West Ukrainian People's Republic

There is a fascinating Wikipedia page about the history of the West Ukrainian People's Republic. The West Ukarianian People's Republic, aka the ZUNR, held power for only eight months. But the wiki acts as an explainer of the governance in the region where my Grandfather Hinko's family resided, more so than other documents I've read. I recommend reading this page and exploring the links. 

The Poles, not accepting the ZUNR governing body, began an uprising. Their actions encompassed not only Lviv, but other cities including Przemyśl. Przemyśl is a city near Dobra, Sanok County, Poland, the rural village where my grandfather lived. Geographically, Dobra is located 61 km from Przemyśl and 12 km from Sanok.

When family members ask why Grandpa John and Grandma Sabina Hinko's marriage certificate lists their country of origin as Austria, I tell them it's complicated. But this Wikipedia page goes a long way to explaining how a village of Ukrainian people was affected by the dissolution of the Austrian empire and eventually became part of Poland.

It surprised me to read that, according to the 1910 Austrian census, Lviv's population was 49.4% Polish and 19.9% Ukrainian. But it demonstrates why this region, known as Galicia, so closely ties together the Polish and Ukrainian people.

Coat of Arms of the West Ukrainian People's Republic