THE ROLE OF VOLODYMYR SALSKYI IN THE ORGANIZATION UKRAINIAN MILITARY EMIGRATION (1921-1940)

Abstract

The study considers the issue of saving the tradition of Ukrainian statehood in emigration, which is essential and challenging in modern historiography. It is noted that the contribution of individuals to the organization of emigrant life, preservation of national culture and identity remains poorly investigated, despite the considerable interest of researchers in its institutional level – the activities of Ukrainian political, public and cultural organizations and societies. At the personal level, on the example of Volodymyr Salskyi, the contribution to the cause of the organization of Ukrainian military emigrants' life was investigated. The basic directions of V. Salskyi's activity regarding preserving the wholeness, structure and combat capability of the UNR's Army, improving the material and living conditions of the former military, increasing their educational level, professional skills (through the organization of various military training courses and training of former UNR officers), as well as supporting the patriotic spirit were analyzed. The strategy and practical steps of V. Salskyi as the Minister of Military Affairs in exile for providing activities of emigrant political and public structures in various foreign centers such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, and Bulgaria are presented. In particular, the focus is on personnel policy, the creation of a human intelligence network that not only carried out intelligence assessment in the region but also tried to consolidate Ukrainians, organized their national and cultural life in new places. Keywords Ukrainian military emigration, Volodymyr Salskyi, UNR State Center, UNR Ministry of Military Affairs.