The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - ELTE BTK Történelem Szakos Portál

were remarkably dissatisfied with the new world order to be imposed in
Versailles. For Ukraine lack of international support at the conference cost of
losing dreams about its own statehood. 10 Ukrainian territory has been divided
into four countries: Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Soviet Union.
Indeed, the Ukrainians demanding revision of the borders had much in
common with German National Socialist Movement.
The introduce of a German territorial expansion had a great impact on the
Ukrainian question. The annexation of Austria in March 1938 as well as
favorable results of the Munich Conference six month later, led Germany to
facing with territorial claims of other nations, which were encouraged by the
silent acquiescence of the Western powers in Munich. The object of interest of
Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine was Czechoslovakia, yet greatly
weakened by losing Sudetenland. In late autumn of 1938 partition of
Czechoslovakia was carried on: backed by Hitler Slovakia declared autonomy,
Poland regained Zaolzie and Hungary started an occupation border areas in
accordance with the First Vienna Award.
Soon after the implementation of Munich Agreement also Rusyns living in
Carpathian Ruthenia seized their opportunity and declared autonomy within
Czechoslovakia. Who were they? In interwar period they had succeeded in
having cultural, language and political freedoms. Those concessions would
enable them to have their own national clerisy. 11 Likewise Ukrainians from the
other side of Carpathian mountains, they were also permeated by independence
thought. The issues of the proclamation of autonomy in October 1938,
formation of the government by pro-Ukrainian Avgustyn Voloshyn and
creation of the military organization named Carpathian Sich, swiftly raised
hope for unification of all Ukrainian territories. Carpathian Ruthenia
(Carpatho-Ukraine) started to be identified as „Ukraine’s Piedmont”.
Germans did their best to support Ukrainian hopes, mostly unofficially.
They not only did not object to the autonomy but also in accordance with an
economic agreement of 7 December 1938 they increased the food and wood
supply and pledged infrastructure investment in Carpatho-Ukraine 12 . The
person in the German government who made the recommendation that
Germany should seek to back up efforts of the Ukrainians was the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Joachim von Ribbentrop. The Ribbentrop’s view was nicely
summarized by his Italian colleague and counterpart, Galleazzo Ciano.
Nazis. Contacts between the Germans and Ukrainian nationalists in Ukraine were maintained
unofficially (by the agency of Riko Jarij) because the Germans were afraid of taking consequences
of the OUN’s activity, which was becoming more and more extremist. TORECZKI, Roman:
Kwestia ukraińska w polityce III Rzeszy (1933-1945). Warszawa, 1972. 119-125.
10 Lack of international support is the main reason for failure of Ukrainian revolution 1914-
1923 according to Jaroslav Hrycak. HRYCAK, Jaroslav: Nowa Ukraina. Nowe interpretacje.
Wrocław, 2002. 75-76.
11 O. Subtelny. Ukraine: A History. Toronto 1994, p. 448-449.
12 TORECZKI, Roman: Kwestia ukraińska w polityce III Rzeszy (1933-1945). Warszawa, 1972. 166.
105