Germans of the Former Kingdom of Poland in 1918—1920

The article discusses the main aspects of the political history of the Germans in the former Kingdom of Poland in the first several years after the First World War. The political programs and views of the leaders of the German national movement are presented in detail. A general overview of the situation of Germans in Poland is given. The main occupations of the German national minority and their numbers are analyzed. The political alternatives facing German politicians in the country are considered, in particular, during the Soviet-Polish war of 1920—1921. It was characteristic of the political development of the Germans in the former Kingdom of Poland that their political associations were, in fact, broad political coalitions, "fronts". The leadership of the Republic of Poland pursued a policy of Polonization towards Germans and other national minorities. The Germans were subjected to political and economic pressure and repressions. The Polonization was pronounced in the West of Poland, i.e. in Poznań, Pomerania, and Upper Silesia. These were territories of the former German Empire, and local Germans extremely painfully perceived entering into structure of Poland. The Germans of the former Kingdom of Poland quickly adapted to the new status by accepting and recognizing Polish citizenship. They remained loyal subjects of the new state. Only after the Nazis came to power in Germany, the “Grossdeutsche”, Pro-Nazi sentiments, began to spread among the Germans of the former Kingdom of Poland. Ath the same time, these sentiments were less pronounced here than among the Germans in the former German ("Eastern") territories. The attempt to create a single "Young German" movement was unsuccessful. After World War II, most Germans in Poland were deported from the country.

Keywords

First World War, the Kingdom of Poland, the Germans in Poland, the national question, the Soviet-Polish war of 1920—1921, the Republic of Poland

Received

17.12.2019

Publication date

27.03.2020

Number of characters

13726

Cite

GOST	Kretinin S. Germans of the Former Kingdom of Poland in 1918—1920 // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2020. – Issue 2 C. 73-78 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640008651-4-1 (circulation date: 26.07.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640008651-4
MLA	Kretinin, Sergey "Germans of the Former Kingdom of Poland in 1918—1920." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 2 (2020):73-78. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640008651-4
APA	Kretinin S. (2020). Germans of the Former Kingdom of Poland in 1918—1920. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (2), pp.73-78 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640008651-4

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