Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia
In 1931, the Polish census recorded that Ukrainian language was spoken by 52% of inhabitants in Eastern Galicia and 68% in Volhynia. This demographic reality created a volatile foundation for the Second Polish Republic, which claimed these territories after World War I. The state policy toward Ukrainians shifted repeatedly between attempts at assimilation and outright repression. In 1930, a terror campaign in the Galician countryside led to collective responsibility being imposed on local Ukrainians. Police placed Ukrainian parliamentarians under house arrest to prevent them from voting. By 1937, the government initiated an active campaign to use religion as a tool for Polonization. Over 190 Orthodox churches were destroyed or converted to Roman Catholicism during this period. Harsh policies implemented by the Second Polish Republic often resulted from OUN-B violence but contributed to further deterioration of relations. Between 1921 and 1938, Polish colonists and war veterans settled in the Volhynian and Galician countryside. Their number reached 17,700 in Volhynia across 3,500 new settlements by 1939. These settlers created modern infrastructure but also intensified ethnic friction. In one incident, Polish mobs attacked Ukrainian students in their dormitory under the eyes of police. A screaming Ukrainian woman was thrown into a burning store by these mobs. Eight people were hospitalized with serious injuries and two killed when a Ukrainian seminary was destroyed. The communists organized strikes and killed at least 31 suspected police informers between 1935 and 1936. Police conducted mass arrests and reported killing 18 communists in 1935 alone.
In 1920, exiled Ukrainian officers founded the Ukrainian Military Organization (UVO) as an underground military group. This organization aimed to continue armed struggle for independent Ukraine after the Polish-Ukrainian War. By late 1922, UVO organized sabotage actions and assassination attempts on Polish officials. In 1929, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) formed in Vienna through a union of radical nationalist groups. Members carried out acts of terror and assassinations in Poland throughout the early years. Mainstream Ukrainian society condemned this violence, including Andriy Sheptytsky, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The most popular political party among Ukrainians was actually the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance (UNDO). UNDO opposed Polish rule but called for peaceful means to achieve independence. By the start of World War II, OUN membership had risen to 20,000 active members. Supporters numbered many times that amount. On the 10th of February 1940, a revolutionary faction emerged in Kraków called OUN-R or OUN-B under Stepan Bandera. This split from the existing leadership led by Andriy Melnyk, creating OUN-M. The OUN-B formed militias that displayed exceptional cruelty during antisemitic pogroms. The biggest pogroms occurred in Lviv, resulting in the massacre of 6,000 Polish Jews. Several hundred Poles were also killed at the hands of Ukrainian nationalists during this time. A group of about 100 Polish students were murdered in Lviv alone. On the 30th of June 1941, the OUN-B proclaimed establishment of an independent Ukrainian State in Lviv. In response, OUN-B leaders and associates were arrested and imprisoned by the Gestapo. Approximately 1500 persons were detained. The OUN-M continued operating openly while collaborating with Germans until early 1942 when its influence was curtailed.
On the 9th of February 1943, a UPA group commanded by Hryhory Perehyniak assaulted the Parośle settlement in Sarny county. Estimates of victims range from 149 to 173 people. This event is recognized as the first mass murder committed by the UPA in the area. Throughout Volhynia, individuals often with their families began being killed systematically. In Kostopol and Sarny counties, Ivan Lytvynchuk Dubovy led units that murdered Poles in dozens of villages. The largest massacre took place in Lipniki where one of the first Polish self-defenses was established. Despite resistance during the attack on the night of 26, the 27th of March, the Dubovy unit murdered 184 people. About 130 people were murdered in Brzezina on the 8th of April 1943. Then massacres spread westward mainly in Lutsk county. According to Timothy Snyder, UPA forces killed 7,000 Polish civilians in late March and early April 1943. The OUN-B leadership chose Holy Week (18, the 26th of April) for an organized attack on the Polish population. Most bloody was the massacre of the night of 22, the 23rd of April in Janowa Dolina. UPA unit commanded by Ivan Lytvynchuk Dubovy killed 600 people and burned down the entire village. In another incident, at least 53 Poles were murdered in Kuty despite self-defense efforts. The assaults spread throughout eastern Volhynia. In May and June, the purge extended to Petro Olijnyk's subordinate areas of Rivne and Kremenets districts. Maksym Skorupskyi wrote in his diary that starting from action on Kuty, day after day after sunset, the sky bathed in glow of conflagration. Polish villages were burning daily. On the 11th of July 1943, UPA units surrounded and attacked 96 Polish villages and settlements located in counties Horochów and Włodzimierz Wołyński. Fifty villages in first two counties were attacked following day. In Gurów out of 480 inhabitants only 70 survived. In Orzeszyn UPA killed 306 out of 340 Poles. In Sadowa out of 600 Polish inhabitants only 20 survived. In Zagaje 260 Poles were killed. The wave lasted five days until July 16. In August 1943, Polish village of Gaj near Kovel was burned and some 600 people massacred. In Ostrówki 438 people including 246 children were killed.
At the 3rd OUN Congress in August 1943, Mykola Lebed criticized UPA actions in Volhynia as banditry. Majority of delegates disagreed with his assessment and decided to extend anti-Polish operation into Galicia. It took a different course by end of 1943. Limited to killing leaders of Polish community and exhorting Poles to flee west under threat of looming genocide. In March 1944, UPA command headed by Roman Shukhevych issued order to drive Poles out of Eastern Galicia. First warnings then raiding villages murdering men and burning buildings followed similar orders from Vasyl Sydor Shelest commander in Eastern Galicia. This order often disobeyed and entire villages slaughtered anyway. Between 1943 and 1946, OUN-B and UPA killed 20,000, 25,000 Poles in Eastern Galicia. One thousand to two thousand Ukrainians died by Polish underground retaliation. On the 28th of February 1944, in village of Korosciatyn 135 Poles were murdered. Victims later counted by local Roman Catholic priest Mieczysław Kamiński. Jan Zaleski father of Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zaleski witnessed slaughter lasting almost all night. He heard terrible cries roar of cattle burning alive shooting. It seemed Antichrist himself began activity according to his diary entry. Among scores of Polish villages whose inhabitants murdered and buildings burned are Berezowica near Zbaraz Ihrowica near Ternopil Plotych near Ternopil Podkamien near Brody Hanachiv and Hanachivka near Przemyślany. Roman Shukhevych stated in order from the 25th of February 1944 that liquidation of Poles must be sped up since Soviet forces succeeding. They must totally wiped out their villages burned only Polish population destroyed. One most infamous massacres took place on the 28th of February 1944 in Huta Pieniacka with over 1,000 inhabitants. Village served as shelter for refugees including Polish Jews plus recuperation base for partisans. Two soldiers of 14th Waffen Grenadier Division SS Galicia killed one wounded by villagers during reconnaissance attack. On February 28 elements of Ukrainian 14th SS Division returned with 500, 600 men assisted civilian nationalists. Killing spree lasted all day. Kazimierz Wojciechowski commander Polish self-defense unit drenched gasoline burned alive main square. Village utterly destroyed occupants killed. Civilians mostly women children rounded church divided locked barns set fire. Estimates casualties vary include 500 Ukrainian archives over 1,000 Tadeusz Piotrowski 1,200 Sol Littman.
Erich Koch once said We have to do everything possible so Pole meeting Ukrainian willing kill him conversely Ukrainian willing kill Pole. Yuriy Kirichuk quotes German commissioner from Sarny responding to Polish complaints You want Sikorski Ukrainians want Bandera Fight each other. Germans replaced Ukrainian policemen deserted service with Polish policemen. Around 1,200 local Poles joined police mainly desire avenge UPA atrocities obtain means defend themselves. German policy called murder family every Ukrainian police officer who deserted destruction village any Ukrainian police officer who deserted weapons. Those retaliations carried out using newly recruited Polish policemen. Polish participation in German police followed UPA attacks on Polish settlements provided Ukrainian nationalists useful sources propaganda used justification ethnic cleansing. OUN-B leader summarized situation August 1943 saying German administration uses Polaks destructive actions response destroy them unmercifully. Despite desertions March April 1943 Ukrainian policemen continued comprise significant part auxiliary police forces pacify villages under German orders. On the 25th of August 1943 German authorities ordered all Poles leave villages settlements move larger towns. Soviet partisan units area aware massacres. On the 25th of May 1943 commander Soviet partisan forces Rivne area stressed report headquarters Ukrainian nationalists did not shoot Poles cut dead knives axes no consideration age gender. Special German units formed collaborationist Ukrainian later Polish auxiliary police deployed pacification actions Volhynia some crimes attributed Home Army or UPA. Some individual German soldiers officers made deals UPA give weapons materials exchange share loot taken Poles. Ukrainians ethnically mixed settlements offered material incentives convince assist attacks neighbors warned Sluzhba Bezbeky security service leave night remaining inhabitants murdered dawn. Many Ukrainians risked lost lives trying shelter warn Poles activities treated collaboration enemy severely punished.
According to historian George Liber, Polish casualties death toll still being researched. At least 10% ethnic Poles Volhynia killed Ivan Katchanovski thus Polish casualties comprised about 1% prewar population territories UPA active 0.2% entire ethnically Polish population Ukraine Poland. Łossowski emphasizes documentation far from conclusive numerous cases survivors unable testify. Soviet German invasions prewar eastern Poland UPA massacres postwar Soviet expulsions contributed virtual elimination Polish presence region. Those remained left Volhynia mostly neighboring province Lublin. Survivors moved further west territories Lower Silesia. Polish orphans kept several orphanages largest around Kraków. Several former Polish villages no longer exist remain ruins. Institute National Remembrance estimates 100,000 Poles killed Ukrainian nationalists 40,000, 60,000 victims Volhynia 30,000, 40,000 Eastern Galicia at least 4,000 Lesser Poland including up to 2,000 Chełm region. For Eastern Galicia other estimates range between 20,000 and 25,000 25,000 30,000, 40,000. Niall Ferguson gives total number Polish victims Volhynia Eastern Galicia between 60,000 and 80,000. G. Rossolinski-Liebe estimated 70,000, 100,000. John P. Himka says perhaps hundred thousand Poles killed Volhynia Eastern Galicia. According Motyka from 1943 to 1945 all territories covered conflict approximately 100,000 Poles killed. Ivan Katchanovski writes according Polish Western estimates 35,000, 60,000 Poles killed UPA Volhynia alone lower bound more reliable higher estimates based assumption Polish population region several times less likely perish result Nazi genocidal policies compared Ukrainian population Volhynia. Władysław Siemaszko daughter Ewa documented 33,454 Polish victims 18,208 known surname July 2010 Ewa increased accounts 38,600 documented victims 22,113 known surname. At first-ever joint Polish-Ukrainian conference Podkowa Leśna the 7th of June 9 1994 estimate 50,000 Polish deaths Volhynia settled considered moderate. Per Anders Rudling states UPA killed 40,000, 70,000 Poles area. Some extreme estimates place number Polish victims high as 300,000. Studies 2011 quote 91,200 confirmed deaths 43,987 known name. After initiation massacres Polish self-defense units responded kind. All conflicts resulted Poles taking revenge Ukrainian civilians. A. Rudling estimates Ukrainian casualties caused Polish retribution 2,000, 3,000 Volhynia. G. Rossolinski-Liebe puts number Ukrainians OUN-UPA members civilians killed postwar World War II 10,000, 20,000. Kataryna Wolczuk for all areas affected conflict Ukrainian casualties range 10,000 to 30,000 between 1943 and 1947. According Motyka estimations 30,000 Ukrainian casualties unsupported his estimates 2,000, 3,000 Ukrainians killed Volhynia 10,000, 15,000 territories covered conflict 1943, 1947. Most Ukrainian casualties occurred within post-war Polish borders 8,000, 10,000 including 5,000, 6,000 Ukrainians killed 1944, 1947.
In 2008 Poland's Parliament adopted resolution calling UPA crimes against Poles crimes bearing hallmarks genocide. In 2013 it adopted resolution calling them ethnic cleansing with hallmarks genocide. On the 22nd of July 2016 Poland's Sejm established the 11th of July National Day Remembrance Victims Genocide committed Ukrainian nationalists citizens Second Polish Republic. This characterization disputed Ukraine some non-Polish historians characterize instead ethnic cleansing. Some Ukrainian religious authorities institutions leaders protested slayings Polish civilians during 1943-1944 events little effect. The decision to force Polish population leave areas Banderite faction Organization Ukrainian Nationalists considered Ukrainian took place meeting military referents autumn 1942 plans made liquidate Polish-community leaders any Polish community resisted. Local UPA commanders Volhynia began attacking Polish population committing massacres numerous villages. Encountering resistance UPA commander Volhynia Dmytro Klyachkivsky Klym Savur issued order June 1943 general physical liquidation entire Polish population. Largest wave attacks took place July August 1943 assaults Volhynia continuing until spring 1944 Red Army arrived Volhynia Polish underground organized Polish self-defense formed 27th AK Infantry Division. Approximately 50,000, 60,000 Poles died result massacres Volhynia while up to 2,000, 3,000 Ukrainians died result Polish retaliatory actions. At 3rd OUN Congress August 1943 Mykola Lebed criticized UPA actions Volhynia banditry majority delegates disagreed assessment congress decided extend anti-Polish operation Galicia.
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Common questions
What were the main causes of the Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia?
The Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia resulted from volatile demographic realities, repeated Polish state policies shifting between assimilation and repression, and radical nationalist violence by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. Harsh policies implemented by the Second Polish Republic often resulted from OUN-B violence but contributed to further deterioration of relations.
When did the UPA begin its systematic mass murder campaign against Poles in 1943?
On the 9th of February 1943, a UPA group commanded by Hryhory Perehyniak assaulted the Parośle settlement in Sarny county, which is recognized as the first mass murder committed by the UPA in the area. The largest wave of attacks took place during July and August 1943, with assaults continuing until spring 1944 when the Red Army arrived in Volhynia.
How many Poles died during the Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia according to official estimates?
The Institute of National Remembrance estimates that 100,000 Poles were killed by Ukrainian nationalists, with 40,000 to 60,000 victims in Volhynia and 30,000 to 40,000 in Eastern Galicia. Other historians provide varying figures ranging between 60,000 and 80,000 total Polish victims across both regions.
Which specific dates mark major massacres during the conflict in 1943 and 1944?
Major massacres occurred on the night of the 22nd of April 1943 in Janowa Dolina where 600 people were killed, and on the 11th of July 1943 when UPA units attacked 96 Polish villages. The most infamous massacre took place on the 28th of February 1944 in Huta Pieniacka involving over 1,000 inhabitants.
What resolutions did Poland adopt regarding the Massacres of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia?
In 2008 Poland's Parliament adopted a resolution calling UPA crimes against Poles crimes bearing hallmarks genocide. In 2013 it adopted a resolution calling them ethnic cleansing with hallmarks genocide, and on the 22nd of July 2016 Poland's Sejm established the 11th of July as National Day Remembrance for Victims Genocide committed by Ukrainian nationalists citizens of the Second Polish Republic.