The Józef Piłsudski Monument in Lviv: Why Was It Never Erected in Time...?
In a commentary for Radio Track, journalist Maksym Rozenko explores the historical repression of Ukrainians in Galicia under Józef Piłsudski’s rule and the stalled plans to erect a monument to him in Lviv. According to historian Mykola Bandrivsky, the so-called “pacification” campaign launched in autumn 1930 was designed to Polonize Ukrainians, and any who resisted were meant to be fully assimilated.
'First, Galician Ukrainians were to be Polonized, and then those resulting “Mankurts”—people stripped of their identity—Poland would finally and irreversibly assimilate.' Mykola Bandrivsky
Piłsudski, who died in 1935, left behind a deeply controversial legacy. On the last day of spring that year, an organizing committee met in Lviv’s City Hall to discuss honoring him. A monument competition was launched that same year, with a budget of 500,000 zlotys. The winning design proposed placing the monument on the slope of the Citadel near Vitovsky Street, while the runner-up envisioned it at the extension of Ruska Street against the backdrop of the Carmelite church on Vynnychenko Street.
Discussing the potential outcomes of historical events, Bandrivsky notes: 'If in September 1939, for some reason, the unification of western Ukrainian lands with Greater Ukraine had not taken place, then our Galicia would most likely have remained occupied by Polish forces.' He further warns that 'by the early 1950s, no ethnic Ukrainians would have remained in Lviv or Galicia.' This highlights the gravity of Polish authorities’ policies toward Ukrainians at the time and the existential threat they posed.
The column also references a concentration camp for Ukrainians in Poland during Piłsudski’s era, as well as the 1772 partition of Poland, which erased the state for nearly a century. Other historical turning points, such as Symon Petliura’s 1920 decision to cede Ukrainian Galicia to Poland, add depth to the discussion of national identity and the Ukrainian place in Polish history.
The Monument’s Controversy
Given Piłsudski’s role in the pacification of Ukrainians and the fraught history between the two nations, plans for a monument to him in Lviv provoke mixed reactions. The initiative stirs debate because it touches on painful aspects of national memory and identity. Such discussions often go beyond merely honoring historical figures, becoming a crucial part of broader societal debates about self-determination and collective memory. Further dialogue on this topic may foster a deeper understanding of shared history and its lasting impact on the present.
Understanding the historical context of the repression faced by Ukrainians in Galicia sheds light on contemporary issues, such as the challenges Ukraine faces in its pursuit of EU membership. For instance, Poland's stringent conditions for Ukraine's accession reflect ongoing tensions rooted in past conflicts and territorial disputes, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to address these legacies.