Evolution of Government Approches to Food Aid/Loans during the Holodomor of 1932–1933

The main goal of this article is to investigate the Stalin’s regime strategies regarding the so-called centralized food aid and its distribution during the Holodomor, which was organized by the Kremlin on the occupied territory of Ukraine in 1932–1933. Research methods: analytical, system-structural, historical-comparative, historical-chronological. Main results. The research focuses on the deep examination of the normative documents created by the different echelons of authority (from Moscow to Ukrainian regions) as a base of clarifying the model related to realizing of general decisions approved by the Central Committee of the Communist party and the Soviet government. In addition, the above-mentioned problem is researched in the frame of genocide conception. The scientific significance of the article is in showing that during 1932–1933 the Stalin regime’s approaches were shifted. From July 1932 food aid was transformed into food loan. In 1933 the central authority established the discriminating model of distribution foods based on renouncement from the principle of equal access and from the providing the aid which depends on the stage of starvation. Food loan depended on political loyalty, social origin and membership in collective farms. Furthermore, the authority aimed to ехterminate all regional attempts to dodge from strong realization of the center’s model. In fact, these attempts frequently turned out to be the step to rescue a number of Ukrainian farmers in different regions of Ukraine. Created by the Stalin regime and used by the authority hierarchy in Ukraine, the approaches are very important evidence that the Food Aid was an instrument to save only number of farmers, who were necessary to plant and harvest. Other farmers were to be starved. The method of the providing and distribution of the centralized food loan was a key instrument of the authority aimed to kill a considerable part of the Ukrainian population by famine. It indicates that the Stalin’s regime intention was genocide. Further research perspective is to deduce how the regional authorities, the heads of collective farms and villages have been realized the orders approved by central as well as Ukrainian rules and how it influenced on the starving and inhibiting or catalyzing of the Soviet government’s plans. Practical significance: the results of the study open up new opportunities for deepening scientific ideas and theoretical generalizations about the Holodomor of 1932–1933. Type of article: analytical.

Soviet repressions against the clergy and believers of the Dnepropetrovsk region in 1939–1942

The study is carried out in line with general problems of the history of state- church relations in the conditions of the Soviet totalitarian system. For a long time modern historiography did not pay proper attention to anti-religious politics in the USSR in 1939–1941, both at general and regional levels. Most scholars avoided themes related to repressive policy regarding worshipers in the years following the Great Terror, and some even noted the liberalization of the course of the Soviet leadership in the field of religion and church on the eve of the German-Soviet war, which began in June 1941. The purpose of the study is to highlight political repressions against the clergy and believers of various Christian denominations in Dnipropetrovsk region in 1939–1942. Research methods: problem-chronological, historical-genetic, historical-comparative, analysis, synthesis. The main results of the work. The process of preparation and further implementation of repressions of the clergy and active believers of various religious groups of Dnipropetrovsk region in 1939–1942 is highlighted. Dozens of convicted worshipers and “sectarians” are identified by name. Nature of accusations and peculiarities of imposed sentences are determined. The course of collective cases fabricated by the NKVD bodies against the Orthodox clergy is shown. Repressive measures of the authorities in the initial period of the German-Soviet war are analyzed. The continuity of the state anti-religious course and the use of terror until 1942 is proved. The originality of the work is in the use and analysis of numerous previously unknown archival documents which helped to disclose the formulated scientific problem. Practical value: despite the regional limitations of the study, the materials of the article are useful not only to local historians, but also to church historians for further development of the problems in the outlined chronological framework. Type of article: analytical.

Converted Jews

The aim of the scientific paper to reconstruct the life strategies of the father of the famous figure of the Great Reform era M. Posen, as well as to attempt to study the little-known early stage of his biography. Research methods: biographical, reconstruction, hermeneutics, intertextual analysis, comparative studies, systemic-structural, conceptual method of M. Epstein, etc. Main results. Thanks to the use of a number of approaches, it was possible to reach broader issues, such as the reconstruction of the identity of two generations of the Posens, identification strategies for their entry into the imperial society and determination of the position and opportunities of converted Jews in the era of Alexander I. Thus, the principle of new historicism made it possible to analyze texts in their primary context, which in turn made it possible to investigate Posen’s attitude to texts, which was reflected in his project for changes in censorship. The systematic principle made it possible to reflect on the whole the process of development of the institution of censorship in the Russian Empire and the role of converted Jews in it on the M. Posen’s example. The study of legislative acts was carried out using the historical-juridical analysis and A. Etkind’s philosophy of reconstruction, which made it possible to inscribe the Posens’ history to the historical and cultural context of the era. Thanks to scientific tools and the involvement of previously unknown sources, it became possible to clarify the main milestones of M. Posen’s early biography, while he working in various departments, as well as possible reasons for career growth in the context of the Alexander era. Practical significance: the accomplished developments can be used in the future to create generalizing works on historical biography, Jewish study, interethnic history, social history, etc. Scientific novelty: for the first time, attempts were made to reconstruct the biography of M. Posen’s father based on the initial materials and the activities of the first generations of the Posens in Russia Empire. Type of article: analytical.

Marxism, nationalism and modernization processes in Eastern Europe in the middle of 19th – early 20th century

The aim of the article is to elucidate the impact of Marxism and Nationalism on modernization processes in Eastern Europe from the perspective of their formation and mutual influence. Research methods: synthesis, induction, analysis, retrospective. Main results. During research we studied programs of both ideologies and compared their distinctive traits. Through analysis oftheoretical patterns of nationalism movements, different theories of public modernization and European point of view about backwardness, we found that Nationalism and Marxism significantly diverged around the role of statehood in culture and political changes. For Nationalism – state was the main aim and, simultaneously, result of nationalist movement activity. Further progress of nation was related to national state, which could provide certain conditions for cultural and economic development. Statehood in Marxists views was unwelcome; changes in society were related to social revolutionary movements without creation new state formations. State’s participation in transformation processes was, in theory, different for both ideologies. But when communists seized a power in the former Russian Empire, they faced a necessity of making their own statehood with its national policy. In fact, Nationalism became an artificial method on the way towards modernization of society. In conclusion, Eastern Europe modernization happened due to unification of communist and nationalist political thought. Scientific novelty of the paper is explained by analysis of works by Austrian Marxists, who made a theory for Soviet national policy. We explain this point by comparing some Austrian ideas to J. Stalin’s view on national question. The author also advocates the idea of existence some nationalistic traits during socialistic modernization in the USSR. Practical value of the research is a creation of background for studying Soviet ideology from new point of view. Type of article: empirical research.

Russian army in Right Bank Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to highlight the essence and specifics of social and political-ideological influence of the imperial authorities, army and military educational institutions of Russia on children and youth in the social transformations of the Right Bank Ukraine in the last decades of the 19th and early 20th centuries. To achieve this goal, general scientific (methods of analysis and synthesis) and special historical methods (internal criticism of the source, historical-systemic and historical-typological methods) are used. The article describes the military-professional and state-patriotic orientation of reforming and developing the network of civilian and military educational institutions of Right Bank Ukraine. It is shown that the central and local authorities and the military department of Russia prioritized the dominance of the army and military and military methods of influencing its population in the state life of the region. This brought changes and approaches to working with children and youth from different backgrounds in the educational system. It was determined that children and youth were involved in military-political processes, it was instilled in them a patriotic attitude to the Russian Empire, a sense of Russian identity, devotion to the state, the tsar, a sense of readiness to fight with arms for the interests of the empire. At the same time, it is emphasized that in many cases the effectiveness of this work was offset by national beliefs formed in families and the Ukrainian environment. The scientific novelty of the article is in an attempt to characterize comprehensively the essence and specifics of social and political- ideological influence on the pupils of civil and military educational institutions of the Right Bank Ukraine. The practical significance of the study is in possibility of using the obtained results for further study of social transformations in the Dnipro Ukraine of the late imperial period, and in modern activities to counter Russia’s information aggression against Ukraine. Type of article: empirical and analytical.

The Library of the Yekaterinoslav Scientific Society

The purpose of the article is to highlight the history of opening and ways of development of the Society’s scientific library according to the reporting documents. Research methods: system-structural, analytical-synthetic, comparative. The main results. The library of the Ekaterinoslav Scientific Society has come a long way from project preparation to actual opening and activity. According to the Charter, one of the tasks of the society was to create libraries of scientific and pedagogical publications and publishing activities. Organizational issues included consideration and supporting the project of opening a scientific library and a reading room. According to the reports, the library began its activity in 1907–1908 after moving to the Auditorium of Public Readings (Chechelivka settlement). The library’s funds were based on the remains of the people’s library, which was damaged during the fire of 1905, and the private library of the Sokolov family. The newly established library acted according to the Rules of using books, the content of which is interesting and useful today. A separate area of the scientific center’s activities was working with children’s audiences, namely conducting folk readings for children and and popularizing reading children’s literature. The history of the library is connected with the People’s University named after O. Karavaiev. The society existed until the early 20s of the 20th century. The library was partially transferred to the Palace of Culture of Metallurgists. Some of the books stored in the book collections of Dnipro National University scientific library have seals and are historical sources for the study of local lore and book heritage of Ukraine. Conclusions. The library of the Society played an important role in the processes of formation and development of scientific, educational and library space of the Yekaterinoslav province. The content and replenishment of funds, areas of activity were adjusted by members of the society and met the requirements of time and readers’ demand. Practical meaning. The materials of the article can be useful in the study of historical local lore, domestic library science and scientific and educational potential of the region. The scientific novelty lies in the holistic study of library activity of the Scientific Society as an important center in the formation of science in the province. Type of article: analytical.

The Mental Space of the Zaporozhian Cossacks in representations оf Dmytro Yavornytsky

The aim of the article is to study the mental space of the Zaporozhian Cossacks in representations of the prominent Ukrainian historian Dmytro Yavornytsky (1855–1940). Historiographic analysis and synthesis are research methods. Sources: works of Dmytro Yavornytsky, memoirs of contemporaries of the scientist-historian, modern historiography. The main results are that the author actualizes the historical and geographical aspect of the mental history of Ukraine; shows the importance of understanding spatial identification and differentiation for the realization of historical and national identity, mental understanding of the world on the examples of achievements of Ukrainian and foreign European scientists. Based on the analysis of Dmytro Yavornytsky’s creative work, it is proved that the scientist-historian came to the conclusion about the ancient, organic nature of the territory of the Steppe Ukraine to the Freedoms of the Zaporozhian Lowland Army; its external borders are established; the internal Ukrainian territorial demarcation between the lands of the Army of the Zaporozhian lower and Poltava regiments of the Hetmanate is marked. An expert on the history of the Zaporozhian Freedoms established that the space of the mental world of the Zaporozhian Cossacks covered a huge steppe expanse that ran along both banks of the Dnipro; widely used the data of hydrography, topography, climate, flora and fauna of the Zaporozhian region to understand the features of this area, which had a huge impact on the mentality of the Cossacks. The Dnipro River, which united the two banks of the Zaporozhian Freedoms, was of sacred significance for the mental world of the Cossacks. To understand the spatial component of the mental world of the Cossacks, it is important to divide the military and territorial division of the Zaporizhzhya, to show the history of the Cossacks in the context of contacts with neighbors. Noting the peculiarities of the history of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, Dmytro Yavornytsky closely linked the struggle of the Zaporozhian Cossacks not only for the rights and freedoms of Zaporizhzhya, but also of other Ukrainian lands, which confirms the mental unity of the Cossacks with other parts of Ukraine. Brief conclusions. D. I. Yavornytsky revealed the spatial aspects of the diverse mental world of the Cossacks, which gave rise to a special historical energy, the basis of freedom-loving and the strength of spirit of the Zaporozhian society. The practical significance of the article is that its material will be of interest to students, graduate students, doctoral students and historians in the study of historiography and mental history of Ukraine. The originality of the article is in understanding of little- studied mental aspects of the heritage of the scientist-historian. Scientific novelty is in the development of insufficiently studied problem of the mental world of the Cossacks in the work of Dmitry Yavornytsky. Type of article: analytical.

Demolished by the whirlwind of revolution

The purpose of the article: to study the process of elimination of large landholdings from the agricultural sector of Ukraine throughout the revolutionary transformations of 1917 – early 1920s. Research methods: historical-typological, historical-genetic, historical-comparative. Main results. It is shown that the destruction of large landowner households, beginning in 1917, lasted until the early 1920s and was part of the agrarian policy of the bolsheviks. Agro-industrial complex on the landed estates were under a devastating blow: вuildings were destroyed, working cattle and grain were dismantled by the peasants, the property of the recent owners of the estates was looted, and industrial facilities were destroyed. Liquidation of landowners’ holdings was accompanied by extreme cruelty justified by revolutionary goals. The paper demonstrates M. Shcherbatova’s and S. Falz-Fein’s tragic fate as victims of revolution. Despite attempts to give this process a form of legitimacy and a whole series of legal acts to regulate the process in the countryside, peasants’ spontaneous movement to redistribute land and property in their favour was of great importance. Centuries-old wounds and hatreds, exacerbation of the feeling of social injustice, revolutionary expediency and desire to get rich at the expense of others floated to the surface as a result. In the revolutionary years of 1917–1921 and afterwards, the last page in the history of the landowners’ economy unfolded, when, despite attempts to settle the “land question”, a radical approach prevailed. As the outcome, recent agrarian elite was uprooted by force with material, moral and psychological damage. Scientific novelty: a study of the destruction of large farms through the perception of their owners based on the study of personal archival funds of the Grokholsky, Linke, Tereshchenko, Shcherbatova and others. Type of article: analytical.

Everyday life of local police officers in Kyiv region during the Nazi occupation (1941–1943)

The purpose of the article is to identify the features of daily life of the local police officers of the Reichсommissariat Ukraine (hereinafter – the RCU), their socio-professional status. Research methods: analytical, synthetic, historical-chronological, comparative-historical, logical. Main results. The example of the RCU examines the problem of the daily life of local police officers in their everyday, social, professional and psychological dimensions. At the systemic level, the everyday aspects of daily routine of local police officers and their place in the system of social relations of that time are clarified. Typical models of behavior of policemen of RCU are distinguished in their relationships with local society. Examples of the participation of Ukrainian police officers both in persecution and in helping people who were victims of Nazi repression are given. The fact of increase of destructive phenomena in moral and psychological moods of local police officers of the RCU is established. Scientific novelty. For the first time the daily life of RCU police officers is analyzed in detail, their place in the system of social relations and model of behavior in the course of fulfilling their professional duties are determined. Practical importance. The study identifies typical social behavior patterns of persons who in occupation conditions were employed by local police and were directly accomplishing the goals and objectives of Nazi occupation policy. The originality of the study is based on the identification and analytical and synthetic processing of previously unknown archival sources of the Soviet special services. Type of article: research.

Olexa Kovalenko and Maxim Rylsky

The purpose of this article is to highlight the relationship between Oleksa Kovalenko, a well-known in the Dnipro Ukraine writer, translator, cultural and public figure, and doctor, and a outstanding Ukrainian poet and translator, M. T. Rylsky, in the historical context of the 1940s – 1960s. Research methods. The basis of the research methodology is historical-biographical, problem-chronological, and рrosopographical. The main results. On the basis of the epistolary heritage the relationship between the well-known in the Dnipro Ukraine writer, translator, cultural and public figure, doctor by profession Oleksiy Kovalenko with the prominent Ukrainian poet, publicist, linguist, literary critic, director of the Institute of Art Studies, folklore and ethnology M.T. Rylsky is highlighted in the historical context of 1940s – 1960s. It is established that since 1944, for many years, there were constant contacts between O. Kovalenko and M. Rylsky. These contacts were based on a mutual interest in translating “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign”. It is proved that the duration of their communication was based on the similarity of life experience, the circle of common acquaintances and interests. The practical significance. Research results can be used in the development of special courses and in local history educational projects. Scientific novelty. The source base of the theme is expanded by the involvement of O. Kovalenko’s and M.T. Rylsky’s epistolary heritage. Type of article: analytical.