Andrii Melnyk

Andrii Melnyk or Andrij Melnik (Ukrainian: Андрій Мельник) (December 12, 1890-November 1, 1964), Ukrainian military and political leader. Born near Drohobych, Galicia he served in Austria-Hungarian army as a volunteer with Ukrainian Sich Rifles during the First World War and was taken prison by the Russians in 1916. In captivity became close associate of Yevhen Konovalets and joined the Ukrainian independence movement. During the Russian Civil War Melnyk supported Symon Petliura and was promoted to the rank of colonel in his nationalist Ukrainian army. Together with Konovalets Melnyk founded the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) in 1922. Between 1924 and 1928 Melnyk was jailed for alleged terrorist activities by the Polish government. In the 1930s Melnyk re-organized OUN as an undeground organization, adopted ideology of Benito Mussolini's fascism and created an armed wing responsible for a number of terrorist acts. After the assassination of Konovalets in 1939 Melnyk became leader of OUN but in 1940 a more radical faction led by Stepan Bandera broke away from OUN. The two rival organizations became known as Melnykites and Banderites. Since 1938 Melnyk was allegedly recruited by German Abwehr and after the German invasion of the Soviet Union he set up his own "independent" Ukrainian government in Rivne, competing with Bandera supporters for influence in western Ukraine. Initially a more conservative and moderate supporters of Melnyk enjoyed support from both Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and German authorities such as Erich Koch over the radicals from Bandera's group. Despite this support many of his close associates were murdered by Ukrainian Insurgent Army of Bandera between 1941 and 1944. In 1944 Melnyk was briefly imprisoned by the Gestapo during a crackdown against Ukrainian independence movement. After the war Melnyk escaped to the West and lived in Luxembourg, West Germany and Canada. He remained politically active and headed a number of Ukrainian émigré organizations. Andrii Melnyk died in Clervaux, Luxembourg at the age of 74. Image File history File links Melnyk_Andrii. ... Image File history File links Melnyk_Andrii. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 1890 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... Drohobych (Ukrainian: ; Polish: Drohobycz, German: Drohobytsch; Russian: ; Yiddish: דראָביטש drobitsh) is a city in the Ukrainian Lviv Oblast. ... It has been suggested that Galicia and Ludomaria be merged into this article or section. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Sich Rifles (Ukrainian Січові стрільці) is the name applied to and used by various military organizations formed by Austria-Hungary in the territory of modern Ukraine in 1917 out of local population. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January-February January 1 - The Royal Army Medical Corps first successful blood transfusion using blood that had been stored and cooled. ... Yevhen Konovalets (b. ... The Russian Civil War was fought from 1918 to 1922. ... Symon Petlyura (Симон Петлюра; also spelled Simon, Semen, Semyen Petliura or Petlura, May 10, 1879 â€“ May 25, 1926) was a Ukrainian politician. ... Colonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists or OUN (Ukrainian: or ОУН) was a Ukrainian political movement whose immediate purpose was to protect the Ukrainian population from repression and exploitation by governing authorities; its ultimate goal was an independent and unified Ukrainian state. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... // Events and trends A public speech by Benito Mussolini, founder of the Fascist movement The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the global depression. ... Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) led Italy from 1922 to 1943. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Stepan Andriyovych Bandera (January 1, 1909–October 15, 1959) was a Ukrainian nationalist leader who headed the Ukrainian Nationalist Organisation (OUN). ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Abwehr was a German intelligence organization from 1921 to 1944. ... The Eastern Front of World War II was the theatre of war covering the conflict in eastern Europe, notorious for its unprecedented ferocity, destruction, and immense loss of life. ... Rivne (Ukrainian Рівне , Russian Ровно) - city in Ukraine, capital of Rivnenska oblast, with 249,900 inhabitants (2004). ... The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), also known as the Ukrainian Catholic Church, is one of the successor Churches to the acceptance of Christianity by Grand Prince Vladimir the Great (Ukrainian Volodymyr) of Kiev (Kyiv), in 988. ... Erich Koch (June 19, 1896-November 12, 1986) was a German Nazi official. ... The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Ukrainian: , Polish: UkraiÅ„ska PowstaÅ„cza Armia, UPA) was a guerrilla army formed on October 14, 1942, in Volhynia. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Deaths Head emblem similar to Skull and crossbones, often used as the insignia of the Gestapo The â–¶ (help· info) (acronym of Geheime Staatspolizei; secret state police) was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. ... District Diekirch Canton Clervaux Area 25. ...

References

• Andrii Melnyk biography in Encyclopaedia of Ukraine
• "The History we don't know. Or don't care to know?", Zerkalo nedeli (Mirror Weekly), March 29, 2002, available online in English, in Ukrainian and in Russian.