Русины і їх путь до Чехословакії (1918-1919)

Abstract

Rusyns and Their Way to CzechoslovakiaThe first great military conflict of the 20th century in Europe, World War I, also affected the area of north‑ eastern Slovakia and present‑day Transcarpathia and, to a great extent, those villages where Rusyns lived. These Rusyns were later, after the Russian army retreated, accused of supporting it and many were, thus, persecuted and victimised by the Hungarian government. That, later, played a considerable role in the way Rusyns thought of the future position of the territory they lived in. When the war ended, Rusyns considered several ways of changing their position in Central Europe. From their viewpoint, there were the following options: 1) Subcarpathian Rus as an autonomous part of historical Hungary, or Hungarian Republic; 2) Subcarpathian Rus as part of the Russian Empire; 3) Subcarpathian Rus΄ as part of a united Ukraine; 4) Subcarpathian Rus as an independent state; 5) Subcarpathian Rus as part of the Czechoslovak state. What came to pass was the fifth alternative. Based on the Treaty of Saint‑Germain from September 10th, 1919, the area of Subcarpathian Rus became part of Czechoslovakia with autonomous status.