Polish History in a Nutshell
Polish History in a Nutshell, The history of Poland is one full of changing borders. Over the centuries, Poland lost and regained territories, was a major component of several empires, and controlled varying territories, ranging from the Baltic sea coast to what is now considered Ukraine. This has also had an impact on Poles, as the history of emigration is connected to these historical events. If you’re curious about the history of Poles, not only in eastern Europe but their wider emigration, it helps to understand the key turning points in Polish history. In this guide, we want to provide a quick overview of such moments. The First Polish RepublicThe Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth ruled from 1569 to 1795. Retroactively referred to as the first Republic of Poland, this was a multi-ethnic federation of some 12 million people although, as the original name suggests, Lithuanian, Ruthenian and Polish people were central to the Empire’s running. Geographically, the Commonwealth ruled over a portion of Eastern and Central Europe. Its territory covered most of what is now Poland, as well as what we now know as Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus. The majority of modern day Ukraine, as well as elements of Estonia and Russia, were also included. At its peak, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth covered some one million square kilometers. The First Polish Republic came to a close in the mid 1700s, when it was eventually partitioned by the rivaling Russian Empire, German Kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy. Failed uprisings and the Great EmigrationIn the subsequent period, Poland’s population would be separated and ruled by Russia, Germany and Austria. However, this was not without its share of conflict and attempted revolution. The period between the First and Second Republic of Poland is most notable for two key uprisings against the Russian Empire: The November Uprising occurred between 1830 and 1831. Sometimes also called the Polish-Russian War, this was a failed attempt at Polish independence.The January Uprising was a similar failed attempt that took place in 1863.Due to the aftermath of these events, and a fear of oppression from the dominant Russian forces, many of Poland’s political elite, as well as army officers and other Polish political activists, left Poland. It’s estimated that at least 30,000 moved to new countries during this time, which came to be known in the history of Poland as “the Great Emigration”. Polish History in a Nutshell The Second Polish RepublicUp until World War I, Poland continued to be occupied by the empires of Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary. However, the war itself was brutal for Polish society, as Polish soldiers were found in German and Austrian-Hungarian forces on the side of the Central Powers, as well as in the Russian forces amongst the Allies. The aftermath of World War I saw both the Austrian and Germany empires defeated, and their territories were divided by the Allies. Likewise, the Russian Empire collapsed in its own civil war, freeing Polish territories. This foreign intervention saw Poland’s independence restored as the Second Polish Republic, but the borders are not the same as Poland today. Some parts in the north remained under East Prussia, while some of the modern western borders, such as Wroclaw, remained under German rule. However, this Polish state also included territories as north as Vilnius (now part of present day Lithuania) while its southern and eastern borders included parts of what is now Ukraine. In terms of landmass, the Second Polish Republic covered some 389,000 square kilometers and was home to 35 million inhabitants by 1939.
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