MARCH 15, 1939 - A DAY OF PROCLAMATION THE INDEPENDENCE OF CARPATHIAN UKRAINE

On March 15, 1939 another outstanding event of Ukrainian history happened on the western slopes of the Carpathian Mountains - this day Carpatho-Ukraine has proclaimed its independence and joined the fierce struggle for the preservation of national independence.

Events of those March days have opened new page of Ukrainian national-liberation struggle. When the First World War has came to an end the lands of Carpatho-Ukraine were included to the newly formed Czechoslovak Republic with the rights of broad autonomy according to St. Germain (1919) and Trianon (1920) agreements.

However, in the fall of 1938 the situation Carpatho-Ukraine has changed. In November 22 the official Prague shall decide on the possibility of territorial and national self-determination of the Ukrainian autonomy and its right on electing a government - Seim.

Since then a process of transformation into a self-sufficient state organization has been runned Carpathian Ukraine, including formation of prototype of further army - Carpathian SIch. A key role in the process of formation of Carpathian Sich has played a regiona branch of the OUN (Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists ) in Western Ukrainian lands, which provided the first Sich units with personnel, weapons, food and military training.

On the night on March 14, 1939 Hungary launched a military invasion to Carpatho-Ukraine.  On March 15, the Seim led by Augustin Voloshin declares independence while young soldiers of Carpathian Sich were restraining the well-armed Hungarian army on the approaches to the city of Khust - a capital of Carpathian Ukraine.

The soldiers of Carpathian Sich joined their last battle on March 16 in the Krasne Pole. Then few hundred young Ukrainians stood up against few thousand Hungarian soldiers. Despite the fact that the Carpathian Ukraine forces were defeated in that battle, the warriors of Carpathian Sich became a symbol of undying loyalty, and high self-sacrificing love to Mother Ukraine.

Infographics by Ukrainian Crisis center:

Source: Правий Сектор