Formation of Ukrainian military emigration in Germany (1918-1939)

Abstract

The formation and circumstances of Ukrainian military emigration in Germany in 1918-1939 are taken into consideration in this article. Ukrainian emigration in Germany between the wars had different origins and diverse character. By origin it can be divided into three groups. The first group consisted of Ukrainian soldiers released from German POW (prisoners of war) camps for the former Russian army, who for various reasons had not returned to Ukraine. The second one included military men of Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State and Galician Army who emigrated to Germany after the defeat of the national liberation struggle of 1917-1921. The third group contained deserters from the Polish army who did not want to serve in the hostile armed forces. The Ukrainian military emigration conventionally included former officers of the Ukrainian army, who were of German origin but born in Ukraine. They went to Austria and Germany for permanent residence, where they maintained contacts with the Ukrainian liberation movement. Former Ukrainian soldiers who lived in Danzig (Gdansk) were in close connection with emigration in Germany. In the interwar period that city had the status of "free", but it was under serious political and economic influence of Germany. In general, military emigration in Germany was not numerous and consolidated. But former Ukrainian soldiers who were there, created separate environments related to their new professional status, different political orientations or participation in military organizations. Some of them, especially officers of the Ukrainian army, rallied around Hetman Pavlo Skoropadski, dictator Ieuhen Petrushevych and Colonel Ieuhen Konovalets, in various ways, were involved in the continuation of Ukrainian national liberation struggle in exile in the interwar period.