POLAND BETWEEN the WARS, 1918-1939 Also by Peter D

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

POLAND BETWEEN the WARS, 1918-1939 Also by Peter D POLAND BETWEEN THE WARS, 1918-1939 Also by Peter D. Stachura NAZI YOUTH IN THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC THE WEIMAR ERA AND HITLER A Select Bibliography THE SHAPING OF THE NAZI STATE (editor) THE GERMAN YOUTH MOVEMENT, 1900-1945 An Interpretative and Documentary History THE NAZI MACHTERGREIFUNG (editor) GREGOR STRASSER AND THE RISE OF NAZISM UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE GREAT DEPRESSION IN WEIMAR GERMANY (editor) THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC AND THE YOUNGER PROLETARIAT An Economic and Social Analysis POLITICAL LEADERS IN WEIMAR GERMANY THEMES OF MODERN POLISH HISTORY (editor) Poland between the Wars, 1918-1939 Edited by Peter D. Stachura Reader in History University of Stirling Scotland First published in Great Britain 1998 by ~ MACMILLAN PRESS LTD Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and London Companies and representatives throughout the world A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-1-349-26944-0 ISBN 978-1-349-26942-6 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-26942-6 First published in the United States of America 1998 by ~ ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, INC., Scholarly and Reference Division, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 ISBN 978-0-312-21680-1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Poland between the wars, 1918-1939 I edited by Peter D. Stachura. p. em. "Most of the contributions in this volume were originally presented in abbreviated form at a conference "Poland Between the Wars, 1918-1939," organized by the Polish Society at the University of Stirling on II October 1997"-Pref. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-312-21680-1 1. Poland-History-1918-1945----Congresses. I. Stachura, Peter D. II. Conference "Poland Between the Wars, 1918-1939" (1997: University of Stirling) DK4400.P627 1998 943.8'04-dc21 98-7134 CIP Selection, editorial matter, preface and Chapters 1, 3 and 4 © Peter D. Stachura 1998 Chapters 2, 5 and 6 © Macmillan Press Ltd 1998 Sollcover reprint or the hardcover I st edition 1998 978-0-333-73680-7 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London WIP 9HE. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The authors have asserted their rights to be identified as the authors of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00 99 98 For Gregory and Madeleine as another gentle reminder of their Polish heritage Contents Preface ix Notes on Contributors X Abbreviations and Glossary xi Map of the Second Polish Republic XlV 1 The Second Republic in Historiographical Outline Peter D. Stachura 1 2 Three Insurrections: Upper Silesia, 1919-21 Peter LeSniewski 13 3 The Battle of Warsaw, August 1920, and the Development of the Second Polish Republic Peter D. Stachura 43 4 National Identity and the Ethnic Minorities in Early Inter-War Poland Peter D. Stachura 60 5 Freedom of the Press in Inter-War Poland: The System of Control John M. Bates 87 6 Poland's Defence Preparations in 1939 Andrzej Suchcitz 109 Appendix I: Principal Officers of the Second Polish Republic, 1918-39 137 Appendix II: Chronology: Poland, 1914-39 139 Select Bibliography 146 Index 148 Vll Preface Most of the contributions in this volume were originally presented in abbreviated form at a conference, 'Poland between the Wars, 1918-193 9', organized by The Polish Society at the University of Stirling on 11 October 1997. The society has no affiliation with the University. The Polish Society was formed in September 1996 as an academic dis­ cussion forum for those interested in the best traditions of Polish history, culture and contemporary affairs, and it has already forged meaningful links with a number of university and research bodies, cultural and histori­ cal organizations and archives in the United Kingdom. Meetings, usually with an invited speaker, are held at least quarterly, and invariably take place at the University of Glasgow. Members of all ages are drawn from both a Polish and non-Polish background across Scotland. I should like to thank my fellow Committee members, Mr Joseph T. Devine (Treasurer) and Mrs Stella K. Neil (Secretary), for their invalu­ able assistance in the administration of the Society's affairs since its incep­ tion, and in the preparation for the Conference. The Royal Historical Society, of which I am a Fellow, is thanked most sincerely for awarding a grant towards the conference expenses, and the University of Stirling kindly provided excellent accommodation for the Conference free of charge, as well as the splendid surroundings of its campus. I am very pleased to record my gratitude to the Polonia Aid Foundation Trust, London, for providing a generous subsidy towards the publication costs of this volume. Dr Peter D. Stachura Chairman Bridge of Allan Polish Independence Day, 11 November 1997 IX Notes on Contributors John M. Bates studied Russian at Cambridge before taking an M.Phil. and Ph.D. at the University of Glasgow, where he is at present Lecturer in Polish. His research interests lie in Polish censorship, particularly under the Communist regime in Poland, and the transformation of Polish media since 1989. He has several articles in press. Peter Lesniewski served in the Royal Air Force and worked as an engi­ neer in the aerospace industry before commencing his studies in 1989 at the University of Dundee. Since graduating in 1993 he has been preparing a doctoral thesis on Britain's role in Upper Silesia, 1919-22. Peter D. Stachura is Reader in History at the University of Stirling. His numerous publications on the history of Weimar Germany, including, most recently, The Weimar Republic and the Younger Proletariat (1989) and Political Leaders in Weimar Germany (1992), led to the award in 1994 of the Degree ofDoctor of Letters (D. Litt.). His research interests have been extended to the Second Polish Republic, on which he is presently complet­ ing a book. He is Chairman of The Polish Society. Andrzej Suchcitz, a graduate of the University of London (SSEES), is Keeper of Archives at the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, London. His primary research interest is in Polish military history, 1918-46, on which he has written, edited and co-edited several books, mainly in Polish. He is a member of a number of editorial committees, including that of Teki Historyczne, published by The Polish Historical Society in Great Britain. X Abbreviations and Glossary Agudat Israel A conservative, pro-assimilationist Jewish political party (Poland) Ausgleich Compromise between the Hapsburgs and Magyars, resulting in the establishment of the Dual Monarchy in 1867 BBWR Bezpartyjny Blok dla Wsp6lpracy z Rzqdem (Non­ Party Bloc for Cooperation with the Government) Blitzkrieg 'Lightning war', the ultra-rapid strategic operation of the German Army BRT Ship tonnage measurement Bund Abbreviation of the 'General Jewish Workers' Union', a Jewish Marxist and anti-Zionist political party Chadecja Chrzdcijw1ska Demokracja (Christian Democratic Party) C-in-C Commander-in-Chief COP Centralny Okrfg Przemyslowy (Central Industrial Area) DBFP Documents on British Foreign Policy Duma Russian parliament Endecja Polish name for the National Democratic Party and its successors Endek Polish abbreviation for member/follower of the National Democratic Party FO Foreign Office (British) Folkists Small Jewish political party in the Second Republic Freikorps Right-wing German paramilitary groups after 1918 General Zionists Jewish political movement straddling Socialism and Orthodoxy GHQ General Headquarters Grenzschutz Border Guard units H-K-T Society German right-wing, imperialist pressure group in Prussian Poland before 1914 HMSO Her Majesty's Stationery Office KNP Komitet Narodowy Polski (Polish National Committee) KPD Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (German Communist Party) XI xii Abbreviations and Glossary KPP Komunistyczna Partia Polski (Communist Party of Poland) KPRP Komunistyczna Partia Robotnicza Polski (Communist Workers' Party of Poland) Kreis Small German administrative district Kresy Polish term for the eastern borderlands Kulturkampf The somewhat grandiose term used to describe Reich Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's struggle against the Catholic Church in Germany after 1871 Landschutz German provincial militia Landtag German provincial parliament Litvak Polish (derogatory) term for Jews from Lithuania and environs Luftwaffe German Air Force NBKR Noel Baker Papers (Churchill College, Cambridge) OUN Organizacja Ukraiftskich Nacjonalistow (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) OWP Ob6z Wielkiej Polski (Camp of Great Poland) OZON Ob6z Zjednoczenia Narodowego (Camp of National Unity) PAT Polish Telecommunications Agency People's Poland The Soviet-imposed Communist regime in Poland (1944/5-89) Pogrom A massacre of Jews POW Polska Organizacja Wojskowa (Polish Military Organization, 1914-19) PPS Polska Partia Socjalistyczna (Polish Socialist Party) PRO Public Record Office, London PSL Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (Polish Peasant Movement) PSL-Piast The largest
Recommended publications
  • Lute Revival in Pinsk
    CULTURE The Minsk Times Thursday, August 29, 2013 9 Film events developed Lute revival in Pinsk near Smorgon Unique Pinsk master restores ancient musical instruments while Brest actress Yanina Malinchik to play a leading role in Russian performing medieval music all over Brest Region filmDeath Battalion Igor Ugolnikov, the screenwriter and producer, tells us, “The fact that an actress from Brest was chosen for this role shows the special connec- tion with our last film:Brest Fortress. She proved her talent and character during film tests.” Death Battalion will be the larg- est Russian film project devoted to the First World War, being filmed with support from the Russian Min- istry of Culture. It is to provide 50 million Russian Roubles of the 250 million total budget. The film tells of a women’s de- tachment, created in St. Petersburg at the order of the 1917 provisional government, to raise the fighting spirit of the army. Events are being filmed near Smorgon, where this fe- male battalion fought heroically. Shooting begins on 31st August, with the premiere scheduled for 1st August, 2014, coinciding with the Me- morial Day for all those soldiers who died during the First World War. Experimental theatre scene BELTA By Lyudmila Ivanova Yury Dubnovitsky shares his love of ancient instrument with pupils Play by daughter of Charlie By Yuri Chernyakevich lute was made and, since then, Yuri lute as a promising instrument.” Mr. familiar with music will understand Chaplin being staged in Minsk has been producing new instruments. Dubnovitsky teaches pupils at the lo- that it’s a true challenge to learn to from 28th September to 21st Pinsk’s residents are now able to His work has made him well-known cal musical school, making them tune play the lute,” explains Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Capital in the Aftermath of the Partitions of Poland Andreas Ba
    European Historical Economics Society EHES Working Paper | No. 150 | March 2019 Fading Legacies: Human Capital in the Aftermath of the Partitions of Poland Andreas Backhaus, Centre for European Policy Studies EHES Working Paper | No. 150 | March 2019 Fading Legacies: Human Capital in the Aftermath of the Partitions of Poland* Andreas Backhaus†, Centre for European Policy Studies Abstract This paper studies the longevity of historical legacies in the context of the formation of human capital. The Partitions of Poland (1772-1918) represent a natural experiment that instilled Poland with three different legacies of education, resulting in sharp differences in human capital among the Polish population. I construct a large, unique dataset that reflects the state of schooling and human capital in the partition territories from 1911 to 1961. Using a spatial regression discontinuity design, I find that primary school enrollment differs by as much as 80 percentage points between the partitions before WWI. However, this legacy disappears within the following two decades of Polish independence, as all former partitions achieve universal enrollment. Differences in educational infrastructure and gender access to schooling simultaneously disappear after WWI. The level of literacy converges likewise across the former partitions, driven by a high intergenerational mobility in education. After WWII, the former partitions are not distinguishable from each other in terms of education anymore. JEL Codes: N34, I20, O15, H75 Keywords: Poland, Human Capital, Education, Persistence * Research for this paper was conducted while the author was a Ph.D. candidate at LMU Munich. The author would like to thank Philipp Ager, Lukas Buchheim, Matteo Cervellati, Jeremiah Dittmar, Erik Hornung, Chris Muris, Christian Ochsner, Uwe Sunde, Ludger Wößmann, Nikolaus Wolf, and audiences at the University of Southern Denmark, the University of Bayreuth, UCLouvain, the FRESH Meeting 2018, the WEast Workshop 2018, and WIEM 2018 for their comments.
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief Outline of Polish and Polish American History - Part 1
    A Brief Outline of Polish and Polish American History - Part 1 120,000 B.C. - First records of Protoslavic cultures in the 1683 - John Sobieski defeats the Turks at Vienna. Ojcow region of Poland. 1745 - Casimir Pulaski is born in Poland. 1300 B.C. - First evidence of Lusatian culture, the progenitor of modern Polish and Slavic cultures. 1746 - Thaddeus Kosciuszko is born in Poland. He attended school in Lubieszow and later the Cadet 700 B.C. - Biskupin Settlement is built in central Poland Academy in Warsaw and then undertook engineering in what is now the voivodeship of Torun. It is now a studies in Paris. museum in Poland featuring the oldest settlement. 1776 - Thaddeus Kosciuszko came to America to offer 100 A.D. - Contact with Roman Danubian provinces his services to General George Washington. He was made by Slavic peoples, although Rome never expands appointed engineer of the Continental Army with the into their territories. rank of Colonel. He distinguished himself throughout the American Revolutionary War. His engineering and 500 - West Slavic tribal federations begin to form. fortification skills along the Delaware River and at 850 - Polanie and Wislanie tribal groups appear, Saratoga, N.Y., helped win battles for the Continental eventually merging together into the first state of Poland. Army. Kosciuszko is well known for his fortification at West Point, which is the site of West Point Military 966 - Duke Mieszko accepts Christianity for himself and Academy. The name General Thaddeus Kosciuszko is for Poland and the documented history of Poland begins. listed on organizations, bridges, schools, and other local and national landmarks.
    [Show full text]
  • Poland's Postwar Moral Panic
    1 ||| Poland’s Postwar Moral Panic Stanisêaw Kozicki (1876–1958), a prominent politician of the nationalist- right camp, re¶ected in 1932 on the numerous challenges that contemporary Poland faced and offered the following summation: “In addition to every- thing that is going on there [in western Europe after the Great War], we are undergoing a transition from slavery to freedom and are exerting a great ef- fort to organize our own state. Can one really be surprised that the transi- tional period is lasting longer and is more complicated?”1 Though it was unpleasant and troubling, it was natural enough, Kozicki reasoned, for the Second Republic to confront monumental problems on all fronts and at all levels. Commentators like Kozicki moved effortlessly from blaming the lin- gering effects of the partitions for the problems evident in the Second Repub- lic, to blaming the Great War and the subsequent border wars, the political structures of the new state, the ethnic minorities, the international situation and geopolitics. But commentators also impugned something far less tangible and potentially far more explosive: the moral health of the nation. A vocabu- lary of infestation and ¤lth, of healing, good ethics, and moral rigor, was heard frequently in the press of the early independence period as many looked to the moral realm as possessing great explanatory power. In an atmo- sphere of economic uncertainty, social tension, and political animosity, cul- tural and moral visions of newly independent Poland were bound to clash. Bit by bit, the contours of a discursive moral panic developed alongside the political crises, the social unrest and the economic ruin.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rhetoric of the “March of Independence” in Poland (2010
    ARTICLES WIELOKULTUROWość… Politeja No. 4(61), 2019, p. 149-166 https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.16.2019.61.09 Elżbieta WIącEK Jagiellonian University in Kraków [email protected] ThE RhETORIC OF THE “MARCH OF INDEPENDENCE” IN POLAND (2010-2017) AS THE ANswER FOR THE POLICY OF MULTICULTURALIsm IN EU AND THE REFUGEE CRISIS ABSTRact In 2010, Polish far-right nationalist groups hit upon the idea of establishing one common nationwide march to celebrate National Independence Day in Poland. Since then, the participants have manifested their attachment to Polish tradi- tion, and their anti-multicultural attitude. Much of the debate about multicul- turalism and the emergence of conflictual and socially divisive ethnic groupings has addressed ethical concerns. In contrast, this paper focuses on the semiotic and structural level of the problem. Key words: March of Independence, nationalism, refugees, values, patriotism 150 Elżbieta Wiącek POLITEJA 4(61)/2019 fter Poland’s accession to the European Union in May 2004 new laws on national, Aethnic and linguistic minorities were accepted and put into practice.1 However, cur- rent Polish multiculturalism is different from that of multi-ethnic or immigrant societies such as the UK. Indeed, multiculturalism in contemporary Poland can be seen as a his- torical phenomenon, one linked to the long-lasting ‘folklorisation’ of diversity. For in- stance, although ‘multicultural’ festivals are organised in cities, towns and in borderland regions, all of them refer to past ‘multi-ethnic’ or religiously diversified life. Tolerance is evoked as an old Polish historical tradition. The historical Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania (1385-1795) was in itself diverse linguistically, ethnically and religiously, and it also welcomed various ethnic and religious minorities, especially Jews.
    [Show full text]
  • Nihil Novi #3
    The Kos’ciuszko Chair of Polish Studies Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Bulletin Number Three Fall 2003 On the Cover: The symbol of the KoÊciuszko Squadron was designed by Lt. Elliot Chess, one of a group of Americans who helped the fledgling Polish air force defend its skies from Bolshevik invaders in 1919 and 1920. Inspired by the example of Tadeusz KoÊciuszko, who had fought for American independence, the American volunteers named their unit after the Polish and American hero. The logo shows thirteen stars and stripes for the original Thirteen Colonies, over which is KoÊciuszko’s four-cornered cap and two crossed scythes, symbolizing the peasant volunteers who, led by KoÊciuszko, fought for Polish freedom in 1794. After the Polish-Bolshevik war ended with Poland’s victory, the symbol was adopted by the Polish 111th KoÊciuszko Squadron. In September 1939, this squadron was among the first to defend Warsaw against Nazi bombers. Following the Polish defeat, the squadron was reformed in Britain in 1940 as Royal Air Force’s 303rd KoÊciuszko. This Polish unit became the highest scoring RAF squadron in the Battle of Britain, often defending London itself from Nazi raiders. The 303rd bore this logo throughout the war, becoming one of the most famous and successful squadrons in the Second World War. The title of our bulletin, Nihil Novi, invokes Poland’s ancient constitution of 1505. It declared that there would be “nothing new about us without our consent.” In essence, it drew on the popular sentiment that its American version expressed as “no taxation without representation.” The Nihil Novi constitution guar- anteed that “nothing new” would be enacted in the country without the consent of the Parliament (Sejm).
    [Show full text]
  • Byelorussian Chronicle 1967 I. the International Scene *
    370 THE JOURNAL OF BYELORUSSIAN STUDIES Byelorussian Chronicle 1967 I. The International Scene I. GENERAL In May the Byelorussian delegate * to the United Nations L. Klackoŭ A Byelorussian delegation also took spoke at the General Assembly of the part in the sessions of the European need to grant immediate indepen­ Economic Commission of the United dence to South-West Africa. * Nations in Geneva. * In June a delegation, headed by A. Šeldaŭ, took part in the 51st session of On the 24th June the head of the the International Labour Organisation delegation to the United Nations A. in Geneva. Later in the year the Perm­ Hurynovič spoke at the General Assem­ anent Parliamentary Commission for bly in support of the Arab states in the Foreign Affairs (chairman L. Klackoŭ) Arab-Israeli armed conflict. He spoke recommended the Byelorussian Parl­ again in October in defence of the iament to ratify the ILO convention's economic interests of the nations resolution concerning the leisure time which had recently attained indepen­ of industrial workers. dence. II. INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGES T h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Soviet pavillion. The highlight of the day was a concert given by the famous From November to the end of Byelorussian State Folk Instruments December an exhibition of Byelorus­ Orchestra under the direction of sian books was held in the United professor I. Žynovič, the Female Folk Nations Library in New York. Song Quartet, the singers Tamara * Šymko, Tamara Nižnikava, Arkadź Saŭčanka, Viktar Vujacič, the ballet A r m e n i a dancers L.
    [Show full text]
  • According to Chaim Weizmann's
    Motal Pol. Motol, Bel. Моталь, [We] had our own house – one storey, with seven rooms and a kitchen some acres of land, chickens, two cows, a vegetable garden, a few – מאָטעלע .Yid fruit trees. So we had a supply of milk, and sometimes butter; we had fruit and vegetables in season; we had enough bread – which my mother baked herself; we had fish, and we had meat once a week – on the Sabbath. And there was always plenty of fresh air. Chaim Weizmann, Trial and Error. The Autobiography, Philadelphia 1949 Hebrew greeting ¶ Motal, the into the Slonim Province, then into the birthplace and childhood home of Lithuania Governorate, and from 1801, it Chaim Weizmann, the first president was made part of the Grodno Province of of Israel, is probably the only town in the Russian Empire. Belarus that has a sign with its name in Hebrew posted by the road leading out of The Jews of Motal ¶ In 1562, town. ¶ The earliest written mention of “a Jewish landlord and tax collector from Motal is found in the documents of the Kobryn Favish Yeskovich,” who leased Lithuanian Metrica from 1422, where the right to collect taxes on merchandise, it was referred to as a private estate in complained to Savostian Druzhylovitski the Principality of Pinsk. In 1520, it was that the ruler of the district did not allow the property of Prince Fyodor Ivanovich him to collect taxes in his town of Motal Yaroslavich, who later donated it to the and in the neighbouring villages. This Orthodox Church of the Assumption of document suggests that Jews collecting the Blessed Virgin Mary in Leszno.
    [Show full text]
  • Zapisz Jako PDF Otwiera Się W Nowym Oknie
    The Second Polish Republic Under the Sanaon Government (revision class) The Second Polish Republic Under the Sanaon Government (revision class) Lesson plan (Polish) Lesson plan (English) The Second Polish Republic Under the Sanaon Government (revision class) Children with flags during a ceremony Source: Dzieci z chorągiewkami podczas uroczystości, 1934, Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, domena publiczna. Link to the Lesson You will learn to define the effects of the May Coup D’État and the manifestations of the crisis of democracy; to describe the everyday life of students of the elementary schools in the Second Polish Republic; to characterize the strong and weak points of the economy and social life of the Second Polish Republic. Nagranie dostępne na portalu epodreczniki.pl Nagranie abstraktu In 1926, Józef Piłsudski decided to take the power with the use of armed force. Ignacy Mościcki assumed the office of President. The August Novelization of 1926 became a temporary solution. One of the first decrees to be issued was the appointment of the General Armed Forces Inspector (Polish acronym: GISZ). Józef Piłsudski was appointed for this office by Ignacy Mościcki. In 1935, the April Constitution was adopted, limiting the authority of the Parliament. During the campaign for the new term of the Sejm in September 1930, the opposition leaders were arrested. Some of them were forced to emigrate. The Brest elections of November granted the Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government (BBWR) 56% of the seats in the Sejm and almost 68% in the Senate. It was a result of a violation of democratic principles. The founding of the Bereza Kartuska prison in the 30s became a symbol of the Sanation’s activities.
    [Show full text]
  • 8. Regions and Regional Planning
    8. REGIONS AND REGIONAL PLANNING Spatial inequalities and regions at a glance The most sparsely populated area is Paliessie, which lies in the south. The only exceptions Whereas landscapes in Belarus change from within this area are the eastern and western gate- north to south (e.g. from the Belarusian Lakeland ways of Brest and Homieĺ, which are the admin- in the north to the Paliessie region in the south), istrative centres of the region. in terms of socio-economic development the Brest, which is the location of the largest country exhibits an east-west gradient as well border crossing in the west, is famous for its as regional differences that reflect centre-pe- fortress. The Bielaviežskaja Pušča National Park riphery disparities. Some of these inequalities near Brest is a World Heritage Nature Reserve. It can be traced back to the period when the coun- received this status as Europe’s largest primeval try’s western regions formed a part of Poland forest. The pride of the park is its population of (Kireenko, E.G. 2003). The east-west dichotomy bison. Brest is also renowned as the site of sever- is also apparent in the more industrialized nature al major historical treaties and events (the Brest of the eastern regions (Ioffe, G. 2004, 2006) and Union of 1596, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk of 1918, the richer cultural and architectural heritage of the defence of the Brest Fortress in 1941, and the western areas with their more favourable demo- graphics. Nevertheless, these differences are far less profound than those seen in Ukraine.
    [Show full text]
  • Migration and Forecast of the Radioactive Contamination of the Soil, Water and Air on the Territory of Belarus After the Accident at the Chernobyl Npp
    MIGRATION AND FORECAST OF THE RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION OF THE SOIL, WATER AND AIR ON THE TERRITORY OF BELARUS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AT THE CHERNOBYL NPP I.I. MATVEENKO, N.G. GERMENCHUK, E.D. SHAGALOVA XA9745811 Committee for Hydrometeorology, Minsk, Belarus O.M. ZHUKOVA Hydrometeorology Committee, Ministry for Emergencies and Protection of the Public from the Consequences of the Chernobyl Accident, Minsk, Belarus 1.INTRODUCTION The accident at the Chernobyl NPP is the largest technogenic accident of our epoch, the global consequences of which for whole manhind with the course of time will larger and larger significance. In spite of the fact, that the radioactive contamination owing to the Chernobyl accident affected the whole world, just Belarus was subjected to the most intensive radioactive contamination. In addition the radioactive contamination territory of Belarus more than 37 kBq/sq.m. by caesium-137 has made 23 % from the whole of the Republic. At the same time as a result of the Chernobyl accident, 5,0 % of a territory of the Ukraine and 0,6 % of Russia have been contaminated with radionuclides (fig.l). BELARUS UKRAINE RUSSIA Fig. 1 Areas in Belarus, the Ukraine and Russia with the density of caesium-137 pollution over 37 kBq/a^ (tile ratio to the total area of the countries territory). 64 By virtue of a primary direction of movement of air masses, contamination with radionuclides in the northern-western, northern and northern-eastern directions in the initial period after the accident, the significant increase of the exposition doze rate was registered practically on the whole territory of Belarus.
    [Show full text]
  • Institute of National Remembrance
    Institute of National Remembrance https://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/6946,Jaroslaw-Tomasiewicz-PhDquotThe-Jewish-Question-in-the-Political-Th ought-of-Oboz.html 2021-09-25, 16:18 20.01.2021 Jarosław Tomasiewicz Ph.D.,"The Jewish Question in the Political Thought of Obóz Narodowy (The National Camp) in 1939–1945" This article describes the attitude of the broadly understood National Camp 1 to the Jewish question under Nazi occupation. More specifically, it examines the nationalists’ point of view on the role and situation of the Jewish minority and their proposals for addressing this problem. This particular point of view was shaped by two main factors: the ideology/programme of the National Camp as formulated prior to the outbreak of World War II, and the dramatically different socio-economic and political circumstances which prevailed under occupation. This article examines the extent to which prior ideological and political assumptions remained unchanged by inertia, and how they were modified and revised. The key differences on the Jewish question between the individual nationalist groups should be distinguished. The Jewish Question in the 1930s The Jewish question was of great importance in Polish social and political life. In the interwar period, Poland was one of the largest global centres of the Jewish nation.2 The problem was complicated by the concentration of the Jewish minority within some branches of the economy.3 In 1931, out of 3,111,000 Jewish citizens, 1,140,000 lived from trade and credit; 52% of property commercial outlets and 40% of crafts businesses were owned by Jews; and in 1938, Jews constituted 34% of doctors and 53% of lawyers.4 These relations fuelled anti-Semitism based on the ethnic concept of the nation.
    [Show full text]