Sofia Halechko
Sofia Halechko | |
|---|---|
.png) from a postcard | |
| Born | 1891 |
| Died | 1918 |
| Nationality | Austria-Hungary |
| Occupation | soldier |
| Known for | renowned Ukrainian Sich Rifleman |
| Partner | Andriy Kurovets |
Sofia Halechko (1891 – 1918) was an Austria-Hungary Ukrainian female soldier in the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen during World War One. Her first language was Polish but she was a Ukrainian Nationalist hoping that freedom would come to Ukrainian speaking people.
Life
Halechko was born in 1891.[1] Her first language was Polish and her family's culture was Ukrainian-Polish[2] and she was schooled at the Polish speaking Juliusz Słowacki Girls’ Gymnasium in Lviv. She went on to study Philosopy in Graz where she came involved with the Sich Society and the First World War.[2] Her boyfriend Andriy Kurovets died and she decided to join the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen.[2] She and Pavlyna Mychailyshyn joined to fight for the Austro-Hungarians against Russia because they hoped that the battles would lead to freedom for the Ukrainian speaking people.[3]
The Ukrainian Sich Riflemen had been formed out of 2,000 volunteers from Ukraine.[4][2] A number of the new recruits had previously been university students.[4]
The Austro-Hungarians allowed this new regiment of Ukrainians, but they limited it in size to 2,000 soldiers with only 60 officers. This was not because of a lack of volunteers but because they were concerned that they may be creating an independent army loyal to a Nationalist cause. The regiment were armed with decades old muskets.[4] The volunteer riflemen were all men, but there were also an estimated 34 women. Dmyterko,[5] Pavlyna Mychailyshyn,[3] Iryna Kus, Sofia Halechko, Olha Basarab and Olena Stepaniv are among those mentioned as being in the regiment.[6]
Women in the army were renowned and it was Olena Stepaniv who became the most famous[1] but others like Halechko appeared on postcards.[7] Both Halechko and Stepaniv were notably put in charge of detachments of riflemen.[8] Halechko and Pavlyna Mychailyshyn were assigned work to prevent the riflemen from being made prisoners of the Russians.[9]
Halechko died in 1918.[1] 60 years later her contribution was still being discussed at the Fourth conference of Ukrainian seniors in Soyiiizivka.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Wolynetz, Lobow (2015). "The Role of Dedicated Ukrainian Women in Wold War 1" (PDF). The Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Country of Roxolania: Ukrainian Women in the First World War – Forgotten Galicia". Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ a b Wouters, Nico; Ypersele, Laurence van (2020-01-23). Nations, Identities and the First World War: Shifting Loyalties to the Fatherland. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-350-14621-1.
- ^ a b c Katchanovski, Ivan; Kohut, Zenon E.; Nebesio, Bohdan Y.; Yurkevich, Myroslav (2013-07-11). Historical Dictionary of Ukraine. Scarecrow Press. p. 706. ISBN 978-0-8108-7847-1.
- ^ "Втеча і повернення: українки в лавах Січових стрільців". uamoderna.com (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Basarab, Olha". www.encyclopediaofukraine.com. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "1917 Officer Cadet Miss Sofia Halechko, Ukrainian Sich Riflemen Legion Official Postcard, USS, UPA Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Type 6h) | oldbid". oldbid.com. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- ^ Borodziej, Włodzimierz; Górny, Maciej (April 2021). The Great War in East-Central Europe: Central and Eastern Europe, 1912–1916. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-83715-6.
- ^ a b Burbella, Marion Kushnir (1978). [Pavlyna Mychailyshyn "Fourth conference of Ukrainian seniors at Soyiiizivka"]. The Ukrainian Weekly. p. 7. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help)