Distribution of authorities between the state secretariat of military affairs of the western ukrainian people's republic and the initial team of the Galician army

Abstract

The author of the article investigates the powers of the State Secretary of Military Affairs of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Initial Team of the Galician Army during the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918 – 1919. Also, military issues were considered in which these powers were divided and intersected. The main sources for writing the article were orders and communications from the leadership of the State Secretary of Military Affairs («Dispositions», «Charging», «Statements») published in the official publication of the State Secretary of Military Affairs «Vistnik».

In the article, the author concludes that the powers of the armed forces of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic, – Ukrainian troops, – were divided between the State Secretary of Military Affairs and the Initial Team of the Galician Army. It was done according to a pattern of division of powers in the army of Austria-Hungary. The State Secretary of Military Affairs obeyed the head of the State Secretariat and acted on behalf of the Ukrainian National Council. Formally, the head of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic was the president of the Ukrainian People’s Republic – he was subordinated to the Initial Team of the Galician Army.

The name of the Armed Forces of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic in the Ukrainian historiography, the «Galician Army», was used in documents of the State Secretary of Military Affairs, was used only to the part of the troop that was on the front and was subordinated to the Initial Team of the Galician Army. The powers of the Initial Team of the Galician Army can be equated to the current powers of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the powers of the State Secretary of Military Affairs to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The scope of competence of both abovementioned state bodies of military management was divided not only functionally, but also territorially. Consequently, after the departure of Lviv on Nov. 21, 1918, the leadership of the State Secretary of Military Affairs and Initial Team of the Galician Army was in different settlements. The activities of the State Secretary of Military Affairs were aimed at solving back issues: of military-political, military-administrative, military-material, military-legal and military-financial character. The military unit of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic paid special attention to mobilizing soldiers for the army. Sometimes the activities of the military ministry of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic crossed the activities of other ministries. State Secretary of Military Affairs has directed its policy to improve the various areas of life of the soldier in the rear. In particular, it was engaged in raising the fighting spirit in the army.

The State Secretary of Military Affairs in its powers did not interfere in the conduct of hostilities at the Initial Team of the Galician Army front, however, it had to meet the needs of the front in refueling personnel, ammunition and ammunition. In its operational activities, Initial Team of the Galician Army was independent of the Military Ministry of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic.