A. Melnyk's letter to the German Foreign Minister I. Ribbentrop on the possibility of creating an independent Ukrainian state at this historical stage and the need for support from Germany

Source: Ukrainian nationalist organizations during the Second World War. Vol. 1. 1939-1943. Moscow. ROSSPEN. 2012, pp. 74-75

AA Politarchiv. V. 527/R 104430. Original. Translation from German.

Berlin May 2, 1939

His Excellency

Reich Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop

Berlin

Your Excellency!

After the collapse of the Ukrainian state in 1918-1920. the aspirations of the Ukrainian nation to achieve its highest ideal did not stop for a minute. This is state independence in all ethnographic regions, which twenty years ago were occupied by Russia, Poland, Romania and Czechoslovakia with the help of armed force and against the will of the Ukrainians 1 . The desire of Ukrainians for independence continues through domestic political activity, foreign policy propaganda and comprehensive preparation of the people for the return of state independence.

The events of the last twenty years in the Ukrainian regions have unequivocally proved that no matter what internal political situation has formed among the occupiers of the Ukrainian regions and whatever situations arise in world politics, Ukrainian nationalists, inspired by a fanatical belief in the victory of nationalism, will be unshakable in their struggle to unite all Ukrainian lands into one independent state.

In 1938, within the framework of the new Czechoslovakia, the Carpatho-Ukrainian state was formed, which, in just a few months of its existence, unequivocally proved the will and ability to lead a state life, despite the national consciousness of its population lagging behind in comparison with other Ukrainian regions and the exceptionally difficult financial situation . In March 1939, Carpatho-Ukraine put up an armed rebuff to the entry of Hungarian troops.

When evaluating the internal balance of power in the Soviet Union, the following is revealed: foreign and domestic political situations that are difficult for the Soviet Union are forcing Moscow to make political concessions to the population, including the oppressed peoples. On the one hand, these concessions result in a weakening of the regime, on the other hand, they will not be decisive for the final liberation operation of the Ukrainians and other oppressed nations until the Soviet Union is embroiled in a serious external conflict. In this case, it is recommended that the country take all measures to strengthen the Ukrainian liberation struggle, because this is very important for resolving the conflict.

The situation in the Ukrainian lands in Poland has reached unprecedented tension. Possible relief does not change anything in the state of affairs, and the solution of the Ukrainian problem in the form of autonomy within the framework of the Polish state is not taken into account after previous attempts and experiences. The political and psychological prerequisites for the separation of the Western Ukrainian regions from Poland are now a fact that no one can change. For the successful implementation of such an action, while creating a favorable foreign policy situation, only weapons are needed.

The Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), as the only and real carrier and leader of the liberation struggle of the Ukrainian nation, which has great influence on the Ukrainian population, thanks to its activity, readiness for sacrifice, and, further, in terms of worldview, is related to similar movements in Europe, especially National Socialism in Germany and fascism in Italy, in view of the transformation already carried out in Central Europe and the historical necessity of reforming Eastern Europe as well, I have the honor to address Your Excellency with this letter and draw your attention to the above facts.

Leader of Ukrainian nationalists Andriy Melnyk

_____________________

1 By the beginning of the 1920s, rather vast territories inhabited by Ukrainians turned out to be outside the borders of the Ukrainian SSR. They were part of three states - Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania. Ukrainians in Poland lived on the territory of Eastern Galicia and Western Volhynia. In March 1923, the Council of Ambassadors of the Entente countries recognized for Poland all the rights of supreme power over the territories, the boundaries of which were determined by the Riga Peace Treaty. Romania in 1918 occupied Bukovina and part of Bessarabia. Under the Saint-Germain Peace Treaty in September 1919, Subcarpathian Rus was included in Czechoslovakia.