One of the heroic pages of Ukraine is occupied by such warriors as the Sich Riflemen - history knows them as good soldiers. These warriors were infinitely devoted to their homeland, and even in the most difficult times they continued to fight for it. The article will discuss the history of the legion, as well as many interesting facts, in particular, the famous victory of the Sich Riflemen on Mount Makovka.
How did the Sich Riflemen appear?
The first mention of Sich Riflemen dates back to 1911. It was at this time that some Galician leaders had the idea of creating a paramilitary group from the youth of Galicia (then controlled by Austria). In the context of escalating relations between Austria and the Russian Empire, this idea was actively developed. Due to circumstances, the first such organizations secretly existed at schools or universities. A little later, the idea of fighting Russia was picked up by such movements as Sokol, Plast and Sich.
The official date of birth of the Sich Riflemen can be called March 18, 1913. On this day, K. Trilevsky achieved that the first organization "Sichstreltsy" was approved at the official level. A little later, the same groups were organized under the Sokol partnership, as well as in the city of Lvov. But, as expected, the active actions of the Ukrainians worried the Austrian government, which began to actively impede the development of the idea, especially since in the camps, young people were taught how to handle weapons and other military duties. It is not known how everything would have worked out, but World War I soon broke out. After Franz Ferdinand was killed and the first hostilities began, the Ukrainian parties united and created the "Main Ukrainian Council ", he also decided to approve the Ukrainian military council, which would command a legion of Sich Riflemen.
Participation of the Legion of Sich Riflemen in World War I
Very soon the corresponding manifesto was proclaimed, in which the Council urged the youth to join the legion and fight on the side of the Triple Alliance. This idea was supported very actively, not only by young people, but also by more mature people. Due to the influx of volunteers, recruitment centers were located in county towns, then the volunteers left for Lviv, and when the city was surrendered, they moved to Stryi.
First difficulties
However, several serious problems stood in the way of the formation of the legion. The most acute was the lack of finances for the maintenance of the troops, as well as experienced army instructors. In addition, the authorities still did not want to create a Ukrainian military unit.
But the problems were solved - I collected money for equipment, weapons and maintenance of the legionthe people themselves throughout Galicia, the authorities sent 20 foremen to the Sich Riflemen, who became instructors. But in response, instead of the existing 10 thousand people, only 2 thousand should have remained in the legion. To further weaken this combat unit, they were armed with out-of-production weapons that are already outdated (Werndl rifles), and they were also not given military ammunition and uniforms. In order for the legion to exist, its leadership had to take an oath of allegiance to Austria-Hungary, after which the number of units was increased to 2,5 thousand people, new rifles were issued - Mauser systems, as well as uniforms and shoes. On September 3, 1914, the Sich Riflemen swore an oath to Austria-Hungary, and a few hours later to Ukraine, for whose freedom they swore to fight to the end.
Since the Austrian army surrendered Lviv, and the Russian troops were already in the foothills of the Carpathians, the Sich Riflemen were immediately remembered. On September 25, in a battle near the village of Syanki, a group of archers under the command of O. Semenyuk successfully fought the Kuban Cossacks, even capturing a Cossack horse and a lot of weapons. But, later, the Russians began to break through the defenses at Syanok. Two couples out of a hundred V. Didushka, together with the Austrians, defeated an artillery battery, thereby stopping the offensive. Nevertheless, the victory of the Sich Riflemen did not give a result - on the same day, the Syanki were taken, and a hundred suffered losses - 5 killed and several prisoners.
Warsaw operation
Another episode where Sich soldiers took partarchers - battles near Warsaw in the same 1914, when the Russians were gathering forces for a breakthrough. The result of these battles was the liberation of Przemysl and a number of settlements. A group of Sich Riflemen from the corps of General Hoffmann, who was advancing on Stryi, took part in these battles. Streltsy distinguished themselves in this battle as well, as they were the vanguard of the advancing Austrian army.
After these battles, the command undertook a campaign in the Carpathians, which was carried out by German and Austrian troops. During the fighting, Russian troops retreated from the mountains, and the Austrians occupied part of Galicia. The Sich Riflemen showed examples of courage and heroism, more than once saving seemingly hopeless situations. One of the glorious episodes of the Galician campaign was the battle of the archers for Mount Makovka.
Sich Riflemen on Mount Makovka
This mountain was an important position of the Austrian troops in the west of the front. On April 28, 1915, Russian troops launched a fierce assault, as a result of which the mountain was abandoned. The Sich Riflemen, who were then in reserve, immediately received the task of knocking the enemy off the mountain. They were raised at night and, as part of 5 hundred, sent on a counteroffensive. An hour later, the summit was already occupied, and the Russian troops were driven back to the river. After that, part of the hundreds retreated to their positions, and two of them dug in on the top, taking up defense. On April 29, violent assaults on the positions of the archers began. The first attempts of the enemy to occupy the mountain were stopped. On May 1, with the support of guns, the Russians occupied the right flank and defeated the streltsy units on the top. However, those archers who retreated to their positions took anotherone assault, together with the Austrians. And once again they occupied the mountain.
The battles for Makivka lasted continuously for 60 days. At that time, it became a really important defensive point of the Southern Army, as it closed off convenient exits to the Hungarian plain for the Russians. Its defense was of key importance, since the Russians lost the chance to defeat the Southern Army. In addition, the victory of the Sich Riflemen on Mount Makovka also made it possible for the subsequent breakthrough of the positions of the Russian army, which fled from Galicia.
In these battles, the losses of the legion were especially heavy - about 50 killed, 76 wounded, several dozen soldiers were captured. However, their deeds did not go unnoticed. The corps command admired the courage of the Ukrainians and saluted them. The battle of the Sich Riflemen on Mount Makovka is an important part of the offensive operation in Galicia.
Further participation in World War I
Among the significant battles in which the Sich Riflemen participated, history singles out the battle on Mount Lyson, the Brusilovsky breakthrough, the defense of Potutor. The battles on Lyson are especially important, since the brave actions of the archers saved almost the entire South Austrian army from encirclement and defeat.
In 1917, a joyful event awaited the legion - it was increased to the size of a regiment. F. Kikal became the new commander of this unit. The regiment was immediately transferred to Berezhany, but it did not take part in the battles, since this sector of the front was stable. February 27 atThe February Revolution began in Russia, which shook power, but the war was still going on. During the fighting that began in June, the legion was trapped and taken prisoner. At that time, 444 soldiers and 9 officers remained from him. Subsequently, the legion was re-formed, and in the new composition it reached the end of the fighting on the Zbruch River. This is where the story of the Sich Riflemen in World War I ends.
The period of revolution and independence of the UNR
After the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, an independent Ukrainian People's Republic was formed. During these events, the Sich Riflemen made a trip to the Dnieper Ukraine, as they helped the young republic in the war against the Bolsheviks. The leadership of Austria and the Ukrainian People's Republic agreed on this. Then they participated in the suppression of uprisings in the Kherson region, and managed to resolve the issue without firing a shot. The authorities did not like this, as a result of which the legion was transferred to Bukovina, where it was located until the collapse of Austria-Hungary.
The legion took its last battle during the defense of Lviv, when the Polish army attacked the Western Ukrainian People's Republic. After that, the Ukrainian Nalikaya Army was disbanded, and the legion was scattered among other units. This was the end of one of the most famous Ukrainian military units.
Composition of the OSS Legion
When the unit had just begun its combat history, it was divided into two and a half kuren, led by kurens. Kuren was divided into hundreds, of which there were 4. In each hundred, according to the sameprinciple, there were 4 couples (platoon), and in each couple there were 4 roivs (squads) of 10-15 people. Each hundred, in the end, consisted of 100-150 people.
Besides this, the legion had special units. Among them, they distinguish - as auxiliary - cavalry, engineering and machine-gun hundreds. There were only 112 people and 4 foremen in the cavalry. The machine-gun hundred had 4 machine guns of the Schwarzlose system, their attendants, commanders of even hundreds. There were 4 couples in the engineering hundred. There was also a medical service, an office, a commissary service, as well as departments responsible for recruiting, training and distributing recruits, a convoy and a field kitchen. Also, a special unit was allocated in the legion, which was armed with heavy weapons - mortars, grenade launchers and flamethrowers. Her task was mainly to defend positions and support the attackers.
Meaning for today
Now that Ukraine is an independent state, the Sich Riflemen are one of the glorious memory pages of the past. In historical terms, the legion of Sich Riflemen is a unique combat unit, since it was formed exclusively from Ukrainians, and knowing the attitude of the Austrian authorities to armed popular uprisings or ethnic groups, its creation, as well as quite successful use in battle, can be considered amazing. The heroism shown by the Sich Riflemen is also impressive. Mount Makovka is proof of this.
