Wołyń Voivodeship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Volhynian Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo Wołyńskie, Latin: Palatinatus Volhynensis) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939) as well as of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It ceased to exist in September of 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Invasion of Poland)
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[edit] 1918-1939
| Województwo wołyńskie | |||
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| Historical region | Volhynia | ||
[edit] Population
Its capital was Łuck, Volhynia (now: Lutsk in Ukraine). It consisted of 11 powiats (counties), 22 towns and only 103 villages. In 1921 was inhabited by 1 437 569 people, and the population density was only 47.5 persons per sq. km. Around 68% of population was Ukrainian, 17% - Polish, Jews (mainly in towns) - made around 10%. There were also German (2.3%) and Czech (1.5%) settlers, who arrived in the 19th century. In 1931, the population grew to 2 085 600 and the density - to 58 persons per sq. km.
The religion practised in the area was primarily Eastern Orthodox Christian. There were also Roman and Eastern Rite Catholics as well as adherents of Judaism and a few Tatars of the Islamic faith.
[edit] Location and area
Initially, Voivodeship’s area was 30 276 square kilometers (until 1930). In this year, Sarny county from Polesie Voivodeship was moved to Volhynian Voivodeship. The Sarny county's area was 5 478 sq. km. and due to this change, region's area grew to 35 754 sq. km. (which made it the second largest in the country). It was located in south-east part of the country, bordering Soviet Union to the east, Lublin Voivodeship to the west, Polesie Voivodeship to the north, Lwów Voivodeship and Tarnopol Voivodeship to the south. Landscape was flat and hilly in parts. In the north, there was a flat strip of land called the Volhynian Polesie, which spread for some 200 kilometers from the Western Bug river to the Polish-Soviet border. South was more hilly, especially extreme south-east, around the historical town of Krzemieniec, which is located in the Gologory mountains. Main rivers - the Styr, the Horyn, the Slucz.
[edit] Cities and counties
Its capital was Luck, with population of around 35 600 (as for 1931). Other important centers of the voivodeship were: Rowne (in 1931 pop. 42 000), Kowel (pop. 29 100), Wlodzimierz Wolynski (pop. 26 000), Krzemieniec (pop. 22 000), Dubno (pop. 15 3000, Ostrog (pop. 13 400) and Zdolbunow (pop. 10 200).
Counties:
- Dubno county (area 3 275 sq. km., pop. 226 700),
- Horochow county (area 1757 sq. km., pop. 122 100),
- Kostopol county (area 3496 sq. km., pop. 159 600),
- Kowel county (area 5682 sq. km., pop. 255 100),
- Krzemieniec county (area 2790 sq. km., pop. 243 000),
- Luboml county (area 2 054 sq. km., pop. 85 500),
- Luck county (area 4 767 sq. km., pop. 290 800),
- Rowne county (area 2898 sq. km., pop. 252 800),
- Sarny county (area 5 478 sq. km., pop. 181 300),
- Wlodzimierz Wolynski county (area 2 208 sq. km., pop. 150 400),
- Zdolbunow county (area 1 349 sq. km., pop. 118 300).
[edit] Railroads and industry
Volhynian Voivodeship was located in the so-called Poland “B”, which meant that it was underdeveloped, with non-existing industry and it should be more accurate to call it Poland “C”. Large part of population, especially Ukrainian, was poor, with high level of illiteracy (in 1931 as much as 47.8% was illiterate, with the national average of 23.1%).
The situation was much better among Czechs and Germans, whose farms were highly efficient. Railroad network was scarce, with only few junctions - the most important one at Kowel, also at Zdolbunow, Rowne and Wlodzimierz. Total length of railroads within Voivodeship's boundaries was 1 211 kilometers, which was only 3.4 per 100 square kilometers. Forested was 23.7% of area (as for 1937).
[edit] September 1939 and its aftermath
On September 17, 1939, following German aggression on Poland and Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Soviet forces invaded eastern Poland. As bulk of Polish Army was concentrated in the west, fighting Germans, the Soviets met with little resistance and their troops quickly moved westwards, occupying Voivodeship’s area with ease. In the years 1942-1944 Volhynia was the scene of several massacres. The ethnic cleansing was carried out by the Ukrainian units, who wanted to get rid of all Poles. As a result, tens of thousands of Poles perished and now Volhynia is almost 100% Ukrainian.
Later, Voivodeship was incorporated into Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Now most part of the region is covered by the Rivne Oblast and Volhynian Oblast of Ukraine.
[edit] 14th century - 1795
Volhynian Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo Wołyńskie, Latin: Palatinatus Volhynensis) was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 14th century till 1569 and in the Kingdom of Poland (the Crown) since 1569 till the partitions of Poland in 1795. It was part of Little Poland province and belonged to its Ruthenian (or Ukrainian regions).
Voivodeship Governor (Wojewoda) seat:
Regional council (sejmik generalny) for all Ruthenian lands
- Sądowa Wisznia
Regional council (sejmik poselski i deputacki) seats:
Administrative division:
- Luck County (Powiat Łucki), Łuck
- Wlodzimierz County (Powiat Włodzimirski), Włodzimierz
- Krzemieniec County (Powiat Krzemieniecki), Krzemieniec
Voivodes:
- Janusz Ostrogski (since 1558)
- Aleksander Ostrogski (since 1593)
- Adam Aleksander Sanguszko (1630-1653)
- Mikołaj Hieronim Sieniawski (since 1679)
- Franciszek Salezy Potocki (in 1755 only)
- Józef Kanty Ossoliński (1757-1775 (resigned))
[edit] References
- Maly rocznik statystyczny 1939, Nakladem Glownego Urzedu Statystycznego, Warszawa 1939 (Concise Statistical Year-Book of Poland, Warsaw 1939).
