MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE GALICIAN AND BUKOVINIAN LANDS: AUGUST 1914 – APRIL 1915

The plans of the Central Powers and Russia regarding the Galician and Bukovinian lands are revealed, with particular attention to their place and role in the military battles between Austro-Hungarian-German and Russian forces during the first year of the Great War. Emphasis is placed on the quantitative and qualitative composition of the opposing armies, their technical equipment, and the density of troops along the front lines. Their military structures are examined, as well as their strategic plans for defeating each other. Special attention is given to the ideological justification used by the Russians for the war, particularly the claim that Ukrainian territories and Ukrainians belonged to the «Russian land and people», which underpinned their self-proclaimed «liberation mission». The course of military operations during the early stage of the war is outlined, highlighting several combat operations in Western Ukrainian territories, most notably the largest and bloodiest – the Battle of Galicia. As a result of this and other battles, Russian troops occupied Eastern Galicia and encircled the strongest fortress in Europe – the Przemyśl Fortress. The Russian army made significant advances along various directions of the Southwestern Front, reaching the Carpathian passes and threatening Hungary, Western Galicia (including Krakow), and German Silesia. With the occupation of Galicia and Bukovyna, the Russian government considered these lands its own. Attention is drawn to the massive losses and exhaustion of the enemy forces, which required a pause in combat. Therefore, after taking the Carpathian passes in December 1914, the war in Galicia temporarily shifted from maneuver warfare to positional warfare. Hostilities resumed in January 1915 between the Russian and Austro-Hungarian armies in the Carpathians. The author noted that the First Carpathian Battle did not yield a decisive outcome for either side. The April (or «Easter») battles were among the bloodiest and most brutal of the war, marking the final phase of the winter campaign, after which the front stabilized. While isolated skirmishes continued in the Carpathians, they represented a deceptive lull before the Battle of Gorlice. Special attention is given to the participation of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen on the side of Austria-Hungary. Their battles in the Galician foothills and the Carpathian passes are emphasized, highlighting their heroism in defending their native land. Keywords: Great War, Austro-Hungarian forces, Russian army, military operations, Carpathian battles, Ukrainian territories, Sich Riflemen.