The participation of ukrainians in the struggle againts fascism and nazism before world war II (from the experience of the spanish civil war 1936–1939)………………………………………………….

Abstract

Abstract. The article is dedicated to the participation of ukrainian volunteers in the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. In many examples, the authors show that ukrainians participated in the struggle against fascism and nazism at least a few years before the aggression of Hungary in relation to the Carpathian Ukraine, and before the World War II. Participation in the Spanish Civil War, not only volunteers from western Ukraine, but also from the Ukrainian SSR and the diaspora was shown in this article. Provides information about the Ukrainian volunteers in the ranks not only of the Republican army, but also Franco’s and anarchists forces. Chronicle of hostilities 1936–1938 in Spain, where distinguished volunteers from Ukraine, was presented firstly.

Introdution. Obviously, one of the most important components of the study prerequisites of World War II are local conflicts that took place during the 1930s. A more detailed examination of these phenomena repeatedly encounter the ukrainian track. Particular the participation of our compatriots in the Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. The military participation of ukrainian volunteers in that conflict was one of a lot of examples of continuity of national military traditions, which in modern Ukraine, caught in the maelstrom of war, naturally awakens more and more interest.

Methods of researching are represented by: analysis of sources; comparative method;; generalization, classification, comparative analysis and systematization

Results. Ukrainian volunteers participated in a lot of military operations during Spanish Civil War from the Alcazar siege (july–septemper 1936) to Ebro battle (july-septemper 1938). It’s objectively difficult to set the number of ukrainian’s from Western Ukraine, Ukrainian SSR and diaspora, who fought in Spain on both sides of the front – for republicans, nationalists and anarchists. According to different researchers of this problem, it’s near 300 – 1000 men.

The peculiar feature of ukrainian volunteer units in Spain – primarily Taras Shevchenko company and Maksym Kryvonis section, – was that their traditions and outmilitary activities they resembled Legion of ukrainian sich riflemens of Ukrainian national revolution times.

Originality. Authors showed that ukrainians participated in the struggle against fascism and nazism at least a few years before the aggression of Hungary in relation to the Carpathian Ukraine, and before the World War II. Participation in the Spanish Civil War, not only volunteers from western Ukraine, but also from the Ukrainian SSR and the diaspora was shown with a lot of examples. Authors analyzed information about the Ukrainian volunteers in the ranks not only of the Republican army, but also Franco’s and anarchists forces. Chronicle of hostilities 1936–1938 in Spain, where distinguished volunteers from Ukraine, was presented firstly.

Conclusion. Ukrainian side by side with volunteers of other countries have actively participated in the struggle against fascism and nazism before World War II. Of course, because of their size, it should not be overestimated the contribution of our compatriots in opposition to Franco. However, they were members of almost all crucial for the Spanish Republic military operations without compromising for combat capability and courage with the other international formations.