From a Semi-Legal Group to an Anti-Czech Upspring. Few Notes on the Establishment and Existence of the "Carpathian Sich" between 1938 and 1939
Abstract
The present study examines the circumstances of the establishment of Ukrainian National Defence, later renamed as "Carpathian Sich". UNO was created in early September 1938 as a clandestine group organized by young Ukrainian radicals with links to the Ukrainian National Organisation and Henlein's movement related groups within the Czechoslovak Republic.
Thanks to the arrestet of one of UNO's leaders, Ivan Roháč, the Czechoslovak police obtained information about UNO already before the Munich Agreement. Nonethless, after the declaration of autonomy and victory of the Ukrainian political direction in Ruthenia, it was no longer possible to také any measures against this paramilitary organisation.
Thanks to its leadership, the "Carpathean Sich" operated as a UNO branch which was being trained by Galician emigrants in terrorist warfare methods. Its aktivity reached its peak on the night of March 13, 1939 when it executed a failed attempt at a coup under the direction of Nazi secret services.
Serval hours later, Ruthenia declared its independence and UNO became the core of the new country's army. Nonetheless, it was easily defeated by the Hungarians who executed hunderds of its members.
Ivan Rohač was executed in relation to his UNO activities in February 1942 in Kiev by the Nazis, with whom he had perviously cooperated.