UKRAINIAN SICH RIFLEMEN AS THE SOURCE OF NATIONAL ARMED FORCES OF THE NEW TIME (DEDICATED TO THE 105TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORMING THE LEGION OF THE UKRAINIAN SICH RIFLEMEN)

Abstract

In August of the current year 2019, the Ukrainian people celebrate the 105th anniversary of the establishment and commencement of the Legion of Sich Riflemen in Halychyna, a combat military unit that fought at the front line of the First World War (and some time after it, with the Poles) on the side of Austria. The Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen was formed from Ukrainian volunteers who hoped that they would thus begin their struggle for the revival of the Ukrainian state, and for the beginning, at least for the autonomy of the Ukrainian Halychyna within Austria. 28,000 Halychyna volunteers signed up for the Legion, but the authorities permitted only 3,000. The Ukrainian population of the region collected donations – clothing, footwear, money, food, jewelry – for its organization. The Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen was structurally divided into two and a half kurins (each kurin had 4 sotnias, 200 people in each sotnia), first T. Rozhankivskyi, then M. Halushchynskyi were appointed the commanders of the Legion. Subsequently, within the Legion there was formed the technical sotnia, the machine gun and mortar platoon, the quartermaster and sanitary departments, the cavalry department. The Legion was originally in the reserve of the Austrian troops, but when the Austrians lost Halychyna, which was occupied by the Russian troops, and the fighting was already in the Carpathians (1914–1915), the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen was sent to the front. In the battles they showed themselves – they fought hard, bravely, steadily holding positions. The Legion became famous, in particular, in battles on Mount Makivka (Skole District, Halychyna), and in a number of other places. During the war, the Legion suffered heavy losses, which were replenished by recruits who were trained in the so-called alternate sotnia. After the conclusion of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (between Germany and Austria-Hungary, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part), by which the allied states recognized the independence of the Ukrainian state, the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen was accommodated in Ukraine in Kherson region. In the autumn of 1918, the Legion was relegated to the reserve to Bukovyna (Chernivtsi) by the Austrian command. When in November 1918 in Halychyna the West Ukrainian People’s Republic was proclaimed, the state apparatus and armed forces were created, the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen joined their ranks. The Sich riflemen of the Legion actively participated in the battles with the Poles who tried to include all Halychyna (Galicia) in the Polish state. Then, as a separate combat unit, the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen ceased to exist, but it left an unforgettable mark in the memory of the Ukrainian people.