“Poles… are Trying… to Create a Bridgehead”: Th e Polish-Ukrainian Confl ict 1942—1947 in the Documents of the Soviet State Security Agencies

(introductory article and publication by Yu. Shapoval, A. Kohut, Ya. Antoniuk)

Abstract

The aim of the publication is to identify and present previously unknown archival documents on the history of the Polish-Ukrainian conflict of 1942—1947 from the Soviet state security agencies archives. The compilers’ tasks aim to stimulate further research and discussions to find ways of understanding between Ukrainian and Polish historians in overcoming the common tragic pages of the past.

The methodology is based on the principles of historicism and critical analysis of sources with a comprehensive presentation of the entire multiplicity of newly discovered historical facts and events under specific historical circumstances.

The scientific novelty lies in the comprehension of the documents of the communist secret services as an obligatory source component of unbiased research strategies for studying the Polish-Ukrainian conflict of 1942—1947.

Conclusions. The newly discovered archival records prove that the course of the Polish-Ukrainian conflict in the 1940s was complex and multifaceted and cannot be explained by simplistic and straightforward narratives. The Soviet secret services at least monitored the confrontation between Poles and Ukrainians. According to their documents, the precondition for the tragedy was the interwar policy of the Second Polish Republic, and the cause was the German occupation regime policy. At the same time, it is difficult to narrow down the parties in the conflict to the UPA (UIA) or the Armia Krajowa and to identify only the opposing side as the perpetrators of the victims. The active actions of the German occupation administration, Soviet partisans, and agents contributed to further escalating the confrontation. Despite significant casualties, both sides tried to establish cooperation.