THE LIFE PATH OF IVAN CHERVAK («DNISTROVYI») - A KNIGHT OF THE SILVER CROSS OF MERIT OF THE UKRAINIAN INSURGENT ARMY

Abstract

The research deals with the life and military path of Ivan Chervak («Dnistrovyi») (1923–1953). He was a leading person of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists' Youth department in Stanislaviv region (now - Ivano-Frankivsk region), a political educator at the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA), one of the leaders of the OUN's armed underground in Zakerzonnia, the commander of a courier group that provided communication on the «Carpathians-Zakerzonnia–western zones of German occupation» line, and the Zolochiv district leader. By the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council's decision and the Main Team of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, I. Chervak was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit because of selfless work and struggle for the Ukrainian state. Particular attention is paid to forming the future leader's personality, family upbringing, and education. I. Chervak's administrative work​​in the OUN, UIA divisions, the OUN's armed underground, his career growth from an ordinary member to the head of one of the most important structural units of the Ukrainian liberation movement of 1940-1950 in Western Ukraine was analyzed. The author determined pseudonyms and cryptonyms used by I. Chervak, being in an illegal position and acting in the UIA ranks and the OUN underground, under which he was noted by the USLC, which he signed memoirs and journalistic articles. Activities of the Soviet repressive and punitive system to identify I. Chervak and attempt to liquidate him with agents and military-chekist operations were recreated. The last activities of the district leader and OUN battle groups that covered him have been revealed in detail, and the circumstances that led to his death together with the typist Stefaniia Virlyk («Kalyna») and the last battle of the Knight of the OUN and UIA. Keywords: Ivan Chervak, «Dnistrovyi», «Oles», Silver Cross of Merit of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Knight of the OUN and UIA, Zolochiv District of the OUN, Zakerzonnia, armed underground of the OUN.