An Excourse Into Polish History
![Switzerland](http://www.erepublik.net/images/flags_png/S/Germany.png)
HuCard
Now that the Polish takeover is nearing its end, it might be a good time to analyse how it has come to these hostilities between eGermany and ePoland instead of continuing to throw endless insults and accusations at each other.
While the countries in this eWorld may often be very different from their real counterparts (eNorth Korea would be a good example for this), it's undeniable that they and their citizens are still somewhat tied to their real histories. Nationalistic and patriotic mentalities are carried over from the real world into this one, old feuds between nations are continued within eRepublik, or solved in a most peaceful way.
Sadly, the relations between ePoland and eGermany fall into the former category. While the Poles officially claim the German invasion following the first Swedish one in 2008 to be the reason for their recent actions against this country, their motivation for their participation in the last war against the Germans and the recent political takeovers most likely roots not in this shallow conflict but rather in the Polish history and spirit.
For centuries, the relationship between Germans and Poland has been a rather hostile one. The first conflicts trace back to as early as the middle ages, with the German Teutonic Order in its expansion along the Baltic sea clashing many times with the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During the latter's civil wars in the 14th century, Jogaila, leader of one of the two warring factions and the rival of Vytautas, ascended to the Polish throne and secured Lithuania as a Polish vassal (albeit with great autonomy), eventually defeating the Teutonic Order in a united effort at the battle of Grünwald and putting and end to its aggressive stance.
For two hundred years, the two countries coexisted that way until their bonds were deepened by the signing of the treaty of Lublin in 1569 to form the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which thus became the largest state in Europe at the time. Poland got a large part of lands formerly subject to the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Polish culture and language spread all over the multinational realm (primarily as the standard for the nobility). The country was at the height of its glory, ruling many different regions, branding its mark onto vast territories, steadily prevailing against the constant threat of the Ottoman Empire in the south, even defeating Muscovy at one point and marching into Moscow after a successful war against the duchy. It was also marked by an early democracy, as it was basically a republic of the nobles being free to vote their king as they pleased, and its people were having a considerable amount of personal and religious freedom.
However, this golden age was not to last forever. Ignited by uprisings of Cossacks in what is today parts of Ukraine, the commonwealth entered a steady decline, becoming the victim of devastating wars with Sweden and Russia, having to yield the sovereignty over Prussia (which up to that point used to be a fiefdom of the Polish crown), and being increasingly subjected to foreign (primarily Russian) influence exploiting its democratic structure by bribing the high nobility, blocking reforms, and installing favourable rulers.
Eventually, this lead to the most humiliating "Partitions of Poland". Over the course of a few decades and in three steps, Prussia, Austria, and Russia systematically plucked apart the once so strong republic and absorbed it into themselves until at the dawn of the 19th century, no single speck land was left of it.
What followed was more than a century of constant oppression. With the exception from the somewhat lenient Austria, the Poles now subjects to Prussia and Russia had to endure uncountable attempts to destroy their identity and to assimilate them into their new, unwelcome homes. But even decade after decade the Polish people never gave up; they rose many times against their oppressors and facing the severe difficulties nonetheless upheld their culture and language.
And finally, after World War I their time had come again. Regaining their former core territories, a new Polish state was finally reinstated after the German and Russian empires fell. But far from peace, this young second republic had yet again to face the constant threats from either side.
In the short inter-war period, Poland had to fight a total of three wars, against Lithuania, Ukraine, and the Soviet Union, emerging successfully or at least favourably out of them all. The latter enemy once even almost pierced the heart of Warsaw, but was soon repelled all the way back to and past the borders. There were also still conflicts with the Weimar Republic, involving uprisings in Polish-dominated parts of Silesia which led to some of these regions eventually being given to Poland after some bloodshed. All while the entente never actually cared about this state they helped bring back, which after the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany now once again facing danger from both sides, lacking reliable allies and having nothing to depend on but its own strength.
However, this strength was not enough to face the twin attack of the Third Reich and the USSR. Breaching contracts with it, the Nazis attacked country on this very day 70 years ago and were soon joined by their Bolshevik allies as they had previously planned, to again destroy the Polish state and like a cake cut it in half to then devour it. Left alone by England and France, both unwilling to lift a mere finger, Poland bravely battled against the overwhelming forces rampaging through and violating its land from two sides at once, and after a month of holding out and fiercely resisting the cruel enemies, it fell and had to endure the crimes of both regimes massacring many of its people.
Yet still, the Poles did not give up any many times arose against their occupants, in one notable case in the ultimately futile uprising against the Nazis in Warsaw, where a small force held out for days against an overwhelming German enemy, left all alone by the Soviets camping but a few kilometres away from the city and, as their only intervention in the events, blocking aerial support from the other Allies.
After the Nazis had finally been defeated, and it should be noted that Polish forces, despite their understandable hatred for the communists, joined with the Red Army to defeat this villain, Poland was restored. At least superficially; de facto, the state that had been formed was but a satellite of the USSR, with a communist regime implanted against the will of its people, robbed of a sizeable part of its territory that got annexed by the Soviet Union (which it made up for by giving it West Prussian territories and expelling all the Germans there), and once again left to its fate by the other Allies. While it enjoyed a tiny bit of autonomy and possessed compared to other Soviet states a small degree of economic and social freedom, it still was sovereign in nothing but the name. Various puppet rulers assured Moscow's control, and ever so often uprisings by the Poles against the regime were bloodily suppressed, until finally a truly free Poland emerged in 1989.
The patterns visible here are ones of repeated oppression, incessant threats from every side, cruel violence committed by foreign powers, betrayal by allies, and a century-long struggle for Poland's bare survival. All these has definitely left an impression on Polish mentality, making them cautious and suspicious of other nations and understandably hostile towards Germany and Russia. The Poles were forced to develop a strong sense of nationality, one that we Germans these days could not even imagine.
Now, all this of course is carried over to a highly political game like this, and I'm sure there are quite a lot of ePolish citizens still bearing the century-old grudges against just as ancient former enemies. Their pride was once again attacked when eGermany conquered the country and even in this virtual world forced it into a time of foreign occupation, a move that most likely demonstrated the Poles that not even here they could live peacefully and without worry.
My point, which I will finally explain, is that this circle of aggression and spite must not continue for the greater good of both our countries. Why must we keep the wheels of hatred turning when this game gives us all a chance to start anew, to live in peaceful coexistence and not a meaningless permanent state of war?
Of course, ePoland siding with eSweden and then taking control of our congress was an unjust deed and should be condemned. But this should not be fuel to again enrage the flames of dislike, to paint our neighbours as mortal enemies till the end of time, not learning from history but allowing it to repeat itself forever.
We should start to forgive, to break out of this destructive circle and try to live in harmony, respect, and understanding.
(Should I have made any mistakes in this text or should I have misunderstood our eastern neighbours at some points, then I would be grateful if someone might point them out.)
(Keine deutsche Version dieses Mal; als ob ich jetzt noch einmal so einen riesigen Berg an Text schreibe.)
Comments
Boa, wasn Megatext. Auch noch auf englisch...
*Vielleicht* mache ich morgen auch noch eine deutsche Fassung, aber für heute hab' ich erst mal genug; das wird mir wahrscheinlich auch niemand verübeln.
I'm with you in your conclusion, but I still think we have to leave out the RL stuff as much as we can.
Und das bei dem Datum heute, eieiei...
Really good read and voted.
Why do you bother taking away a Canadian congressional seat when there are plenty of actual Canadians who should be doing the job instead?
I like it but you made some mistakes. Plus the poles are not easy to forgive as well.
'And finally, after World War II their time had come again'
'Alas, this strength was not enough to face the twin attack of the third Reich and the USSR'
They became a state again after World War 1 . And the 'T' should be capitalized in Third Reich.
HuCard, beim überfliegen ist mir ein "kleiner Fehler" aufgefallen.
Du suggerierst im folgendem Satz:
"The Red Army assured Moscow's control, and ever so often uprisings by the Poles against the regime were bloodily suppressed, until finally a truly free Poland emerged in 1989."
Daß bei den Unruhen/ "Aufständen" (wobei keiner mit den Ungarnaufstand 1956 vergleichbar ist) '56, '68, '70, '80 und '89 die "Rote Armee" in polen eingegriffen/ eingesetzt wurde. Das ist nicht ganz richtig. Alle diese "Zwischenfälle" wurden von der "polnischen Volksarmee"/ der Polize (in dem Fall vgl. mit BGS) niedergeschlagen. Aber das nur so neben bei.🙂 Die Polen werden sich über diesen Artikel freuen.🙂
@QGN: Oops, major mistake. I meant World War one and not two, sorry.
Not as severe a mistake as the one Herr Schmidt pointed out though, I'm really sorry. Thanks for telling me, I shall reword this. 🙁
Hm, schön zu lesende Geschichtsstunde aus der realen Welt... Aber der Erkenntnisgewinn für die eWelt bleibt doch ziemlich gering, finde ich. Dein Vorschlag am Ende ist doch auch nicht viel mehr als eine vielstrapazierte Phrase 😉.
you can start to forgive when you have prussia
"My point, which I will finally explain, is that this circle of aggression and spite must not continue for the greater good of both our countries. Why must we keep the wheels of hatred turning when this game gives us all a chance to start anew, to live in peaceful coexistence and not a meaningless permanent state of war?"
I hope this article got published in ePoland, too. I have yet to read anti ePolish propaganda based on real-life history. In fact, those kind of war mongers are solely amongst ePoland's citizens. The only aggression and strong feeling in eGermany is the desire of vengeance for the actions of the PTU. So what you do (with your last paragraph) is preaching to the choir.
Vote from Poland.
God art! Nice to know that there are people like you in Germany.
@ OcAirlines
Die "Erkenntnise"/ Informationen die man aus diesem Artikel gewinnen kann, sind auch auf die "neue Welt" übertragbar. Alleine unter dem Gesichtspunkt, alle Spieler sind reale Menschen und ob Sie es beabsichtigen oder nicht, eine Teil Ihrer persönlichen Einstellung aus dem realen Leben wird in dieses Spiel übertragen.
@ areqw: Believe me, there are more people like him in Germany then you think!
Pozdrowienia z niemiec, I.C.
Extra Fleißpunkt! ABER: Für das Spiel an sich irrelevant. Siehe keksjanik!
Oh eine Geschichtsstunde da kann ich Dir noch etwas Nachhilfe geben.
Die Phase zwischen den beiden Weltkriegen solltest du nämlich etwas genauer betrachten. Da griff Polen ALLE seine Nachbarn reihum an. Die Tschecheslowakei (der Konflikt wurde erst 1958! endgültig beigelegt), das deutsche Reich in Schlesien und in den Masuren (militärisch durch deutsche Freikorps abgewehrt) die sowjetisch besetzte Ukraine (die Gegenoffensive der Roten Armee führte dann bis nach Warschau und konnte nur mit massiver Hilfe der Briten und Franzosen gestoppt werden) und Litauen (da besetzte Polen ein gutes Drittel des Landes).
Ansonsten wie schon erwähnt wurde für das Spiel recht uninteressant ausser du hast hier vor die Geschichte "nachzuspielen".
@ Galvinie
Wollen wir ein paar Sachen aufrollen über die "bösen" Polen?
Zu der Tschechoslowakei:
Das umstrittene Gebiet (Zaolzie) wurde während des Polnisch-Sowietischen Krieges von der Tschehoslowakei vor den Sowiets und dem Chaos "gesichert".
Das "Deutsche Reich" war die Weimarer Republik. In die Aufstände in den von dir genannte Gebieten hat nicht das polnische Militär eingegriffen (Ausnahme 3. Schlesischer Aufstand). Zu Litauen, besser gesagt zu Wilno, der Hauptstadt Litauens (die zu der Zeit mehrheitlich Polnisch bewohnt war). Siehe es als eine "Sicherung" der polnischen Gebiete durch "Patrioten" (vrg. "DEUTSCHE FREIKORPS" in Schlesien u.Ä.).
@Schmidt
Das Deutsche Reich hieß damals Deutsches Reich nicht Weimarer Republik. Das ist lediglich ein Begriff der später eingeführt wurde.
Richtig diese polnische "Freiwilligenverbände" hatte genauso wenig mit der polnischen Armee zu tun wie die gegen sie eingesetzten Freikorps mit der Reichswehr. Wurden halt nur bezahlt, ausgerüstet und geführt von der jeweiligen Armee oh es gab keine offizielle Kriegserklärung und offiziell gab es auch keine Kampfhandlungen.
Die polnischen Truppen die in Litauen einmarschierten waren ganz reguläre Truppen unter General Żeligowski und besetzten ein bissel mehr als "nur" die litauische Hauptstadt Wilnus.
Das umstrittene Olsa-Gebiet wurde von der Tschehoslowakei völlig besetzt nachdem der polnische Versuch das tschechoslowakische zu besetzen gescheitert war. Aktion Reaktion.
Geschichte hat viele Facetten und jedes Volk hat seinen Dreck am Stecken ein gibt keine "bösen Polen und keine guten Polen". Ebenso keine "bösen Deutschen und keine guten".
Eine Diskussion die übrigens hier in diesem Spiel völlig sinnfrei ist. Da sollte man sich wohl lieber auf die eVergangenheit beschränken als Geister einer echten Vergangenheit versuchen zu beschwören.
Es ist ein edler gedanke Hucard.
Wir sollten beginnen zu vergeben.
Und ich seh es auch so das man als gute ebene das spiel dazu benutzen kann.
Vote ofc from PL
Wenn wir schon böse sein wollen, so könnte man sicherlich auch die Beteiligung an der Zerschlagung der Tschecoslowokei erwähnen, oder polnische Truppen in Kiew, bei der "von Meer bis zum Meer"- Aktion. Dann natürlich die Behandlung der weissrussischen und ukrainischen "Minderheiten" in Ostpolen wehrend der Zwischenkriegszeit. Polen ist genauso wie der Rest kein Kind von Traurigkeit gewesen. 😉
"We should start to forgive, to break out of this destructive circle and try to live in harmony, respect, and understanding."
We should abandon the notion that there should be world peace in this game. The game is anchored on war. The day that we achieve world peace the game dies.
At this point Germany should make the strategic decision to try to reconcile with Poland. The reason is that Poland is much stronger than Germany, and due to the significance of player age this imbalance of power is going to remain for a long time. If Germany is ever strong enough to take on Poland head on, you can still take sweet revenge.