"JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918

The article is devoted to the activities of the militia created by the Jewish community of Lviv on November 1, 1918 after the proclamation of the independent Ukrainian state in this city. The aim of the militia, initiated by supporters of the Zionist movement, was to protect the Jewish community in...

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Main Author: Stetsyshyn O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Publishing and printing center "Kyivskyi Universytet" 2021-04-01
Series:Vìsnik - Kiïvsʹkij nacìonalʹnij unìversitet ìmenì Tarasa Ševčenka: Ìstorìâ
Subjects:
Online Access:https://visnyk.history.knu.ua/eng/archive/2021/148-eng/148-11-stetsyshyn-eng
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author Stetsyshyn O.
author_facet Stetsyshyn O.
author_sort Stetsyshyn O.
collection DOAJ
description The article is devoted to the activities of the militia created by the Jewish community of Lviv on November 1, 1918 after the proclamation of the independent Ukrainian state in this city. The aim of the militia, initiated by supporters of the Zionist movement, was to protect the Jewish community in Lviv from possible pogroms. Particular attention is paid to the military-political situation in Lviv in November 1918 and in the Eastern European region in general, which had a decisive influence on the establishment of the Jewish militia. Emphasised is also placed on the positive attitude of the Jewish community to the armed conflict between the army of the Western Ukrainian People's Republic and Polish formations who denied the right of Ukrainians to their independent nation-state and who expressed their claims to Western Ukraine. It is emphasized that de jure declaring its neutrality in this conflict, the de facto Jewish militia were forced to take a direct part in this confrontation. This Jewish militia formation controlled a very large part of Lviv's quarters, which was objectively beneficial for both participants in the Ukrainian-Polish conflict. Militioners patrolled the streets, fought crime, and ensured public order. The article describes in detail the three groups that existed at that time in the Lviv Jewish community – Zionists, Orthodox and assimilators, and the main differences in their policies. In particular, in relation to other nations that lived in the western Ukrainian region – Ukrainians and Poles. Special emphasis is placed on the positive attitude of a large part of Lviv Jews to the Ukrainian government and the negative reaction to this commitment of chauvinistic Polish politicians and soldiers, who did not hide their anti-Semitism and demanded from Jews non-alternative loyalty to Poland. It is noted that the more favorable attitude of Lviv Jews to the Ukrainian authorities was the cause of the terrible Jewish pogrom committed by Polish forces after the Ukrainian army left Lviv on November 22, 1918.
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spelling doaj.art-92176a2e8e3c4a03b636d5e919e4d4402022-12-22T04:14:51ZengPublishing and printing center "Kyivskyi Universytet"Vìsnik - Kiïvsʹkij nacìonalʹnij unìversitet ìmenì Tarasa Ševčenka: Ìstorìâ1728-26402021-04-01148667110.17721/1728-2640.2021.148.11"JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918Stetsyshyn O.0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7088-8728Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, UkraineThe article is devoted to the activities of the militia created by the Jewish community of Lviv on November 1, 1918 after the proclamation of the independent Ukrainian state in this city. The aim of the militia, initiated by supporters of the Zionist movement, was to protect the Jewish community in Lviv from possible pogroms. Particular attention is paid to the military-political situation in Lviv in November 1918 and in the Eastern European region in general, which had a decisive influence on the establishment of the Jewish militia. Emphasised is also placed on the positive attitude of the Jewish community to the armed conflict between the army of the Western Ukrainian People's Republic and Polish formations who denied the right of Ukrainians to their independent nation-state and who expressed their claims to Western Ukraine. It is emphasized that de jure declaring its neutrality in this conflict, the de facto Jewish militia were forced to take a direct part in this confrontation. This Jewish militia formation controlled a very large part of Lviv's quarters, which was objectively beneficial for both participants in the Ukrainian-Polish conflict. Militioners patrolled the streets, fought crime, and ensured public order. The article describes in detail the three groups that existed at that time in the Lviv Jewish community – Zionists, Orthodox and assimilators, and the main differences in their policies. In particular, in relation to other nations that lived in the western Ukrainian region – Ukrainians and Poles. Special emphasis is placed on the positive attitude of a large part of Lviv Jews to the Ukrainian government and the negative reaction to this commitment of chauvinistic Polish politicians and soldiers, who did not hide their anti-Semitism and demanded from Jews non-alternative loyalty to Poland. It is noted that the more favorable attitude of Lviv Jews to the Ukrainian authorities was the cause of the terrible Jewish pogrom committed by Polish forces after the Ukrainian army left Lviv on November 22, 1918.https://visnyk.history.knu.ua/eng/archive/2021/148-eng/148-11-stetsyshyn-engeastern galiciazunrlvivukrainian-polish war of 1918–1919jewsanti-semitismukraine
spellingShingle Stetsyshyn O.
"JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918
Vìsnik - Kiïvsʹkij nacìonalʹnij unìversitet ìmenì Tarasa Ševčenka: Ìstorìâ
eastern galicia
zunr
lviv
ukrainian-polish war of 1918–1919
jews
anti-semitism
ukraine
title "JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918
title_full "JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918
title_fullStr "JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918
title_full_unstemmed "JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918
title_short "JEWISH MILITIA" AS THE THIRD SIDE BETWEEN UKRAINIAN AND POLISH ARMED FORCES DURING THE BATTLE FOR LEMBERG OF NOVEMBER 1-21, 1918
title_sort jewish militia as the third side between ukrainian and polish armed forces during the battle for lemberg of november 1 21 1918
topic eastern galicia
zunr
lviv
ukrainian-polish war of 1918–1919
jews
anti-semitism
ukraine
url https://visnyk.history.knu.ua/eng/archive/2021/148-eng/148-11-stetsyshyn-eng
work_keys_str_mv AT stetsyshyno jewishmilitiaasthethirdsidebetweenukrainianandpolisharmedforcesduringthebattleforlembergofnovember1211918