The Carpathian Slav peoples (1) were conquered by the Hungarians in the 11th
century and fully integrated into their kingdom, never enjoying any kind of
autonomy or never forming a separate administrative unit. (2)(1) Selfstyled Rusyn, but in this period mostly known as Ruthenians (and
also as Carpatho-Ukrainians, Rusnak, ...). Related groups included the
Hutsul (in Eastern Subcarpathia) and the Lemko (in Galicia-Lodomeria,
later Poland).
(2) Subcarpathia was part of the region known as Feldivék (Upper Hungary)
which also included Slovakia.
In 1918, at the end of Habsburg rule in Hungary, it was divided
into the following Hungarian counties (Megye) :
- Bereg (Rus.: Berehovo)
- Mármaros (Rus.: Marmaros)
- Ugocsa (Rus.: Sevlu)
- Ung (Rus.: U)
Chronology 1918 - 1920
1918
Nov 08 : A Ruthenian National Coucncil was established at Lyubovna. On nov
19 it moved to Priaiv (Slov.: Preov) (3).
Nov 09 : A rival Ruthenian Council in Hungary - aiming at autonomy within
Hungary - was set up in Uhorod.
Dec 25 : Negociations between this council and the Hungarians resulted in the
establishment of an autonomous region of Russka Kraina, encompasing
the parts of the above listed Megye inhabited by Rusyn.
1919
Jan : Czechoslovakia started occupying Subcarpathia.
After an allied intervention the territory was temporarily divided
into two zones : Western Subcarpathia became Czech, while Eastern
Subcarpathia remained Hungarian (jan 12).
Jan 09 : The Hutsul in Eastern Subcarpathia, in revolt against Hungary since
nov 1918, formally proclaimed an independent Hutsul Republic.
Jan 17 : West Ukrainian troops invaded Subcarpathia. They were driven out on
jan 21, but not before having established a third Rusyn council, the
Carpatho-Ukrainian National Council - claiming reunion with Ukraine
- at Khust.
Apr 19 : Romanian troops started occupying the eastern Hungarian zone.
Apr 27 : Czech troops started occupying the western Hungarian zone.
May 09 : A Ruthenian Central National Council - claiming to represent all the
previous councils - was set up at Uhorod. On may 22 it formally
accepted the union with Czechoslovakia. (4)(3) The Ruthenian National Council at first briefly cooperated with the
Lemko of Poland in their attempt to establish an independent Rusyn-
Lemko Republic.
Later it joined the Rusyn movement advocating an union with the new
Czechoslovak State.
(4) The union was based on the agreement (granting Subcarpathia autonomy
within the future Czechoslovak State) concluded in 1918 between the
leaders of the Rusyn diaspora and the Czechoslovak leaders in exile.
The new situation was formalized by the Treaties of Saint-Germain-
en-Laye with Austria (1919) and of Trianon with Hungary (1920)
As to the Romanians, they terminated the Hutsul Republic in jun 1919
and remained in the region until jul 1920.
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ADMINISTRATORS IN SUBCARPATHIA 1918 - 1920
RUSYN LEADERSChairmen of the Ruthenian National Council (in Lyubovna and Priaiv)
1918 Emylyan Nevycky
1918 - 1919 Antonin Beskyd 1855 - 1933
Chairman of the Ruthenian Council in Hungary (in Uhorod)
1918 - 1919 Simont Szabó
Chairman of the Carpatho-Ukrainian Council (in Khust)
1919 ...
President of the Hutsul Republic
1919 Stepan Klyuchurak, leader of
the revolt since 1918 1895 - 1980
HUNGARIAN ADMINISTRATORS OF THE RUSSKA KRAINAHungarian Ministers in charge of SubcarpathiaMinister for the Russka Kraina
1918 - 1919 Oreszt Szabó 1867 - 193.
People's Commissar for Ruthenian Affairs
1919 Ágoston Stefán 1877 - 1944
Governors
1919 Ágoston Stefán s.a.
1919 ...
COMMANDERS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF THE CHECHOSLOVAK ZONECommanders of the Czechoslovak Troops operating in SubcarpathiaCommander of the Czechoslovak Troops operating East of the Morava river
1918 - 1919 Gen. Luigi Giuseppe Picione
Commanders of the Eastern Army Group
1919 Gen. Edmond Charles Adolphe
Hennocque 1860 - 1933
1919 - 1920 Gen. Marie Constantin Robert
Paris
Chairman of the Ruthenian Central National Council
1919 Avhustyn Ivanovych Voloyn 1874 - 1945
Chairman of the Provisional Directorate
1919 - 1920 Hrihori Innatii Zhatkovych 1886 - 1967
CZECHOSLOVAK SUBCARPATHIA
CZECHOSLOVAK SUBCARPATHIAN RUS 1920 - 1938
In 1920 Czechoslovak Subcarpathia - sryled Subcarpathian Rus - was formally
granted internal autonomy. (5)
(5) In practice the autonomy statute was never fully brought into effect
and in 1928 the region actually became a Czechoslovak Land, enjoying
only some administrative selfgovernment.
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CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS
Governors
The (Rusyn) Governor never had much power and after 1928 it actually became
a purely honorific title.
Real power was vested in the hands of the (Czech) Vice Governor, who in 1933
assumed the style of Head of the Political Administration.
1920 - 1921 Hrihori Ihnatii Zhatkovych s.a.
1921 - 1924 none
1924 - 1933 Antonin Beskyd s.a.
1933 - 1935 none
1935 - 1938 Konstantin Hrabar 1877 - 1938
Vice Governors and Heads of the Civil Administration
1920 - 1924 P. Ehrenfeld
1924 - 1933 A. Rozsypal
Head of the Political Administration
1933 - 1938 A. Rozsypal s.a.
AUTONOMOUS CARPATHO - UKRAINE
In 1938 Subcarpathian Rus became an autonomous part of Czechoslovakia. At the
same time it was formally renamed Carpatho-Ukraine. (6)
(6) Also at the same time the southern parts of the region had to be
ceded to Hungary.
On mar 06 1939, in an attempt to restore its authority over the
regional authorities, the central government imposed military rule.
Military Governor
(exact style not known)
1939 Gen. Lev Prchala, Commander of the
Bratislava Military District, also
appointed Minister of Home Affairs
and of Finance 1892 - 1963
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CZECHOSLOVAK MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF SUBCARPATHIAN AFFAIRS
Chairmen of the Council of Ministers
1938 Andrij Brodý 1895 - 1946
1938 - 1939 Avhustyn Ivanovych Voloyn s.a.
Ministers of Home Affairs
1938 Edmund Batsynsky
1938 - 1939 Yulian Révaý 1899 - 1979
1939 Gen. Lev Prchala (7) s.a.
Minister of Justice
1938 Ivan Pyeshchak
1938 - 1939 none
Ministers of Finance
1938 none
1938 Avhustyn Ivanovych Voloyn
1938 - 1939 none
1939 Gen. Lev Prchala s.a.
(7) Not recognized by the Carpatho-Ukrainian leaders who continued to
consider Revaý as minister.
REPUBLIC CARPATHO - UKRAINE
On mar 14 1939 Carpatho-Ukraine became an independent Republic.
____________________________________________________________________________
HEAD OF STATE
Acting Head of State
1939 Avgystyn Ivanovych Voloyn s.a.
President
1939 Avgystyn Ivanovych Voloyn s.a.
_____________________________________________________________________________
MINISTERS
Prime Ministers
1939 the President
1939 Yulian Révaý s.a.
Ministers of Defence
1939 none
1939 Stepan Klyuchurak s.a.
Ministers of Home Affairs
1939 Yyulan Révaý s.a.
1939 Yuriy Perevuznyk
On mar 15, one day after the proclamation of independence, Hungarian troops
occupied the country (8) which was later annexed to Hungary.
In 1944 Carpatho-Ukraine was occupied by Soviet troops and soon afterwards
it was returned to Czechoslovakia.
(8) Révaý and his government resisted until mar 16.
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