Дезертирство серед українців у польському війську: мотиви, масштаби
Desertion among Ukrainians in the Polish Army: Motives, Scales

Summary/Abstract: After World War I and signing a number of international legal agreements the majority of Western Ukrainian lands was included into the territory of Rzecz Pospolita. Ukrainians who according to Polish legislature became the citizens of the country became the subject for an army draft. Since 1921 on the territory of post Russian empire and since 1922 on the territory of Austro-Hungarian empire there had been a wide practice of conducting general drafts to the army of the boys who were 21 years old. Such recruits as “Ruthenians”/“Ukrainians” were usually sent to serve in infantry, cavalry or artillery units which were mainly deployed in Central and Western parts of the country. During the military service the recruits faced harsh reality of army life, which became the reason for desertion of many of them, regardless of their nationality. A certain part of deserters was Ukrainian. The article includes analyses of such a phenomenon as desertion of Ukrainians from the Polish army during the interwar period. Such problems as the events of Polish Ukrainian war of 1918-1919, officers and staff’s attitude to recruits, material supply for servicemen, private life, and the life of the family are considered as the main factors for the desertion of servicemen. At the same time with the support of scientific literature and archival materials the author describes Ukrainian civilian people’s attitude to deserters and its evolution during the interwar period as well as determines the countries where the deserters were trying to escape to, avoiding the persecution and in searching better life. The article also examines main offers and actions of Military Political leadership of Rzecz Pospolita to overcome this phenomenon, which is shameful for the army.

• Details
• Contents