Soviet propaganda narrative of German troops’ procurement activities in Ukraine (1918)
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Abstract
The purpose of the study is to determine how procurement measures by German troops in Ukraine during the
period of the Central Rada and the Hetmanate of Pavlo Skoropadsky are characterized in the works of Soviet historians.
The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time, within the framework of a special research, the question of the
assessment by Soviet historiography of the role of German troops in the procurement campaign in Ukraine (1918) has been
considered.
Conclusions. In 1918, Germany and Austria-Hungary sent their troops to Ukraine, satisfying the request of its government
for armed assistance against the Bolsheviks. While in Ukraine, the military aid forces also performed some non-combat
functions. In particular, they procured food (for their own needs and for export to their countries). During the procurement
process, excesses sometimes occurred. The military did not pay the owners of requisitioned property or paid little, or issued
incorrect receipts. Based on reports of such cases, Soviet historiography created the concept of “German plunderers”, claiming
that the troops of the Central Powers in 1918 subjected Ukraine to cruel devastation, completely ravaging the Ukrainian
countryside. The works of Soviet historians on the activities of German troops in Ukraine in 1918 were silent about the fact that
these cases were not the norm, but a violation, not the rule, but an exception, and significantly exaggerated their prevalence.
This simple and understandable point of view was actively instilled by propaganda throughout the Soviet period. In addition
to numerous publications on historical topics, it was presented in many other types of texts, for example, in the works of Soviet
writers.
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