Republic of Ostrów
Encyclopedia
The Republic of Ostrów was a short-lived autonomous republic
in the Ostrów Wielkopolski
(Poland) area. The republic, declared on 10 November 1918, had the goal of liberating Poles from the German Empire
and specifically Prussia. It was formed about a month before the Greater Poland Uprising
.
was partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria
during the 18th century. In the second partition, the Greater Poland
region, including the town of Ostrów were annexed by Prussia. Throughout the 19th century and into the start of the 20th, the town and the region were a center of Polish independence movement.
in the First World War, as well as the dissolution of the Russian Empire
following the Russian Revolution, raised the possibility that after 123 years of partition, an independent Polish state could be restored. While the Second Polish Republic
was established in early November, the territorial question of the Greater Poland region remained unresolved. As a consequence, various Polish organizations began planning for an armed uprising to ensure that the area would become part of the new Polish state.
, urged Polish citizens to take up arms against the German Soldier's Council. However, the Citizens' Committee was hoping for a non-violent resolution of the conflict and Dr. Aleksander Dubiski, who had been elected as the "Marshal
" of the gathering, urged the crowd to issue a general proclamation
which stated:
The following day Polish controllers were introduced into German administrative offices with the power to counter-sign any orders issued by German authorities and the local Landrat was removed from power. The following day the insurrectionists took over the garrison, together with its arms supply, as well as all the other significant public buildings in the city. The 1st Regiment of Polish Infantry, under the leadership of Władysław Wawrzyniak
, was formally sworn in.
Throughout November German newspapers reported on the creation of the republic in revolutionary Berlin.
The soldiers of the 1st Regiment and other organizations made their way to the territory of Second Polish Republic
in nearby Szczypiorno
and Kalisz
where they rejoined similar insurrectionist formations. The general Greater Poland Uprising started about a month later in Poznań
. On December 31, 1918 the 1st Regiment under Wawrzyniak returned to Ostrów and liberated it.
There is also a book by Zenon Dykcik titled Republika Ostrowska: Przyczynek do historii powstania wielkopolskiego, 1918-1919.
Autonomous republic
An autonomous republic is a type of administrative division similar to a province. A significant number of autonomous republics can be found within the successor states of the Soviet Union, but the majority are located within Russia. Many of these republics were established during the Soviet...
in the Ostrów Wielkopolski
Ostrów Wielkopolski
Ostrów Wielkopolski is a town in central Poland with 72,360 inhabitants , situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship; the seat of Ostrów Wielkopolski County.-History:Recently, a small fortified dwelling dating from the 10th century was discovered on the north-east side of...
(Poland) area. The republic, declared on 10 November 1918, had the goal of liberating Poles from the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
and specifically Prussia. It was formed about a month before the Greater Poland Uprising
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
.
Background
The Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
was partitioned by Russia, Prussia and Austria
Partitions of Poland
The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, resulting in the elimination of sovereign Poland for 123 years...
during the 18th century. In the second partition, the Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
region, including the town of Ostrów were annexed by Prussia. Throughout the 19th century and into the start of the 20th, the town and the region were a center of Polish independence movement.
End of German rule
During the autumn of 1918 the imminent defeat of Germany and Austria-HungaryAustria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
in the First World War, as well as the dissolution of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
following the Russian Revolution, raised the possibility that after 123 years of partition, an independent Polish state could be restored. While the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
was established in early November, the territorial question of the Greater Poland region remained unresolved. As a consequence, various Polish organizations began planning for an armed uprising to ensure that the area would become part of the new Polish state.
Formation of Citizens' Committee
In Ostrów a Citizens' Committee was formed by local Poles in September of 1918, which then prepared for a takeover of the city's administration. After the outbreak of revolution in Germany, local German workers began to form their own committees and a Soldiers' Council was created on November 10th among the German troops stationed locally but without the inclusion of any Poles. On the same day however the Poles in Ostrów created two organizations of their own: the People's Committee and the youth group Emergency Communication Services. The 1st Regiment of Polish Infantry also joined the spontaneous uprising in the city.Unilateral declaration of independent republic
On the same day around thousand people gathered in the local "Catholic House". There Włodzimierz Lewandowski, a soldier in the LandwehrLandwehr
Landwehr, or Landeswehr, is a German language term used in referring to certain national armies, or militias found in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. In different context it refers to large scale, low strength fortifications...
, urged Polish citizens to take up arms against the German Soldier's Council. However, the Citizens' Committee was hoping for a non-violent resolution of the conflict and Dr. Aleksander Dubiski, who had been elected as the "Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
" of the gathering, urged the crowd to issue a general proclamation
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
which stated:
- Over a thousand soldiers and citizens of all classes have decided unanimously today that, according to the Wilson PlanFourteen PointsThe Fourteen Points was a speech given by United States President Woodrow Wilson to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918. The address was intended to assure the country that the Great War was being fought for a moral cause and for postwar peace in Europe...
recognized by all fighting nations, the city and county of Ostrów constitutes Polish territory, which belongs to the Nation of Poland. We express our sympathy for the movement for freedom of our German co-citizens. Until the Polish People's Republic finally takes over the government, this Polish committee considers itself to be the only legitimate authority.
The following day Polish controllers were introduced into German administrative offices with the power to counter-sign any orders issued by German authorities and the local Landrat was removed from power. The following day the insurrectionists took over the garrison, together with its arms supply, as well as all the other significant public buildings in the city. The 1st Regiment of Polish Infantry, under the leadership of Władysław Wawrzyniak
Władysław Wawrzyniak
Władysław Wawrzyniak was a Polish military commander, holding the rank of major.Władysław Wawrzyniak was born in 1890 in the Polish village Antonin in the German Province of Posen. He finished the Gymnasium in Ostrów and studied law at the Universities of Munich and Breslau...
, was formally sworn in.
Throughout November German newspapers reported on the creation of the republic in revolutionary Berlin.
End of republic
On November 26th the armed Polish units were disbanded under pressure from the Naczelna Rada Ludowa, which claimed authority over the entire pro-Polish movement in Wielkopolska; the NRL felt it was too early for such an insurrection against the Germans. The Polish Citizens' Committee signed an agreement with the German Soldiers' CouncilThe soldiers of the 1st Regiment and other organizations made their way to the territory of Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
in nearby Szczypiorno
Szczypiorno
Szczypiorno is a municipal neighbourhood of the city of Kalisz, Poland. Formerly until 1976 a separate village at the outskirts of the city, it is best known as a seat of a World War I and Polish-Bolshevist War prisoner of war camp and the name-sake for szczypiorniak, the Polish language name for...
and Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
where they rejoined similar insurrectionist formations. The general Greater Poland Uprising started about a month later in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. On December 31, 1918 the 1st Regiment under Wawrzyniak returned to Ostrów and liberated it.
Modern media interpretation
In 1985 a TV series about the republic was made and in 1986 a movie called Republika Nadziei (The Republic of Hope) was released.There is also a book by Zenon Dykcik titled Republika Ostrowska: Przyczynek do historii powstania wielkopolskiego, 1918-1919.