REORGANIZATION OF THE FOREIGN SECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION OF UKRAINIAN NATIONALISTS (ZCH/OUN)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80S01540R006000090003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 30, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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Ji1h
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET- US OFFICIALS
COUNTRY USSR (Ukrainian SSR)/Germany
SUBJECT Reorganization of the Foreign Section
of the Organization of Ukrainian
Nationalists (ZCh/OUN)
DATE OF INFO.
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18. U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
ONLY 50X1-HUM
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 30 8eptember 1954
NO. OF PAGES 5
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Introduction
The following report was written by one of the two members of the "Collegium
of-the Authorized" of the newly reorganized ZCh/OUN. This report contains a
brief history of the ZCh/OUN, a summary of the causes of the dispute witLin
that organization, the stand of the parties in the dispute, the position
of the Provid of the OUN in the Ukraine regarding the dispute, and the
reorganization of the ZCh/OUN, its current structure and activities.
T1L ZCh/OUN, ITS GENESIS, CHARACTER, AND TASKS
1. The ZCh/OUP (Foreign Section of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists)
was established in Germany in February 1946 by a conference of two categories
of OUN members (OUN members used here refers to those Ukrainian nationalists
who sided with Stefan Bandera at the time of his split with Andrey Melnyk
in 1940), i.e., a) those who were sent abroad by the OUN Provid in the
Ukraine in July 1944, and b) those who were brought to Germany from 1941
to 1944 and were confined in concentration camps until their release in
1944 and 1945
2. Prior to, during, and after the conference there were differences of opinion
among the ZCh/OUN members which ultimately led to disputes and finally the
split within the ZCh/OUN itself. The most serious dispute centered around
the different estimates of the past activity and character of the OUN and the
current question regarding the stand of the ZCh/OUN in reference to internal
changes made within the OUN in the Ukraine during the German occupation of
the Ukraine. Those OUN members who actively participated in the struggle
in the Ukraine, particularly in the central and eastern sections of the
Ukraine, insisted that the prewar ideological, constitutional, and practical-
political principles of the OUN had undergone major revisions during the
years 1941-1943 and that any new formation of Ukrainian nationalists'
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organizations abroad must be built on these new principles, which
principles had been contained in the decisions of the Third
Extraordinary Great Congress of the OUN in August 1943. Thus, the
primary subject of the dispute was the character of the OUN, i. e.,
its constitutional, ideological, and. political positions. A lesser
but still an important adjunct to the dispute was the question of
what -Tole the OUN was to play regarding other Ukrainian political
forces and the Ukrainian people as a whole.
3. Those who deemed it necessary to uphold the new positions of the OUN
and to further their development based their arguments on the decisions
of the Third Extraordinary Great Congress, which were as follows:1
a. The Fthrer principle, once characteristic of the OUN, was abolished,,
and substituted for it was a system of collective leadership which
democratized the internal OUN structure, making it an anti-totalitarian
organization.
b. The ideological criteria,which wake used?aa a basis for the admission
Of members into the OUN and which made the organization exclusive
ideologically, wwe abolished.
c. The social-economic factor in the liberation struggle was adopted
as a factor equally as important in the OUN platform as the national
liberation and national sovereignty if the masses were to be mobil-
ized against Bolshevism and Russian imperialism.
d. A concept of a common front of all nations enslaved by the Soviet
regime was adopted, and the peaceful cooperation with all neighbors
of the Ukraine, as well as the guaranteeing of equal rights to all
national minorities in the Ukraine, was stressed.
e. The OUN was defined as being one of many political formations in the
Ukraine which was, of necessity, required to cooperate with other
political forces in the fight for an independent Ukraine. Consequently,
the directing of the Ukrainian liberation struggle was turned over to
the UBVR (Ukrainian Supreme Council of Liberation)in 1944, although
the OLIN remained the undisputed decisive political force in the Ukraine
and in the URVR.
4. In the ZCh/OUN dispute, Stefan Bandera and his closest assistants and
advisors, e.g., Yaroslav Stetsko and Stefan Lenkavskyy, maintained that
while the changes bad been adopted by the OUN in their absence during
the war -.? which changes did not conform with the prewar positions of
orthodox nationalism -- these changes should not be considered as binding
on the ZCh/OUN now. They particularly desired to revert to the FUbrer
principle in the OUN, to reject the democratization of the OUN, and
insisted that the OUN again become an exclusive organization in directing
Ukrainian political life both in the emigration and in the Ukraine. One
reason for this stand was perhaps because Stefan Bandera, Stetsko, and
Lenkavskyy had not been elected by the Third Extraordinary Great Congress
to prominent positions in the OUN.
5. Under such circumstances, a real cooperation between these two factions
i.e.,those for and those against the decisions of the Third Extraordinary
Great Congress, seemed impossible. This breach became more apparent
during the ZCh/OUN conference held in September 1947, but it was not
until the ZCh/OUN conference of August 1948 (the Mittenwald Conference)
that matters came to a head. To settle the dispute, the OUN Prov d in
the Ukraine was asked for a decision, with all the facts in the spute
being presented to it. In thePro~rs reply in 1950 and again in 1953
it confirmed the Third Extraordinary Great Congress' decisone to be
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binding and valid, and at the same time it condemned the political positions
of Stefan Bandera and his followers.2 The OUN Provid further pointed out
that the new OUN political platform was justified and accepted by the
Ukrainian people and had been a factor in the mobilization. of masses in
the struggle against Bolshevism. However, the OUN Provid desired that
both factions in the dispute remain a cohesive group, settle their
differences of opinion, and work together for the good of the organization..
The decision rendered by the Provid in 1953 regarding the settlement of
the dispute was as follows: "The 0UN Provid in the Ukraine finds that
Stefan Bandera departed from the decisions of the Third Extraordinary Great
Congress. He is neither formally nor factually the leader of the OUN.
The Provid desires that for the sake of OUN unity Bandera -cease.his
actions which are designed to split the organization and instruct--his'
personal emissary in the Ukraine to desist from the same type of actiyity there.
The OUN Provid authorizes Lev Rebet, Zinoviy Matla, and Stefan Bandera to assume
temporary leadership of the ZCh/OUN and to reorganize this organization after
the pattern of the OUN in the Ukraine. Signed - Lemish, Chairman, OUN
Pr ovid in the Ukraine."3
6. At the same time the OUN Provid in the Ukraine dispatched its decision to the
ZCh/OUN, the UHVR Presidium in the Ukraine informed the General Secretary
of Foreign Affairs of the UHVR that his mandate as Secretary and the mandate for
the ZP/UHVR (Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Council of
Liberation) had been confirmed. The document containing this confirmation
was to be the basis for cooperation between the ZP/UfVR and the ZCh/OUN.
It read as follows: "To the General Secretary of the ZP/UHVR, Mykola Lebed:
We confirm your mandate and the mandate for the entire ZP/UHVR to represent
abroad the UHVR and the entire Ukrainian liberation movement. The ZP/UHVR
is authorized to: (1) represent abroad the UHVR, the UPA (Ukrainian Partisan
Army), the Ukrainian liberation underground, and the entire Ukrainian
liberation-revolutionary movement; (2) carry out abroad political-diplomatic
and informational activities in conformance with the liberation struggle of
the Ukrainian people; (3) make decisions regarding quest of support from
fpreign governments; and (4) to serve as the supreme authority for ex-UPA
and other underground members in the emigration. Attached to the ZP/UHVR
is the UPA Mission,which is authorized to handle UPA affairs. For the
UHVR Presidiupn,M. Lisoviy, and the Chairman of the UHVR Secretariat, Col.
Vasil Koval."
7. Negotiations and discussions by Lev Rebet, Zinoviy Matla, and Stefan Bandera
regarding the homeland mandates began in November 1953 and ended in a dead-
lock in February 1954,when Bandera refused to recognize or honor the home-
land's decisions. Stefan Bandera disagreed with the correctness of the OUN
program in the Ukraine and sought to secure for himself dominance over the
ZCh/OUN and to prevent its reorganization as directed by the OUN Provid.
During the negotiations it became apparent to Bandera's oppositionthat
Banderafs actions were becoming a damaging factor to the liberation
struggle in the Ukraine in that he had taken steps to remove the OUN
Provid in the Ukraine and to replace it with men of his choosing who would
elevate him to the chairmanship of the OUN Pr ? id. It was realized that
such a coup, if successful, would .cause irreparable damage to the liberation
struggle in the Ukraine in both organizational and political matters. It
was under such circumstances, and because of these findings, that the
negotiations ceased, with Lev Rabat and Zinoviy Matla forming of the Authorized" to reform the ZCh/OUN in accordance with the OUN1Prov d's
directives. At this break, Bandera continued, along with those sympathy c
to his cause, to head an unauthorized ZC1i/OUN.of his own, one not represent-
ing the OUN Provid in the Ukraine.
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8.
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The official and reorganized ZCh/OUN presently is made up operating branches: the "Collegium of the Authorized", the ZCh/OUNfollowing
Political Council, and the ZCh/OUN Executive. Temporary members of these
branches, pending election of permanent officers, and their duties are as
follows :
a. "Collegium of the Authorized": Its members are Lev Rebet and Zinovy
Math,who Jointly are responsible for the management of the ZCh/OUN.
They render decisions on current problems of'.the ZCh/OUN, confirm
decisions made by the Political Council, and guide and control the
activity of the Executive.
b. ZCh OUN Political Council: The chairman of this branch is Dr. Bohdan
Kondiuk and 3e comiposed of the following other members: Irene Kozak,
Anatol abet, kyy, Dr. Ivan Hrynioch, Roman Ilnytskyy
Kaminskyy,, Zinoviy Martsiuk, Bohdan Pidhainy, Modest Repetskyy,
and Volodimir Stachiv. This branch is charged with the responsibility
of weighing and rendering opinions on OUN policy matters abroad.
Further, it is charged with the task of
conferences in the field of ideological, orgaanniiza iona, s and interna0lN
and external policy matters. To date, the Political Council has
worked out a draft of the ZCh/OUN constitution and by-laws and the
ZCh/OUN stand regarding the ABN, the UNR, and the ACLB.
c? ZCh OUN Executive: The chairman of the Executive is Atol Knakyy.
This branch is charged with the task of settli Anatol ami
?perat.onal matters as directed by the "Collegiumoof the Authorized".
9. The current ZCh/OUN program and platform are based.on the decisions of the
Third Extraordinary Great Congress of August directives of the OUN Provid issued after World War II.suAccordi
it is here made known that Ukrainian nationalism is a national-liberation,
democratic, and, anti-totalitarian movement, with the OUN being
political, liberation organization, supported by the Ukrainian a eopl which w
leads the struggle for political, social, and cultural rights ofthehich
Ukrainian people in an independent Ukrainian state.
. stands ev
national solidarity, and Christian and common moralityThe OUN for
that every nation has the right to complete national s s The Oty believes
sovereignty secures the full development of overeignty, which
The Ukrainian nationalist movement istheembodimenttofetherideaooofa nation.
freedom for the nation and the individual and for the establishment
of a governmental structure in which every citizen, regardless of race,
background, religion, or political conviction,can be a free individual
with guaranteed religious, political, cultural, social, and economic
freedom.
10. Apropos the principle of national solidarity,, the OUN as an force does not assume to be the one and onlreprese representative of the ganized political
sovereign
will of the Ukrainian people. The CUN believes that all Ukrainian groups
striving for an Independent Ukraine have an equal
struggle and the OUN, therefore, does not desirenorgis it att litirattoo n
gain a monopoly now in the liberation st empting
en en
Ukrainian State. The struggle or later in an independent
p tal OUN considers it necessary that other existing
parties and groups participate in the liberation struggle
the leadership of this struggle, and in the responsibility that it involves.
U. The OUN is fighting for Ukrainian national sovereignty on Ukrainian
ethnographic territories and for the introduction of an electoral system
for the selection of administrative officials
Ukrainian independence. The OUN believes that during the fliberation
struggle the central leadership of this struggle should be in the hands of
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representatives of all participants regardless of political affiliation.
It was for this reason that in 194+4 the OUN supported the idea of and
helped create the UHVR, which it continues to support at the present
time.
12. The specific functions of the ZCh/OUN are to support the Ukrainian
liberation movement in the Ukraine and to spread information about it
among the Ukrainians in.emigration as well as throughout the Western
World. In carrying out these functions, the OUN is striving to unite
all Ukrainian independence forces in the emigration on the basis of the
ideological and political platform of the Ukrainian liberation movement
in the Ukraine. Aside from this, the OUN is combating Communist influence
among the Ukrainian emigres. To carryout these functions, the ZCh/OUN has
organized cell groups in those countries permitting such organizations to
operate. In those countries where it is illegal for the ZCh/OUN to
charter its sub-units as affiliates of the ZCh/OUN and all'that this implies,
it has organized sympathizer groups that are permitted to exist under
certain lave of certain countries. For example, the ZCh/OUN now has
cells or sympathizer groups representing it in Germany, France, Belgium,
Great Britain, Canada, Argentina,. Brazil, Australia, and in the United
States. In the United States a preparatory committee has been formed
for the purpose or organizing and chartering the ZCh/OUN affiliate,
"Association of Participants of the Ukrainian Liberation Struggle".
Members of this committee are: KoEt Kononenko (chairman), Yuriy Bobrovskyy,
Roman Borkbvskyy, Kirilo Maslovych, Zinoviy Matla, Yuriy Macyk, Osyp Moroz,
Miroolav Prokop, and Zinoviy Saliy. Some work of this group has been the
publishing of the bulletin, "Materials of the Preparatory"Committee of the
Participants of the Ukrainian Liberation Struggle".
13. Current publications of the ZCh/OUN are the weekly newspaper Ukrainskyy
Samostiynik (The Ukrainian Independent) and a quarterly bulletin Documenti
i Prob(Documents and Problems). Both of these publications are printed
in Munich, Germany.
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