Działalność Ukraińskiej Wojskowo-Sanitarnej Misji w Czechosłowacji (1919–pierwsza połowa 1920)

Abstract

The article presents the main areas of activity of the Czechoslovak branch of the Ukrainian Military-Sanitary Mission in Czechoslovakia (from 1919 to the first half – first half of 1920). The arrival of the mission contributed to the rapid organisation of the repatriation process of Ukrainian prisoners of war in 1919. The arrival of the mission contributed to the rapid organisation of the repatriation of Ukrainian prisoners of war in 1919, both directly from Czechoslovakia and from large parts of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany. Throughout 1919, the mission provided consular assistance to repatriates by issuing them with passports and repatriation documents. In addition, returnees who ended up in Czechoslovakia also received limited material assistance, which greatly facilitated the process of their return home. The closure of the Ukrainian borders, which was effected by the war and the occupation of part of the URL in the autumn and winter of 1919–1920, almost completely paralysed the repatriation process. In this situation, the Czechoslovak office was forced to open separate ‘transit’ camps for the reception and temporary stay in them of repatriates. In many respects, the humanitarian treatment of the Czechoslovak government of repatriates (both Ukrainians and representatives of other Slavic peoples) was a model for solving the problems of this category of persons on a state scale.