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March of Ukrainian Nationalists
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Wikipedia article
The 'March of Ukrainian Nationalists' is a Ukrainian patriotic song that was originally the official anthem of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The song is also known by its first line "'We were born in a great hour'" . The song, written by to music by in 1929, was officially adopted by the leadership of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1932.[http://ua-orden.org/simvolika-ukra%D1%97nskix-nacionalistiv.html (Symbols of Ukrainian Nationalists)] [https://web.archive.org/web/20150225014911/http://ua-orden.org/simvolika-ukra%d1%97nskix-nacionalistiv.html Archived link] Article on the website of the Virtual Museum of Ukrainian Phaleristics The song is often referred to as a patriotic song from the times of the uprising,[http://umka.com/ukr/catalogue/songbooks-notes-poetry/za-volyu-ukrainy-insurgent-songs-notes-edition-the-second-supplemented-for-freedom-of-ukrain.html List of Uprising Songs] on umka.com and a Ukrainian folk song.[http://gwww.pisni.org.ua/songsfiles/64695.html (We were born in a great hour)] Entry at pisni.org It is still commonly performed today, especially at events honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army[http://zaxid.net/news/showNews.do?svyatkove_spivoche_diystvo_zrodilis_mi_velikoyi_godini_z_nagodi_70yi_richnitsi_stvorennya_upa&objectId=1267697 70- (Festive singing event "We were born in a great hour" on the 70th anniversary of the creation of UPA)] entry at news website Zaxid.net and by nationalist organizations and party meetings, such as those of VO Svoboda.[http://www.ukrnationalism.com/news/culture/294-zrodylys-my-velykoi-hodyny/294-zrodylys-my-velykoi-hodyny.html (We were born in a great hour...)] Entry at nationalist news website ukrnationalism.com
Background
as it appeared in 1919, stretching from the San river in present-day Poland to the Kuban region next to the Caucasus mountains in present-day Southern Russia (as referenced in the song).
In 1919 with the end of the PolishUkrainian War, which resulted in the takeover of western Ukraine by the Second Polish Republic, many former leaders of the Ukrainian republic were exiled.Christopher Gilley (2006). [http://www.kices.org/downloads/KICES_WP_04.pdf A Simple Question of 'Pragmatism'? Sovietophilism in the West Ukrainian Emigration in the 1920s] Working Paper: Koszalin Institute of Comparative European Studies pp.6-13 As Polish persecution of Ukrainians during the interwar period increased, many Ukrainians (particularly the youth, many of whom felt they had no future) lost faith in traditional legal approaches, in their elders, and in the western democracies who were seen as turning their backs on Ukraine. This period of disillusionment coincided with the increase in support for the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). By the beginning of the Second World War, the OUN was estimated to have 20,000 active members and many times that number in sympathizers.Orest Subtelny. (1988). 'Ukraine: A History.' Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp.441-446. The song was written in 1929 during the midst of these political events and adopted by the organization's leadership 3 years later.
The March of the Ukrainian Nationalists is written and performed as a military march and a call to arms. The first verse of the song refers to "the pain of losing Ukraine", referring to the short-lived independence of the Ukrainian National Republic from 1917-1921. The republic was divided up among the Soviet Union and the Second Polish Republic.Serhy Yekelchyk, [https://books.google.com/books?id=yZLtAAAAMAAJ&q=Ukraine:+Birth+of+a+Modern+Nation&dq=Ukraine:+Birth+of+a+Modern+Nation&hl=nl&sa=X&ei=45ebUcHUNKr20gX2s4HQAw&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA Ukraine: Birth of a Modern Nation], Oxford University Press (2007), The song also mentions a popular Ukrainian national motto, "A United Ukrainian state... from the San to the Caucasus".Kyrylo Halushko, [https://books.google.com/books?id=fko0CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT135&lpg=PT135&dq=%D0%A1%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0+%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B0+%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0+%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B4+%D0%A1%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%83+%D0%BF%D0%BE+%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7&source=bl&ots=Risnk4c97_&sig=5XjcAk0LzzC-Qg5A5G_9ll0hfpk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD6-PdtZTKAhUCx2MKHaMJDOgQ6AEILDAC#v=onepage&q=%D0%A1%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B0%20%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B6%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B0%20%D0%B2%D1%96%D0%B4%20%D0%A1%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%83%20%D0%BF%D0%BE%20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7&f=false Birth of a country. From a land to a state.], Family Leisure Club (2015) , This is in line with the Ukrainian irredentist concept of having Ukraine's western border start at the San river in modern-day in western Ukraine and southeastern Poland and its eastern border at the Caucasus Mountains in modern-day Southern Russia.
Lyrics
;Ukrainian lyrics
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;Ukrainian romanized lyrics
Zrodylys" my velykoyi hodyny,
Z pozhezh vijny i polumya vohniv.
Plekav nas bil" po vtrati Ukrayiny,
Kormiv nas hniv i zlist" na vorohiv.
I my ydemo v boyu zhyttyevomu,
Tverdi, micni, nezlamni mov hranit,
Bo plach ne dav svobody shhe nikomu,
A xto borec", toj zdobuvaye svit.
Ne xochemo ni slavy ni zaplaty.
Zaplata nam ce radist" v borot"bi!
Solodshe nam u boyu umyraty,
Yak zhyty v putax, mov nimi raby.
Dovoli nam, ruyiny i nez-hody,
Ne smiye brat na brata yty u biy!
Pid syn"o-zhovtym praporom svobody
Z'yednayem ves" velykyy narid sviy.
Velyku pravdu dlya usix yedynu,
Nash hordyj klych narodovi nese
Vitchyzni ty bud" virnyj do zahynu
Nam Ukrayina vyshhe ponad vse!
Vede nas v bij borciv upavshykh slava.
Dlya nas zakon najvyshhyj to nakaz:
Soborna Ukrayins"kaya derzhava
Vil"na j micna, vid Syanu po Kavkaz!
;English translation
We were born in a great hour,
From the fires of war, and the flames of gunshots,
We were nurtured by the pain of losing Ukraine,
We were fed by anger and malice to our enemies.
And here we walk in the battle of life -
Solid, durable, unbreakable, like granite,
For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet,
But whoever is a fighter, he conquers the world.
We want neither glory, nor payment.
Payment for us - is the luxury of fighting!
It is sweeter for us to die in battle,
Than to live in bondage, as mute slaves.
Enough of ruins and disagreements for us,
A brother will not dare to go to war against a brother!
Under the blue-yellow flag of freedom
We will unite all of our great people.
A united nation one for us all is that one truth
This is our proud call to all people:
Be faithful to your homeland until death,
For us, Ukraine is above all else!
The glory of fallen fighters leads us into battle,
And the highest order we shall fulfill:
For a "united Ukrainian nation -
Free and strong, from the San to the Caucasus"!
Modern song
The 'March of the New Army' is a modern adaptation of the song that is used as a Ukrainian military march as well as nationalist song. A modern text was adopted in 2017 at the initiative of Oleh Skrypka, lead singer of the Ukrainian rock band Vopli Vidopliassova. The new text honors the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who fought and died in the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone during the War in Donbass. According to Skrypka, the text was conceived while at the front in a volunteer unit.
The new march was presented for the first time in early 2017 on the eve of the Ukrainian Volunteer Day, and was performed by Skrypka in cooperation with the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On August 24, 2018, the modern version of the song was performed the first time at the Kyiv Independence Day Parade dedicated to the 27th anniversary of independence and the 100th anniversary of the UPR. In his opening address at the parade, President Petro Poroshenko sang an excerpt of the song, describing it as one that "symbolizes the inextricable bond between different generations of fighters for freedom of the homeland."
Modified Lyrics as performed by Vopli Vidopliassova
When this song was used at the 2018 Independence Day parade, an alternative final line (shown here in 'italics') was used.
'Ukrainian lyrics'
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'Ukrainian romanized lyrics'
Zrodylys" my velykoyi hodyny,
Z pozhezh vijny i polumya vohniv.
Plekav nas bil" za dolyu Ukrayiny,
Zrostyv nas hniv i lyut" na vorohiv.
My jdemo v bij peremozhnym xodom,
Tverdi, micni, nezlamni, mov hranit,
Bo plach ne dav nikomu shhe svobody,
Xto borec", toj zdobuvaye svit.
Velyku sut" dlya usix yedynu,
Nash hordyj klych narodovi nese
Vitchyzni bud" ty virnyj bez upynu
Nam Ukrayina vyshhe ponad vse!
Vede nas v bij heroyiv nashyx slava.
Dlya nas zakon najvyshhyj to nakaz:
Soborna Ukrayins"ka ye derzhava
Odna navik: vid Syanu po Kavkaz!
'English translation'
We were born in the great hour,
From the fires of war, and the flames of fire,
We were nurtured for the fate of Ukraine,
We arose with anger and rage against enemies.
We go into battle with a triumphant march,
Solid, strong, unbreakable, like granite,
For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet,
Whoever is a fighter, he gains the world.
The great essence for all is uniform,
Our proud call to the people brings:
"Be faithful without cease to the Fatherland,
For us, Ukraine is above all else"!
Glory of our heroes leads us to battle,
And this highest order we shall fulfil -
"For an independent Ukrainian nation
United forever, from the San to the Caucasus!"
Alternative lyrics
When this song was used at the 2018 Independence Day parade, slightly different lyrics were used.
'Ukrainian lyrics'
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'Ukrainian romanized lyrics'
Zrodylys" my velykoyi hodyny,
Z pozhezh vijny i polumya vohniv.
Plekav nas bil" za dolyu Ukrayiny,
Zrostyv nas hniv i lyut" na vorohiv.
My jdemo v bij peremozhnym xodom,
Tverdi, micni, nezlamni, mov hranit,
Bo plach ne dav nikomu shhe svobody,
A xto borec", toj zdobuvaye svit.
Velyku pravdu dlya usix yedynu,
Nash hordyj klych narodovi nese
Vitchyzni bud" ty virnyj do zahynu
Nam Ukrayina vyshhe ponad vse!
Vede nas v bij heroyiv nashyx slava.
Dlya nas zakon najvyshhyj to nakaz:
Soborna Ukrayins"ka ye derzhava
Odna navik: vona v sercyax u nas!
'English translation'
We were born in the great hour,
From the fires of war, and the flames of fire,
We were nurtured for the fate of Ukraine,
We arose with anger and rage against enemies.
We go into battle with a triumphant march,
Solid, strong, unbreakable, like granite,
For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet,
But whoever is a fighter, he gains the world.
The great truth for all is uniform,
Our proud call to the people brings:
"Be faithful to your Fatherland unto death,
For us, Ukraine is above all else"!
Glory of our heroes leads us to battle,
And this highest order we shall fulfil -
"For an independent Ukrainian nation
United forever, it is in our hearts!"
See also
*Oh the red viburnum in the meadow
*Prayer for Ukraine
*State Anthem of Ukraine
*Za Ukrainu
References
Category:Ukrainian songs
Category:Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists
Category:1929 songs
Category:Ukrainian folk songs
Category:Ukrainian patriotic songs
Category:March music
Category:Military marches
Category:Ukrainian-language songs
Category:Compositions in F minor
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