The evolution of the social and political movements of Ukrainians in the Chelm and Podlasie regions in the first half of the 1930s and its impact on the state's mobilization potential

Abstract

Article describes the evolution of the social and political movements of Ukrainians in the Chelm and Podlasie regions in the first half of the 1930s and its impact on the state's mobilization potential. The author reveals the external and internal factors that led to qualitative and quantitative changes in the Ukrainian movement of Chelm and Podlasie regions. First of all, this is the parliamentary election in 1930, during which the local Ukrainian population lost all its representatives in the Sejm and the Senate and could not defend its rights at the official state level. Another important factor was the global economic crisis, which hit the Polish economy hard and, above all, the Ukrainian workers. The combination of these factors led to the transition from educational and cultural activities of Ukrainian associations, peaceful meetings and rallies led by Ukrainian parliamentarians to armed rallies, which often ended in clashes with the police and human victims. This radicalization of Ukrainian society and the loss of confidence in the central government negatively affected the loyalty of the population to the Polish state and the loss of its mobilization potential in this region. This situation had negative consequences for Poland during the preparations and the first months of the Second World War.