The Partitions of Poland: Anti-Polonism
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The Partitions and Divisions of Poland: Anti-Polonism Anti-Polonism: an irrational or malicious hostility toward Poles as a nation or as a cultural community
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Transcript of The Partitions of Poland: Anti-Polonism
The Partitions and Divisions of Poland:
Anti-PolonismAnti-Polonism: an irrational or malicious hostility toward Poles as a nation or as a
cultural community
Poland: A Free State
966-1386 Kingdom of Poland
1386-1795 Polish–Lithuanian union &
later the Polish–Lithuanian
Commonwealth1648-1720 Uprisings, invasions
1720-1764 Increasing corruption
1764 Reforms began
Poland: A Free State
The First Partition1772
Reforms led neighboring countries (Russia, Prussia, &
Austria) to interfere
Interference caused nobles to rebel
Rebellion gave Russia, Prussia, & Austria an excuse to
partition parts of Poland supposedly to restore order
The First Partition1772
The First Partition1772
The First Partition1772
The Second Partition1793
Constitution of May 3, 1791 – brought more reform
After adoption of Polish Constitution, Russian army
invaded Poland (1792).
Prussia then also invaded (1793).
Second partition:
Without Austrian participation
Only central section of Poland left independent, and that
under Russian control.
The Second Partition1793
The Second Partition1793
The Second Partition1793
The Third Partition1795
After the Second Partition, Poland’s size was so reduced that the economy was ruined.Support for a national uprising grew significantly (1793)
Thaddeus Kosciusko led Polish forces but eventually was wounded and captured (1794).
The uprising and the conservative rulers' reaction to the French Revolution led to the final partition.
All of Poland was divided among Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
The Third Partition1795
The Third Partition1795
The Third Partition1795
The 1800sNapoleon’s conquest of Europe gave the Polish new hope for a country.
1807: Duchy of Warsaw established1809: Duchy expanded1815: Congress of Vienna returned the partitions
1830: November Uprising1863-1864: January Uprising
Partition meant SuppressionIn both the Russian and Prussian (later German) partitions, Poles subject to discrimination and culture suppressed.
Russia:Polish culture, religion vs. Russian imperial ambitions
Anti-Polish campaign
Nobles' property confiscated
Catholic religion vs. OrthodoxPolish schools and universities closed
Executions, mass deportations
Prussia (then Germany):
Forbidden to build homesProperties targeted for forced buy-outsPolish language banned from publicChildren tortured at schools for speaking Polish
Subjected to forceful eviction
End of World War I brought change
Central Powers' surrender to Allies – ends empires of Germany & Austro-Hungary
Chaos of Russian Revolution – end of Russian Empire
Treaty of Versailles
End of World War I brought change
These events led to Poland's full independence
after 123 years.
1918-1919: Polish Republic founded
However…
World War II: More Change
August 23, 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
August 28 Secret extra information added to it
September 1 Nazi Germany attackedPoland – World War II began
September 17 Red Army crossed the eastern Polish border
World War II:Partition & Anti-Polonism
1939 Poland divided
again1939-1945 German hostility:
Ethnic Poles and Jews diein concentration camps
1940-1945 Soviet hostility:Mass deportations andexecutions of Poles
Post-World War II1945 WWII Ends: Poland united again1945-1989 Soviet Domination: People’s Republic
of Poland
Since 1989 Republic of Poland; free elections
