Under Black Banners: A Lost Manuscript Rediscovered
Feodosiy Shchus and the Long Fight for Ukrainian Freedom
About the Book
In the chaos of revolution, one man's story illuminates a nation's struggle. Nikodym Pliczkowsky's long-lost manuscript, "Under Black Banners," resurfaces to challenge everything you thought you knew about Ukraine's fight for independence. Step into a time machine and witness the birth of a nation through the eyes of those who lived it. This isn't just another history book—it's a visceral journey into the heart of revolution.
- Eyewitness Account: Written by a man who survived the Ukrainian Revolution (1917-1922) , the Holodomor, and World War II.
- Unfiltered Narrative: Challenges both Soviet propaganda and Western misconceptions.
- Hidden Figures Revealed: Uncover the complex legacy of Feodosiy Shchus, the sailor-turned-revolutionary.
Why This Book Matters Now:
As Ukraine once again fights for its freedom, “Under Black Banners" offers crucial insights into the nation's enduring spirit and historical identity. This eyewitness account directly challenges Russia's current disinformation campaign, which falsely claims Ukraine didn't exist as a distinct entity in 1917. Pliczkowsky's vivid narrative proves that Ukrainian national awareness and identity were alive and thriving during the revolutionary period, counteracting attempts to erase Ukraine's historical legitimacy. The struggles of yesterday not only echo in today's headlines but provide a powerful rebuttal to those who would deny Ukraine's right to exist.
From the Editor:
My grandfather wrote "The Great Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1922 was a spontaneous phenomenon that caught Ukrainian political parties and the small conscious Ukrainian intelligentsia unprepared for the grand revolutionary events unfolding under the pressure of the masses.” But make no mistake—the Ukrainian people knew who they were. Outsiders didn't grant our identity; it was forged in the furnace of history, in the hearts and minds of ordinary Ukrainians fighting for their freedom. This book stands as testament to Ukraine’s long struggle for independence, a struggle that continues to this day. To understand Ukraine's present, one must confront its past—unvarnished, complex, and undeniably Ukrainian.
About the Author
Nikodym Pliczskowsky (1905-1992) was a remarkable individual whose life spanned some of the most tumultuous periods in Ukrainian history. Born in southern Ukraine to a family with Zaporizhian Cossack roots, Pliczskowsky's experiences provide a unique lens through which to view the 20th-century struggle for Ukrainian independence.
As a young boy, Pliczskowsky witnessed Ukraine's fight for sovereignty from 1917 to 1922, including the famous Battle of Dibrivka in his hometown. He survived the Holodomor, the man-made famine of the 1930s that claimed millions of Ukrainian lives. During World War II, he was conscripted into the Red Army, captured by German forces, and narrowly escaped death in the gulags by forging documents to make his way to Australia with his wife and daughter where he continued the struggle for Ukrainian independence.
Book Excerpt
Shchus: "But you don't understand, Natalka. You don’t know the Bolsheviks. They will never forgive us for daring to take up arms for our freedom! They will never forgive us for not wanting to go under their yoke. Sooner or later, they will destroy us if we lay down our arms. They will destroy everyone! They won't spare our women and children... they will drive everyone into the communes and starve them to death... I have no choice, Natalka! either we will win, or... or we will all perish! We will perish, as Shevchenko wrote: "You will perish, Ukraine, there will not even be a trace left on the earth"... remember, how we read this in the "Kobzar"?”
Sign Up for Launch
Be among the first to get your hands on this rediscovered historical treasure. Sign up now for exclusive updates and early access!
Sign Up for Launch
Historical Context
1917
Russian Empire collapses, Ukrainian People's Republic declared
1918-1921
Ukrainian War of Independence, Makhnovist movement gains strength
1922
Soviet Union formed, Ukraine becomes a Soviet republic
1932-1933
The Holodomor, a man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine, kills millions of Ukrainians.
1930s-1950s
Soviet repression intensifies, with mass arrests, executions, and deportations of Ukrainians.
2004
Orange Revolution: Ukrainians protest election fraud, leading to a rerun of the presidential election.
2013-2014
Maidan Revolution (Euromaidan): Protests against the government’s pro-Russian stance lead to the ousting of Kremlin-backed President Yanukovych.
2014
Russia invades and annexes Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, leading to ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.
2022 -
Russia invades Ukraine on a full scale, sparking international condemnation and fierce resistance from Ukrainians once again.
Get Your Copy and Support a Cause:
Every purchase of "Under Black Banners" supports humanitarian efforts in Ukraine through our charity OPT-www.passingthrough.net. Join us in preserving history and shaping the future.
Sign Up for LaunchThis book is dedicated to a beloved grandfather and author Nikodym Pliczskowsky and to all those who fight for freedom, truth and justice - past, present and future. All proceeds go to Ukraine aid.
About the Editor
Lara Gillespie, granddaughter of Nikodym Pliczskowsky, has taken on the monumental task of editing and publishing her grandfather's life's work. Growing up immersed in her grandfather's vivid tales of Ukraine, the characters of history and the struggles against Soviet oppression, Lara recognised the importance of preserving this history for future generations. She lived with the author in his last years and watched him typing this tale on his manual Ukrainian typewriter. He completed it before his death on 24th August, 1992 – the 1st anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The manuscript was lost and has been found again in recent years and now finally translated to English and able to be published. Having immersed herself in medical and humanitarian aid for Ukraine through her charity OPT, she realises more than ever the importance of this work and will be donating all the proceeds to Ukrainian aid.