Vasyl Mudry
Encyclopedia
Vasyl MudryVasyl Mudry ( (1893–1966), was a Ukrainian journalist and politician who led the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
, the largest Ukrainian political party in interwar Poland, and who served as speaker of the Polish parliament.
, an organization dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture and spreading Ukrainian literacy. From 1937 until 1935 he was chief editor of Dilo, the largest Ukrainian newspaper in interwar Poland. Mudry was a member of the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
(UNDO), the largest Ukrainian political party in interwar Poland. In 1935 UNDO experienced an internal conflict due to its policy of cooperation with the Polish government. UNDO's leader, Dmytro Levytsky
, resigned his position in protest against such cooperation. Mudry then became UNDO's new leader and as part of a compromise between UNDO and the Polish government he became speaker of the Polish parliament. Despite UNDO's cooperation with the Polish government, key demands such as Ukrainian autonomy or the establishment of a Ukrainian-language university for Poland's 4.4 million Ukrainians were not met, and in 1938 Mudry declared that attempts at compromising with Poland failed. After German-controlled Czechoslovakia granted that country's Carpatho-Ukraine
autonomy and articles in the German press began supporting the idea of a Ukrainian state including Polish territories, Mudry met with the German ambassador in Warsaw, stated that there was no hope for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation, and expressed hope for German support. This pro-German approach ended when Germany's ally conquered and when the Polish government renewed its stated commitment to Ukrainian autonomy.
When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, UNDO under Mudry declared its loyalty to the Polish state. Fleeing the Soviets who annexed Western Ukraine
and who arrested most of the Ukrainian political figures who had not escaped (including Mudry's predecessor Dmytro Levytsky), Vasyl Mudry settled in Krakow
where he became secretary of the Ukrainian National Committee.
After the war, Vasyl Mudry emigrated to America where from 1957 until his death in 1966 he was a member of the directorship of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
.
Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
The Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance, was the largest Ukrainian political party in the Second Polish Republic, active in territory that is currently Western Ukraine. It dominated the mainstream political life of the Ukrainian minority in Poland, which with almost 14% of Poland's population...
, the largest Ukrainian political party in interwar Poland, and who served as speaker of the Polish parliament.
Biography
From 1921 to 1933 he was part of the head committee of the ProsvitaProsvita
Prosvita is a society created in the nineteenth century in Ukrainian Galicia for preserving and developing Ukrainian culture and education among population....
, an organization dedicated to preserving Ukrainian culture and spreading Ukrainian literacy. From 1937 until 1935 he was chief editor of Dilo, the largest Ukrainian newspaper in interwar Poland. Mudry was a member of the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
The Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance, was the largest Ukrainian political party in the Second Polish Republic, active in territory that is currently Western Ukraine. It dominated the mainstream political life of the Ukrainian minority in Poland, which with almost 14% of Poland's population...
(UNDO), the largest Ukrainian political party in interwar Poland. In 1935 UNDO experienced an internal conflict due to its policy of cooperation with the Polish government. UNDO's leader, Dmytro Levytsky
Dmytro Levytsky
Dmytro Levytsky was a lawyer and major political figure in western Ukraine between the two world wars. Between 1925 and 1935 he headed the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance, the largest Ukrainian political party in western Ukraine, and served as the chief of the Ukrainian delegation within...
, resigned his position in protest against such cooperation. Mudry then became UNDO's new leader and as part of a compromise between UNDO and the Polish government he became speaker of the Polish parliament. Despite UNDO's cooperation with the Polish government, key demands such as Ukrainian autonomy or the establishment of a Ukrainian-language university for Poland's 4.4 million Ukrainians were not met, and in 1938 Mudry declared that attempts at compromising with Poland failed. After German-controlled Czechoslovakia granted that country's 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...
autonomy and articles in the German press began supporting the idea of a Ukrainian state including Polish territories, Mudry met with the German ambassador in Warsaw, stated that there was no hope for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation, and expressed hope for German support. This pro-German approach ended when Germany's ally conquered and when the Polish government renewed its stated commitment to Ukrainian autonomy.
When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, UNDO under Mudry declared its loyalty to the Polish state. Fleeing the Soviets who annexed Western Ukraine
Soviet annexation of Western Ukraine, 1939–1940
On the basis of a secret clause of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union , the Soviet Union invaded Poland on September 17, 1939, capturing the eastern regions of Poland , with Galicia and Volhynia, facing little Polish opposition and occupying the principal city of...
and who arrested most of the Ukrainian political figures who had not escaped (including Mudry's predecessor Dmytro Levytsky), Vasyl Mudry settled in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
where he became secretary of the Ukrainian National Committee.
After the war, Vasyl Mudry emigrated to America where from 1957 until his death in 1966 he was a member of the directorship of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Established in 1940, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Inc. today unites some 20 Ukrainian organizations and over 75 branches throughout the United States. A 37-person, elected, volunteer Board of Directors governs the UCCA in conjunction with a 73-member National Council made up of...
.
Sources
- Ryszard Torzecki, Polacy i Ukraińcy. Sprawa ukraińska w czasie II wojny światowej na terenie II Rzeczypospolitej, Warszawa 1993, Wyd. PWN, ISBN 83-01-11126-7
- Kto był kim w drugiej Rzeczypospolitej, Warszawa 1994, Oficyna Wydawnicza BGW, ISBN 83-7066-569-1
- Ryszard Tomczyk, Ukraińskie Zjednoczenie Narodowo-Demokratyczne 1925-1939, Książnica Pomorska, Szczecin 2006,ISBN 83-87879-60-6