Wladyslaw Studnicki
Encyclopedia
Władysław Gizbert-Studnicki, a Polish politician and publicist, was born in 1867 in Daugavpils
(Latvia
) and died in 1953 in London
. Throughout his life, Studnicki was famous for his strongly pro-German stance.
His political career started in late 19th century in the Socialist organization Proletariat, for which Russian authorities sent him to Siberia
. After returning to Poland, he became activist of Polska Partia Socjalistyczna (Polish Socialist Party), but left it, choosing the national movement, in which he was the main ideologist. However, unhappy about pro-Russian program of the nationalists, deserted them and in 1904 wrote a book “From Socialism to Nationalism”, in which Studnicki explained reasons for change of his ideals.
In 1910 he authored another publication “Polish Case” in which presented the need of reconstruction of Poland, based on support from Germany
and Austria-Hungary
. Also, at that time Studnicki came up with a concept which stipulated changing the dual, Austro-Hungarian Empire into the Austrian-Hungarian-Polish federation. He was strongly anti-Russian, emphasizing that Russian Empire occupied 80% of the territory of the 1772 Rzeczpospolita
(see: Partitions of Poland
).
In the course of time, Studnicki became one of the most important pro-German politicians in Poland. On May 10, 1916 he met Hans von Beseler, a Governor of the Congress Poland
, to whom he presented a project of an independent Poland, with eastern borders on the Dvina
and Berezina rivers and western borders as for 1914, leaving Poznan
, Bydgoszcz and Upper Silesia
in German hands. Later, he became member of the Temporary Council of State, a German-sponsored government, existing in Warsaw
in the years 1916–1918.
In the Second Polish Republic
Studnicki devoted his time to writing. He authored a number of books, among them “Political System of Europe and Poland” (1935), “A Question of Czechoslovakia and Polish Raison d’Etat” (1938) and, finally “Facing the Oncoming Second World War” (1939) in which he correctly assessed and anticipated the events of the conflict.
In October 1939, after Polish September Campaign, Studnicki wrote a memo to the Germans in which he emphasized the necessity of recreating the Polish Army, which, allied with the Wehrmacht
, would free the nations of the Soviet Union
. In January 1940 he issued an appeal to the German Government, protesting against policies of Nazi administration in occupied Poland. All of his appeals were ignored, and later Studnicki was imprisoned by the Germans in Warsaw’s infamous Pawiak
prison. He died in London in 1953.
Daugavpils
Daugavpils is a city in southeastern Latvia, located on the banks of the Daugava River, from which the city gets its name. Daugavpils literally means "Daugava Castle". With a population of over 100,000, it is the second largest city in the country after the capital Riga, which is located some...
(Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) and died in 1953 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Throughout his life, Studnicki was famous for his strongly pro-German stance.
His political career started in late 19th century in the Socialist organization Proletariat, for which Russian authorities sent him to Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. After returning to Poland, he became activist of Polska Partia Socjalistyczna (Polish Socialist Party), but left it, choosing the national movement, in which he was the main ideologist. However, unhappy about pro-Russian program of the nationalists, deserted them and in 1904 wrote a book “From Socialism to Nationalism”, in which Studnicki explained reasons for change of his ideals.
In 1910 he authored another publication “Polish Case” in which presented the need of reconstruction of Poland, based on support from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Austria-Hungary
Austria-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...
. Also, at that time Studnicki came up with a concept which stipulated changing the dual, Austro-Hungarian Empire into the Austrian-Hungarian-Polish federation. He was strongly anti-Russian, emphasizing that Russian Empire occupied 80% of the territory of the 1772 Rzeczpospolita
Rzeczpospolita
Rzeczpospolita is a traditional name of the Polish State, usually referred to as Rzeczpospolita Polska . It comes from the words: "rzecz" and "pospolita" , literally, a "common thing". It comes from latin word "respublica", meaning simply "republic"...
(see: Partitions of Poland
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...
).
In the course of time, Studnicki became one of the most important pro-German politicians in Poland. On May 10, 1916 he met Hans von Beseler, a Governor of the Congress Poland
Congress Poland
The Kingdom of Poland , informally known as Congress Poland , created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna, was a personal union of the Russian parcel of Poland with the Russian Empire...
, to whom he presented a project of an independent Poland, with eastern borders on the Dvina
Dvina
Dvina may refer to:* Daugava river, also known as "Western Dvina", a river in Russia, Belarus, and Latvia.* Northern Dvina, a river in northern Russia.* R-12 Dvina, a theatre ballistic missile from the Soviet Union....
and Berezina rivers and western borders as for 1914, leaving Poznan
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...
, Bydgoszcz and Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
in German hands. Later, he became member of the Temporary Council of State, a German-sponsored government, existing in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
in the years 1916–1918.
In 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...
Studnicki devoted his time to writing. He authored a number of books, among them “Political System of Europe and Poland” (1935), “A Question of Czechoslovakia and Polish Raison d’Etat” (1938) and, finally “Facing the Oncoming Second World War” (1939) in which he correctly assessed and anticipated the events of the conflict.
In October 1939, after Polish September Campaign, Studnicki wrote a memo to the Germans in which he emphasized the necessity of recreating the Polish Army, which, allied with the Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
, would free the nations of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In January 1940 he issued an appeal to the German Government, protesting against policies of Nazi administration in occupied Poland. All of his appeals were ignored, and later Studnicki was imprisoned by the Germans in Warsaw’s infamous Pawiak
Pawiak
Pawiak was a prison built in 1835 in Warsaw, Poland.During the January 1863 Uprising, it served as a transfer camp for Poles sentenced by Imperial Russia to deportation to Siberia....
prison. He died in London in 1953.