The National Defense Organization "Carpathian Sich" (Ukrainian: Організація народної оборони «Карпатська Січ», romanized: Orhanizacija narodnoï oborony «Karpats'ka Sič», also known as Carpathian Sich)[1] were Ukrainian nationalist irregular soldiers of the short-lived state of Carpatho-Ukraine.[2] Inspired by the example of Nazi stormtroopers and by contacts in the German secret service, the Carpathian Sich attacked Jewish and pro-Russian populations, and led a failed putsch against the Carpatho-Ukrainian government immediately prior to the country's invasion by Hungary in March 1939.[3]

History

The Carpathian Sich was formed on 9 November 1938[4] under the newly elected moderate Ukrainian nationalist prime minister of the Subcarpathian Autonomous Region within Czechoslovakia, Avgustyn Voloshyn. The Carpathian Sich was based in Khust which became a temporary capital since Uzhhorod, Mukacheve and Berehove became part of Hungary according to the First Vienna Award. The organization was led by Dmytro Klympush and Ivan Rohach as a deputy of the first and performed paramilitary and police duties in adjustment with Czechoslovak forces. Although the Carpathian Sich's leaders were local Transcarpathian Ukrainian nationalists, most of its forces consisted of Ukrainian activists who crossed over the mountains from Galicia.[2][5]

Inspired by Nazi stormtroopers in Germany, the Carpathian Sich terrorized Jews and segments of the population that were pro-Russian: elements that the organization considered politically suspect.[3]

In opposition to the government of Avgustyn Voloshyn, it also engaged in cultural work such as publishing a newspaper and operating a theater, the Shooting Star (Letiucha Estrada). On 22 January 1939, in Khust were held the 20th anniversary festivities commemorating the 1919 Act Zluky (Act of Union).[1] As Czechoslovakia fell apart on March 14, 1939, according to historians Paul R. Magocsi and Ivan Pop, the Sich prepared a coup against the Carpatho-Ukrainian government of Avgustyn Voloshyn with the encouragement of Nazi Germany's secret service, and attacked Czechoslovak troops.[3] This resulted in the deaths of several Czechoslovak soldiers and many Sich members.[3]

On March 15, 1939, Hungary invaded Carpatho-Ukraine. Avgustyn Voloshyn fled to Romania along with the Czech military rather than fight the invading Hungarian forces.[5] Its poorly armed forces along with unarmed gymnasium and seminary students set out by the Sich proved to be no match for the Hungarian military,[3] which by March 18, 1939, had captured all of Carpatho-Ukraine.[6] During this fighting hundreds of Carpathian Sich members died in battle while they slowly retreated until they got in conflict with the Polish border guards and most of them died on the other side of the Carpathians.[7][5] In September 1939, 600 veterans of the Sich were authorized by German intelligence (the Abwehr) to form a battalion-sized combat unit that participated in the German invasion of Poland. It was disbanded soon afterwards.[6]

In post-Communist Ukraine, Ukrainian nationalists and émigré authors in the West have organized events celebrating the Carpathian Sich as a symbol of bravery and national pride against fascism, above all represented by the Miklós Horthy government in Hungary.[3]

Numbers and organization

Carpathian Sich (Karpatska Sich) (also the Carpathian Sich National Defense Organization). A paramilitary organization in Carpatho-Ukraine in 1938–9, formed in November 1938 from units of the Ukrainian National Defense (organized in Uzhhorod by Ukrainian nationalists and headed by Stepan Rosokha). The leadership of the Carpathian Sich consisted of the command (commander, D. Klempush; deputy-commander, I. Roman) and the staff of officers. The organization's headquarters were in Khust, and there were 10 individual district commands with subordinate local sections, which conducted military and political training involving several thousand men.

Five permanent garrisons conducted regular military training, and a number of the Sich soldiers served in the local police force and with the border guards. The Carpathian Sich adopted uniforms and ranks modeled on those of military formations in Ukraine during the struggle for independence (1917–20). It was also involved in cultural and educational work among the local population: its members organized the artistic group Letiucha Estrada and published the weekly Nastup, edited by Rosokha. The Sich held general and district conventions, the largest of which, consisting of several thousand participants, took place in Khust in February 1939.

A significant number of Galician Ukrainians (who entered illegally from Poland), together with emigrants from Dnieper Ukraine, joined the local Ukrainians as officers and soldiers in the permanent garrisons of the Carpathian Sich. After Carpatho-Ukraine's proclamation of independence, the Sich became its national army (Col Serhii O. Yefremov, commander; Col Mykhailo Kolodzinsky, chief of staff) and, in March 1939, mounted an armed resistance to the Hungarian invasion. At that time the strength of the Sich was about 2,000 men. Several hundred of them died in battles against the Czechs (13 March) and the Hungarians (14–18 March). Overwhelmed by the Hungarian army, the soldiers either retreated to Romania and Slovakia or hid in the mountains. The Romanians turned over many of the soldiers to the Hungarians, who in turn gave up many Galicians to the Poles and kept the remainder as prisoners. Illegal executions of prisoners were perpetrated. The struggle of the Carpathian Sich against the Hungarians was the first armed conflict in central Europe to precede the Second World War.

(See also Transcarpathia.) By February 1939 the Sich had up to 15,000 members, although only 2,000 were organized to fight.[6] The Sich had five garrisons. Its barracks housed a total of 2,000 people, of whom only 300-400 were armed.[3] Its ranks were called Otaman (commander), Sotnyk (company (sotnya) commander), Chotar (Platoon (chota) Commander), Desiatnyk (corporal), Starshy Sichovyk (Senior Private) and Sichovyk (private). Uniforms were adopted in February 1939 and consisted of a four button tunic with open collar and breeches. Insignia were not standardized. The Sich used Czech arms.[6]

2019 official veteran status

In late March 2019 former Carpathian Sich soldiers (and other living former members of irregular Ukrainian nationalist armed groups that were active during World War II and the first decade after the war) were officially granted the status of veterans.[8] This meant that for the first time they could receive veteran benefits, including free public transport, subsidized medical services, annual monetary aid, and public utilities discounts, and will enjoy the same social benefits as former Ukrainian soldiers Red Army of the Soviet Union.[8]

There had been several previous attempts to provide former Ukrainian nationalist fighters with official veteran status, especially during the 2005-2009 administration President Viktor Yushenko, but all failed.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 It is 80 years ago Carpathian Ukraine declared its independence (80 років тому Карпатська Україна проголосила незалежність). Istorychna Pravda (Ukrayinska Pravda). 14 March 2019
  2. 1 2 Ukraine: A History4th Edition by Orest Subtelny, 2009, University of Toronto Press, ISBN 978-1-4426-4016-0
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ivan Ivanovich Pop, editor Paul R. Magocsi (2002). Encyclopedia of Rusyn history and culture. University of Toronto Press: pp. 55.
  4. ↑ Oleksandr Pahiria. Female Sich (Жіноча Січ). Ukrayina Moloda. 13 March 2010
  5. 1 2 3 "Kik voltak a Szics-gárdisták?". karpatinfo.net. Kárpátinfó hetilap. 2 July 2008. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Peter Abbott, Oleksiy Rudenko. (2004). Ukrainian Armies 1914-55 Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
  7. ↑ "Nem magyarok végezték ki a visszavonuló ukrán fegyvereseket". mult-kor.hu. Múlt-kor. 25 June 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 Former WWII nationalist guerrillas granted veteran status in Ukraine, Kyiv Post (26 March 2019)
    Law recognizing Ukrainian Insurgent Army fighters as veterans enforced, 112 Ukraine (26 March 2019)
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