Tymchenko A. The Soviet factor in the course of Ukrainian-Polish nationality conflict in Western Ukraine (1939-1947).

The thesis deals with the complex research of the Soviet factor in the course of Ukrainian-Polish nationality conflict in Western Ukraine in 1939-1947. The analysis was conducted on the basis of the archival documents, published sources, domestic and foreign scientific literature. In September 1939 the criminal pact Ribbentrop-Molotow started to be realized - this is common German-Soviet aggression against independent Poland. Western Ukraine had been occupied by the Soviet Army. Soviet authorities had begun their policy, which first of all was against area inhabited by the Polish people. The main anti-Polish motivation was the liberation of Ukrainian mases from owning classes. Such an approach had been maintaining in the Soviet Union for a long time during the war. Most of Ukrainians favourably assessed unification of majority of Ukrainian lands; there were a lot of people whose relation to Soviet regime had been negative. The policy of the Soviet authorities had been directed against all the society of Western Ukraine. The Soviet authorities intensively fought against Polish and Ukrainian Undeground. To achieve that goal powers did their best to take advantage of already existing Ukrainian-Polish antagonism. By applying the policy of divide et impera they strove to fuel mutual hostility and thus provoke and deepen conflicts between Ukrainians and Poles. On their way to stifle Ukrainian and Polish efforts at gaining independence they attempted to introduce an atmosphere of fear, mistrust and hate between both nations.