Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)

Miroslav Tomek - In defence of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists
Abstract

The review article deals with David Svoboda’s monograph Jablko z oceli. Zrod, vývoj a činnost ukrajinského radikálního nacionalismu v letech 1920–1939 (Apple of Steel: The Birth, Development, and Activities of Ukrainian Radical Nationalism in 1920–1939. Academia – Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů, Praha 2021). This extremely comprehensive book on the history of Ukrainian radical nationalism in the interwar period is definitely a pioneering work in the Czech context. The author has made use of a large amount of literature and archival sources, yet he has not avoided several shortcomings, which are the subject of detailed analysis. The author takes an apologetic approach to his topic and defends the Ukrainian nationalists in an undisguised manner. On the contrary, he resigns to set clear research questions. Far from always adhering to strict standards of scholarship, the author’s book is often more akin to a polemical essay. Despite these shortcomings, it is undoubtedly an important contribution to scholarly debate.

Tomáš Řepa - Banderites in Czechoslovakia in 1945–1947: Political and Military Aspects
Abstract

This work focuses on phenomena “Banderovci” (OUN – Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and UPA – Ukrainian Rebellious Army) in Czechoslovakia 1945–1947. Their real threat to the Czechoslovak state has long been overestimated and propagandistically abused by the Communists in a fight with other political subjects in Czechoslovakia already before February 1948. In the countries where “Banderovci” acted, their activity is still perceived controversially and tendentiously. Under the influence of what regime was ultimately gained and how this issue was handled. The originally unambiguous conflict, outgoing from the problematic coexistence of some Eastern European nations, has been abused to create a fake legend and a purposeful campaign. With more than 70 years of optics, the topic of “Banderovci” is in many cases viewed so far, and it is probably the question of a future where the issue will be deprived of distorting clichés.