Sich Riflemen

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Sich Riflemen (Ukrainian: Січові стрільці, Sichovi stril’tsi) is the name applied to and used by various military organizations formed by Austria-Hungary in the territory of modern Ukraine in 1917 out of local population. Commanded by Col. Yevhen Konovalets, the Sich Rifles had roughly 8,600 men at their peak, including 5,100 in frontline service.

Initially thought of as a paramilitary police, with time the units grew and became one of the most important factions during the struggle for power in Ukraine after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and the final stages of World War I. The Sich Rifles fought against the Bolsheviks in the Russian Civil War and took part in the defence of central Ukraine against the assault of White Russians under Anton Denikin. Between November of 1918 and July of 1919 they were loyal to the government of the West Ukrainian People's Republic and took part in the 6 months long siege of the city of Lviv, which was disputed by that state and Poland. After the failure in the Polish-Ukrainian War the unit took part in a successful uprising against the power of hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky. The unit was demobilized in December of 1919.