Carpathian Sich
Encyclopedia
The Carpathian Sich were irregular soldiers
of the short-lived state of Carpatho-Ukraine
.
, Avgustyn Voloshyn. The Carpathian Sich was based in Khust
. It was led by Dmytro Klympush and Ivan Rohach
, and performed paramilitary and police duties in adjust with Czechoslovak forces. Although the Carpathian Sich's leaders were local Transcarpathian Ukrainian nationalists, most of its forces consisted of Ukrainian activists who crossed over the mountains from Galicia. In opposition to the government of Avgustyn Voloshyn, the Sich began to terrorize local Russophiles
and Jews. It also engaged in cultural work such as publishing a newspaper and operating a theater, the Shooting Star (Letiucha Estrada). As Czechoslovakia fell apart in March 14, 1939, the Sich with German encouragement prepared a coup against the Carpatho-Ukrainian government of Avgustyn Voloshyn and attacked Czechoslovak troops, resulting in the deaths of several Czechoslovak soldiers and Sich members.
On March 15, 1939 Hungary invaded Carpatho-Ukraine. Avgustyn Woloshyn chose to flee to Romania along with the Czech military rather than to fight the invading Hungarian forces. The Carpathian Sich declared him to be a traitor and issued an illegal decree calling for armed resistance. Its poorly armed forces along with unarmed gymnasium
and seminary students proved to be no match for the Hungarian military, which by March 18, 1939 had captured all of Carpatho-Ukraine. During this fighting hundreds of Carpathian Sich members died in battle, and many prisoners were illegally executed by the Hungarians afterward. The fighting between the Hungarian military and the Carpathian Sich was the first armed conflict in central Europe prior to the Second World War.
In September 1939, 600 veterans of the Sich were authorized by German intelligence (the Abwehr
) to form a battalion-sized combat unit that participated in the German invasion of Poland. It was disbanded soon afterward.
Notwithstanding its own links to Nazi Germany, due to its struggle against invading German-allied Hungarian forces the Carpathian Sich is celebrated as a symbol of bravery and resistance against fascism in Ukraine.
Its ranks were called Otaman
(commander), Sotnyk (company commander), Chotar (Platoon Commander), Desiatnyk (NCO), Starshyie Sichovyk (Senior Private) and Sichovyk (private). Uniforms were adopted in February 1939 and consisted of a four button tunic with open collar and breeches
. Insignia were not standardized. The Sich used Czech arms.
Irregular military
Irregular military refers to any non-standard military. Being defined by exclusion, there is significant variance in what comes under the term. It can refer to the type of military organization, or to the type of tactics used....
of the short-lived state of Carpatho-Ukraine
Carpatho-Ukraine
Carpatho-Ukraine was an autonomous region within Czechoslovakia from late 1938 to March 15, 1939. It declared itself an independent republic on March 15, 1939, but was occupied by Hungary between March 15 and March 18, 1939, remaining under Hungarian control until the Nazi occupation of Hungary in...
.
History
The Carpathian Sich was formed in November 1938 under the newly-elected moderate Ukrainian nationalist prime minister of the Subcarpathian Autonomous Region within CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, Avgustyn Voloshyn. The Carpathian Sich was based in Khust
Khust
Khust is a city located on the Khustets River in the Zakarpattia oblast in western Ukraine. It is near the confluence of the Tisza and Rika Rivers...
. It was led by Dmytro Klympush and Ivan Rohach
Ivan Rohach
Ivan Rohach was a Ukrainian journalist, poet, writer, and political activist born in Velykyj Bereznyj , Austria-Hungary ....
, and performed paramilitary and police duties in adjust with Czechoslovak forces. Although the Carpathian Sich's leaders were local Transcarpathian Ukrainian nationalists, most of its forces consisted of Ukrainian activists who crossed over the mountains from Galicia. In opposition to the government of Avgustyn Voloshyn, the Sich began to terrorize local Russophiles
Ukrainian Russophiles
The focus of this article is part of a general political movement in Western Ukraine of the nineteenth and early 20th century. The movement contained several competing branches: Moscowphiles, Ukrainophiles, Rusynphiles, and others....
and Jews. It also engaged in cultural work such as publishing a newspaper and operating a theater, the Shooting Star (Letiucha Estrada). As Czechoslovakia fell apart in March 14, 1939, the Sich with German encouragement prepared a coup against the Carpatho-Ukrainian government of Avgustyn Voloshyn and attacked Czechoslovak troops, resulting in the deaths of several Czechoslovak soldiers and Sich members.
On March 15, 1939 Hungary invaded Carpatho-Ukraine. Avgustyn Woloshyn chose to flee to Romania along with the Czech military rather than to fight the invading Hungarian forces. The Carpathian Sich declared him to be a traitor and issued an illegal decree calling for armed resistance. Its poorly armed forces along with unarmed gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
and seminary students proved to be no match for the Hungarian military, which by March 18, 1939 had captured all of Carpatho-Ukraine. During this fighting hundreds of Carpathian Sich members died in battle, and many prisoners were illegally executed by the Hungarians afterward. The fighting between the Hungarian military and the Carpathian Sich was the first armed conflict in central Europe prior to the Second World War.
In September 1939, 600 veterans of the Sich were authorized by German intelligence (the Abwehr
Abwehr
The Abwehr was a German military intelligence organisation from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only...
) to form a battalion-sized combat unit that participated in the German invasion of Poland. It was disbanded soon afterward.
Notwithstanding its own links to Nazi Germany, due to its struggle against invading German-allied Hungarian forces the Carpathian Sich is celebrated as a symbol of bravery and resistance against fascism in Ukraine.
Numbers and Organization
By February 1939 the Sich had up to 15,000 members, although only 2,000 were organized to fight. The Sich had five garrisons. Its barracks housed a total of 2,000 people, of whom only 300-400 were armed.Its ranks were called Otaman
Ataman
Ataman was a commander title of the Ukrainian People's Army, Cossack, and haidamak leaders, who were in essence the Cossacks...
(commander), Sotnyk (company commander), Chotar (Platoon Commander), Desiatnyk (NCO), Starshyie Sichovyk (Senior Private) and Sichovyk (private). Uniforms were adopted in February 1939 and consisted of a four button tunic with open collar and breeches
Breeches
Breeches are an item of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles...
. Insignia were not standardized. The Sich used Czech arms.