It was the third most important settlement for the Polish people, as it was considered the center of production of many minerals, including gas, oil and coal in abundance in this area. In Lviv lived a famous scientist who learned how to make kerosene from oil - Ignacy Lukasiewicz.
For five centuries the city has changed its belonging to this or that state several times. In the 14th century it belonged to Poland, and in the 18th century it belonged to Austria. At the beginning of the 20th century, many countries were interested in Lviv.
At first it was considered a Polish territory, then under the "Kerzon line" agreement the settlement was to pass into the possession of the USSR, but it still remained under the control of the Poles, as the Soviet troops were unable to capture it and were forced to retreat a considerable distance from it.
These events took place in 1919-1921 during the Soviet-Polish military confrontation. Its outcome was the drawing of the border between Poland and Ukraine with Belarus without regard to the interests of the Soviet republic.
Later, Germany became interested in Lviv and suggested that the Soviet leadership divide the territory of Poland in the reorganization of certain border areas. This provision was reflected in the attached papers to the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact.
At that time the Germans wanted to take control of the designated area, which had large oil reserves. They were not going to give L'viv simply to the Soviet Union and decided to draw their borders in the immediate vicinity of the city.
At the same time, the Soviet government, led by Voroshilov, asked its allies (Britain and France) to press Romania and Poland to create passageways for the Red Army to move quickly through their territory. The Allies would not do this because they were sure that these countries would turn to the USSR for help themselves if Hitler attacked them.
Voroshilov said during the negotiations that they might not ask for help. To which British Admiral Drax gave him the answer that if they did not, Poland would become a German colony, and then the Soviet Union would decide what to do with the Poles.
The Nazis then attacked Poland and thereby unleashed World War II. After twelve days, the Nazi army approached Lviv and began to besiege it. The Red Army did not hesitate long and moved to defend the brotherly peoples of the Western Ukrainians and Belarusians and for this purpose from the east began its offensive on the territory of Poland. The Polish army was not to interfere with the Soviet forces in their military operation.
At the same time, the Polish leadership, led by Moscicki, flees to Romania and, later, to France. From a distance, the Poles will no longer be commanded by the fleeing president, but by Raczkiewicz and General Sikorski.
The situation around Lvov is quite tense. Stalin wanted the Germans to move their troops away from the city. If they did not, he warned them that Soviet aviation would begin bombing these units.
On September 19, the Red Army entered Lvov and was almost immediately attacked by the Germans. It turned out that the Poles had long ago imposed a defense on the Germans, and here the Soviets wedged themselves into the middle. The Russians were forced to respond to the Nazis.
As a result of the Soviet-Polish battle against the Nazis, three anti-tank installations were destroyed, three Germans were killed and nine wounded, and two armored vehicles and one tank were captured. The Russians lost three men and wounded four soldiers. Incidentally, Soviet and German pilots were also in the air at that time.
After that, urgent negotiations were held between the Soviet Union and Germany. Their result was the accession of Lviv to the Soviet Ukraine and the signing of an agreement of friendship between the two countries.
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