostrówki: Zbrodnia i pojednanie.", in: Nowa Trybuna Opolska NTO.pl, November 26, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  71. Martin, Terry (December 1998). "The Origins of Soviet Ethnic Cleansing". The Journal of Modern History. 70 (4). The University of Chicago Press: 820.
  72. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 16, pg. 247-295
  73. Tadeusz Piotrowski, Poland's holocaust. Published by McFarland. Page 247
  74. Władysław Filar, Wydarzenia wołyńskie 1939-1944. Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek. Toruń 2008 ISBN 978-83-7441-884-3
  75. Grzegorz Motyka, Ukraińska Partyzantka 1942-1960, Warszawa 2006, p. 329
  76. Grzegorz Motyka, Ukraińska Partyzantka 1942-1960, p. 377
  77. ^ Grzegorz Motyka, Ukraińska Partyzantka 1942-1960, Warszawa 2006, p. 303-381
  78. Institute of Ukrainian History, Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Chapter 11, pg. 24
  79. Jeffrey Burds (1997). "Agentura: Soviet Informants' Networks & the Ukrainian Underground in Galicia, 1944-48", East European Politics and Societies v.11 p 96

Books

English

Ukrainian

Polish

  • Sowa, Andrzej (1998). Stosunki polsko-ukraińskie 1939-1947. Kraków. ISBN ]. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Motyka, Grzegorz (2006). Ukraińska partyzantka 1942-1960. Warszawa: ISP PAN / RYTM. ISBN ]. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Motyka, Grzegorz; Wnuk, Rafał (1997). Pany i rezuny: współpraca AK-WiN i UPA 1945-1947 (in Polish). Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Volumen. ISBN 83-86857-72-2.

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