THE IMPACT OF WORLD WAR I ON DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES IN LVIV (JULY 1915 – OCTOBER 1918)

Abstract

This article is devoted to the analysis of the demographic situation in Lviv during the period of the restoration of Austro-Hungarian power (July 1915 – October 1918) during World War I. The study covers key demographic indicators: total population, birth rate, mortality rate and causes of death, as well as migration processes, in particular the movement of refugees. The chronological framework of the work is determined by the return of Austrian rule after the Russian occupation (1914–1915) and the end of the period with the November Uprising of 1918. The relevance of the topic lies in the need to understand the impact of military events on the demographic processes of the urban environment, which allows us to draw parallels with modern challenges caused by wars. Based on archival data, in particular materials from the State Archives of Lviv Oblast and the City Statistical Bureau, the dynamics of Lviv’s population were analyzed. In 1918, the city’s population was 187 431 people, which indicates a decrease compared to the pre-war period (212 030 people in 1914).Migration processes had a significant impact on demography: the mass outflow of residents during the Russian occupation, evacuation to the rear regions of Austria-Hungary, and the return of refugees after 1915. In 1915–1916, a significant number of resettlers returned to Lviv, which caused an overload of the city’s social infrastructure. The Brusilov Offensive of 1916–1917 exacerbated the migration crisis, forcing thousands of people to move to Lviv as a relatively safe rear center. The study also examined fertility and mortality rates. In 1915–1918, 10 423 children were born, but the high maternal mortality rate (2.8%) reflected the low level of medical care. The total mortality in the city was 18 530 cases, of which 10.8% were refugees. The main causes of death were epidemic diseases (smallpox, typhus, cholera), pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia and heart disease. In 1918, the birth rate was 15.66 per 1000 people, the death rate was 27.9 per 1000 people, which led to a negative natural increase (-2295 people).