Polacy w Piotrogrodzie-Leningradzie w latach 1917–1941

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Polacy w Piotrogrodzie-Leningradzie w latach 1917–1941

Journal Title: Przegląd Wschodni - Year 2014, Vol 13, Issue 49

Abstract

St. Petersburg (Petrograd and later Leningrad) was a multi-ethnic city throughout its entire existence. After losing its status as the capital city in 1918, it became the second city of Soviet Russia and later the Soviet Union, but retained its mosaic of ethnic nationalities. It should be noted that from its founding, the number of Russian inhabitants in the city was stable and averaged 82-86% of the total population. The percentage of non-Russian inhabitants varied over the centuries between 6-18%, reaching its peak of 25% during the period of the First World War and the revolution. Among the most represented ethnic groups living in the city where: Germans, Finns, Swedes, Jews, Tatars, Estonians, Latvians and Poles, who left permanent footprints in the capital city on the banks of the Neva River. The article deals with the Polish community in St. Petersburg from the start of the October Revolution of 1917, up until the invasion of Nazi Germany on the USSR in 1941. Ethnic diasporas living in St. Petersburg possessed more or less favorable conditions for the realization of their national aspirations. Regardless of the changing and often restrictive ethnic policies of the Czarist government, it should be emphasized that objectively, Polish cultural life possessed rich traditions and was characterized by its great diversity of form. Various types of civic and religious institutions functioned, while educational, charitable or sportive organizations and associations were created. Libraries, national schools, social clubs, newspapers and cultural landmarks also existed. The situation in the city was significantly altered by the start of the First World War, the February Revolution and – most of all – the Bolshevik coup, which brutally influenced the life of diasporas, including that of the city’s Polish inhabitants. The Bolsheviks shortly began to realize their own conceptions of ethnic policy. During the first stage (by convention from 1917 to the mid-1930s), a policy of development and growth of ethnic minorities, and autochthonization of ethnic cadres was realized. In Leningrad, korenization resulted in the enrichment of the Polish ethnic diaspora’s cultural life in every aspect, something historically unprecedented. This also led to the growth of education in Polish and spread of Polish press publications. National education houses were founded, as well as national clubs, which were the principle entities involved in educational-cultural work. Under the patronage of the Polish Education House (Polski Dom Oświaty), various artistic, theatrical and literary circles (not to mention others) functioned. Nonetheless, it should be clearly underlined that the policies realized by the Bolsheviks ruled out any pluralistic world-view whatsoever and the growth of Polish national culture could not venture outside strictly defined ideological frameworks. The second stage of Soviet ethnic policy – encompassing the second half of the 1930s until 1939 – was characterized by a total break from the previously prevailing policy of korenization. The government moved away from the development of ethnic culture and replaced it with the total centralization and unification of all life. Stalin, paying heed to the danger of “local nationalism”, as well as triggering a psychosis of the threat of war from capitalist nations, initiated a series of repressive actions. In the mid-1930s, a witch-hunt was initiated against representatives of national minorities. Its climax occurred during the “Great Purge” and the tragic years of 1937 and 1938. In Leningrad, tens of thousands of people were executed, including many Poles – cultural activists, representatives of art and literature, party and national figures, as well as representatives of the intelligentsia, working class and kolkhozniks. The liquidation also involved the entire city’s church apparatus. All manifestations of religious life were targeted – seminaries were shut down, church schools and Polish cultural landmarks were nationalized, church property was confiscated and the clergy suffered persecution. Despite the many years of Stalinism, Polish culture survived on the banks of the Neva River and continues to thrive to this day.

Authors and Affiliations

Bartłomiej Garczyk

Keywords

Piotrogród Leningrad Polacy

EP ID EP333214
DOI -
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