ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE «UKRAINIAN HOMELAND SERVICE» IN THE DISTRICT OF HALYCHYNA (1941–1944)

Abstract

The features of the «Ukrainian Homeland Service» functioning within the District of Halychyna are examined. Activities of the mentioned organization were part of the single occupation political course, where the local population had to play the role of the cheap labor force. Analyzed the internal structure of the division, and its hierarchical component. The establishment of a separate construction service for Ukrainians was aimed at aggravating inter-ethnic tensions with the Poles and inciting the confrontation between the two nations. The construction unit «Ukrainian Homeland Service» played a significant role in the economic matters of local governance and the implementation of several infrastructure projects. Despite the active propaganda and recruitment campaigns held by the occupation authorities, the residents of the District showed no interest in joining this body. Their unwillingness was caused by several factors, of special importance being oppressive living conditions in the camps, hard toil, and brutality of supervisors. Avoidance of service in the Ukrainian Homeland Service has become a priority to the young people of Halychyna, who resorted to desertion and looked for legal ways to postpone their recruitment by the construction service. The measures taken by the authorities to revive the loyal attitude of the local population failed since simultaneously continued to function a wide network of penal camps to which violators were sent. Therefore, the number of construction service units was decreasing quickly, until they ceased to exist. Keywords Ukrainian Homeland Service, District of Halychyna, Baudienst, occupation policy, «the New Order»