Санітарно-дезінфекційні загони як складова військової медичної служби Другої УНР

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the place and role of the Sanitary Disinfectant Squads (SDS) in the structure of the military medical service of the Second Ukrainian People’s Republic based on the analysis of archived documents and achievements of historiography. Th e research methodology is based on general scientifi c methods of analysis, synthesis, and systematicity, which, when applying a concrete-historical approach, allows for sig- nifi cantly deepened knowledge about the military medical service of the Second UPR in general and the SDS in particular. Th e scientifi c novelty lies in the fact that based on new archival data, an attempt has been made to comprehensively cover the process of creation, organization, place, and role in the general structure of the SDS of the military medical service of the Seconds UPR. Conclusions. Th e higher state and military leadership of the Second Ukrainian People’s Republic was aware of the importance of a properly formed and eff ective military sanitary service for the successful armed struggle for the preservation of Ukrainian statehood. To overcome the negative consequences of epidemic diseases among the military, as well as for preventive purposes, in January 1919, a decision was made to create eighteen SDS, which were to be subordinated to the MMMD (Main Military Medical Directorate), and in general to the Ministry of Military Aff airs. Unfortunately, due to the deterioration of the military and political situation of the Directorate of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, the legal and organizational registration of this component of the military medical service was delayed until the summer of this year. Th e functioning of the SDS was provided by orders and resolutions that determined their purpose and tasks as well as regulated and explained the activities in organizational and economic terms. In the spring of 1919, during the retreat of the UPR army, part of the SDS was lost. But the restoration and creation during the off ensive of the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in the summer of 1919 showed that the Ukrainian military leadership attached great importance to them for the implementation of proper provision of sanitary and epidemic protection of soldiers and offi - cers. Th roughout 1919, the SDS carried out anti-epidemic work among the Ukrainian military. Unfortunately, the SDS could not entirely fulfi l the assigned tasks for objective and subjective reasons. Th e huge scale of the spread of epidemic diseases, the shortage of medicines and equip- ment, as well as the lack of trained personnel, were the most noticeable. In the autumn of the same year, in the conditions of the collapse of the army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, the SDS ceased to function, but the experience gained came in handy in the last attempt to preserve Ukrainian statehood in the union with Poland in 1920.