The full biography of Stepan Bandera

On 1 January 1909 in the village of Old Uhryniv on the territory of Galicia was born Stepan Bandera-the ideologist and one of the founders of the nationalist movement in Ukraine. His work still causes fierce debate, although since the assassination policy has been more than 56 years. To help you understand the secret appeal of his ideology for some, maybe the biography of Stepan Bandera.

Family

His Parents were people of sincere believers and closely connected with the Greek Catholic (Uniate) Church. Father Stepan — Andrew M. — served as a rural priest and was actively engaged in promoting the ideas of Ukrainian nationalism. In 1919 he was elected to the National Council ZUNR, and then he fought in the army of Denikin. After the Civil war, Andrew M. returned to his native village and continued to serve the local parish priest.

The Mother of Stepan — Miroslava V. — also came from a family of priest. That is why children, and there were six of them, were educated in the spirit of important for parents values and devotion to the ideas of Ukrainian nationalism.

Biography of Stepan Bandera: childhood

The Family lived in a small house, which gave them the leadership of the Church. According to contemporaries, who are well familiar with the biography of Stepan Bandera, he grew up obedient and pious boy. At the same time in high school, he tried to form a strong will, for example, be drenched in cold water in winter than earned itself a disease of the joints for a lifetime.

To enter the gymnasium, Stepan quite early left the parents ' house and moved to the town of Stryj to the grandparents. It was there that he gained first political experience, and proved himself as a person with excellent organizational skills. So, Bandera participated in the activities of various political organizations, including the Union of Ukrainian nationalist youth.

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After Graduating from high school, Stepan was back in Ugryniv, he began the organization of young nationalists and even created a local choir.

Emergence as a leader of the nationalist movement

Enrolling in 1929 at the Polytechnic school of Lviv, Stepan Bender continues his political activities.

It was a difficult period. As in the radical part of society growing dissatisfaction of the Polish authorities, increasingly manifests itself the Organization of Ukrainian nationalists. She has been involved in terrorist acts, its militants attack mail trains, and eliminate political opponents. And, as a response to terror and protests begin mass repressions of the authorities.

In the 30's, Bandera, previously mostly engaged in propaganda, becoming one of the most active leaders of the OUN. He repeatedly exposed to short arrests, mostly for spreading anti-Polish literature. By the way, the biography of Stepan Bandera during this period contains many dark pages. In particular, according to some sources, in 1932, under the leadership of German experts were trained in special intelligence in Danzig.

However, the work of Bandera to important positions in the OUN was relatively short-lived. In 1934 he was arrested and then sentenced to death by hanging for the preparation of the assassination of Bronislaw pyeratskoho — the Polish Minister of internal Affairs. However, the death penalty were replaced by life imprisonment.

Activities during the German occupation

In 1939, after Poland was captured by Germany, Stepan Bandera, whose biography continues to be of interest to researchers of the history of Eastern Europe in the 20th century, escapes from prison. He seeks to restore its influence in the leadership of the OUN and to continue the struggle for the ideals of Ukrainian nationalism, but faces a number of challenges.

As you know, Galicia and Volhynia, the former initially, the centers of the struggle for the creation of a sovereign Ukraine, at this time became part of the Soviet Union, and nationalist activity there became difficult. In addition, the tip of the OUN was not unity. Supporters of one of its leaders — by Andrew Miller — advocated an Alliance with Nazi Germany.

Such a possibility categorically rejects Bandera, understanding that the political leadership of the invaders will never agree on the sovereignty of Ukraine.

Differences reach up to open conflict. The confrontation between the factions of the OUN inspires Bender to handle the recruitment of armed groups. Relying on them he at the rally in Lviv in 1941, proclaimed the creation of the independent Ukrainian state.

Germany

The Reaction of the occupation authorities has not kept itself waiting. Stepan Bandera, a brief biography which is familiar to every Ukrainian student, together with his colleague Yaroslav Stetsko was arrested by the Gestapo and sent them to Berlin. The staff of the German intelligence suggested that the leader of the OUN collaboration and support. In exchange for this he had to abandon the propaganda of Ukrainian independence. He proposal was not adopted and was in a concentration campSachsenhausen, where he stayed until 1944.

However, in fairness I must say that there he was in quite comfortable conditions, and even had the opportunity to meet with his wife. Moreover, Bandera, while in Sachsenhausen, wrote and sent home articles and documents by political prisoners. For example, he is the author of the booklet ‘the Struggle and the activities of the OUN(b) in time of war”, which focuses on the role of acts of violence, including ethnic.

According to some historians, the biography of Stepan Bandera in the period from 1939 to 1945, requires closer scrutiny. In particular, according to some sources, he actively cooperated with the Abwehr and was involved in the preparation of reconnaissance, not refusing, however, from their ideological beliefs.

After the war

After the defeat of fascism Stepan Bandera, whose biography is repeatedly subjected to “rewrite” in favor of the different political forces in Western Germany and settled in Munich, where he arrived and his wife with children. He continued in active political activities as one of the OUN leaders, many of whom also moved to Germany or were liberated from the camps. Bandera supporters said about the need to elect as lifetime head of the organization. However, that was not accepted by those who believed that to lead the activities of nationalist associations should be on the territory of Ukraine. As the main argument in favor of their position they pointed out that only being in place, it is possible to soberly assess the situation, which changed radically during the war.

Seeking to expand the number of their supporters, Stepan Bandera (biography briefly presented above) was the initiator of ABN – Antibolshevistkih bloc of Nations, headed by Yaroslav Stetsko.

In 1947, the OUN became of those who disagree with his position, the nationalists, and he was elected its leader.

Death

It's time to tell you about the last page, which ended the biography of Stepan Bandera. According to the widespread version, he was killed by KGB officer Bogdan Stashinsky. It happened in 1959, on October 15. The killer was waiting policy is in the entrance of the house and shot him in the face from a pistol with a syringe containing cyanide. Bender died in the ambulance, caused by neighbors, never regaining consciousness.

Other versions of murder

But whether or not Stepan Bandera (biography, photos of which are presented above) was killed by an agent of the Soviet secret services? There are many versions. First, the day of the murder Bandera somehow let go of his bodyguards. Secondly, from the point of view of its significance at that time Bandera has no danger as a political figure. At least for the USSR. And the NKVD did not need was the martyrdom of a prominent nationalist in the past. Thirdly, Stashinsky was sentenced to a rather lenient sentence-8 years prison. By the way, upon his release, he disappeared.

Some of the less known version, Bandera killed one of his former associates or the representative of Western intelligence agencies, which is likely.

The Fate of family members

The Father of Stepan Bandera was arrested by the NKVD on 22 may 1941 and shot two weeks after the Nazis attacked the Soviet Union. His brother Alexander lived a long time in Italy. In the beginning of the war he came to Lviv, was arrested by the Gestapo and died in Auschwitz concentration camp. Another brother of Stepan Bandera — Basil — also was an active figure of the Ukrainian nationalist movement. In 1942 was sent to Auschwitz by the German occupying forces, and killed by Rangers-poles.

Crimes

Today in Ukraine there are many people who worship Stepan Bandera, almost as a Saint. The desire for independence of their homeland is a noble thing, but nationalism is never satisfied with the praise of his people. He always need to prove their superiority by humiliating the neighbor, or worse, destroying him physically. In particular, many European and Russian historians consider proved the facts of the involvement of Bandera Volyn massacre when the killing of thousands of poles and Armenians-Catholics, of which Bandera was considered “second the Jews”.

Stepan Bandera, biography, crime and works which require serious study, — personality is ambiguous, but certainly extraordinary. His name currently remains a symbol of the nationalist movement and inspires some hot and, well, not very smart minds to commit such heinous acts, as the shelling of residential neighborhoods of their own cities.