Book Publishing Activities of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine in Europe (1914–1918)

The article analyzes the distinctive features of the book publishing activities of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine (ULU) during the First World War. These activities became possible due to financial support from Germany and Austria-Hungary, part of which was directed towards information and propaganda campaigns serving both the interests of the Central Powers and the promotion of the Ukrainian question in Europe. During the first three years of the war, the ULU implemented an extensive book publishing program that turned it into the leading Ukrainian publisher in Germany, Austria-Hungary, and several neutral countries. Books and brochures published by the ULU in European languages were distributed to state and university libraries, enabling foreign audiences to become acquainted with Ukrainian aspirations for statehood. The ULU also disseminated its publications among politicians and government officials in both the Central Powers and neutral states. A significant component of the ULU’s publishing policy was the production of political, historical, and literary books and brochures designed to replace Ukrainian prisoners of war’s “Little Russian” identity with a stronger sense of national consciousness and commitment to Ukrainian statehood. Distributed through camp libraries, Ukrainian books became an important instrument of cultural and national awakening. Their impact extended beyond prisoner-of-war camps, as they also reached Ukraine through various channels, contributing to the growth of national consciousness among young Ukrainians. This broad influence was closely related to the ULU’s publishing policy, which prioritized works with a Ukraine-centered character and a strong potential to promote the idea of Ukrainian independence. To reach diverse audiences, the ULU also developed a multilingual publishing program that incorporated 12 languages.