“Response of the Recalcitrant People”

20.3.2018

Today, students of the ER IHIRSPS visited the Starobilsk District House of Culture, where the exhibition “Response of the Recalcitrant People” was held.

Unique photographs, declassified documents, maps and infographics convey an atmosphere of uncompromising rebel struggle against the Nazi and communist totalitarian regimes.

The Deputy Director of the Luhansk Regional Museum of Local Lore on research work Tetiana Kovalenko addressed the students. She talked about the activities of organizations and noted that not only history but also attitude to it is gradually changing, and views on this or that event are changing.

The Project “Trace in history. OUN-UPA” demonstrates the course of military events between UPA units and parts of the NKVD-MGB, describes counter-insurgent operations, and shows ideological confrontation. The materials presented at the exhibition allowed the students to get acquainted in detail with the activities of the factions and understand their significance in the history of our country.

The formation and existence of UPA and OUN are the largest phenomenon of the Ukrainian history of the 20th century. After all, those who defended the independence of Ukraine in the 1940s, “slipped” through the terrible 1920-1930-ies. Representatives of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army not only fought for Ukraine by all available methods, but also without hesitation, sacrificed their lives: if Soviet scouts found “safe havens”, then its inhabitants most often immediately committed suicide to not be given alive to the enemy’s hands. In addition, the UPA during the Second World War – the only ones in the world who fought simultaneously against the Nazis, and against the USSR.

Attitude to organizations in society has always varied. Some regarded their representatives as heroes, others regarded them as traitors and criminals. For many years in the school curriculum this topic has been avoided, facts have been hushed up. Today the influence of these events covers all spheres of life, and one simply cannot remain silent.

Olena Smitanina,
Press Center