Red and black colors. Where did they come from, and what are they to the Ukrainians?

fakenews.pl 2 years ago

Red and black colours regularly warm up Polish social media. People who duplicate pro-Russian propaganda consider any appearance of these colours as promoting flagism and attacking Poland. These narratives fit into the creation of a negative image of Ukraine by the Kremlin. However, red-black colours have been with Ukrainians for hundreds of years and form part of their national identity. Unfortunately, these colors are shaded by the genocidal activity of the CNS/UPA. So what's the communicative of these colors?

Our evaluation:

Analysis

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Red and Black Colours — Controversies

The subject of red-black colour appeared repeatedly on social media. He was linked to the hunt for Ukrainian food restaurants in February of this year, as described in our article. The deliberate usage of the "flag colors" was observed during the visit of the president of Ukraine to Poland in April 2023. Volodymyr Zelenski was wearing a black sweatshirt, while his wife She was wearing a red dress. This was considered an anti-Polish provocation to advance UPA crimes. many accounts known for their anti-Ukrainian activities picked up this communicative and reproduced it primarily on Twitter. Examples can be seen Here., Here. and Here..

Bander colors were besides seen in Agata Kornhauser-Dudy's clothes during her visit to the US. This was besides considered anti-Polish provocation. 1 of the leading characters to replicate this communicative was the patostreamer Marcin RolaTo whom they repeated anonymously accounts on Twitter active in the export of Russian misinformation.

We decided to mention to so controversial colors due to the online understatements and absurd content. We want to look at the presence of red-black colours in Ukraine's past and give them a broader context and present how they have been seen for centuries.

Cossack disease

Red and black colors accompany Ukrainians since Cossack times. They were already on the flagpoles. They were besides dominated by blue, yellow, and white. All these colors are utilized present in state symbolism. Example flags Register Cossacks can be seen for example Here. and below.

Yellow-blue and red-black diseases besides appear on 1 of the most celebrated paintings depicting the past of Ukraine. ‘Cossacks compose a letter to the Sultan” is simply a nineteenth - century work Ilji Riepina of peculiar importance. In the background of the scene we can find 2 trees on which the above colours are. Riepin attached large importance to historical compatibility, so he painted many elements (including banners) based on historical objects.

Ukrainian Embroidery

Red and black colours are besides a popular component of Ukrainian embroidery. Consistent it most frequently with geometric shapes and plant motifs. Each region boasts its patterns. The dominant colour is red, most frequently combined with blue or black. Embroidery has been associated with Ukraine for hundreds of years and is an crucial part of the cultural identity of the people of this country. To this day, it remains a comparatively popular hobby, especially among seniors. Below you can see a map of Ukraine composed of the most popular patterns in the region. These colors are besides frequently utilized during various holidays, for example at painting Easter egg.

There is so no connection between the embroidery and commemoration of the actions of Ukrainian insurgent Army fighters. However, this did not prevent the pursuit of Kalyna restaurant in Lublin in February 2023. Owners were accused of flagism only due to the fact that they utilized red-black embroidery in the local logo. There is nothing unusual about it, and Ukrainian cuisine was expected to be served there, and the full decoration referred to the tradition of this country. We wrote more about this case in 1 of our own. Articles.

Shich and Plast Shooters

Red-black colours used They were besides by the Legion of Ukrainian Sichen Rifles, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Army during planet War I. The intent of the branch was to liberate Ukraine from Russian rule. A peculiar place of the described colours occupied among members of the Order of Iron Ostroga. She was is an organization formed in 1916 by members of the Legion, composed primarily of Ukrainian intelligence. In her coat of arms there are black spurs on a red background. The badges in these colors were worn on uniforms by members of the Order. Ukrainian poet Roman Kopczyński, who was besides a Legion soldier, described the usage of red and black in his poems.

After planet War I founders of the Order They played a immense function in sustaining the national spirit among Ukrainians. The Order of the Iron Ostrog itself ceased to exist, but its traditions continued by the flats. They were members of Plast — the National Scouting Organization of Ukraine, i.e. counterparts of Polish scouts. any Plast branches utilized the colors and symbols of the Order. These traditions have survived to this day despite prohibition their activities in the USSR, as well as in the area of Volyn (1928) and Galicia (1930) by the authorities of the Second Republic of Poland.

CNS Flags

Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists developed in 1929 in Vienna. Its intent was the creation of an independent Ukrainian state of authoritarian character. The management was ready to conduct cultural cleansing in Poles and Jews to "clean" the lands they considered ethnically Ukrainian. In the 1930s, the CNS organized many terrorist attacks on representatives of Polish power and sabotage actions. During this time use primarily the national flag (blue-yellow) and the blue banner with a trident, the central part of which was the sword (it was not officially approved until 1964).

Prior to and during the war, the CNS worked with the 3rd Reich. In 1940 in the organization occurred to the split. Stepan Bandera opposed commanding officer Andry Melnyk since 1938. As a result, 2 factions were formed: OUN-M and OUN-B (called revolutionary). The erstwhile remained in cooperation with Germany, while the latter, apart from occasional cases, resigned.

In order to separate from the melnikowców, OUN-B at the Krakow Assembly in April 1941 Accepted organizational flag and coat of arms in red-black colors. At the same time, the symbolism abandoned the usage of the trizub with the sword and returned to its first form. It is worth noting at this point that yellow and blue were inactive considered national colours. Red and black were revolutionary colors representing blood and earth. Flags in 1 and another colors were gladly utilized during patriotic manifestations during planet War II. More about the past and ideology of Ukrainian nationalists, as well as the character of Stepan Bandera can be read in 1 of our Articles.

Red-black colours in UPA

In October 1942, created Ukrainian Insurgency Army, OUN-B arm. It fought the Polish underground, Germany and the USSR. She committed many crimes on Poles, which sometimes besides touched Ukrainians themselves. From February 1943 to February 1944, UPA conducted genocide on the Polish nation in the Volyn region. During this period, between 50 and 100,000 people died.

UPA did not own its authoritative flag. The militants would love to. used from the national flag, however, the OUN-B colours occupied an crucial place. During the ceremony (e.g. swearing in to UPA), they utilized both 1 and the another flag at a time. Highlights given to militants usually have Red and black. These colours were besides utilized on postcards and another UPA graphic materials. They besides performed in many songs and poems of the Ukrainian nationalist underground.

After the war

After the war OUN and UPA survivors inactive patients guerrilla activity until the 1950s. Most Ukrainian nationalists have already been abroad, where there have been many divisions between them. Stepan Bandera himself with any of the members of the CNS-B conducted activities from the territory of Germany, with support from British intelligence. A russian agent managed to execution Bandera in 1959. The remains of nationalist organizations survived on emigration until 1991 and gained independency by Ukraine. Throughout this time they nursed the OUN symbolism, utilizing red and black colors in their activities.

In the pop culture consciousness of Ukrainians these colors There's been by the song “Two Colors” written in 1964. It was composed by Alexander Biłasz to the poem by Dmytra Pavlyczko. The song tells of a female whose way of life is accompanied by red and black. The first is to symbolize love and the second is to symbolize sadness. These colours were associated with childhood and conventional staples. russian censorship, seeing in these colors the link to the symbolism of the CNS, banned the song from being aired on the radio. Nevertheless, it accompanied another generations of Ukrainians.

Red and black colors modern

After Ukraine gained independency in 1991, many groups began to mention to the traditions of the Organizations of Ukrainian Nationalists and considered themselves its heirs. 1 of the first was founded in 1992 by returning from emigration members of the CNS-B Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists. It presents nationalist views and advocates a strong national state. The OUN and UPA traditions are besides referred to Right Sector. Although its members are a younger generation of Ukrainian nationalists and are not straight associated with the zoning of the CNS. They besides support cooperation with Poland.

Both parties mention to red-black symbolism, utilizing it in arms and organizational flags. At the same time, they form a tiny part of the Ukrainian political scene. no of them have their own. representatives in the ultimate Council of Ukraine. Another extremist party, the Ukrainian National Unity of Freedom, uses Ukrainian national colours, while recognizing UPA fighters and members of the CNS as Ukrainian national heroes.

For modern Ukrainians red-black flags are Above all, the symbol of revolutionary struggle. The colour red symbolizes the blood shed for freedom, and the black Ukrainian land for which heroes fight. As you can imagine, it has a peculiar effect now, during the Russian invasion.

Red and black colours can besides be found in many local symbols, not referring straight to Ukrainian nationalism. They show, for example, flag Ivanofranki Region.

Summary

The usage of red-black colours throughout Ukrainian past is simply a complex issue. They did not always have negative connotations. However, their usage by UPA fighters and members of the CNS-B is placed on them in a long shadow. Modern Ukrainians associate them mainly with the revolutionary conflict for independency of the country. However, many extremist organisations, although mostly of small importance, usage them while presenting racist and xenophobic views.

The usage of red-black flags as an appeal to the activities of organizations liable for mass crimes raises moral resistance. However, we leave the final evaluation as editors to our Readers. We hope that this article will let a better knowing of the full context and greater awareness of this issue. Finally, it is worth noting that looking at all place to advance the colours of the CNS/UPA is an act of absurdity. Finally, a combination of these colors can appear in various contexts. Adding them to the anti-Polish conspiracy fits into the widely distributed narratives of Russian propaganda.

Sources

Encyclopaedia PWN: https://encyclopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/cosacy-recorder;3926697.html

Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ilya-Yefimovich-Repin

Archives of Ukrainian Museum in Clevland: https://web.archive.org/web/20090324034224/http://www.umacleveland.org/embroidery.htm

Traditions.in.ua: https://traditions.in.ua/zvychai-ta-obriady/obriadova-symvolika/318-symvolika-coloriv-pysanky

Newspaper.ua: https://gaseta.ua/articles/history/_gejgu-gejga-chi-dijsno-chervonochornij-prapor-buv-oficijnim-praporom-un/586468?mobile=true

"Plast. Ukrainian Scouting, a Unique Story", author Orest Subtle: https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/24845/file.pdf

Історична правда: https://www.istpravda.com.ua/articles(2013)/10/18/138044/

== sync, corrected by elderman == https://jejeje.pl/updates/Ukrainian-nationalist organisation and https://jejeje.pl/updates/75-years-temu-en-upa-formation-which-allowed-mass-crime-on-fields

"The political thought of Ukrainian Nationalist Organizations in the second half of the 1930s in the light of fresh documents", author Marek Warzar: https://rcin.org.pl/Content/153574/WA303_186818_A453-SzDR-55-2_Wojnar.pdf

Songs.in.ua: https://songs.in.ua/dva-colyory/

Institute of past of Ukraine: http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN%3D&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Kun

Supreme Council of Ukraine: http://w1.c1.rada.gov.ua/pls/radan_gs09/ns_zal_frack

Fake Hunter: https://fakehunter.pap.pl/report/e2213689-674c-434b-b06e-cdabec9c0020

Ukrainian Heraldic Society: http://uht.org.ua/ua/part/territot/oblasti/#ifr

Photos

Вишивана Україна. Мапа вишита луганськими by Qypchak, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Прапор ОУН — синє прямокутне з емблемою емблемою ОУН. Використовувався 1930-х рр., остаточно затверджений V ВЗУН 1964 р. 1993 р зареєстрований зареєстрований Міністерстві by Alex Tora, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Євромайдан Києві 1 грудня 2013 року by Antanana, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Золотий хрест заслуги заслуги 1 класу by Pidpilnyk, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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