Oleksandr Udovychenko
Encyclopedia
Oleksandr Ivanovych Udovychenko (Ukrainian: Олександр Iванович Удовиченко), February 20, 1887 - April 19, 1975, was a General of the Army of the Ukrainian National Republic and a military administrator. Later, he served as the Vice-President for the Government-in-exile of the Ukrainian National Republic.
. His father served in the Russian Imperial Army earning a rank of colonel
. His brother, Mykola Udovychenko, was a captain of the Russian Imperial Army and a khorunzhy general of the Ukrainian People's Army
.
Udovychenko was transferred to the 129th Bessarabia Regiment with which participated in military operations and was eventually wounded. In 1916 he finished the First Accelerated course Nikolai Military Academy in Saint Petersburg
, a member of the Leib-Guard Eger Regiment. In November 1917 Udovychenko was commissioned as a senior staff adjutant for the 21st Infantry Division and the 3rd Caucasus Corps at the rank of staff captain. He was awarded with the honorary George's weapon by the order of the 7th Army #1888 of November 21, 1917.
). On October 31, 1918 Udovychenko was appointed the head of the department in formation of a Special Army of Main Directorate of Ukrainian State General Staff.
With the fall of the Skoropadsky's regime Udovychenko was recruited by the Directorate of Ukrainian People's Republic. Just after the Christmas, December 26, 1918, he was appointed a Quartermaster General
of the Kholm-Halych Front and later the Right-bank Front. In March 1919 - a chief of staff of the Hutsul Kosh. On June 6, 1919 Udovychenko was commissioned as the chief of the 16th Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Galician Army
, formed out of remains of the Ukrainian People's Army
. About a week and a half later the unit was reformed into the 3rd Special Riflemen Division (later the 3rd "Iron" Infantry Division). The unit distinguished itself in battles against the Red Army units led by Iona Yakir
near Vapniarka
in Podolia
. In October 1919 Udovychenko became sick with typhus
which was part of widespread epidemic disease in the region. He eventually was taken as a prisoner by the Denikin's army and transferred to Odessa
.
Udovychenko managed to escape his captivity and in January 1920 with a group of military officers reached Mohyliv-Podilsky where he headed the formation of the 5th Ukrainian Brigade. The unit later was united with the 4th Brigade to form the 2nd Riflemen Division. Udovychenko eventually was appointed the commander of the division which on May 29, 1920 was renamed into the 3rd "Iron" Division. He stayed in the command of the unit until November 1920 when the Ukrainian Army was forced to cross Zbruch. On October 5, 1920 Udovychenko was promoted to the Khorunzhy General. In December 1920 he was appointed the Inspector General
of the Army. During the conflict between the Chief Otaman with the members of the Ukrainian General Staff Udovychenko sided with Symon Petlyura. In Spring of 1921 he became a member of the Supreme Military Council.
in emigration and since 1953 - the head of the European Federation of Ukrainian Military Organizations. In emigration Udovychenko was promoted to Colonel General
and was appointed the Minister of Defense of the Ukrainian National Rada Executive Committee. From 1954 to 1961 he served as the Vice-President of the Ukrainian People's Republic
in exile.
Heritage
Oleksandr was born to a peasant family of Udovidchenko from Cherkassy volost, Liven uyezd of Orel Governorate that moved KharkivKharkiv
Kharkiv or Kharkov is the second-largest city in Ukraine.The city was founded in 1654 and was a major centre of Ukrainian culture in the Russian Empire. Kharkiv became the first city in Ukraine where the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in December 1917 and Soviet government was...
. His father served in the Russian Imperial Army earning a rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. His brother, Mykola Udovychenko, was a captain of the Russian Imperial Army and a khorunzhy general of the Ukrainian People's Army
Ukrainian People's Army
The Ukrainian People's Army , also known as the Ukrainian National Army 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,...
.
Russian Army
Udovychenko was raised in the children shelter of Prince Oldenburg. In 1908 he finished the Military-Topographic college (uchilishche) in the rank of starshina, after which he served in the Topographic Corps of the Russian Imperial Army. With the break of the World War IWorld 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...
Udovychenko was transferred to the 129th Bessarabia Regiment with which participated in military operations and was eventually wounded. In 1916 he finished the First Accelerated course Nikolai Military Academy in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, a member of the Leib-Guard Eger Regiment. In November 1917 Udovychenko was commissioned as a senior staff adjutant for the 21st Infantry Division and the 3rd Caucasus Corps at the rank of staff captain. He was awarded with the honorary George's weapon by the order of the 7th Army #1888 of November 21, 1917.
Ukrainian Army
Udovychenko participated in the 1st and the 2nd All-Ukrainian Military Congresses. Since December 16, 1917 Udovychenko was an assistant to the chief of an operation department of the Ukrainian General Staff. In January 1918 he was appointed a chief of staff for the Haidamaka Kosh of Sloboda Ukraine led by Symon Petlyura and participated in extinguishing of the Bolshevik Uprising at the Kiev Arsenal factory before the Ukrainian parliamentary elections. For a brief stint from March 12 to April 1, 1918 Udovychenko headed the 3rd Haidamaka Regiment. During the times of the Ukrainian State he was appointed an assistant to the chief of intelligence of operation department headed by Vasyl Tyutyunyk (no relations to Yurii TiutiunnykYurii Tiutiunnyk
Yuri Yosypovych Tiutiunnyk was a Ukrainian military commander of the Ukrainian People's Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic during the Ukrainian-Soviet War.-Early...
). On October 31, 1918 Udovychenko was appointed the head of the department in formation of a Special Army of Main Directorate of Ukrainian State General Staff.
With the fall of the Skoropadsky's regime Udovychenko was recruited by the Directorate of Ukrainian People's Republic. Just after the Christmas, December 26, 1918, he was appointed a Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
of the Kholm-Halych Front and later the Right-bank Front. In March 1919 - a chief of staff of the Hutsul Kosh. On June 6, 1919 Udovychenko was commissioned as the chief of the 16th Infantry Brigade of the Ukrainian Galician Army
Ukrainian Galician Army
Ukrainian Galician Army , was the Ukrainian military of the West Ukrainian National Republic during and after the Polish-Ukrainian War. -Military equipment:...
, formed out of remains of the Ukrainian People's Army
Ukrainian People's Army
The Ukrainian People's Army , also known as the Ukrainian National Army 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,...
. About a week and a half later the unit was reformed into the 3rd Special Riflemen Division (later the 3rd "Iron" Infantry Division). The unit distinguished itself in battles against the Red Army units led by Iona Yakir
Iona Yakir
Iona Emmanuilovich Yakir was the Red Army commander and one of the world's major military reformers between World War I and World War II.-Early years:...
near Vapniarka
Vapniarka
Vapniarka , also known as Vapniarca, Vapnyarka, Wapnjarka or Wapniarka, is a town in Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine, known since 1870 as a railroad station. Its name from the Ukrainian language translates as a lime settlement...
in Podolia
Podolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
. In October 1919 Udovychenko became sick with typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
which was part of widespread epidemic disease in the region. He eventually was taken as a prisoner by the Denikin's army and transferred to Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
.
Udovychenko managed to escape his captivity and in January 1920 with a group of military officers reached Mohyliv-Podilsky where he headed the formation of the 5th Ukrainian Brigade. The unit later was united with the 4th Brigade to form the 2nd Riflemen Division. Udovychenko eventually was appointed the commander of the division which on May 29, 1920 was renamed into the 3rd "Iron" Division. He stayed in the command of the unit until November 1920 when the Ukrainian Army was forced to cross Zbruch. On October 5, 1920 Udovychenko was promoted to the Khorunzhy General. In December 1920 he was appointed the Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
of the Army. During the conflict between the Chief Otaman with the members of the Ukrainian General Staff Udovychenko sided with Symon Petlyura. In Spring of 1921 he became a member of the Supreme Military Council.
Emigration
In emigration Udovychenko worked as a miner in France since 1924 and upon the conclusion of his work contract year later continued to live there. Eventually he became a head of the Veterans Association of the Ukrainian People's RepublicUkrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic or Ukrainian National Republic was a republic that was declared in part of the territory of modern Ukraine after the Russian Revolution, eventually headed by Symon Petliura.-Revolutionary Wave:...
in emigration and since 1953 - the head of the European Federation of Ukrainian Military Organizations. In emigration Udovychenko was promoted to Colonel General
Colonel General
Colonel General is a senior rank of General. North Korea and Russia are two countries which have used the rank extensively throughout their histories...
and was appointed the Minister of Defense of the Ukrainian National Rada Executive Committee. From 1954 to 1961 he served as the Vice-President of the Ukrainian People's Republic
Ukrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic or Ukrainian National Republic was a republic that was declared in part of the territory of modern Ukraine after the Russian Revolution, eventually headed by Symon Petliura.-Revolutionary Wave:...
in exile.
Publications
- Ukraine in the war for the Statehood (Winnipeg, 1954) Electronic copy
- Third Iron Division Vol.1 (New York, 1971), Vol.2 (New York, 1982)