Eastern Galicia

Eastern Galicia (Ukrainian: Східна Галичина, romanized: Skhidna Halychyna; Polish: Galicja Wschodnia; German: Ostgalizien) is a geographical region in Western Ukraine (present day oblasts of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil), having also essential historic importance in Poland.

The predominantly Polish population of Lviv (Lwów, Lemberg) resisted, which led to the Polish-Ukrainian War during which the Poles took control of all of Galicia.

In a pact with Poland, Symon Petliura, leader of the Ukrainian People's Republic ceded Eastern Galicia in exchange for help against the Soviets.

[5][6] The Ukrainians of the former Eastern Galicia and the neighbouring province of Volhynia made up about 12% of the population of the Second Polish Republic and were its largest minority.

[7] Western Galicia, to the San river, was called Western Lesser Poland, while Eastern Galicia, east of the San, with the city of Lwów (Lviv), was called Eastern Lesser Poland (Polish: Małopolska Wschodnia) and included voivodeships of Tarnopol, Stanisławów, and Lwów).

The name Galicia, or Halychyna in Ukrainian, is derived from the city of Halych (Latin Galic)[citation needed] which was the first capital of the Galician principality.

Western and Eastern Galicia in the late 20th century (German-language map)
A map of Galicia with historical borders. Eastern Lesser Poland is a combination of all shades of green, Eastern Galicia is designated by two lighter shades of green