It has been 70 years since the Volhynia massacres - the brutal and inhumane killings of Polish people organized by Ukrainians. According to approximate estimates, around 100 thousand Poles lost their lives. When commemorating the anniversary of this event, the argument occurred between Poland and Ukraine whether this was an ethnic cleansing or genocide. I talking about this because for me the answer is obvious, almost too obvious and important – this is because I cannot keep my silence.
The number of anti-polish attacks increased in the summer of 1943. Sporadic killings of individuals and families multiplied; however, mass killings became more prevalent as well. Bloody massacres happened in the Polish colony in Parośl (Sarneński district, Antonówka municipality) where 173 people were killed. On 23rd of April 1943, URA's (Ukrainian Rebel Army) squads executed one of the bloodiest massacres of that time in Janowa valley (Kostopol district, Berezhn municipality). 600 people died at that time. Even Wehrmacht's navy could not stop Ukrainian nationalists. Starting in May 1943, URA organized mass attacks against Polish villages and self-defence centres in the whole Volhynia.
Especially bloody was July of 1943. URA squads, relying on North West OW 'Turiw', were actively supported by local Ukrainians who were organized into
'Samooboronne Kuszczewyje Widdiły'. On 11th of July 1943, these squads surrounded and attacked Polish villages and settlements at the same time in three districts – Kowel, Horochov, and Vladimir. Everything reached the point of mass killings and destruction. Polish people died from bullets, axes, pitchforks, scythes, saws, knives, hammers, and other criminal instruments as well as from being burnt. It was a well prepared and meticulously planned action. For example, the campaign in Vladimir district was under supervision of URA squads that were concentrated in Zavidov's forests (to West from Porycku), Marysin Dolinka, Lachów Zdżary, Litowież, Grzybowice regions. Four days remaining until the beginning of the campaign, there were meetings held in Ukrainian villages where local people were instilled with the idea of the need to kill all the Poles.
Ukrainians work was based on the motto: 'Kill Poles till the seventh generation, including those who do not speak Polish anymore'. The agitators were Ukrainians who were from East Malopolska. In order to decrease the vigilance of Poles there were some ads and proclamations in both Polish and Ukrainian inviting these nations to unite and fight common enemies – Germans and Muscovites. This happened two days before the attack. In these conversations Polish people were calmed down and encouraged to fear nobody. Later, the massacres occurred. Polish villages were robbed and burnt down. This was a pogrom against Poles living in the west districts of Volhynia and it brought a lot of material and human casualties.
Anti-polish campaigns were often related to anniversaries. For example, the mass massacre of the night of 29th to 30th of June 1943 happened during the second anniversary of Ukrainian independence that was proclaimed in Lvov. The mass campaign against Polish people also happened on 11th of July 1943 during the Orthodox Peter and Paul day. The latter started with the attacks against the Catholic Mass held in Kisielin (Horochow district), Crimea (Kowel district), Chrynov, Oktavin, Poryck, and Svoiczov (Vladimir district). The tactics of Ukrainian nationalists were always the same – the URA squads would surround a certain locality so that nobody could escape it. Afterwards, other squads would enter the village, whip them to one place (e.g. barn, school) and killed them there. After the massacres, the village was entered by the groups of burglars with chariots – made up mostly of women. They took everything that was left after the massacres. After a few days, when everything was calm again, some Poles who survived would return to the village and then URA squads would attack again killing people and burning down the buildings.
These are the facts. It was genocide! The argument, whose witnesses we are, is scandalous attempt to diminish the responsibility for previous actions. To all the politicians and commentators, especially Ukrainians, who still have problems correctly identifying their predecessors' actions, I recommend to reiterate the definition of genocide that was created by the United Nations in 1948: 'Genocide – is intentional eradication of all the nation or its parts, ethnic, religious or racial groups, physical killings of various groups, birth control of those groups, forced removal of children, and creation of such living conditions that aim to destroy physical well-being'.
Dr. Bogusław Rogalski,
political scientist, AECR advisor for international affairs at the European Parliament
