Second Polish Republic

To meet Wikipedia's quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup because it is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (January 2008)

Rzeczpospolita Polska Republika Polska Republic of Poland ↓ 1918 – 1939 →   →   Image:Flaga PPP.svg → Image:Coat of arms of Poland 1919-1927.PNG Flag Coat of arms Anthem Mazurek Dąbrowskiego Capital Warsaw Language(s) Polish official Ukrainian, Yiddish, Belarusian, German also spoken Government Republic President List Prime minister List Legislature Sejm  - upper chamber Senat  - lower chamber Sejm Historical era Interwar period  - World War I November 11, 1918  - Invasion September 1, 1939 Area  - 1921 387,000 km² (149,422 sq mi)  - 1931 388,634 km² (150,052 sq mi)  - 1938 389,720 km² (150,472 sq mi) Population  - 1921 est. 27,177,000       Density 70.2 /km²  (181.9 /sq mi)  - 1931 est. 32,107,000       Density 82.6 /km²  (214 /sq mi)  - 1938 est. 34,849,000       Density 89.4 /km²  (231.6 /sq mi) Currency Marka (until 1924) Złoty (after 1924) Preceded by Succeeded by Image:Flag of Austria-Hungary 1869-1918.svg Austria-Hungary German Empire Kingdom of Poland (1916–1918) West Ukrainian National Republic Lemko-Rusyn Republic Komancza Republic Image:Flag of UNR.svg Ukrainian People's Republic Image:Flag of the Galician SSR.svg Galician Soviet Socialist Republic Image:Flag of Galicia (Central Europe).svg Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria Image:Centrallithuaniaflag.gif Republic of Central Lithuania Nazi Germany Soviet Union Polish Secret State Image:Flaga PPP.svg

Second Polish Republic 1922-1939

The Second Polish Republic is the name applied to the Republic of Poland between World War I and World War II.

When the borders of the state were fixed in 1922 after several wars, the republic had borders with Czechoslovakia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and the Soviet Union. It it had an area of 388.6 thousand km² (sixth largest in Europe), and 27.2 million inhabitants according to the census of that year. In 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, it had an estimated 35.1 million inhabitants. A third of these were minorities (17% Ukrainians and Belarusians, 10% Jews, 5% Germans, and 1% percent Lithuanians, Russians and Czechs).

The Second Republic is often associated with times of great adversity, of troubles and of triumph. Having to deal with the economic difficulties and destruction of World War I, followed by the Soviet invasion during the Polish Soviet War, and then increasingly hostile neighbors such as Nazi Germany, the Republic managed not only to endure, but to expand. Lacking an overseas empire, Poland nevertheless maintained a level of economic development and prosperity comparable to that of the West. The cultural hubs of Warsaw, Kraków, Wilno and Lwów raised themselves to the level of major European cities. They were also the sites of internationally renowned universities and places of higher learning. By 1939 the Republic was becoming a major world player in politics and economics.

History

Main article: History of Poland (1918-1939)

Timeline (1918-1939)

• Independence; Warsaw was free: November 11, 1918.
• Elections to the Sejm: January 26, 1919.
• Treaty of Versailles (Articles 87-93) and Little Treaty of Versailles, June 28, 1919, establish Poland as a sovereign and independent state on the international arena.
• War against the Ukrainians: Polish-Ukrainian War.
• War against the Soviets: Polish-Soviet War. Miracle of the Vistula. Treaty of Riga.
• War against the Lithuanians: Polish-Lithuanian War.
• Border conflicts between Poland and Czechoslovakia.
• Uprisings in Wielkopolska and Silesia. Great Poland Uprising, Silesian Uprisings.
• July 15, 1920 - Agrarian Reform.
• March 17, 1921 - March Constitution.
• 1921 - alliances with France, Romania.
• Elections to the Sejm (1922-11-05)and to the Senat - 1922-11-12.
• President Gabriel Narutowicz, and his assassination (December 16, 1922).
• 1924 - Wladyslaw Grabski Government. Bank Polski. Monetary reform 1924 in Poland.
• President Stanisław Wojciechowski - December 20, 1922, to Zamach majowy.
• Coup of May - Zamach majowy, 1926, May, Józef Piłsudski coup d'etat (May Coup). beginning of Sanacja government.
• Roman Dmowski, Obóz Wielkiej Polski (4 December 1926), Endecja.
• 1928 - Piłsudski's Bezpartyjny Blok Współpracy z Rządem.
• 16 November 1930 - wybory brzeskie (elections).
• 25 July 1932 - non-aggression pact with Soviet Union
• 26 January 1934 - non-aggression pact with Germany
• 23 April 1935 - April Constitution
• 12 May 1935 - death of Józef Piłsudski
• Gdynia, Centralny Okreg Przemyslowy (1936), Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski
• 2 February 1937 - Obóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego
• October 1938 - annexation of Zaolzie, Górna Orawa, Jaworzyna from Czechoslovakia
• 2 January 1939 - death of Roman Dmowski
• 31 March 1939 - military guarantees from United Kingdom and France
• 23 August 1939 - non-aggression pact between Soviet Union and Germany: Ribbentrop-Molotow Pact with a secret military alliance protocol targeting Poland (among several other countries)
• 25 August 1939 - alliance between Poland and United Kingdom

The beginnings

Soldiers of the Army of Greater Poland, 1919

Polish soldiers displaying captured Soviet battle flags after the Battle of Warsaw.

Occupied by German and Austro-Hungarian armies in the summer of 1915, the formerly Russian-ruled part of what was considered Poland was proclaimed an independent kingdom by the occupying powers on November 5, 1916, with a governing Council of State and (from October 15, 1917) a Regency Council (Rada Regencyjna Królestwa Polskiego) to administer the country under German auspices pending the election of a king.

Shortly before the end of World War I, on October 7, 1918, the Regency Council dissolved the Council of State and announced its intention to restore Polish independence. With the notable exception of the Marxist-oriented Social Democratic Party of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania (SDKPiL), most political parties supported this move. On October 23 the Council appointed a new government under Józef Swierzynski and began conscription into the Polish Army. On November 5, in Lublin, the first Soviet of Delegates was created. On November 6 the Communists announced the creation of a Republic of Tarnobrzeg. The same day, a Provisional People's Government of the Republic of Poland was created under the Socialist, Ignacy Daszynski.

On November 10, Józef Piłsudski, newly freed from imprisonment by the German authorities at Magdeburg, returned to Warsaw. Next day, due to his popularity and support from most political parties, the Regency Council appointed Piłsudski Commander in Chief of the Polish Armed Forces. On November 14 the Council dissolved itself and transferred all its authority to Piłsudski as Chief of State (Naczelnik Państwa).

Centers of government that were created in Galicia (formerly Austrian-ruled southern Poland) included a National Council of the Principality of Cieszyn (created in November 1918) and a Polish Liquidation Committee (created on October 28). Soon afterward, conflict broke out in Lwow between forces of the Military Committee of Ukrainians and the Polish "Eagles" of Lwów.

After consultation with Pilsudski, Daszynski's government dissolved itself and a new government was created under Jedrzej Moraczewski.

World War II

The beginning of the Second World War put an end to the Second Polish Republic. The "Invasion of Poland" campaign began 1 September 1939, one week after the signing of the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and ended 6 October 1939, with Germany and the Soviet Union occupying the entirety of Poland. Poland did not surrender, but continued as Polish Government in Exile and the Polish Secret State.

Politics and government

Polish Statehood

Kingdom of the Piasts Kingdom of the Jagiellons Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Partitions of Poland Kingdom of Galicia Duchy of Warsaw Congress Kingdom Free City of Kraków Grand Duchy of Posen Grand Duchy of Cracow Regency Kingdom Second Polish Republic Polish Secret State People's Republic of Poland Third Polish Republic

Edward Rydz-Śmigły receiving the Marshal buława from president of Poland Ignacy Mościcki. November 10, 1936, Warsaw.

Chief of State

• Józef Piłsudski – 22 November 1918 - 9 December 1922

Presidents

• Gabriel Narutowicz – 9 December 1922 - 16 December 1922
• Stanisław Wojciechowski – 20 December 1922 - 14 May 1926
• Ignacy Mościcki – 1 June 1926 - 30 September 1939
• Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski - 1 October 1939

Prime ministers

• Jędrzej Moraczewski – 18 November 1918 - 16 January 1919
• Ignacy Paderewski – 18 January 1919 - 27 November 1919
• Leopold Skulski – 13 December 1919 - 9 June 1920
• Władysław Grabski – 27 June 1920 - 24 July 1920
• Wincenty Witos – 24 July 1920 - 13 September 1921
• Antoni Ponikowski – 19 September 1921 - 5 March 1922
• Antoni Ponikowski – 10 March 1922 - 6 June 1922
• Artur Śliwiński – 28 June 1922 - 7 July 1922
• Wojciech Korfanty – 14 July 1922 - 31 July 1922
• Julian Nowak – 31 July 1922 - 14 December 1922
• Władysław Sikorski – 16 December 1922 - 26 May 1923
• Wincenty Witos – 28 May 1923 - 14 December 1923
• Władysław Grabski – 19 December 1923 - 14 November 1925
• Aleksander Skrzyński – 20 November 1925 - 5 May 1926
• Wincenty Witos – 10 May 1926 - 14 May 1926
• Kazimierz Bartel – 15 May 1926 - 4 June 1926
• Kazimierz Bartel – 8 June 1926 - 24 September 1926
• Kazimierz Bartel – 27 September 1926 - 30 September 1926
• Józef Piłsudski – 2 October 1926 - 27 June 1928
• Kazimierz Bartel – 27 June 1928 - 13 April 1929
• Kazimierz Świtalski – 14 April 1929 - 7 December 1929
• Kazimierz Bartel – 29 December 1929 - 15 March 1930
• Walery Sławek – 29 March 1930 - 23 August 1930
• Józef Piłsudski – 25 August 1930 - 4 December 1930
• Walery Sławek – 4 December 1930 - 26 May 1931
• Aleksander Prystor – 27 May 1931 - 9 May 1933
• Janusz Jędrzejewicz – 10 May 1933 - 13 May 1934
• Leon Kozłowski – 15 May 1934 - 28 March 1935
• Walery Sławek – 28 March 1935 - 12 October 1935
• Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski – 13 October 1935 - 15 May 1936
• Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski – 15 May 1936 - 30 September 1939

Economy

After regaining her independence Poland was faced with major economic difficulties. Within the borders of the Republic were the remnants of three different economic systems, with three different currencies and with little or no direct infrastructural links. The situation was so bad that neighboring industrial centers lacked direct railroad links because they had been parts of different occupying nations. On top of this was the massive destruction left after both World War I and the Polish Soviet War. There was also a great economic disparity between the eastern and western parts of the country, with the western half being much more developed and prosperous. Frequent border closures and tariff wars (especially with Nazi Germany) also had negative economic impacts on Poland.

Despite these problems Poland managed in the interwar period to achieve a state of economic prosperity on par with Western Europe. In 1924 economic minister Władysław Grabski introduced the złoty as a single common currency for Poland, which remained one of the most stable currencies of Central Europe. The currency helped Poland to bring under control the massive hyperinflation, the only country in Europe which was able to do this without foreign loans or aid^{[citation needed]}.

The basis of Poland's relative prosperity were the economic development plans which oversaw the building of two key infrastructural elements. The first was the establishment of the Gdynia seaport, which allowed Poland to completely bypass Gdańsk (which was under heavy Nazi pressure to boycott Polish coal exports). The second was the creation of a central industrial district, named the 'COP' (Centralny Okręg Przemysłowy). Unfortunately these developments were interrupted and largely destroyed by the German invasion and the start of World War II.^[1]

Demographics

Polish voivodeships 1922-1939

Poland has traditionally been a nation of many nations, with large Jewish and Ukrainian minorities. This was especially true after she regained her independence in the wake of World War I, in 1918. The census of that year allocates 30.8% of the population in the minority.^[2] This was further exacerbated with the Polish victory in the Polish Soviet War, and the large territorial gains made by Poland as a consequence. In 1931 the census showed that 66% of the population was Polish, 15% were Ukrainians, 9% Jews, 5% Belarusians, and 2,5% Germans.^[3]

Poland was also a nation of many religions. In 1921 16,057,229 Poles (approx. 62.5%) were Roman (Latin) Catholics, 3,031,057 citizens of Poland (approx. 11.8%) were Eastern Rite Catholics (mostly Ukrainian Greek Catholics and Armenian Rite Catholics), 2,815,817 (approx. 10.95%) were Greek Orthodox, 2,771,949 (approx. 10.8%) were Jewish, and 940,232 (approx. 3.7%) were Protestants (mostly Lutheran Evangelical).^[3] By 1931 Poland had the second largest Jewish population in the world, with one-fifth of all the world's Jews residing within Poland's borders (approx. 3,136,000).^[2] Norman Davies gives the results of Polish 1931 national census as follows^[4]

• Poles, 68.9% of the population
• Ukrainians, 13.9%
• Jews, 8.7%
• Belarusians, 3.1%
• Germans, 2.3%

Population

Largest cities in early 1939:

1. Warszawa – 1,289,000
2. Łódź – 672,000
3. Lwów – 318,000
4. Poznań – 272,000
5. Kraków – 259,000
6. Wilno – 209,000
7. Bydgoszcz – 141,000
8. Częstochowa – 138,000
9. Katowice – 134,000
10. Sosnowiec – 130,000
11. Lublin – 122,000
12. Gdynia – 120,000
13. Chorzow – 110,000
14. Białystok – 107,000

Administrative division and geography

The administrative division of the Second Republic was based on the three tier system. On the lowest rung were the gminy, which were little more than local town and village governments. These were then grouped together into powiaty which were then arranged into wojewodstwa.

On April 1, 1938, borders of several western Voivodeships changed considerably. For more information, see Territorial changes of Polish Voivodeships on April 1, 1938.

References

de:Zweite Polnische Republik

et:II Rzeczpospolita es:Segunda República Polaca fr:Deuxième République de Pologne it:Seconda Repubblica Polacca he:היסטוריה של פולין: הרפובליקה השנייה hu:Második Lengyel Köztársaság nl:Tweede Poolse Republiek no:Andre polske republikk pl:II Rzeczpospolita pt:Segunda República Polonesa ro:A doua Republică Poloneză