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Michael BaranUkrainian socio-political and military figure
Date of Birth: 20.10.1884
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Political and Revolutionary Activities
- Military Career
- Communist Leadership
- Political Career in the Soviet Union
- Repression and Rehabilitation
Early Life and Education
Bohdan Baran was born in 1889 in Western Ukraine. He graduated from the Ternopil Gymnasium, the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of Chernivtsi University, and the one-year courses of the Lviv Commercial Academy.
Political and Revolutionary Activities
In 1903, Baran joined the Ukrainian Social Democratic Party. With the outbreak of World War I, he volunteered for the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen in August 1914. By September 1914, he commanded a company in battles on the Russian front. However, in late December 1914, he was captured near the village of Gutari and taken to Russia.
Military Career
After the February Revolution of 1917, Baran joined the ranks of the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). In 1918, he organized partisan detachments in the "neutral zone" to fight against the Austro-German occupiers. He later became one of the organizers and first commanders of the Tarashchansky Regiment in the newly formed Ukrainian Soviet Army.
Communist Leadership
Baran co-founded the Communist Party of Eastern Galicia (CPG) in 1919. When the Ukrainian Galician Army sided with the Soviets in February 1920, Baran was appointed commander of the first brigade of the Red Ukrainian Galician Army. He participated in battles on the Polish front until the brigade ceased to exist in April 1920. Baran then returned to the 1st Regiment of the 44th Division.
Political Career in the Soviet Union
In July 1920, Baran became Deputy Chairman of the Galician Revolutionary Committee. He also served on the Politburo of the CPG. Baran authored and edited declarations, decrees, and other legislative acts. Subsequently, he held party and administrative positions, including rector of the Kiev Institute of National Economy and professor at the Kiev Medical Institute.
Repression and Rehabilitation
In 1933, Baran was repressed and executed in 1937 by the NKVD. He was posthumously rehabilitated in 1956.
