Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Information
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or the Ukrainian SSR was a self-proclaimed partially recognized republic formed by the members of the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) some of whom were members of the Central Rada (Volodymyr Zatonsky, Georgy Pyatakov). Eventually it became one of the founding constituent republics of the Soviet Union from its formation in 1922 to its abolition in 1991 (with the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine). In 1945 shortly following the Second World War, the Ukrainian SSR became one of the founding members of the United Nations.[4]
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Name
The first Bolshevik republic in Ukraine was declared on 24 December or 25 December 1917 and was called either the Republic of Soviets of workers', soldiers', and peasants' deputies[5] or Ukrainian People's Republic [of Soviets].[6] However, that republic was only recognized by another non-recognized country, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, and with the signing of the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was ultimately defeated by mid 1918 and eventually dissolved. The last session of the government took place in Taganrog. In July 1918 the former members of the government formed the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Ukraine, the constituent assembly of which took place in Moscow.
With the defeat of the Central powers in World War I, Bolshevik Russia has resumed its hostilities towards the Ukrainian People's Republic and organized another Soviet government in Kursk. On 10 March 1919 according to the 3rd Congress of Soviets in Ukraine (6–10 March 1919) the name of the state was changed to Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic.[7] The capital was officially moved to Kharkiv which became colloquially to be known as "The First Capital" ("Pervaya stolitsa" - by Bolsheviks).
On 30 December 1922 according to the 1st Congress of Soviets in Soviet Union the state was incorporated into the Soviet Union.
On 5 December 1936 according to the 8th Extraordinary Congress Soviets in Soviet Union (25 November - 5 December 1936) the state name changed to Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. On 31 January 1937 this decision was ratified on the 14th Extraordinary Congress of Soviets in Ukrainian SSR.[6] It changed along with the names of all other Soviet republics, transposing the second ("socialist") and third ("soviet" or "radyans'ka") words. From 1937 , Ukraine was officially known as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, abbreviated Ukrainian SSR, UkrSSR, or UkSSR.
The official names in Ukrainian and Russian were:
- Ukrainian: Українська Радянська Соціалістична Республіка (УРСР), Ukrayins’ka Radyans’ka Sotsialistychna Respublika (URSR)
- Russian: Украинская Советская Социалистическая Республика (УССР), Ukrainskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika (USSR)
History
Ukrainian People's Republic (1917-1920). Ukrainian SSR (1922)After the Russian Revolution of 1917, several factions sought to create an independent Ukrainian state, alternately cooperating and struggling against each other. Numerous more or less socialist oriented factions participated participated in the formation of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) among which were Bolsheviks, Mensheviks, Socialists-Revolutionaries, and many others. The most popular faction initially were the local Socialist-Revolutionary that together with Federalists and Mensheviks composed the local government. For the most of the time Bolsheviks were boycotting any government initiatives instigating several armed disorders in order to establish the Soviet power without any intent for consensus.
Right after the October Revolution in Petrograd Bolsheviks instigated the Kiev Bolshevik Uprising in support to the Revolution and to secure Kiev in their hands, but surprisingly it did not go as planned. Due to lack of adequate support from the local population and anti-revolutionary Central Rada, the Bolshevik split and most of them moved to Kharkiv where they were supported in big cities and industrial centers of the eastern Ukraine. Later this move was recognized as a misstep by some of the People's Commissars (Yevgenia Bosch). They issued an ultimatum to the Central Rada on 17 December to recognize the Soviet regime of which the Rada was very critical. The Bolsheviks convened a separate congress and declared the first Soviet Republic of Ukraine on 24 December 1917 claiming the Central Rada and its supporters outlaws that need to be eradicated. Warfare ensued against the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) for the installation of the Soviet regime in the country and with the direct support from the Soviet Russia the Ukrainian National forces were practically overran. The government of Ukraine appealed to the World Community finding the support in the face of the Central Powers as the others refused to recognize it. After the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Russian SFSR yielded all the captured Ukrainian territory as the Bolsheviks were forced out of Ukraine. The government of the Soviet Ukraine was dissolved after its last session on 20 November 1918.
Eventually after creation of the Communist Party (Bolshevik) of Ukraine in Moscow a new Ukrainian Soviet government was formed on 21 December 1919 that initiate new hostilities against Ukraine as it lost its military support from the defeated Central Powers. Eventually, the Red Army ended up controlling much of the Ukrainian territory after the Polish-Soviet Peace of Riga. On 30 December 1922, along with the Russian, Byelorussian, and Transcaucasian republics, the Ukrainian SSR was one of the founding members of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
In 1932 the Soviet government inflicted one of the largest national catastrophes in modern history of the Ukrainian nation. A man-made famine known as the Holodomor caused a direct loss of human life estimated between 2.6 million[8][9] to 10 million.[10]
In September 1939 the Soviet Union invaded Poland, and added Galician lands inhabited by Ukrainians to the territory of the Ukrainian SSR. In 1945, these lands were permanently annexed, and the Transcarpathia region was added as well, by treaty with the post-war administration of Czechoslovakia.
Following eastward Soviet retreat in 1941, Ufa became the wartime seat of the Soviet Ukrainian government.
After World War II some amendments to the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR were accepted, which allowed it to act as a separate subject of international law in some cases and to a certain extent, remaining a part of the Soviet Union at the same time. In particular, these amendments allowed the Ukrainian SSR to become one of founding members of the United Nations (UN) together with the Soviet Union and the Byelorussian SSR. This was part of a deal with the United States to ensure a degree of balance in the General Assembly, which, the USSR opined, was unbalanced in favor of the Western Bloc. In its capacity as a member of the UN, the Ukrainian SSR was an elected member of the United Nations Security Council in 1948-1949 and 1984-1985.
The Ukrainian SSR was also the site of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, when a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant melted down and exploded, subjecting countless multitudes to radiological effects.
Economy
Further information: Economy of the Soviet Union The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was the site of a nuclear disaster which left many people homelessIn the post-war years the industrial productivity of Ukraine had doubled over the pre-war level. From 1965 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the industrial capacity of Ukraine decreased, and by the 1970s, it started to stagnate. Significant economic decline did not become apparent before the 1970s. During the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1951–55) industrial development in Ukraine grew by 13.5 percent, while, during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan (1981–85) industry grew by a modest 3.5 percent. The double digit growth seen in all branches of the economy in the post-war years, had by the 1980s disappeared, and entirely replaced by low growth figures. An ongoing problem throughout the republic's existence was the planner's emphasise on heavy industry over consumer goods.[11]
The urbanisation of Ukrainian society in the post-war years led to an increase in energy consumption. Between 1956 and 1972, to meet this increasing demand, the government built five water reservoirs along the Dnieper river. Aside from improving Soviet-Ukrainian water transport, the reservoir became the site for new power stations, and hydroelectric energy flourished in Ukraine because of it. Gas industry flourished as well, and Ukraine became the site of the first post-war production of gas in the Soviet Union; by the 1960s Ukraine's biggest gas field was producing 30 percent of the USSR's total gas production. The government was not able to meet the people's ever increasing demand for energy consumption, but by the 1970s, the Soviet government had conceived an intensive nuclear power program. According to the plan, the Soviet government would build 8 nuclear power plants by the 1980s in Ukraine. As a result of these efforts, Ukraine became a highly diversified in energy consumption.[12]
The increase of agricultural production was tremendous, however, the Soviet-Ukrainians still experienced food shortages due to the inefficiencies of a highly-centralised economy. During the peak of Soviet-Ukrainian agriculture output in the 1950s and early-to-mid 1960s, human consumption in Ukraine, and the rest of the Soviet Union, actually experienced short intervals of decrease. There are many reasons for this inefficiency, but its origins can be traced back to the one purchaser and producer market system created by Joseph Stalin.[12]
Secretaries
Terms of the leaders of the Communist Party (Bolshevik) of Ukraine, and de facto leaders of the republic:
- Georgy Pyatakov, 12 July-9 September 1918
- Serafima Hopner, 9 September-23 October 1918
- Emanuel Kviring, 23 October 1918–6 March 1919
- Georgy Pyatakov, 6 March-30 May 1919
- Stanislav Kosior, 30 May-10 December 1919
- Rafail Farbman, January–23 March 1920 (acting)
- Mykola Mykolaiv, 23–25 March 1920
- Stanislav Kosior, 25 March-23 November 1920 stayed until 17 October 1922 in Secretariat
- First Secretary
- Viacheslav Molotov, 23 November 1920 – 22 March 1921
- Feliks Kon, 22 March-14 December 1921 (acting)
- Dmitry Manuilsky, 15 December 1921 – 10 April 1923
- Emanuel Kviring, 10 April 1923 – 20 March 1925
- General Secretary
- Emanuel Kviring, 20 March –7 April 1925
- Lazar Kaganovich, 7 April 1925 – 14 July 1928
- Stanislav Kosior, 14 July 1928 – 23 January 1934
- Ivan Akulov, 12 October 1932 - 22 November 1933 (Donbas secretary)
- First Secretary
- Stanislav Kosior, 23 January 1934 – 27 January 1938
- Nikita Khrushchev, 27 January-18 June 1938 (acting)
- Nikita Khrushchev, 18 June 1938 - 3 March 1947
- Lazar Kaganovich, 3 March-26 December 1947
- Nikita Khrushchev, 26 December 1947 – 28 December 1949
- Leonid Melnikov, 1949–1953
- Alexei Kirichenko, 1953–1957
- Nikolai Podgorny, 1957–1963
- Petro Shelest, 1963–1972
- Volodymyr Shcherbytsky, 1972–1989
- Vladimir Ivashko, 1989–1990
- Stanislav Hurenko, 1990–1991
Head of State
The official head of state in Ukraine at first was the chairman of the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee or also known as VTsIK. Later that position was reformed into the chairman of Presidium of the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council). In case of the chairman's absence his role was performed by the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.
- VTsIK
- Yukhym Medvedev 27 December 1917 - 19 March 1918
- Volodymyr Zatonsky 19 March 1918 - 12 July 1918
- TsVRK (Military-Revolutionary Committee)
- Andrei Bubnov 12 July 1918 - 18 September 1918
- Fyodor Sergeyev (Artem) 18 September 1918 - 28 November 1918
- Hryhoriy Petrovskiy 28 November 1918 - 6 January 1919
- VTsIK (reinstated)
- Fyodor Sergeyev (Artem) 6 January 1919 - 10 March 1919
- Hryhoriy Petrovskiy 10 March 1919 - March 1938
- Leonid Korniyets March 1938 - 28 July 1939 (introduced the Presidium)
- Presidium
- Mykhailo Hrechukha 28 July 1939 - 15 January 1954
- Demyan Korotchenko 15 January 1954 - 7 April 1969
- Oleksandr Liashko 7 April 1969 - 8 June 1972
- Ivan Hrushetsky 8 June 1972 - 24 June 1976
- Oleksiy Vatchenko 24 June 1976 - 22 November 1984
- Valentyna Shevchenko 22 November 1984 - 4 June 1990 (acting until 27 March 1985)
Administrative divisions
The administrative divisions of the Ukrainian SSR changed numerous times throughout its 74-year history. The most common administrative division was the oblast (province) of which there were 25 upon the UkSSR's abolishment in 1991. Most of the UkSSR's oblasts still exist as oblasts of independent Ukraine while one changed its status to an autonomous republic. (see map).
Upon the Ukrainian SSR's formation to 1934, the republic's capital was the city of Kharkiv (Rus. Kharkov) located in the east of the republic. Kharkiv was also the city where the first Soviet Ukrainian government was created in 1917 with a strong support from the Russian SFSR. In 1934, the capital moved from Kharkiv to Kiev, which remains the capital of Ukraine today.
Other administrative divisions of the Ukrainian SSR included the two Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics which existed during different time periods. The Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic existed from 1924-1940 until it was upgraded to that of a constituent Soviet republic in 1940. Around 1930s numerous national raions were formed as a territorial-administrative units such were Jewish, German, Bulgarian, Russian, and many others.
The other ASSR was the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic which was formed in 1991 from the former Crimean Oblast, which was transferred to the Ukrainian SSR from the Russian SFSR in 1954. After Ukrainian independence, the Crimean ASSR was renamed the Crimean Autonomous Republic.
Governorates
Until the Riga Peace Treaty with Poland on 18 March 1921 the Ukrainian SSR had the governotorial administrative division of Imperial Russia and consisted of ten guberniyas. That administrative division was confirmed during the establishment of the Ukrainian State in 1918 when the Red Army withdrew from Ukraine following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Central Powers.
- Chernihiv Governorate
- Katerynoslav Governorate
- Kharkiv Governorate
- Kherson Governorate
- Kholm Governorate
- Kiev Governorate
- Podillia Governorate
- Poltava Governorate
- Volhyn Governorate
- Tavryda Governorate
In 1920-1921 series of territorial changes took place as well as changing in administrative division.
- 16 April 1920
- The Donetsk Governorate was created out of the surrounding Kharkiv, Katerynoslav Govrnorates and the Don Army Oblast. It was initially created in 1919, but with the advance of Anton Denikin its reorganization was temporarily halted.
- The Kremenchuk Governorate was created out of bordering areas of Poltava, Kiev, and Kherson Governorates.
- The Zaporizhia Governorate was created out Katerynoslav Governorate and Tavryda Governorate (initially as Aleksandrovsk)
- Odessa Governorate was split from the Kherson Governorate once again with the last changing name to Mykolaiv Governorate and acquiring the Dniprovsk uyezd of the Tavryda Governorate while the peninsula became part of the Russian SFSR (later forming an autonomous republic).
- 18 March 1921 (Peace of Riga)
- The Kholm Governorate was transferred to Poland.
- Five full uyezds and partially the Ostroh uyezd of Volhyn Governorate were transferred to Poland.
- Four uyezds of Chernihiv Governorate were transferred to the Homel Governorate of Russian SFSR.
- 21 October 1922
- Zaporizhia Governorate was annexed to Katerinoslav Governorate
- Mykolaiv Governorate was annexed to Odessa Governorate
- Kremenchuk Governorate was liquidate
Okrugs
On March 7, 1923 uyezds were reorganized as okrugs within governorates. Later governorates were abolished and from 1925 to 1932 okrugs served as a primary administrative-territorial unit in Ukraine along with one autonomous republic.
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In 1924 cities of Yuzivka and Yelyzavethrad were renamed into Staline and Zinov'ivsk, respectively. On October 1, 1924 parts of Tahanrih and Shakhty okrugs of Donetsk Governorate were transferred to the Russian SFSR. Around this time Bakhmut okrug was renamed into Artemivsk, Bohodukhiv into Okhtyrka, Malyn okrug of Kyiv Governorate was dissolved.
Initially organized as an autonomous oblast on 12 October 1924 the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created out of parts of Podolie Governorate (part of Tulchyn okrug) and Odessa Governorate (whole Balta okrug and part of Odessa okrug) as part of the Ukrainian SSR. The new republic was divided into 10 raions.
Until the formation of the Crimean Autonomous SSR in October 1921 the administrative-territorial division of the peninsula included 10 uyezds. After the first reform Crimea was divided into seven orkugs with 20 raions, but then in November 1923 okrug administrative division system was abolished.
On 1 August 1925 the gubernial administrative division was abolished as an obsolete. Also about 10 okrugs were dissolved and merged. Practically every governorate except one of Donetsk had at least one okrug disestablished: Zaporizhia - Berdyansk, Podillya - Haisyn, Poltava - Zolotonosha and Krasnohrad, Volyn - Novohrad-Volynsky, Chernihiv - Novhorod-Siversky and Snovsk, Katerynoslav - Oleksandria, Kharkiv - Okhtyrka, Kiev - Korsun (Shevchenko). On August 10, 1925 the Hlukhiv okrug was created.
On October 16, 1925 some territories of several uyezds Kursk Governorate were transferred to the Ukrainian SSR: most of the former Putyvl uyezd (less Krupitsk volost), Krenychan volost along with Myropillya city (today's village) of Graivoron uyezd, and two additional partial volosts from each Graivoron and Belgorod uyezds.
On July 20, 1926 Pavlohrad and Katerynoslav okrugs were merged into new Dnipropetrovsk okrug with the renaming of the administrative center from Katerynoslav to Dnipropetrovsk. Around that time few more change of names occurred: Zhytomyr okrug was renamed into Volyn, and Cherkasy into Shevchenko.
On September 2, 1930 system of okrugs were abolished and the Ukrainian SSR was divided into 484 raions which later on February 27, 1932 were reorganized into the initial five oblasts.
Oblasts
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References
- ^ History of Kharkiv Region at Kharkiv Oblast Administration website
- ^ Радя́нська енциклопе́дія істо́рії Украї́ни in 4 volumes Kiev 1969-72 Academy of Science of UKR SSR
- ^ Language Policy in the Soviet Union by Lenore Grenoble, Springer Science+Business Media, 2003, ISBN 1402012985/ISBN 978-1402012983
- ^ "Activities of the Member States - Ukraine". United Nations. http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/unms/ukraine.shtml. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Revolution of 1917 (Russian)
- ^ a b Guide to the history of the Communist Party and the Soviet Union in 1898 (Russian)
- ^ [http://www.knowbysight.info/1_UKRA/08983.asp Guide to the history of the Communist Party and the Soviet Union in 1898 (Russian)
- ^ France Meslé, Gilles Pison, Jacques Vallin France-Ukraine: Demographic Twins Separated by History, Population and societies, N°413, juin 2005
- ^ ce Meslé, Jacques Vallin Mortalité et causes de décès en Ukraine au XXè siècle + CDRom ISBN 2-7332-0152-2 CD online data (partially - http://www.ined.fr/fichier/t_publication/cdrom_mortukraine/cdrom.htm
- ^ Shelton, Dinah (2005). Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. Detroit ; Munich: Macmillan Reference, Thomson Gale. pp. 1059. ISBN 0028658507.
- ^ Magocsi 1996, p. 656.
- ^ a b Magocsi 1996, p. 657.
External links
| Look up ukrainian soviet socialist republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- "Governments of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic". Government portal. http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control%5Cen%5Cpublish%5Carticle?art_id=1334334&cat_id=1290711. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- "Constitution of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic" (in Ukrainian). Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 1978. http://gska2.rada.gov.ua/site/const/istoriya/1978.html. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
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Categories: States and territories established in 1919 | States and territories disestablished in 1991 | Soviet republics | History of Ukraine | Ukrainian Revolution | Former Slavic countries | Russian-speaking countries and territories | Ukrainian-speaking countries and territories | States and territories established in 1917
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