Tarnopol Voivodeship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Capital city | Tarnopol |
| Area | 16,500 km² |
| Population - Density |
1,600,406 97 p/km² |
| Powiats |
17 |
| Major towns |
Tarnopol, Brody Brzeżany, Buczacz, Czortków |
| Ethnical composition - Poles - Ukrainians - Jews |
789,114 (49.3%) 728,135 (45.5%) 78,932 (4.9%) |
| Dates of existence | 1920 to 1939 |
Tarnopol Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo tarnopolskie; Ukrainian: Тернопільське воєводство) was an administrative unit of interwar Poland (1918-1939). It ceased to exist in September of 1939, following German and Soviet aggression on Poland (see: Invasion of Poland).
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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), Brzezany (pop. 12,000) and Buczacz (pop. 11,000).
The Tarnopol Voivodeship also consisted of 17 powiats (counties):
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[edit] 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 sq. km.)
[edit] September 1939 and its aftermath
On September 17, 1939, following German aggression on Poland and Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Soviet forces 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.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- kresy.co.uk - History of Podolia and Tarnopol
- Genealogy of Halychyna/Eastern Galicia - Results of the 1931 census
[edit] References
- Maly rocznik statystyczny 1939, Nakladem Glownego Urzedu Statystycznego, Warszawa 1939 (Concise Statistical Year-Book of Poland, Warsaw 1939).
