March of Ukrainian Nationalists

The March of Ukrainian Nationalists is a Ukrainian patriotic song that was originally the official anthem of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.^[1] The song is also known by its first line "We were born in a great hour" (Ukrainian: Зродились ми великої години). The song, written by Oles Babiy to music by Omelian Nyzhankivskyi in 1929, was officially adopted by the leadership of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1932.^[2] The song is often referred to as a patriotic song from the times of the uprising,^[3] and a Ukrainian folk song.^[4] It is still commonly performed today, especially at events honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army^[5] and by nationalist organizations and party meetings, such as those of VO Svoboda.^[6]

Background

Map of the short-lived Ukrainian National Republic as it appeared in 1919, stretching from the San river in present-day Poland to the Kuban region next to the Caucasus mountains in present-day Southern Russia (as referenced in the song).

In 1919 with the end of the Polish–Ukrainian War, which resulted in the takeover of western Ukraine by the Second Polish Republic, many former leaders of the Ukrainian republic were exiled.^[7] As Polish persecution of Ukrainians during the interwar period increased, many Ukrainians (particularly the youth, many of whom felt they had no future) lost faith in traditional legal approaches, in their elders, and in the western democracies who were seen as turning their backs on Ukraine. This period of disillusionment coincided with the increase in support for the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). By the beginning of the Second World War, the OUN was estimated to have 20,000 active members and many times that number in sympathizers.^[8] The song was written in 1929 during the midst of these political events and adopted by the organization's leadership 3 years later.^[2]

The March of the Ukrainian Nationalists is written and performed as a military march and a call to arms. The first verse of the song refers to "the pain of losing Ukraine",^[9] referring to the short-lived independence of the Ukrainian National Republic from 1917-1921. The republic was divided up among the Soviet Union and the Second Polish Republic.^[10] The song also mentions a popular Ukrainian national motto, "A United Ukrainian state... from the San to the Kavkaz".^[11] This is in line with the Ukrainian irredentist concept of having Ukraine's western border start at the San river in modern-day Poland and its eastern border at the Caucasus Mountains (pronounced "Kavkaz" in Ukrainian) in modern-day Southern Russia.

Lyrics

Ukrainian lyrics Зродились ми великої години, З пожеж війни, із полум’я вогнів, Плекав нас біль по втраті України, Кормив нас гнів і злість на ворогів. І ось ідемо в бою життєвому, Тверді, міцні, незламні мов граніт, Бо плач не дав свободи ще нікому, А хто борець — той здобуває світ. Не хочемо ні слави ні заплати. Заплатою нам — розкіш боротьби! Солодше нам у бою умирати, Ніж жити в путах, мов німі раби. Доволі нам руїни і незгоди, Не сміє брат на брата йти у бій! Під синьо-жовтим прапором свободи З'єднаєм весь великий нарід свій. Велику правду — для усіх єдину, Наш гордий клич народові несе! Вітчизні ти будь вірний до загину, Нам Україна вище понад усе! Веде нас в бій борців упавших слава. Для нас закон найвищий і наказ: "Соборна Українська держава — Вільна й міцна, від Сяну по Кавказ".[9]

English translation We were born in a great hour, From the fires of war, and the flames of gunshots, We were nurtured by the pain of losing Ukraine, We were fed by anger and malice to our enemies. And here we walk in the battle of life - Solid, durable, unbreakable, like granite, For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet, But whoever is a fighter, he conquers the world. We don't want neither glory, nor payment. Payment for us - is the luxury of fighting! It is sweeter for us to die in battle, Than to live in bondage, as mute slaves. Enough of ruins and disagreements for us, A brother will not dare to go to war against a brother! Under the blue-yellow flag of freedom We will unite all of our great people. A great truth - a united one for us all, Our proud call carries to the people! Be faithful to your homeland until the death, For us Ukraine is above all else! Leads us into battle the glory of fallen fighters. Our highest law - is the command: "A United Ukrainian state - Free and strong, from the San to the Kavkaz".

See also

• Oh the red viburnum in the meadow
• Prayer for Ukraine
• State Anthem of Ukraine
• Za Ukrainu

References

1. Lypovetsky, Sviatoslav (17 February 2009). "Eight Decades of Struggle". The Day. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
2. Символіка Українських Націоналістів (Symbols of Ukrainian Nationalists) Archived link Article on the website of the Virtual Museum of Ukrainian Phaleristics (Ukrainian)
3. List of Uprising Songs on umka.com (Ukrainian)
4. Зродились ми великої години (We were born in a great hour) Entry at pisni.org (Ukrainian)
5. Святкове співоче дійство «Зродились ми великої години» з нагоди 70-ї річниці створення УПА (Festive singing event "We were born in a great hour" on the 70th anniversary of the creation of UPA) entry at news website Zaxid.net (Ukrainian)
6. Зродились ми великої години… (We were born in a great hour...) Entry at nationalist news website ukrnationalism.com (Ukrainian)
7. Christopher Gilley (2006). A Simple Question of 'Pragmatism'? Sovietophilism in the West Ukrainian Emigration in the 1920s Working Paper: Koszalin Institute of Comparative European Studies pp.6-13
8. Orest Subtelny. (1988). Ukraine: A History. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp.441-446.
9. Зродились ми великої години (We were born in a great hour) Lyrics at nashe.com.ua (Ukrainian) Accessed 22 July 2014
10. Serhy Yekelchyk, Ukraine: Birth of a Modern Nation, Oxford University Press (2007), ISBN 978-0-19-530546-3
11. Kyrylo Halushko, Birth of a country. From a land to a state., Family Leisure Club (2015) (Ukrainian), ISBN 978-617-12-0208-5