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The political transformation of the [[Eastern Europe]] after 1918 was a direct result of the collapse of the [[German Second Empire]] and the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] during the last months of 1918, as well as due to the unsettled western borders of the ex-[[Russian Empire]] which collapsed in 1917 and which was the midst of revolution and civil war.  Most of the boundary changes in Eastern Europe after [[World War I]] resulted from decisions reached by the [[Triple Entente]] powers ([[Western Allied]] and Associated Powers during WWI) at the [[Paris Peace Conference]] that began in early 1919 resulting in five peace treaties, which were named after the castles outside Paris where they were finalized and signed.  

The political transformation of the [[Eastern Europe]] after 1918 was a direct result of the collapse of the [[German Second Empire]] and the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] during the last months of 1918, as well as due to the unsettled western borders of the ex-[[Russian Empire]] which collapsed in 1917 and which was the midst of revolution and civil war.  Most of the boundary changes in Eastern Europe after [[World War I]] resulted from decisions reached by the [[Triple Entente]] powers ([[Western Allied]] and Associated Powers during WWI) at the [[Paris Peace Conference]] that began in early 1919 resulting in five peace treaties, which were named after the castles outside Paris where they were finalized and signed.  

On November 1, 1918, when the rule of Austria-Hungary collapsed in the region of '''East Galicia''', Ukrainian political workers from '''West Galicia''' opposed Polish ambitions to unite the whole region of Galicia (Western and Eastern) into a new [[Second Polish Republic]], and organized a [[coup]]. Local Ukrainian [[nationalist]] leaders proclaimed the independence of the West Ukrainian National People’s Republic. Helped by Ukrainian national units, they succeeded in occupying Lvov and other cities in East Galicia. This new state claimed the whole of East Galicia (eastward from the San River with [[Lwów]]) to be Ukrainian followed by [[North Bukovina]] and [[Carpathian Rus']] (Ruthenia). However, these territorial claims immediately were challenged by local [[Pole]]s who fought to unite Galicia with the newly resurrected Polish state. Consequently, the result was a Polish-Ukrainian War that lasted from November 1918 until the summer of 1919, when the Galician-West Ukrainian [[military]] detachments were expelled from East Galicia which finally became a part of the interwar (1919-1939) Polish Second Republic.

On November 1, 1918, when the rule of Austria-Hungary collapsed in the region of [[East Galicia]], Ukrainian political workers from '''West Galicia''' opposed Polish ambitions to unite the whole region of Galicia (Western and Eastern) into a new [[Second Polish Republic]], and organized a [[coup]]. Local Ukrainian [[nationalist]] leaders proclaimed the independence of the West Ukrainian National People’s Republic. Helped by Ukrainian national units, they succeeded in occupying Lvov and other cities in East Galicia. This new state claimed the whole of East Galicia (eastward from the San River with [[Lwów]]) to be Ukrainian followed by [[North Bukovina]] and [[Carpathian Rus']] (Ruthenia). However, these territorial claims immediately were challenged by local [[Pole]]s who fought to unite Galicia with the newly resurrected Polish state. Consequently, the result was a Polish-Ukrainian War that lasted from November 1918 until the summer of 1919, when the Galician-West Ukrainian [[military]] detachments were expelled from East Galicia which finally became a part of the interwar (1919-1939) Polish Second Republic.

National workers of several [[ethnic]] groups within the [[Danube Monarchy]] had been preparing plans for the creation or re-establishment of their own (united) [[nation state|national states]] after the war. Polish politicians in Galicia wanted to include the whole of Galicia (Western and Eastern) into the united national state of the Polish people. However, the Ukrainian political workers from West Galicia opposed the Polish idea. On the night of November 1, 1918 the Ukrainians organized a [[coup]]. As a result, helped by Ukrainian national units, they succeeded in occupying [[Lvov]] and other cities in [[East Galicia]]. At the same time, they proclaimed the West Ukrainian People’s Republic as an independent Ukrainian state. The Poles of Lvov, being a majority of the city, were taken by surprise and organized a military defense (including schoolchildren) and soon expelled Ukrainian forces from the biggest part of the city. Nevertheless, in other cities of East Galicia, the Ukrainians had the greatest success, except in the city of Przemyśl/Peremyshl. Polish troops made advances in other cities in the western portions of East Galicia but failed in several attempts to resolve this Polish-Ukrainian conflict by [[arbitration]]. Before Poland proclaimed its own independence on November 11, 1918, the war between Polish and Ukrainian forces already was going on over East Galicia and its most important city – Lvov.

National workers of several [[ethnic]] groups within the [[Danube Monarchy]] had been preparing plans for the creation or re-establishment of their own (united) [[nation state|national states]] after the war. Polish politicians in Galicia wanted to include the whole of Galicia (Western and Eastern) into the united national state of the Polish people. However, the Ukrainian political workers from West Galicia opposed the Polish idea. On the night of November 1, 1918 the Ukrainians organized a [[coup]]. As a result, helped by Ukrainian national units, they succeeded in occupying [[Lvov]] and other cities in East Galicia. At the same time, they proclaimed the West Ukrainian People’s Republic as an independent Ukrainian state. The Poles of Lvov, being a majority of the city, were taken by surprise and organized a military defense (including schoolchildren) and soon expelled Ukrainian forces from the biggest part of the city. Nevertheless, in other cities of East Galicia, the Ukrainians had the greatest success, except in the city of Przemyśl/Peremyshl. Polish troops made advances in other cities in the western portions of East Galicia but failed in several attempts to resolve this Polish-Ukrainian conflict by [[arbitration]]. Before Poland proclaimed its own independence on November 11, 1918, the war between Polish and Ukrainian forces already was going on over East Galicia and its most important city – Lvov.

The Polish armed forces expelled the Ukrainian [[military]] from Lvov on November 22, 1918. However, Lvov was under siege by the Ukrainian military until April 1919 (five months). Nonetheless, immediately after the Ukrainian forces were driven away from Lvov, the [[pogrom]]s against the [[Jews]] occurred in which up to 80 people died. The local Poles accused the Jews of supporting the Ukrainian side regarding the destiny of Lvov. Especially, the Jewish paramilitary units being armed by the Ukrainian side were accused by the Poles of anti-Polish policy in the city.

The Polish armed forces expelled the Ukrainian [[military]] from Lvov on November 22, 1918. However, Lvov was under siege by the Ukrainian military until April 1919 (five months). Nonetheless, immediately after the Ukrainian forces were driven away from Lvov, the [[pogrom]]s against the [[Jews]] occurred in which up to 80 people died. The local Poles accused the Jews of supporting the Ukrainian side regarding the destiny of Lvov. Especially, the Jewish paramilitary units being armed by the Ukrainian side were accused by the Poles of anti-Polish policy in the city.