The Ukrainian scientific center in Prague was the main representative of Ukrainian science and education in Europe from 1921 until 1945. In time of Soviet occupation of Ukraine Prague became the only possible city for free investigations in history, ethnology, language, law, economics, politics and other sciences. This center was fully recognized as the Ukrainian Free University that provided educational and scientific work. A lot of Ukrainian scholars came to the university from USSR as well as European countries. Unlike other Ukrainian cultural and scientific centers, it was one of a few in educational sphere. The timeline of the article lies in distinguishing changes for the Ukrainian Free University after Soviet occupation, supposing the idea of moving to another country. It is described the University had a long history and could not be closed. Having got the support of President Tomas Masaryk the university left for Prague from Vienna. For almost 25 years the university had been the main scientific and educational center of Ukrainians in Europe and passed through different periods in its history. Together with the Museum of National Struggle for Liberation, the Ukrainian Technical Husbandry Institute and other scientific organizations the university could represent Ukrainian science and culture abroad. The novelty of the article lies in chronological changes for the university showing how the situation changed when Prague was occupied by the Soviet Army and was involved into soviet military repressions. Results prove that none of the institutions was not left for another country and continued working till Soviet occupation. The other problem can be found in the article lies in realizing how some of the institutions could work in Bavaria. It is proved staying in cities was dangerous and some of scholars decided to move to any other country. After the decision of the Senate the university continued working in Prague. All the property of the university, a lot of librarian and archive materials were taken to the Soviet Union. The professors who stayed in Prague were arrested and imprisoned in the Soviet Union. Bavaria could be reached by some professors who intended to leave the city. These professors began to find the university in no connection to the administration in Prague.
Source: Kokosh A. (2022). Ukrainian Scientific Centre in Prague within Soviet Occupation in Spring 1945. Scientific and Theoretical Almanac Grani. 25(5): 23-26
Source web-site: https://grani.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/1800/1768
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