Karmaniuk, Oleksa

V novyi "rai": Trahikomediia na 3 dii [To a New "Paradise": A Tragicomedy in Three Acts]

Kalisz: Chornomor, 1923. Publisher's wrappers. Item #733

This miniature book measures 14.5 x 8.5 cm, comprising 33 pages with original publisher's wrappers. The text is in Ukrainian, and it was published in the internment camp for the UNR Army soldiers in Kalisz, Poland.

Scarce; as of January 2024, there are no institutional records of the book in the OCLC database.

In late 1919, following the collapse of the Ukrainian front, the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) Army was initially interned in Poland in Łańcut after organizing six Rifle divisions. After the UNR Army's defeat in late 1920 and its entry into Polish territory, approximately 20,000 soldiers were placed in several internment camps, including Kalisz. In mid-1921, the internees were moved from Łańcut to Strzałkowo, and by the end of 1921, from Aleksandrów to Szczypiorno, along with some being transferred to the neighboring Kalisz. These internment camps continued to operate until their final closure in the mid-1924.

The internment camps fostered a vibrant cultural and educational environment, offering courses for the illiterate, professional training, various schools including a high school in Kalisz, folk universities in Łańcut and Strzałkowo, galleries, theatrical groups, and other cultural and educational initiatives. These efforts also gave rise to publications that showcased both artistic and religious aspects of life.

Under the leadership of the internment camp authorities, primarily under Ukrainian control and linked to the UNR government in exile, there was a focus on military education and the development of non-commissioned officers. Notably, the internment camps in Kalisz and Szczypiorno, after Warsaw, became significant centers of Ukrainian emigration life in Poland. Over time, the number of soldiers in these camps declined as many departed for Czechoslovakia, especially for university studies, or to France for labor opportunities, among other destinations. Following the closure of the internment camps, former soldiers transitioned into the status of political emigrants within Poland.

Price: $250.00