Ukrainian Political Emigration in the Second Polish Republic: Regional Aspects

Abstract

The study traces that the end of the Ukrainian Revolution and the rejection of Bolshevik rule, which had established itself in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Ussr) and led to the emergence of Ukrainian interwar emigration, which was dispersed across European countries. Within the emigrant community, two main groups were distinguished – military and civilian. The reasons why the majority of emigrants from the Ukrainian People’s Republic (Unr) chose Poland, as an ally in the struggle according to the Warsaw Agreement, have been identified herein. The emigrants’ desire to settle in the eastern voivodeships was influenced by geographical, linguistic, ethnocultural, and other factors. It has been substantiated that difficult living conditions prompted some emigrants to re-emigrate, particularly to France, where they faced hard physical labor, and to Czechoslovakia, mainly for educational purposes. It is emphasized that the existence of Ukrainian political emigration was an irritant for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics authorities, who fought against the emigrants by various means. The study highlights the difficulties of adaptation, internal conflicts, and the return of some emigrants to Soviet Ukraine. It is proven that Ukrainian political emigration was able to adapt to the new ethnopolitical conditions and make a significant contribution to the development of various spheres of life in the host countries. Political emigrants were particularly active in social, cultural, and educational practices in the eastern voivodeships of Poland.