1차 세계대전과 폴란드

World War I and Poland

The modern history of Poland is undoubtedly tragic, filed with incessant occupations and repressions. However, the main cause of the tragedy was Poland's geopolitical situation in Europe at that time, not the historical and political errors of politicians or some 'Polish' weakness as many westerners have thought. Poland who situated in the centre of Europe for about 200 years, till the end of World War I, swept away and suffered severe ordeals by violent militaristic waves from their eastern and western neighbours. Sometimes Germany was more destructive, sometimes Russia. When the two countries joined, the agony of Poles reached to the summit. We can see in the history of the world that many nations under occupations collaborated with their occupants and were easily assimilated by them. Poles did not. Even during the dark and sad times they never gave up hopes of independence and liberty. Poles had ceaselessly struggled for their fatherland against the occupants at home and abroad, and they resurrected after the end of World War I. Unfortunately the external conditions, especially the collapse of Germany, Russia and Austria - the occupants of Poland - had the greatest influence on the rebirth of Poland. After the World War I, when Poles got back their liberty, they were not yet ready to run their country in harmonious and effective way. That was the reason why they failed to achieve national unity and solidarity and fell into antagonism and conflicts among political parties. In consequence, they also could understand exactly the international situations after the World War I, especially in Germany and in Russia. Poles soon had to pay for their own mistakes. At that time they even could not imagine how much it would cost. Poland was completely devastated again by Nazism and Bolshevism during the World War II. World War I is very important in the history of Poland. This paper tires to show its real meanings in the history of Poland, through detailed examine of the general situations of Poland before and after World War I.