Tarnopol Voivodeship

Tarnopol Voivodeship ( _pl. Województwo tarnopolskie; _uk. Тернопільське воєводство) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). It ceased to exist in September 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Invasion of Poland).

Demographics

Its capital was Tarnopol (now "Ternopil" in Ukraine). In 1921, it was inhabited by 1,428,520 people, and the population density was 88 persons per km². Half of the population was Polish, around 45% Ukrainians, and Jews (mainly in towns) made around 5%. In 1931 the population grew to 1,600,400 and the density to 97 persons per sq. km.

Religion: 60% Greek Catholic, 31% Roman Catholic, 9% Jewish.

Geography

The Voivodeship's area was 16 533 square kilometers. It was located in south-eastern corner of Poland, bordering Soviet Union to the east, Lwów Voivodeship and Stanisławów Voivodeship to the west, Romania to the south and Volhynian Voivodeship to the north. The landscape was hilly, with the Podole upland covering large part of the Voivodeship. In the north-west there is the Gologory range, with the Kamula (473 meters above sea level) as the highest peak (however, the Kamula was located some 5 kilometers behind the Voivodeship's borderline, in the Lwów Voivodeship). South of the Voivodeship was known for its wineries and peach orchards.

The Dniester and the Seret were the main rivers. Border with the Soviet Union was marked by the Zbrucz river, along its whole course. Border of the Voivodeship (and at the same time - of Poland) with Romania was marked by the Dniester. The south-easternmost place was the famous Polish stronghold Okopy Swietej Trojcy (Ramparts of the Hole Trinity), which for some time was protecting Poland from the invasions of the Turks and the Tartars.

Administrative subdivisions

The Tarnopol Voivodeship consisted of 17 powiats (counties), 35 towns and 1087 villages. Its capital was also its largest city, with population of some 34,000 (as for 1931). Other important municipal centers of the voivodeship were: Czortkow (pop. 19,000), Brody (pop. 16,400), Zloczow (pop. 13,000), Brzeżany (pop. 12,000) and Buczacz (pop. 11,000).

The Tarnopol Voivodeship consisted of 17 powiats (counties):

Railroads and industry

Tarnopol Voivodeship was located in the so-called Poland "B", which meant that it was underdeveloped, with scarce industry. However, agricultural production was good, due to moderate climate and rich, fertile black soil common in these areas of Europe. Southern part was popular among tourists, with the main center in Zaleszczyki - a border-town, located on the Dniestr, where one could spot unique in Poland grapewines. Railroad network was better developed in the south, with numerous local connections. Major rail junctions were: Tarnopol, Krasne, Kopczynce. On January 1, 1938, total length of railroads within Voivodeship's boundaries was 931 kilometers (5.6 km. per 100 km²)

Voivodes

*Karol Olpiński 23 April 1921 – 23 January 1923
*Lucjan Zawistowski 24 February 1923 – 16 February 1927
*Mikołaj Kwaśniewski 16 February 1927 – 28 November 1928 (acting till 28 December 1927)
*Kazimierz Moszyński 28 November 1928 – 10 October 1933
*Artur Maruszewski 21 October 1933 – 15 January 1935 (acting till 6 March 1934)
*Kazimierz Gintowt-Dziewiałtowski 19 January 1935 – 15 July 1936 (acting )
*Alfred Biłyk 15 July 1936 – 16 April 1937
*Tomasz Malicki 16 April 1937 – 17 September 1939

eptember 1939 and its aftermath

On September 17, 1939, following German aggression on Poland (see: Polish September Campaign) and Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Soviet forces, allied with Nazi Germany, invaded eastern Poland. As bulk of Polish Army was concentrated in the west, fighting Germans, the Soviets met with little resistance and their troops quickly moved westwards. Tarnopol was occupied as early as September 18, withouth any real opposition from the Poles.

Later, Voivodeship's area was incorporated into Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Now, it belongs to Ukraine, the region is mostly covered by Ternopil Oblast.

ee also

* Podolia

External links

* [http://www.kresy.co.uk/podole.html kresy.co.uk] - History of Podolia and Tarnopol
* [http://www.halgal.com/1931popbylang.html Genealogy of Halychyna/Eastern Galicia] - Results of the 1931 census

References

* Maly rocznik statystyczny 1939, Nakladem Glownego Urzedu Statystycznego, Warszawa 1939 (Concise Statistical Year-Book of Poland, Warsaw 1939).