Dmytro Levytsky
Encyclopedia
Dmytro Levytsky (1877-1942) was a lawyer and major political figure in western Ukraine between the two world wars. Between 1925 and 1935 he headed the Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
, the largest Ukrainian political party in western Ukraine, and served as the chief of the Ukrainian delegation within the Polish parliament.
, in 1877. He completed law school at the University of Vienna
and during World War I
served as an officer in the army of Austria-Hungary
. Captured by the Russians in 1915, he spent the remainder of the war in Tashkent
. Returning to Ukraine as the Russian Empire fell apart, Levytsky helped to organize the unification of the West Ukrainian National Republic
with the Ukrainian National Republic. After western Ukraine was conquered by Poland
in 1919, Levytsky was involved in organizing Ukrainians in Vienna
. In 1923 he became editor of western Ukrainians' largest newspaper, Dilo, and two years later he became head of the newly formed Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
, the largest political party representing Ukrainians within the Polish state. Between 1928 and 1935 he was a member of the Polish parliament and was head of the Ukrainian delegation. He resigned his leadership of the party when it chose to work together with the Polish government. When western Ukraine was annexed by the Soviets, Levytsky was arrested, deported to Moscow and never heard from again.
He died in exile in Bukhara
(1942).
Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
The Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance, was the largest Ukrainian political party in the Second Polish Republic, active in territory that is currently Western Ukraine. It dominated the mainstream political life of the Ukrainian minority in Poland, which with almost 14% of Poland's population...
, the largest Ukrainian political party in western Ukraine, and served as the chief of the Ukrainian delegation within the Polish parliament.
Biography
Dmytro Levytsky was born in the Lviv region, then part of Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, in 1877. He completed law school at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
and during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
served as an officer in the army of Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
. Captured by the Russians in 1915, he spent the remainder of the war in Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
. Returning to Ukraine as the Russian Empire fell apart, Levytsky helped to organize the unification of the West Ukrainian National Republic
West Ukrainian National Republic
The West Ukrainian People's Republic was a short-lived republic that existed in late 1918 and early 1919 in eastern Galicia, that claimed parts of Bukovina and Carpathian Ruthenia and included the cities of Lviv , Przemyśl , Kolomyia , and Stanislaviv...
with the Ukrainian National Republic. After western Ukraine was conquered by Poland
Polish-Ukrainian War
The Polish–Ukrainian War of 1918 and 1919 was a conflict between the forces of the Second Polish Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic for the control over Eastern Galicia after the dissolution of Austria-Hungary.-Background:...
in 1919, Levytsky was involved in organizing Ukrainians in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 1923 he became editor of western Ukrainians' largest newspaper, Dilo, and two years later he became head of the newly formed Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance
The Ukrainian National Democratic Alliance, was the largest Ukrainian political party in the Second Polish Republic, active in territory that is currently Western Ukraine. It dominated the mainstream political life of the Ukrainian minority in Poland, which with almost 14% of Poland's population...
, the largest political party representing Ukrainians within the Polish state. Between 1928 and 1935 he was a member of the Polish parliament and was head of the Ukrainian delegation. He resigned his leadership of the party when it chose to work together with the Polish government. When western Ukraine was annexed by the Soviets, Levytsky was arrested, deported to Moscow and never heard from again.
He died in exile in Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
(1942).