Skala-Podilska
Encyclopedia
Skala-Podilska or Skala on the River Zbrucz is a town in Ukraine
. It was, at one time, named simply "Skala." ("Skala" means "cliff" in Russian.) To distinguish itself from another town with that same name, the town compounded its name, variously, to "Skala on the River Zbrucz," "Skala Podilska" (in Ukrainian), and "Skala Podolskaya" (in Russian).
Geographically, Skala on the River Zbrucz straddles traditionally Ukrainian regions and traditionally Polish regions. Because of this precarious location, it has a history of ethnic diversity and has been, during periods of war or political unrest, particularly susceptible to turmoil.
Prior to World War I
, Skala on the River Zbrucz was part of the province of Galicia, on the eastern border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In 1919 -- after World War I, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Polish-Ukrainian War
-- Skala on the River Zbrucz became part of eastern Poland
. It was populated mostly by Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews. The town was at the eastern edge of Poland and it bordered the Soviet Union, from which it was separated only by the Zbrucz River.
Prior to the World War II
, Skala on the River Zbrucz was home to a significant Jewish population. Cossacks from the east frequently crossed over the river to raid the town, focusing their violence and destruction on Skala's Jewish population.
In 1939 -- toward the beginning of World War II -- the Soviet Union
invaded Skala on the River Zbrucz (see, Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
) and forcibly "resettled" many of the Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews to remote areas of the Soviet Union (see, Involuntary settlements in the Soviet Union#Deportations from border territories in 1939–1941).
In the summer-autumn of 1941, the territories annexed by the Soviet Union were overrun by Nazi Germany in the course of the initially successful German attack on the USSR
. Most of the Jews from Skala on the River Zbrucz perished during the Holocaust. (See generally, World War II and the Destruction of Polish Jewry History of the Jews in Poland#World War II and the destruction of Polish Jewry (1939–45)).
After the defeat of Nazi Germany
, Skala on the River Zbrucz officially became part of the Soviet Union as a result of the territorial changes of Poland after World War II
. It became part of Ukraine on July 16, 1990, when Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union (see, Ukraine - Independence Ukraine#Independence)
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. It was, at one time, named simply "Skala." ("Skala" means "cliff" in Russian.) To distinguish itself from another town with that same name, the town compounded its name, variously, to "Skala on the River Zbrucz," "Skala Podilska" (in Ukrainian), and "Skala Podolskaya" (in Russian).
History
Geographically, Skala on the River Zbrucz straddles traditionally Ukrainian regions and traditionally Polish regions. Because of this precarious location, it has a history of ethnic diversity and has been, during periods of war or political unrest, particularly susceptible to turmoil.
Prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Skala on the River Zbrucz was part of the province of Galicia, on the eastern border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
In 1919 -- after World War I, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Polish-Ukrainian War
Polish-Ukrainian War
The Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
-- Skala on the River Zbrucz became part of eastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It was populated mostly by Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews. The town was at the eastern edge of Poland and it bordered the Soviet Union, from which it was separated only by the Zbrucz River.
Prior to the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Skala on the River Zbrucz was home to a significant Jewish population. Cossacks from the east frequently crossed over the river to raid the town, focusing their violence and destruction on Skala's Jewish population.
In 1939 -- toward the beginning of World War II -- the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
invaded Skala on the River Zbrucz (see, Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
Soviet invasion of Poland (1939)
The 1939 Soviet invasion of Poland was a Soviet military operation that started without a formal declaration of war on 17 September 1939, during the early stages of World War II. Sixteen days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland from the west, the Soviet Union did so from the east...
) and forcibly "resettled" many of the Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews to remote areas of the Soviet Union (see, Involuntary settlements in the Soviet Union#Deportations from border territories in 1939–1941).
In the summer-autumn of 1941, the territories annexed by the Soviet Union were overrun by Nazi Germany in the course of the initially successful German attack on the USSR
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
. Most of the Jews from Skala on the River Zbrucz perished during the Holocaust. (See generally, World War II and the Destruction of Polish Jewry History of the Jews in Poland#World War II and the destruction of Polish Jewry (1939–45)).
After the defeat of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, Skala on the River Zbrucz officially became part of the Soviet Union as a result of the territorial changes of Poland after World War II
Territorial changes of Poland after World War II
The territorial changes of Poland after World War II were very extensive. In 1945, following the Second World War, Poland's borders were redrawn following the decisions made at the Potsdam Conference of 1945 at the insistence of the Soviet Union...
. It became part of Ukraine on July 16, 1990, when Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union (see, Ukraine - Independence Ukraine#Independence)
Additional External Resources
- Bibliography for Skala Researchers
- Tracy Abraham, To Speak for the Silenced (Dvorah Publishing Company, 2007)
- Skala Monument in Holon, Israel
- Skala on the River Zbrucz, edited by Skala Research Group and Skala Benevolent Society, 2010, translation of original Skala Yizkor Book, see http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/SkalaPodol/SkalaYizkorBook.html