Ukrainian People's Army

Military History of Ukraine
Kievan Rus'
Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Zaporizhian Host
Austria-Hungary
Ukrainian People's Republic
Free Territory
Carpatho-Ukraine
Ukrainian National Government
Ukrainian SSR
Ukraine

The Ukrainian People's Army (Ukrainian: Армія Української Народної Республіки), also known as the Ukrainian National Army (UNA) were often quickly reorganized units of the former Russian Imperial Army or newly formed volunteer detachments that later joined the national armed forces. The army for a long period lacked a certain degree of uniformity, adequate leadership to keep discipline and morale. Unlike the Ukrainian Galician Army, the Ukrainian People's Army did not manage to evolve a solid organizational structure, and consisted mostly of volunteer units, not regulars.[1]

History

Creation: Military congresses

When the Tsentralna Rada (Central Rada) came to power in Ukraine in spring of 1917, it was forced to promptly put together an army to defend Ukraine against the Bolsheviks. Nearly all units of the newly created army were detached from the Imperial Russian Army. On March 29, 1917 the first organization of military forum the Ukrainian Military Club was organized at the Kiev Military District on the initiative of Mykola Mikhnovsky. Also during 1917 there were three All-Ukrainian Military Congresses that elected their representatives to the Central Rada. After the first such congress that took place on May 18–21, 1917 in Kiev there was created the Ukrainian General Military Committee. The committee was placed in charge for creation and restructuring of the army. The head of the committee was elected the future first General Secretary of Military Affairs, Symon Petlyura. The next congress in spite of a ban placed by the Russian Provisional Government took place on June 18–23, 1917 in Kiev. At the congress was read the 1st "Universal" of the Central Rada and the first elections to that institution took place. The last congress took place on November 2–12, 1917 and also in Kiev. Due to the civil unrest that was initiated by the Bolsheviks across the country also known as the October Revolution the congress took longer than its predecessors as it was interrupted for a few days in order to create the first Ukrainian Regiment for the Defense of Revolution (headed by Colonel Yuri Kapkan). The main requests of the congress were proclamation of the Ukrainian Democratic Republic, full Ukrainization of army and navy, and an immediate peace treaty.

At the time, the Central Rada did not see the need for a standing army, reinforced by conscription. Instead, a 'Free Cossack' concept (which was no different from a militia) was introduced and ratified in November 1917.[1] Only when the Bolsheviks invaded the Ukrainian People's Republic, in December 1917, was the need for a regular standing army appreciated. The new organization was to include; eight infantry corps and four cavalry divisions. But these plans were never realized, as the Rada was overthrown in a coup led by Pavlo Skoropadsky, who brought the Hetmanate to power in Ukraine.[1] A temporary peace treaty with the Bolsheviks was also signed on 12 June 1918.[2]

The Head of the Ukrainian Central Rada, Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, at a military parade in Kiev in 1917.
Ukrainian soldiers in Kiev in 1917.
The 1st Ukrainian Division was formed in the spring of 1918 by Ukrainian POWs in German camps. Since they wore blue coats they were generally called Sinyozhupanna.
Newly enlisted volunteers swearing an oath of allegiance.
Soldiers of the Ukrainian People's army.
Ukrainian POWs released from Serbian captivity swear the oath of allegiance to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Brigade on August 3, 1919.

After taking power, the Hetmanate government established its own plans for a standing army. These were to consist of 310,000 military personnel divided into eight territorial corps, with an annual budget of 1,254 million karbovantsi.[1] However, this army did not develop beyond the organizational stage, due to many dissident movements and gross unpopularity of the Hetmanate amongst peasants and civilians. In November 1918, the Directorate came to power in Ukraine, bringing with it yet another vision for the structure of the army. During this time, most units simply crossed from the Hetmanate to the Directorate with little organizational change occurring.[1]

War of Independence

The Bolsheviks first invaded the Ukrainian People's Republic in January 1918.[3] After several weeks of battle, the Red Army overwhelmed the fairly small Ukrainian force, and took Kiev on February 9. This forced the Central Rada to seek help from the Central powers of World War I. After signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Ukrainian Army was to receive assistance in fighting the Red Army. A German-Austrian offensive removed the Bolsheviks from Kiev in early March, and the Rada government returned to the capital. In April, the Red Army was forced to completely retreat from Ukraine, and a peace treaty was signed.[3]

In December 1918, after the Directorate's coming to power, the army reached its peak at an estimated 100,000 recruits.[4] These armed forces proved to be neither battleworthy nor well-organized.[5] At the time most of Pavlo Skoropadskyi's Ukrainian State forces changed sides and joined the Directory.[5]

In January 1919, Ukraine declared war on Soviet Russia, after the latter established a provisional government in Kharkiv, proclaiming the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Simultaneously, the West Ukrainian People's Republic had taken Lviv, thereby beginning a war with the Second Polish Republic.[2] In January 1919, the Ukrainian People's Army and the Ukrainian Galician Army united, after the West Ukrainian People's Republic had been completely occupied by Polish forces, and Kiev by Soviet forces.[3][6] Symon Petlyura became the commander in chief of the new Ukrainian Army; this improved the order and discipline in the army.[5] Special inspectors with wide authority were introduced, similar to Bolshevik commissars.[5] The army grew as 35,000 soldiers of central Ukraine were joined by 50,000 Galicians.[5] Having this force, the army of the UNR launched a successful raid on Kiev and Odessa in August 1919.[5] But eventually the united armies suffered severe casualties in their suicidal war against the Polish army, Denikin's Whites and the Bolsheviks.[5] An epidemic of spotted fever contributed to this defeat.[5] Therefore, Ukraine signed an armistice with the Entente and later with Poland in May 1919.[7]

After failing to capture Kiev on their own, the Ukrainian army signed the Treaty of Warsaw with Poland, in April 1920.[8] Under the treaty, Ukrainian forces fought side by side with Polish forces against Soviet Russia and other Ukrainian 'Red' movements (Denikin, the Germans and the Entente had long since been expelled from Ukraine). Following a decisive failure in the Kiev Offensive, Ukrainian presence only decreased in the seesaw Polish-Soviet war.[9] Until finally the newly founded Soviet Union and Poland signed the Treaty of Riga on March 18, 1921, ending the war. The small remnants of the Ukrainian People's army either resorted to Guerrilla warfare or joined the Polish Army.[1]

Structure

The headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed forces was called the General Bulawa. The original structure of the army, as designated by the Tsentralna Rada, planned to organize an optimistic eight infantry corps and four cavalry divisions. But these plans were never realized due to the internal struggle for power in Ukraine. Instead, the army was hastily formed of various armed volunteer units and 'Free Cossacks'.[1] But in May 1919 (long after the Directorate assumed power), the Ukrainian people's army was forced to reorganize after its manpower dropped from 100,000 to 15,000 in just five months of warfare with Soviet Russia.[4] According to then Ukrainian politician Volodymyr Vynnychenko mainly because of communist propaganda.[5] The new, semi-organized structure was made up of five brigade-sized "army groups" and a large number of 'Free Cossacks':

In May 1920 in the middle of the Polish-Soviet War, the army was once again forced to reorganize, after its strength more than doubled in size.[4] The new structure included: six infantry and one cavalry division. Each infantry division was to have three brigades armed with artillery, a cavalry regiment and an engineer regiment. The single cavalry division had six mounted regiments. The formation of six reserve brigades was also attempted, but this was only partially successful. The reinforcement brigades were later made into an under strength, two brigade machine gun division. Thus, the structure was, as follows:[10]

Ranks and insignia

Upon the reformation that took place among the Ukrainian military units the older Russian rank structure and insignia were dropped and replaced with one of the Hetmanate times. Most notable is the introduction of the rank of Otaman that replaced the General ranks of the Russian army. The army headquarters became known as the General Bulawa. The military representative in the Directorate of Ukraine, Symon Petliura was given the rank of the Chief Otaman. The new position was introduced by the former Russian General and later Otaman Oleksander Hrekov.

Ranks (in descending order) since end of 1917:

General ranks
  1. Otaman Frontu
  2. Otaman Armii
  3. Otaman Korpusu
  4. Otaman Divizii
  5. Otaman Brihady (Brigadier general)
Other officers
  1. Polkovnyk (Colonel)
  2. Osavul (Lieutenant colonel)
  3. Kurinny (Major)
  4. Sotnyk (Captain)
  5. Pivsotenny (Lieutenant)
Enlisted
  1. Bunchuzhny (Company Sergeant)
  2. Chotar (Platoon Sergeant)
  3. Royovyi (Sergeant)
  4. Kozak (see Cossacks)

Ranks have altered in June 1918, but only for officers:

General (Heneral)
  1. Heneralnyi Bunchuzhnyi (General)
  2. Heneralnyi Znachkovyi (Lieutenant general)
  3. Heneralnyi Khorunzhyi (Major general)
non-General
  1. Polkovnyk (Colonel)
  2. Viyskova Starshyna (Lieutenant colonel)
  3. Sotnyk (Captain)
  4. Znachkovyi (Lieutenant)
  5. Khorunzhyi (2 Lieutenant)

Main military formations (UPR)

Main military formations (WUPR)

Legacy

The Ukrainian Army uniforms unveiled in August 2016 incorporate details from the uniforms worn by the Ukrainian People's Army.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Army of the Ukrainian National Republic". Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  2. 1 2 "Ukrainian-Soviet War, 1917–21". Encyclopedia of Ukraine. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ukraine - World War I and the struggle for independence". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Довідники/Довідник з історії України". Вiртуальна Русь. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-01-30.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The Army and Independence, The Ukrainian Week (12 April 2013)
  6. ↑ Abbott p.19
  7. ↑ Abbott p.18
  8. ↑ Davies, White Eagle..., Polish edition, p.99-103
  9. ↑ Abbott, p.20
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Abbott, p 19, 20
  11. ↑ In honour of the disbanded Sich Riflemen
  12. ↑ Fashion statement: Ukrainian troops debut post-Soviet uniforms, The Washington Times (25 August 2016)
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