Ukrainization in Kuban in the 1920s and 1930s: legitimation and delegitimation through the prism of historical memory

Abstract

The processes of revival of Ukrainian culture and education which unfolded among the Ukrainian population of the North Caucasus (mainly - of Kuban) in the 1920s and 1930s have been examined in the article. The scientific novelty and relevance of the study are due to the fact that, for the first time, the author has attempted to reveal the preconditions, circumstances, course and consequences of national and cultural development of the Ukrainian population in Kuban in 1920-1933 on the basis of available sources and analysis of existing literature. The reasons for this development and the structures that provided it both at the level of spontaneous initiative of local Ukrainians and due to the influence of certain official events and institutions have been highlighted in the article. Particular attention is paid to the dynamics of providing for the needs of Ukrainians in Kuban both in education in their native language and other national and cultural needs. The processes and mechanisms of transition of schools of all levels in Kuban to the Ukrainian language, creation and activity of Ukrainian-language publishing houses, theatrical, literary and musical associations have been considered. In the early 1930s, these rather large processes began to be held back by the central government. They were completely stopped at the beginning of 1933, which was accompanied by the Holodomor, the physical elimination of many Ukrainians in Kuban and assimilation de-Ukrainization processes. The reasons for this anti-Ukrainian policy and its consequences have also been considered in this article.