“What Sort of Communists Are You?” the Struggle Between Nationalism and Ideology in Poland Between 1944 and 1956
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Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 2017 “What sort of communists are you?” The struggle between nationalism and ideology in Poland between 1944 and 1956 Jan Ryszard Kozdra Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the European History Commons, and the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Kozdra, J. R. (2017). “What sort of communists are you?” The struggle between nationalism and ideology in Poland between 1944 and 1956. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1955 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1955 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. 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Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. “What sort of communists are you?” The struggle between nationalism and ideology in Poland between 1944 and 1956 Jan Ryszard Kozdra Bachelor of Arts This thesis is presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts School of Arts and Humanities Edith Cowan University 2017 Abstract The period between 1944 and 1956, also known as the “Stalinist period”, is one of the most controversial and turbulent in Polish history. The Polish communist party launched the project of restructuring Polish society, whose historically well- established national identity seemed incompatible with the communist project. Firstly, the communists effected a demographic change that resulted in a near mono- ethnic state. Simultaneously, they introduced a centrally planned economy, transformed state symbolism, initiated a national education system, attempted to re- shape popular attitudes to religion, and launched a massive propaganda campaign to reinforce and popularize their objectives. This study seeks to investigate the communists’ attempts to accommodate Polish nationalism, the impact these attempts had on the success of the communist project in Poland and, by implication, the governments’ relationship with Poles and the USSR. By exploring these aspects of the debate, the author discovered that Polish communists, Poles themselves in most cases, struggled to find a balance between their national identity and the communist ideology. In fact, the thesis argues that leaders of the Polish communist government developed a dual identity in their approach to governing Poland: that is, they were primarily nationalists rather than Stalinist communists, but retained some key elements of the ideological and totalitarian framework. As a result, the Polish communist project deviated from the Soviet model and ultimately failed to produce a new and coherent narrative. Crucially, the spread of literacy and education throughout Polish society served to reinforce historic national identity. In 1956, due to popular unrest, the quasi- totalitarian Polish state had to abandon Stalinist style rule and effectively the nationalist component from thereon dominated the narrative of the regime. i Declaration I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: (i) incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; (ii) contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text; or (iii) contain any defamatory material. ii Acknowledgements Many thanks go to Prof. Quentin Beresford and Dr. Genevieve Hohnen, my supervisors, for the continuous support during the duration of this project. Your guidance helped me at all times of research and writing of this thesis; I cannot imagine accomplishing this project without your help. Addtionally, I would like to thank Dr. Dianelle Brady and Dr. Neil Ferguson for their patience and help relating to the academic workshop that facilitated the completion of this project. My sincere thanks also go to the participants interviewed by me during this project, for their patience, enthusiasm and cooperation. Finally, I would like to thank my mother, who always provided moral support and encouraged me to do my best. iii Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................ ii Declaration ................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... iiiii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................ iiv List of Tables .............................................................................................................. vii List of FIGURES ........................................................................................................ vii Chapter I – Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 Research Questions .............................................................................................................. 8 Methodological Approach ................................................................................................... 9 Primary, archival and secondary sources ..................................................................... 9 Ethnographic component............................................................................................ 10 Chapter II – Theoretical perspective ........................................................................... 12 Theories of nationalism and forms of nationalism ............................................................ 13 Significance of ethno-symbolism to Poland ...................................................................... 14 Towards a synthesis ........................................................................................................... 16 Other literature .............................................................................................................. 18 Terminology ...................................................................................................................... 18 Components of nationalism ............................................................................................... 19 Alterity .......................................................................................................................... 20 Means of differentiation ................................................................................................ 21 Analysis of developments through ethno-symbolist perspective ....................................... 23 Industrialisation ............................................................................................................. 24 Post-Versailles settlement ............................................................................................. 25 Polish “ethno history” ........................................................................................................ 27 Chapter III – Rejection of the Soviet model ................................................................ 37 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 38 Relations and attitudes toward the Soviet Union ............................................................... 39 Collectivization and nationalization of industry ................................................................ 47 The issue of power, terror and persecution ........................................................................ 50 Relations and attitudes toward Poles ................................................................................. 52 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 54 Chapter IV – Expulsions and ethnic cleansing ............................................................ 56 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 57 Ethno-symbolic motivation for ethno-centric sentiment of Poles ..................................... 59 Soviet national policies as templates for Eastern Europe .................................................. 62 International consensus .....................................................................................................