Viktor Kurmanovych

Who was Viktor Kurmanovych?

Viktor Kurmanovych was a Ukrainian politician and military leader.

Kurmanovych was born into a family of the Greek Catholic priest in the village of Vilshanytsia in Galicia. After the local elementary school he was enrolled into the Infanteriekadettenschule Lobzow. Upon graduating from the cadet school Kurmanovych studied at the Austrian Military Academy in Vienna which he finished in 1912. His first assignment was in the Headquarters of General Staff of the Austrian Army where he served in the department of intelligence. In 1914 Kurmanovych was caught by the Russian operatives for spying and imprisoned. Soon in 1915 he was exchanged for some Russian officer and commissioned some Austrian units on the Italy and Bokovyna front-lines until 1918. With the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Kurmanovych pledged his allegiance to the government of West Ukraine.

Kurmanovych was appointed the commander of the Zhovkva Group of Halych Army and later the Southern Group. After a short while he was included to the Supreme Command of HA and promoted to colonel. Kurmanovych served as the Chief of Staff from February 13 - June 7, 1919 simultaneously performing duties of a State Secretary.