Wielkopolska Uprising

Poland has a complicated history. Poles had to fight for freedom many times in more than 1000 years of their state's history. Unfortunately, there were only a few situations, when they won. One of them is Wielkopolska Uprising, which happened in 1918-1919.

In the 18th century there was a huge political and economical crisis in Poland. This central-european country was subordinated to Russia, one of a country's neighbour. Also other neighbours - Austria and Prussia were very strong countries. This three states decided to eliminate Poland and divide its territory between themselves.

Poles didn't have a country from 1795 to 1918, but the nation stood the test of time and using the help of the president Wilson after the First World War announced the independence. Originally, in 1918 Poland received small territory, but in 1919-1921 it was extending. This broadening of the borders was mainly caused by people who lived in Wielkopolska Region, which capital is Poznań.

They wanted to annex Greatpoland to new Poland and they needed to fight with German Empire, because the first decision was, that this region had to be a part of Germany. They were preparing for the Uprising for many years. It began in the 19th century, when Poles from German Empire cared about polish culture, business and education. The most important thing in these times was to bring up children in polish tradition and using polish language at homes.

During the First World War a lot of Poles fought in the armies of the countries, who occupied Poland since the 18th century. They got a lot of experience and knowledge about war. This fact turned out to be very helpful during the preparation for Wielkopolska Uprising. Polish organizations in Greatpoland also worked with e.g. teenagers, especially scouts, who wanted to fight in Wielkopolska Uprising.

The situation in 1918 was comfortable. German Empire and Austria-Hungary lost the war and Russia had a domestic problem with Bolshevism. Poles decided to announce independence on the 11th of November 1918. However, Greatpoland was still a part of Germany. It was time to begin Wielkopolska Uprising. An inflammatory spark of this event was Ignacy Jan Paderewski's visit in Poznań. He was a Polish pianist and politician, one of first polish prime ministers after the First World War.

Wielkopolska Uprising began on the 27th of December 1918. Soldiers very quickly overcame Poznań and the closest towns. The German army however, after first shock, fought better and better and there were some problems, especially near the borderlines. But finally the Greatpoland army won and this region became the part of Poland.

There are some interesting facts about Wielkopolska Uprising. First, Poles very quickly created an army of about 100 thousands soldiers. On the 6th of January 1919 insurrectionists captured Airport Ławica (today Henryk Wieniawski Poznań-Ławica Airport). On this airport, Germans had planes, which cost about 200 million German marks. And all of it became this battle’s war loot. In the opinions of some historians it was the biggest war loot in the history of polish army.

Wielkopolska Uprising was one of the most important historical events in the history of Poznań and Wielkopolska. There are many monuments, which commemorate it. In the most glamorous place of Poznań, the Old Market Square there is an interesting museum of Wielkopolska Uprising. Today, local authorities plan to make a film and a board game about it.