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Polish History
POLAND IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: From the Succession Crisis of 1918 to the Present Day
View attachment 485445
Flag of the Republic of Poland, adopted in 1973.
Poland has had a long, violent history, full of brief rises and crashing falls. This culminated with the Third partition of Poland in 1794. the country ceased to exist for more than a century.
But then, the Great war shattered the status quo that had existed in Europe. As Russia was pushed back by the central powers in 1916, Germany and Austria-Hungary occupied the lands that were formerly the Congress Kingdom of Poland. The Germans proclaimed that they were "Liberating the Poles from the yoke of Russian Tyranny" and that they would establish a Polish state for the first time since 1794.
A "Regency Government" was set up, though it had no actual power, as the nation was still under Austro-German occupation. Many Poles felt that this was simply another partition, and massive protests began in several cities. Meanwhile, a massive debate was brewing over who should be the king of this new nation. Several German houses claimed the throne, as did the House of Hapsburg. Eventually, the germans selected tha House of Wurttemburg as their candidate for the throne, and Albrecht I of Poland was coronated. The Austrians were highly displeased, and instead of allowing their half of Poland to join with the Kingdom, they established the "Grand Duchy of Lesser Poland" in the south, run by a regent for the Hapsburg claimant to the throne.View attachment 485448
The Two Polands, 1918
The Grand Duchy lasted about six months, as Austria-Hungary began to implode due to ethnic conflicts. The Austrians withdrew, and Albrecht marched into Krakow unopposed. Poland was a united, independent country again. But how independent was it? German troops still occupied the country, the economy was almost entirely dependent on Germany, and the king could veto any bills he did not like in the Sejm. Poland was a puppet state, little more. But, Poland's Prime Minister, Wladyslaw Studnicki, worked with the Germans to rebuild Poland's economy, industrialize Poland, establish a seperate Polish army (albeit a small one), and, through a series of Plebescites, Purchases, and Annexations, he doubled the size of Poland in the era between 1919 and 1926
View attachment 485483
Territorial Evolution of Poland
Poland was hit hard by the Great Economic Collapse* of the 1930s. And as Rodzhaevsky rose to power in Russia, more German troops poured into the country. Some felt that life might be better if they switched sides, and joined Rodzhaevsky's Axis, but these were a minority. When war finally was declared, Poland was on the German side. Despite massive amounts of aid from Germany, Poland fell within a few months, as the Russian tanks used a Blitzkreig strategy that would become infamous later on. Poland was annexed directly into the Russian State in 1943. View attachment 485455
Eastern Europe under Rodzhaevsky, 1944
Poles were deemed "Traitors to the Slavic Faith", and many were sent to Gulags* in Siberia. The rest were forced into the Polonian military district, while the rest of Poland was settled with Russians. The Orthodox majority people of Bukovina were spared the harsh treatment of the catholic Poles.
They didn't get far with this, as the liberation of Europe in 1947 and the collapse of the Russian state ended these programs. Bukovina was put under military occupation, and remains under Military control to this day, making it one of the longest lasting military occupations in history. Poland was freed from Russia, and even gained a slice of Belarus in the peace treaty, but they were still a puppet of the German Empire. In the 1960s, the Solidarity movement was formed, though it was unable to make much headway until the late 1960s, and began massive (peaceful) protests against the German troops stationed in Poland, and the monarchy in general. This coincided with the Bürgerrechtsbewegung (Civil Rights Movement) in Germany, which advocated, in part, for self determination and a withdrawal of German Troops from Poland.
In 1969, the German Chancellor announced the withdrawal of German forces from Poland. The Solidarity movement swept the Sejm, and called for a new Constitution to be ratified. This new Constitution was modeled of the American system, with a President being the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, a powerful Sejm, and a Supreme Court. This meant that the King, and the Royal Courts would be dismantled. In 1971, the Constitution was ratified, and the last king of Poland, Boleslaw Von Wurttemburg, abdicated on the 1st of September.
Poland has since rapidly modernized, though it still has major economic challenges. Another concern is Poland's rapid militarization, going from a standing army of 18,900 in 1972, to 89,000, with an additional 100,000 in reserves. Also Poland has begun a nuclear program, though with little success so far. Poland is still a rather democratic nation, though some worry that the rising Polish Heritage party might try to change that.
View attachment 485484
Map of the Republic of Poland Today, showing Administrative Subdivisions
View attachment 485445
Flag of the Republic of Poland, adopted in 1973.
Poland has had a long, violent history, full of brief rises and crashing falls. This culminated with the Third partition of Poland in 1794. the country ceased to exist for more than a century.
But then, the Great war shattered the status quo that had existed in Europe. As Russia was pushed back by the central powers in 1916, Germany and Austria-Hungary occupied the lands that were formerly the Congress Kingdom of Poland. The Germans proclaimed that they were "Liberating the Poles from the yoke of Russian Tyranny" and that they would establish a Polish state for the first time since 1794.
A "Regency Government" was set up, though it had no actual power, as the nation was still under Austro-German occupation. Many Poles felt that this was simply another partition, and massive protests began in several cities. Meanwhile, a massive debate was brewing over who should be the king of this new nation. Several German houses claimed the throne, as did the House of Hapsburg. Eventually, the germans selected tha House of Wurttemburg as their candidate for the throne, and Albrecht I of Poland was coronated. The Austrians were highly displeased, and instead of allowing their half of Poland to join with the Kingdom, they established the "Grand Duchy of Lesser Poland" in the south, run by a regent for the Hapsburg claimant to the throne.View attachment 485448
The Two Polands, 1918
The Grand Duchy lasted about six months, as Austria-Hungary began to implode due to ethnic conflicts. The Austrians withdrew, and Albrecht marched into Krakow unopposed. Poland was a united, independent country again. But how independent was it? German troops still occupied the country, the economy was almost entirely dependent on Germany, and the king could veto any bills he did not like in the Sejm. Poland was a puppet state, little more. But, Poland's Prime Minister, Wladyslaw Studnicki, worked with the Germans to rebuild Poland's economy, industrialize Poland, establish a seperate Polish army (albeit a small one), and, through a series of Plebescites, Purchases, and Annexations, he doubled the size of Poland in the era between 1919 and 1926
View attachment 485483
Territorial Evolution of Poland
Poland was hit hard by the Great Economic Collapse* of the 1930s. And as Rodzhaevsky rose to power in Russia, more German troops poured into the country. Some felt that life might be better if they switched sides, and joined Rodzhaevsky's Axis, but these were a minority. When war finally was declared, Poland was on the German side. Despite massive amounts of aid from Germany, Poland fell within a few months, as the Russian tanks used a Blitzkreig strategy that would become infamous later on. Poland was annexed directly into the Russian State in 1943. View attachment 485455
Eastern Europe under Rodzhaevsky, 1944
Poles were deemed "Traitors to the Slavic Faith", and many were sent to Gulags* in Siberia. The rest were forced into the Polonian military district, while the rest of Poland was settled with Russians. The Orthodox majority people of Bukovina were spared the harsh treatment of the catholic Poles.
They didn't get far with this, as the liberation of Europe in 1947 and the collapse of the Russian state ended these programs. Bukovina was put under military occupation, and remains under Military control to this day, making it one of the longest lasting military occupations in history. Poland was freed from Russia, and even gained a slice of Belarus in the peace treaty, but they were still a puppet of the German Empire. In the 1960s, the Solidarity movement was formed, though it was unable to make much headway until the late 1960s, and began massive (peaceful) protests against the German troops stationed in Poland, and the monarchy in general. This coincided with the Bürgerrechtsbewegung (Civil Rights Movement) in Germany, which advocated, in part, for self determination and a withdrawal of German Troops from Poland.
In 1969, the German Chancellor announced the withdrawal of German forces from Poland. The Solidarity movement swept the Sejm, and called for a new Constitution to be ratified. This new Constitution was modeled of the American system, with a President being the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, a powerful Sejm, and a Supreme Court. This meant that the King, and the Royal Courts would be dismantled. In 1971, the Constitution was ratified, and the last king of Poland, Boleslaw Von Wurttemburg, abdicated on the 1st of September.
Poland has since rapidly modernized, though it still has major economic challenges. Another concern is Poland's rapid militarization, going from a standing army of 18,900 in 1972, to 89,000, with an additional 100,000 in reserves. Also Poland has begun a nuclear program, though with little success so far. Poland is still a rather democratic nation, though some worry that the rising Polish Heritage party might try to change that.
View attachment 485484
Map of the Republic of Poland Today, showing Administrative Subdivisions
- mikroraptor
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