Polish uprisings (1794-1944) mostly had the common denominator that they were neither prepared nor supported from the outside. And that the enemy was stronger, and the uprisings usually ended in defeat and repression. There are respective glorious exceptions to this unfortunate principle, and these are uprisings in Wielkopolska and Silesia.
Good time to blow up.
The time of the outbreak of the Wielkopolska Uprising (end of December 1918) distinguishes them in plus from another Polish uprisings. The fight began erstwhile Germany was defeated in the large war, and in addition it was overrun by revolution (first the monarchy was overthrown and later the social-democrats fought against the communists of the Spartacus Union).
If the same uprising had erupted six months earlier (while Germany was a loser but inactive a power) it would have just been drowned in blood. If it blew up six months later... it wouldn't be much of a reason to detonate after the peace agreement was concluded in Versailles.
The very beginning of the fights in Poznań was spontaneous (and provoked by the behaviour of the Germans, who committed anti-Polish demonstrations during I.J. Paderewski's visit to the city), but the ultimate People's Council besides had a network of agents throughout Wielkopolska, who rapidly and efficiently gave the state a combat slogan. Poles utilized the origin of surprise and numerical advantage (except for the surroundings of Bydgoszcz and Piła, they constituted a large majority in the region).
Good import commander
The first leader of the uprising was S. Taczak (a erstwhile German Army captain, promoted by the NRL to major), an energetic officer, but until now commanding a battalion (i.e. having under the orders of respective 100 men). In general, the Wielkopolska army suffered from shortages of officers, due to the fact that unlike in the Austrian or Russian army, Poles mostly did not receive specified promotions.
Poznań's NRL so requested assistance from the Polish authorities in Warsaw, and the Warden of State (J. Piłsudski) appointed General J. Dowbor Muśnicki – a erstwhile general of the Russian army as commander of the Greater Poland uprisings. There is simply a explanation that Piłsudski – a erstwhile associate of the left-wing PPS – did not like like the endections (dominating in Poznań) of specified erstwhile Czaric officers, deliberately appointed this commander hoping for his failure. Anyway, Dowbor proved to be a good leader, gaining designation of his expertise in Wielkopolska.
Already in mid-January 1919, volunteer insurgent troops were converted into a regular army (with uniform command and forced recruits). By the end of the month, it counted respective tens of thousands of people and fought on 3 fronts: northern (where the German bastion was Bydgoszcz), confederate (where Germany had a garrison in Leszno) and western (from Frankfurt and Berlin). Only the east border (with the erstwhile Russian partition) was free from fighting, where since autumn 1918 the Polish state already existed.
Good abroad Relations
The Wielkopolska Uprising besides had something that another Polish uprisings lacked – effective support from 3rd countries. In this peculiar case, it was diplomatic, not military, but it was decisive. Well, in mid-February 1919 (when the wave of the revolution in Germany had already subsided, and the German chief of command was transferred to Kołobrzeg) under force of France the German truce with Ententa was extended to the Wielkopolska front as well. This meant that until the peace conference, the majority of the regions would stay under the authority of Poles (since January 1919 the NRL began to make Polish administration in Wielkopolska).
The Treaty of Versailles (signed at the end of June 1919) granted Poland a immense majority of the erstwhile Poznań state (including Bydgoszcz and Leszno, occupied by Poles in 1920), with the exception of cuts in the north and west (Piła, Międzyrzec, Wschowa). If not for the success of the uprising, the border line would most likely be little advantageous for Poles.
As early as early July 1919, the customs border between Wielkopolska and Poland was abolished, the NRL was dissolved in August, setting up the Ministry of the erstwhile Prussian territory in exchange, and the end of August 1919 incorporated the Wielkopolska army into the ranks of the WP. All of this meant that the region was actually incorporated into the Polish state.
It is interesting that Wielkopolska's six-year (January – August 1919) was actually an autonomous state with temporary status. The NRL exercised power in this transitional country, and it fell out in that function exemplary.
It's gonna be a good one, due to the fact that it's gonna be a winning one.
The Wielkopolska Uprising 1919 is in Polish past a uncommon example of the victorious uprising (other specified uprising broke out in the same region in 1806, but was part of the Napoleonic run of France against Prussia). This success consisted of: the right minute of explosion, good command, yet abroad intervention.
Unfortunately, the victorious uprising occupies far besides small space in Polish historical policy (compared to the Warsaw uprising, which ended in a bloody defeat and demolition of the city). Let us besides remember the winnings, due to the fact that they deserve it. And let us draw conclusions that made sense and that made little sense.
Michał Wirtel
