World War II: transformation of historical policy in Ukraine (2014–2020)
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract. Introduction. The article analyzes the main directions of historical policy transformation of Ukraine in the context of the confrontation on the symbolic field of the Second World war in the conditions of aggravation of the Russian-Ukrainian confrontation during 2014-2020. Purpose. The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war in the Donbass in 2014 actualized historical policy because during the hybrid war the aggressor country struck not only heavily with weapons but also launched a massive information war.
Results. One of its directions was the symbolic space of the Second World War, which was conditioned by the importance of this large-scale armed confrontation for population of modern Ukraine and the Russian Federation. In response to the Russian propagandists’ criticisms of the “fascination” of Ukraine, the memory of the heroic struggle against the Nazis during the German-Soviet War was actualized in the Ukrainian-centric discourse, further developing a study of collaborationism, proving that the most ambitious aid to the invaders was The Russian Liberation Army, led by General Vlasov. Scholars, publicists, and community activists have also widely covered the means of manipulating the historical memory of World War II, which have become widespread in Russian-centric discourse.
Conclusion. The analysis made it possible to state that the Ukrainian memory policy of the Second World War should be directed at forming ideas about it as a tragedy of all mankind, which should never be repeated. Also, it is important to create a strong conviction in the population that the USSR acted as an ally of Germany at the beginning of World War II, taking an active part in fueling it. Historical policies should take action to clarify and explain the warring parties’ goals and objectives as well as to analyze the means and methods of achieving them in the course of hostilities. It is probably desirable to analyze the UPA’s struggle in the context of its comparison with the opposition of the East Ukrainian peasantry to the policy of Sovietization. Even more so, because of such a counteraction was so widespread that one of the means of overcoming it was the Holodomor Genocide.
Article Details
References
Bondar, B. (2013). State policy on historical memory in Ukraine in the 1990s and 2000s: major trends. Istoriohrafichni doslidzhennia v Ukraini, 23, 377–400 [in Ukrainian].
Focus (2019). “In “Servant of the People” Vyatrovich was accused of Polish-Ukrainian problems”, available at https://focus.ua/ukraine/438634-v_sluge_naroda_obvinili_viatrovicha_v_polsko-ukrainskikh_problemakh (accessed 29.08.2019) [in Russian].
Hrytsenko, O. (2019). Decommunization in Ukraine as a state policy and as a socio-cultural phenomenon. Kyiv: IMPEER [in Ukrainian].
European truth (2016). “Declaration of Memory and Solidarity”, available at http://www.eurointegration.com.ua/articles/2016/10/20/7056198/ (accessed 20.10.2016) [in Ukrainian].
Gordonua.com (2019). “Zelensky declared his readiness to lift the moratorium on the exhumation of Polish burials in Ukraine”, available at https://gordonua.com/news/politics/zelenskiy-zayavil-o-gotovnosti-snyat-moratoriy-na-eksgumaciyu-polskih-zahoroneniy-v-ukraine-1236095.htm(accessed 31.08.2019) [in Russian].
Yliashenko, A. (2017). “Great Victory of the Russian people, was it an accident?”, available at https://www.pravmir.ru/velikaya-pobeda-russkogo-naroda-byla-li-ona-sluchajnostyu/ (accessed 27.06.2007) [in Russian].
Radio freedom (2016). “Historical politics is always a source of conflict - historian Georgy Kasyanov”, available at https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/28048337.html (accessed 12.10.2019) [in Ukrainian].
Kalakura, O. (2019). The “third force” in escalating the Polish-Ukrainian confrontation. «Volyn-43»: mify i realnist, 140–157 [in Ukrainian].
Kyrydon, A. (2016). Memory heterotopies: theoretical and methodological problems of memory studies. Kyiv: Nika-Tsentr [in Ukrainian].
Kasianov, H. (2016). Historical memory and historical politics: the question of terminology and genealogy of concepts. Ukr. ist. Zhurn, 2, 118–137 [in Ukrainian].
Ukrinform (2020). “The CCU has recognized the constitutional law on decommunization”, available at https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics. (accessed 16.07.2019) [in Ukrainian].
Masnenko, V. V. (2002). Historical memory as the basis for the formation of national consciousness. Ukr. ist. Zhurn, 5, 49–62 [in Ukrainian].
Sosnyna, I. (2017). “The Russian Foreign Ministry called the “erasure of the historical past” the definitive cancellation of the “Great Patriotic War” in Ukraine”, available at https://kp.ua/politics. (accessed 17.11.2019) [in Russian].
Nahorna, L. P. (2012). Historical memory: theories, discourses, reflections. Kyiv: IPiEND im. I.F.Kurasa NAN Ukrainy [in Ukrainian].
Ukrinform (2020). “People’s Deputy appealed to the CCU decommunization” available at https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-polytics (accessed 30.05.2019) [in Ukrainian].
Novynarnia (2017). “The New Historical Policy of Ukraine: We celebrate not the liberation of 1944, but the exile of the Nazis” available at https://novynarnia.com/2017/10/28. [in Ukrainian].
Federal law of Russia № 128-FZ (05.05.2014). “On amendments to separate legislative acts of the Russian Federation”, available at http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/38395 [in Russian].
BBC News (2019). “Zelensky and Duda agreed to overcome historical problems. What it means”, available at https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian (accessed at 31.08.2019) [in Ukrainian].
Prymachenko, Ya. (2018). “World War II captives historical politics” available at https://dt.ua/HISTORY (accessed at 08.05.2018) [in Ukrainian].
Law of Ukraine on Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Status of War Veterans, Guarantees of their Social Protection” on Strengthening the Social Protection of Participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, Participants in the Dignity Revolution and Members of the Families of Such Persons. (2019). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, 47, 419 [in Ukrainian].
Law of Ukraine on amendment of Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine “On the status of war veterans, guarantees of their social protection” to strengthen the social protection of the participants of the struggle for independence of Ukraine in the XX century. (2019). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, 2, 11 [in Ukrainian].
Law of Ukraine on access to the archives of the repressive organs of the communist totalitarian regime of 1917-1991. (2015). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, 26, 218 [in Ukrainian].
Law of Ukraine on condemnation of the communist and national-socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes in Ukraine and prohibition of propaganda of their symbolism. (2015). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, 26, 219 [in Ukrainian].
Law of Ukraine on legal status and memory of the fighters for independence of Ukraine in the twentieth century. (2015). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, 25, 190 [in Ukrainian].
Law of Ukraine on the perpetuation of the victory over Nazism in World War II, 1939-1945. (2015). Vidomosti Verkhovnoyi Rady Ukrayiny, 25, 191 [in Ukrainian].
Independent (2020). “Putin V.V. Russia at the turn of the millennium”, available at http://www.ng.ru/politics/1999-12-30/4_millenium.html (accessed 27.04.2020) [in Russian].
Syvitskyi, M. (2005). Іstorіya polish-ukrainian conflicts Kyiv: Vyd-vo im. Oleny Telihy [in Ukrainian].
Unian (2018). “The Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine has criticized the Polish law on the fence of the “Bandera Ideology”” available at https://www.unian.ua/politics. [in Ukrainian].
Zik (2018). “In Poland, clarified who will be punished by the “law on Banderism”” available at https://zik.ua/news/2018/01/27. (accessed 28.01.2018) [in Ukrainian].
Chervonenko V. (2017). “How will the “historical crisis” between Ukraine and Poland end?” available at https://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/features-41934591 (accessed 10.11.2017) [in Ukrainian].
Shapoval, Yu. (2013). Seventy-ten. Kiev: Polish Institute in Kiev [in Ukrainian].
Filar, W. (1997). «Burza» na Wołyniu. Z dziejów 27 Wołyńskiej dywizji Piechoty Armii Krajowej. Warszawa : Rytm. [in Polish].
Drozd, R. (1998). Ukraińska Powstańcza Armia – Dokumenty-struktury. Warszawa: Burchard [in Polish].
Drozd, R., Halagida, I. (1999). Ukraińcy w Polsce 1944 –1989 Walka o tożsamość (Dokumenty i materiały). Warszawa [in Polish].
European Parliament Resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism (2009, April 2) available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu (accessed 2.04.2009) [in English].
Korman, A. (2002). Stosunek UPA do Polaków na ziemiach południowo-wschodnich II Rzeczypospolitej. Wrocław : Norton [in Polish].
Motyka, G. (2011). Odrzeziwo lynskiej do akcji Wisla. Wydawnictwo Literackie [in Polish].
Motyka, G. (2000). Problematyka stosunków polsko-ukraińskich w latach 1939 – 1948 w polskiej historiografii po roku. Kraków [in Polish].
Motyka, G. (1999). Tak było w Bieszczadach. Walki polsko-ukraińskie 1943–1948. Warszawa : Wolumen [in Polish].
Motyka, G. (2006). Ukraińska partyzanka 1942–1960. Warszawa : Rytm [in Polish].
Motyka, G. W kregu Lun w Bieszczadach. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza RYTM [in Polish].
Motyka, G., Wnuk, R. (1997). Pany i resuny. Wspólpraca AK – WiN I UPA w latach 1945–1947. Warszawa [in Polish].
Prus, E. (1988). Atamania UPA: Tragedia kresów. Warszawa : Instytut Wydawniczy Związków Zawodowych [in Polish].
Prus, E. (1995). Legenda Kresów Szare Szeregi w walce z UPA. Wrocław : Nortom [in Polish].
Prus, E. (1985). Herosis pod znaka tryzuba. Warszawa : Instytut Wydawniczy Związków Zawodowych [in Polish].
Prus, E. (1999). Taras Czuprynka. Hetman UPA ł wielki inkwizytor OUN. Wrocław : Nortom [in Polish].
Prus, E. (1998). UPA Armia Powstańcza czykurenie rizunów? – Wrocław : Nortom [in Polish].
Turowski, J., Siemaszko, W. (1990). Zbrodnie Ukraińskich Nacjonalistów dokonanena ludności polskiejna Wołyniu 1939 – 1945. Warszawa : Wyd. Główna Komisja Badania Zbrodni Hitlerowskich w Polsce. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej Środowiska Żołnierzy 27 WD Armii Krajowej [in Polish].