Ukrainian history and Polish history, as you would expect with them being neighbors is intertwined in many ways. However, one of the most divisive figures in Ukrainian/Polish relations is also an incredibly divisive figure in Ukraine alone.
Quite often, his monuments in various Ukrainian cities have to be guarded to prevent people from blowing them up. The person in question is the one and only: Stepan Bandera - Leader of the 'Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists' - OUN.
From my Polish friends and beer drinking companions, I am often told Bandera was a murderer, a terrorist. From my Ukrainian chums, the responses differ wildly. Bandera was villanised under the communist Ukrainian government yet in 2010 he was awarded the title of 'Hero of Ukraine', which was quickly taken back after Poland, Russia and the Jewish community kicked up a royal shit storm about it.
For Ukrainian’s he is like marmite (or vegemite) you either love him or hate him.
Why is Bandera so divisive?
1 - The first thing to remember is, he was a pure Ukrainian nationalist. During the turbulent border changes early on last century he was campaigning for anything that even remotely resembled being Ukrainian, as being part of Ukraine.
2 - So far Bandera sounds like just a normal patriot, one of many knocking around in those days, but here's the big problem: He would do just about anything to achieve his goals. This meant occasionally siding with the Nazi's to fight the Soviets before the Nazi's got so afraid of Bandera that they locked him in prison. Being so 'ambivalent' towards these two ideologies wasn't about to win you many friends in those days. Although from hindsight now, maybe it's something quite respectable.
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| Poland/Ukraine: Disputes were bound to happen. |
4 - One pro-Bandera Ukrainian argument is that Bandera never actually pulled the trigger in many of the atrocities he is associated with. When many Poles were killed by theUkrainian nationalist army, Bandera was locked up in prison.
What is my opinion about Mr. Bandera?
I would first like to say, that after reading many history books and websites about Bandera - I don't think he was anti-Semitic as he is often branded. I think he was an opportunist, helping Jewish people when it benefited him, and not really thinking too much about them if it didn't.
However, with regard to Ukrainian nationalist activities towards Poland - he is guilty. He was one of the leaders for the nationalist movement and he must bear the responsibilities of its actions. The OUN killed a lot of Polish people - just as Polish nationals killed a lot of Ukrainians.
Bandera was a ruthless man, living in ruthless times. One man’s terrorist, is another man's freedom fighter. I think out of respect for its neighbors, Ukraine shouldn't award Bandera the title of hero status, but some small monuments dedicated to him: fine I can deal with that.
What happened to Bandera in the end? He was assassinated by the KGB in Germany in 1959. One of the KGB's last political killings. *Thanks to @ajuc for making me realise this comment sounds insane - see the comments for some more info.
If anybody is interested in reading more, I would suggest this book:
Heroes and villains : creating national history in contemporary Ukraine
Author: David R Marples
Very interesting. Can you recommend any other books regarding Eastern/Central european history or politics?
ReplyDeleteI like these historical or political based posts you publish. It makes the blog 'deeper' thn others around.
ReplyDeleteIf you think one of KGB last political murders was in 1959, than you greatly underestimate their headcount.
ReplyDelete@ajuc - I'm just quoting 'Vladimir Kryuchkov' who was an ex-head of the KGB. I accept he is in a position of extreme bias but then again, people on from both sides of the cold war are generally being more open nowadays maybe it's somewhere close to the truth?
ReplyDeleteI suppose it would also depend on your perspective. Bandera could have been one from the last hundred politically motivated killings by the KGB. If we were to assume the KGB have been responsible for 1000's or 10,000's political deaths, then Kryuchov's statement might seem quite correct.
Or maybe Kryuchov just meant that he was the last of the killings that the KGB were open about doing?
Who knows!
but thanks for the comment :)
It goes to show that almost every country or region has contested areas dues to history, politics maybe greed. Good work highlighting this issue with the English speaking world
ReplyDelete