Shepetivka operation
| Shepetivka Operation | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Eastern Front of World War II | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Polissian Sich |
 Germany Hungary | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Taras Bulba-Borovets |
Maj. Gen. Halterman | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown |
Heavy
| ||||||
The Shepetivka Operation was a major sabotage action carried out by the units of Polissian Sich against Nazi Germany. On August 19, 1942.
Prelude
[edit]In late April of 1942, Taras Bulba-Borovets led Polissian Sich operations against Nazi Germany.[1] Bulba conducted propaganda campaign across Right-Bank Ukraine and targeted gestapo detachments, with the goal of pressuring Erich Koch to stop repressions against the Ukrainian population.[2] However, Koch ignored Bulba’s demands and only increased the repressions. This prompted Bulba to launch a major sabotage operation with demonstrative nature, entering second phase of resistance.[3]
Operation
[edit]Unlike in the first phase of anti-German resistance in April and May, partisans now intended to strike transport of military-strategic importance.[4] Detailed description of operation comes from two Ukrainian commanders that took part in it. According to them, the operation was done silently and meant to avoid major battles, while also cutting off communications. Main blow was aimed at SS and gestapo units, while Wehrmacht troops were only required to be locked up after disarming.[5]
As the activity of partisans became known to "SS Brigadeführer Major General Halterman", he had trouble requsting nearby units to stop the partisans. Available Ukrainian auxiliary units couldn't be entrusted with this task, due to risk of defection.[6] During this time, train station was overrun by "several thousand" partisans.[7]
Later, German command managed to send out available nearby Hungarian units, to whom they were able to entrust the taks of fighting Ukrainian partisans. However, by the time Hungarian units arrived, the partisans already completed their sabotage actions and left with all the loot.[8]
Aftermath
[edit]As a result of operation, Erich Koch was now willing to negotiate with Taras Bulba-Borovets and his partisans.[9] Ukrainian partisans looted and captured 4 trains, releasing people sent to forced labour from another 2 trains.[10][11]
Shepetivka became Bulba’s most famous operation.[1] Soviet author Polykarp Shafet gave his impression of operation: "Ataman Bulba dared to attack commodity in Shepetivka, and fought Magyars [Hungarians], which he declared as 'military-strategic struggle of Ukraine'".[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Polisian Sich". www.encyclopediaofukraine.com. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
- ^ Borovets 1981, pp. 199–202.
- ^ Borovets 1981, pp. 203–204.
- ^ Borovets 1981, p. 204.
- ^ Borovets 1981, p. 205.
- ^ Borovets 1981, pp. 206–209.
- ^ Borovets 1981, p. 208.
- ^ Borovets 1981, pp. 211–212.
- ^ Borovets 1981, p. 213.
- ^ Borovets 1981, p. 212.
- ^ a b Дзьобак, В. В. (2002). Тарас Бульба-Боровець і його військові підрозділи в українському русі Опору (1941 – 1944 рр.) (in Ukrainian). Kyiv: Інститут історії України НАН України. p. 90. ISBN 966-02-2192-4.
Bibliography
[edit]- Borovets, Taras (1981). Бульба-Боровець Т. Армія без держави: слава і трагедія українського повстанського руху (in Ukrainian). Інститут Дослідів Волині ч. 45 Накладом Товариства “Волинь”. ISBN 978-966-2186-15-4.
- Conflicts in 1942
- 1942 in Europe
- Military operations of World War II involving Germany
- Battles and operations of World War II involving Germany
- Battles and operations of World War II involving Hungary
- Battles and operations of the Eastern Front of World War II
- Hungary in World War II
- Eastern Front (World War II)
- Ukraine in World War II
- Military history of Ukraine during World War II
- Military history of Ukraine