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Offline Asid

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100 Years of Polish Independence
« on: November 10, 2018, 02:25:02 PM »
100 Years of Polish Independence



2018 marks the the centenary of the state of Poland regaining its independence. Following the First World War and after spending 123 years divided amongst the three neighbouring powers, Poland regained its sovereignty on 11 november 1918.


Timeline
•   1772 - 1795 Poland is partitioned between Prussia, Russia and Austrian and disappears from the map
•   1914 - 1918 World War I
•   1918 - Independent Polish state restored
•   1939 - Poland invaded by Nazi Germany and The Soviet Union
•   1945 - World War II end. Poland loses territory to the Soviet Union but gains some from Germany
•   1947 - Poland becomes a Communist People's Republic after Soviet-run elections
•   1989 - Round-table talks between Solidarity, the Communists and the Catholic Church ahead of partially free elections
•   2004 - Poland joins the EU


Multimedia Show /100 years of Polish Independence / Daniel Stryjecki




Significance of the date

The restoration of Poland's independence was gradual. 11 November date chosen is the one on which Marshal Józef Piłsudski assumed control of Poland. The holiday was constituted in 1937 and was celebrated only twice before World War II. After the war, the communist authorities of the People's Republic removed Independence Day from the calendar, though reclamation of independence continued to be celebrated informally on 11 November. The holiday was officially replaced by the National Day of Poland's Revival as Poland's National Day, celebrated on 22 July anniversary of the communist PKWN Manifesto under Joseph Stalin. In particular, during the 1980s, in many cities, including Warsaw, informal marches and celebrations were held, with the outlawed Solidarity Movement supporters participating. Typically these marches were brutally dispersed by the communist militarized police forces, with many participants arrested and often tortured by the security police. During this time the 11 November Independence Day marches, alongside the Constitution Day on 3 May celebration gatherings, also banned by the communist authorities, were the customary dates of demonstrations by the opponents of the communist regime. As Poland emerged from communism in 1989, the original holiday—on its original 11 November date—was restored.

The date corresponds to the date of other countries' Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, or Veterans Day. All of these holidays and Polish Independence Day are indirectly related because they all emerged from the circumstances at the end of World War I. In other countries, holidays were established in the spirit of grief and horror at the enormous human cost of the war, and they mark the sacrifices of those who fought. For Poland, however, the tragedy of the war was tempered by what had been accomplished at its end: the restoration of a sovereign Polish state that had been lost entirely in the partitions of Poland, after 123 years of struggle. The Polish holiday is therefore simultaneously a celebration of the reemergence of a Polish state and a commemoration of those who fought for it.

Historical meaning

Crucial to restoring independence was the defeat in the war of all three of the occupying powers. Russia was plunged into the confusion of revolution and civil war, Austria-Hungary disintegrated and went into decline, and the German Empire bowed to pressure from the forces of the Entente. For Poles, this was a unique opportunity to reclaim their independence.

Following the defeat of the occupying forces, the Poles seized military and civil power, building the foundations of their future state. On 28 October 1918 the Polish Liquidation Commission was formed in Kraków. The Commission seized power from the Austrians in Galicia and Cieszyn Silesia. A few days later they succeeded in disarming the Austrian forces using members of the secret Polish Military Organisation as well as legionnaires and young people. On the nights of 6 and 7 November the Provisional Government of the People's Republic of Poland was formed in Lublin under the supervision of Ignacy Daszyński. The government was made up of representatives from the Polish Socialist Party (PPS), the Polish Social Democratic Party (PPSD) and the Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" (Liberation). At the same time the Government troops disarmed the occupying forces around the city of Kielce and Lublin. It was at this point that the country's future head of state, Józef Piłsudski, returned to Poland after incarceration by the Germans. His 10 November arrival in Warsaw was enthusiastically met by the population of the capital and saw the mass disarmament of the occupying forces across the whole of Poland. Piłsudski assumed authority on 11 November, forming a new centralized government and soon calling parliamentary elections.



Polish Independence Day: Art tells one family's story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-15575842


New passport design for the centenary of independence

The Polish Security Printing Works is designing a new type of visa pages to be used in passports issued by the Republic of Poland. The document is meant to refer graphically to an important anniversary – the centenary of Poland’s regaining its independence.


Photocopy of Wojciech Korfanty French passport, issued under the name of Albert Martin in 1939.
Author: Czesław Datka
Source: National Digital Archives


Citizens themselves, in a vote, will be able to choose the designs that will be used in the new passports. Soon a social campaign will be launched that will encourage Polish people to participate in this poll.

Passport with a newly designed pages will come into the hands of citizens in the year 2018.

More on the Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Independence_Day_(Poland)
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Offline Lusik

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Re: 100 Years of Polish Independence
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2018, 06:11:32 PM »
Many thanks for sharing this Asid.


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Offline Skoop

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Re: 100 Years of Polish Independence
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2018, 07:49:24 PM »
I dig it, as a polish American, my ancestors immagrated here in the 1920s.  Even thought I'm really only an eighth polish, my surname is a classic polish name so I always made a point to follow the history of the homeland. 

Also, don't  forget the polish army victory over Bolshevik invasion at the battle of Warsaw in the 1920s.  It was a big part of proving to the world their right to sovernty, much like the war of 1812 was for the U.S.
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Offline zap

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Re: 100 Years of Polish Independence
« Reply #3 on: December 14, 2018, 10:19:56 PM »
So proud of my Poland. Polish American here 2nd generation my Grand mother came here in the 40ties
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Offline Oleg

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Re: 100 Years of Polish Independence
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2018, 01:31:17 PM »

Also, don't  forget the polish army victory over Bolshevik invasion at the battle of Warsaw in the 1920s.  It was a big part of proving to the world their right to sovernty, much like the war of 1812 was for the U.S.

In September 1939, the Bolsheviks took revenge. In the future, the Bolsheviks and restored the Polish state in its current borders. I think you remember that too.
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