Information on the thesis

The thesis is based on a study of a wide range of sources, comprehensively analyzed the features of the organizational and military-political activity in the territory of the OUN Rava Ruska district in the years 1939-1945. The processes of formation of the Ukrainian nationalist underground structure analysis and structure Rava Ruska district OUN. Displaying attitude of local people to the occupants. Attention is also paid to the characteristics of the basic forms and methods of fighting against the Ukrainian nationalist against Polish underground, German and Soviet occupation authorities. In the dissertation were analyzed the features of the advocacy activities of OUN and UPA against the occupants.

The dissertation research shows that the OUN activities in the territory of Rava Ruska district depended on the political situation in the region. The propaganda activity of the OUN was aimed at strengthening the national positions and consisted of the following elements: awareness among the population; the activities of clandestine printing and publishing print media; distribution of leaflets, brochures to promote the national idea.

We distinguish the following main points of the radical fighting: study arms; collection and storing weapons; improving the structure of the OUN; armed resistance.

The thesis found out the causes that led to the revitalization of the national liberation movement and the formation of OUN centers is in the territory of the province Rava Ruska district.

From September 1, 1939 to June 22, 1941 there was only planning a radical opposition to the invaders. The main focus of subdistrict (pidrayonovych) groups of the OUN in the beginning was patriotic and military-organizational education of youth, selection and storage of weapons and ammunition. For the purpose of self-defense of the population on the territory of the district there appeared the armed units (boivka), and later -some military units of the OUN. Thus there appeared the Ukrainian National Self-Defense, which showed a clear shift to armed resistance to invaders. In 1941-1942  local self-defense troops actively responded to the actions of the German occupiers.

As for the Polish-Ukrainian confrontation, which worsened in the spring of 1943, the actions of  the OUN in Rava Ruska district were the ones of the revengeful nature. In late 1943 and 1944 on the territory of Rava Ruska district there intensified the confrontation of Ukrainian nationalists to the German occupation regime and Polish military formations simultaneously.

During 1944-1945 the MD (military district of  the UPA) “Bug” is often entered into armed clashes with the troops of NKVD, the Soviet partisans and at the same time fought against German troops and Polish armed forces. During this period  the armed groups of the ukrainian nationalists can be described as follows: 1) the nature of the defense operations; 2) operations of offensive character; 3) application-insurrectional tactics, which included drawing the enemy strike followed by departure from the zone of operations. Thus, MD “Bug” was a powerful structure of liberation movement of the Ukrainians on the territory of Rava Ruska district and committed considerable resistance to all occupantional regimes.

In 1945-1946 there was a restructuring of the OUN. Povits were renamed into overregions. Rava Ruska district during these changes became a part of  Sokal-Rava Ruska districts, but the liberation movement in Zhovkva overregion (nadraion) of the OUN and the former Rava Ruska district continued its activity even after the summer of 1946 demobilization of some departments of MD “Bug”. The tactics of warfare was changed since 1945 and opposition to Soviets took place using small armed units (boyivka).

Near Rava Ruska, Zhovkva and Lubachov there was active resistance to Nazis and Bolsheviks. And this resistance was characterized by the scope and intensity. Polish resistance was less ambitious, which can be explaining through the political situation that prevailed at that time.

Keywords: Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Rava Ruska district, national liberation struggle, agitation, propaganda, armed resistance.