National Populist Union
Encyclopedia
Związek Ludowo-Narodowy (National Populist Union) was a Polish political party of the National Democracy political camp, which functioned in the Second Polish Republic
. It gathered right-wing politicians with conservative and nationalist opinions.
In 1919-1926 the ZLN was successful in elections, but due to a lack of consensus with other parties it could not govern alone. It could only introduce single, well-qualified ministers (for example in financial, education or foreign affairs resorts) to the following governments after 1923 with the National Democrats and peasants (Chjeno-Piast). In presidential elections they nominated their own candidate, count Maurycy Zamoyski, as a counter-balance to the alleged freemason Gabriel Narutowicz
and Stanisław Wojciechowski, a worker of PSL “Piast” (the Polish People's Party “Piast”).
After the May Coup of 1926, the ZLN gradually lost significance as a result of repressions of the ruling Sanacja
regime. Internal conflicts and scissions occurred, additionally intensified by the repressions from the Sanacja regime. In 1928 the ZLN was transformed into the National Party
(Stronnictwo Narodowe).
). Wojciech Korfanty
became the president of the Ministers Club (Klub Poselski), whereas Stanisław Grabski, Konstanty Kowalewski and Józef Teodorowicz
became the vice-presidents. In February 1919, it was transformed into the National Parliamentary Populist Union (Związek Sejmowy Ludowo-Narodowy).
In January 1919, a group of National Democrats attempted a coup d’état to bring down the leftist government of Jędrzej Moraczewski
. Marian Januszajtis-Żegota
and Eustachy Sapieha
participated in this unsuccessful attempt.
On 16 January 1919, a non-partisan government arose with the ZLN’s representatives – Władysław Seyda (minister of “Prussian” district), Józef Englich (minister of finances), and reverend Antoni Stychel
(deputy speaker of the Polish Parliament). When in spring 1920 the situation on the front of the Polish-Soviet War
became critical, the ZLN attacked Piłsudski and became one of the inspirers of the creation of the Council of National Defense (Rada Obrony Państwa) with Roman Dmowski
as a member from the National Democracy.
At that time, the ZLN’s political manifesto can be concluded in a few points:
The National Democrats had very strong influences among insurgents from Greater Poland (Wielkopolska), but not too strong position in Congress Poland
(Kongresówka). Hence in January 1919, they decided to compromise with Piłsudski and to have a tolerant attitude towards government. When in summer 1920 the government of Wincenty Witos
came into being, it obtained the full support of the ZLN.
From the second half of 1921 to the beginning of 1922, the ZLN took opposition towards the Chief of State (Naczelnik Państwa) as well as the following centrist regimes – the political offensive of the ZLN began. Before the elections in 1922, a rightist Christian National Union (Chrześcijański Związek Jedności Narodowej) was created and was called Hyena by its opponents. It included: the Popular-National Union, the National Workers Party (Narodowe Stronnictwo Robotnicze), the Polish Christian-Democratic Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Chrześcijańskiej Demokracji) and the National Christian Peasant Party (Narodowo-Chrześcijańskie Stronnictwo Ludowe). It won 98 seats (22%) in the Sejm
(Polish Parliament) and 29 seats (26%) in the Senate
.
Later, during the session of the National Union, the “battle” for the Presidency took place. A nominee of National Democrats, Maurycy Zamoyski, was defeated by Gabriel Narutowicz
who was murdered a few days after his election by fanatical rightist supporter, Eligiusz Niewiadomski
.
took place, in which representatives of the ZLN, the Christian-National Labour Party (Chrześcijańsko-Narodowe Stronnictwo Pracy), and the PSL “Piast” participated. It was an agreement between right-wing and centrist parties in which things such as: issues of colonization on Eastern territory, assigning governmental portfolios exclusively for Poles, and settling accounts with the Left were regulated. The effect of this agreement was the so called Chjeno-Piast government which was created on 28 May 1923. It was headed by Witos and on the ZLN’s behalf. Stanisław Głąbiński, Marian Seyda and Wojciech Korfanty
were also in the government.
Foreign policy was based on a pro-French and anti-German attitude. In the East, there were ideas for the incorporation of territories of Western Ukraine, Western Belarus, and Wilno into Poland. The ZLN was for a nationalist Poland. Non-Poles were supposed to be 2nd-class citizens to the moment they underwent language and cultural assimilation
. The social basis of the ZLN was composed of:
Centers of National Democracy
On 13 November 1925, the Grabski government collapsed and was replaced by the Aleksander Skrzyński
's administration with representatives of the ZLN, the Christian Democracy (Chrzreścijańska Demokracja), the National Workers Party (Narodowa Partia Robotnicza), the PSL “Piast”, and the Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna). Jerzy Zdziechowski
(the minister of finance) and Stanisław Grabski (the minister of religion and education) both come from the ZLN.
In 1925, the ZLN defined its statute, in which it was said that only Poles who are Christians accepting the party's program, statute, regulations, and resolutions can be members of the ZLN.
On 10 May 1926, Witos’ third government was created, in which Zdziechowski and Grabski again acceded. Its activity was one of the reasons for Józef Piłsudski's May Coup. From 1926, as an answer to taking control by Sanacja (Piłsudski’s political movement), unity of Polish nationalist movements was postulated. However, some were becoming more and more radical. On 4 December 1926, the Camp of Great Poland (Obóz Wielkiej Polski) appeared. Its founders’ intention was to take the place of the ZLN.
On 7 October 1928, the ZLN dissolved itself because of the repressions from the Sanacja
regime and was replaced by the National Party
(Stronnictwo Narodowe).
The most important party institution was the Supreme Council (Rada Naczelna). During the second meeting it was stated that it consists of all ZLN representatives, 100 members chosen by Congress, and one delegate from each district. Later, the membership was slightly changed: 60 members chosen by Congress and 3 delegates from each district. The Supreme Council chose the Board of Directors, a governing board consisting of 5 members, which nominates president.
Newspapers that presented similar values as the ZLN were Gazeta Warszawska
(Warsaw Gazette), Przegląd Narodowy, Gazeta Poranna, Myśl Narodowa, and Słowo Polskie.
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...
. It gathered right-wing politicians with conservative and nationalist opinions.
In 1919-1926 the ZLN was successful in elections, but due to a lack of consensus with other parties it could not govern alone. It could only introduce single, well-qualified ministers (for example in financial, education or foreign affairs resorts) to the following governments after 1923 with the National Democrats and peasants (Chjeno-Piast). In presidential elections they nominated their own candidate, count Maurycy Zamoyski, as a counter-balance to the alleged freemason Gabriel Narutowicz
Gabriel Narutowicz
Gabriel Narutowicz was a Lithuanian-born professor of hydroelectric engineering at Switzerland's Zurich Polytechnic, and Poland's Minister of Public Works , Minister of Foreign Affairs , and the first president of the Second Polish Republic....
and Stanisław Wojciechowski, a worker of PSL “Piast” (the Polish People's Party “Piast”).
After the May Coup of 1926, the ZLN gradually lost significance as a result of repressions of the ruling Sanacja
Sanacja
Sanation was a Polish political movement that came to power after Józef Piłsudski's May 1926 Coup d'État. Sanation took its name from his watchword—the moral "sanation" of the Polish body politic...
regime. Internal conflicts and scissions occurred, additionally intensified by the repressions from the Sanacja regime. In 1928 the ZLN was transformed into the National Party
National Party (Poland)
Stronnictwo Narodowe was a Polish political party formed on 7 October 1928 after the transformation of National Populist Union. It gathered together most of the political forces of Poland's National Democracy right-wing political camp. SN was one of the main opponents of the Sanacja regime...
(Stronnictwo Narodowe).
Genesis
The ZLN as a political party was being formed since December 1918. Back then, shortly before the elections, the National Election Committee of Democratic Parties (Narodowy Komitet Wyborczy Stronnictw Demokratycznych) arose composed of the National Democracy (Narodowa Demokracja), National Unity (Zjednoczenie Narodowe), the Christian Workers' Party (Chrześcijańskie Stronnictwo Robotnicze) and the Polish Progressive Party (Polska Partia Postępowa). During the elections in 1919 this alliance obtained 109 mandates (most of the ministers were from Greater PolandGreater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...
). Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty , born Adalbert Korfanty, was a Polish nationalist activist, journalist and politician, serving as member of the German parliaments Reichstag and Prussian Landtag, and later on, in the Polish Sejm...
became the president of the Ministers Club (Klub Poselski), whereas Stanisław Grabski, Konstanty Kowalewski and Józef Teodorowicz
Józef Teodorowicz
Józef Teodorowicz Հովսէպ Թեոֆիլ Թեոդորովիչ was the last Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Lviv. Most of his family were of Armenian origin and had lived centuries in Poland....
became the vice-presidents. In February 1919, it was transformed into the National Parliamentary Populist Union (Związek Sejmowy Ludowo-Narodowy).
Beginnings
The ZLN was established in May 1919 at the 1st Congress of the National Populist Union. At the beginning, the ZLN was a federation of political parties, but in summer 1919 secessions in the National Populist Union occurred. The Christian-National Workers Club (Chrześcijańsko-Narodowy Klub Robotniczy) split away. Thus, the ZLN changed its character and became a homogeneous group. This was confirmed during the 2nd Congress in October 1919.In January 1919, a group of National Democrats attempted a coup d’état to bring down the leftist government of Jędrzej Moraczewski
Jedrzej Moraczewski
Jędrzej Moraczewski was a Polish socialist politician who served as first Prime Minister of Poland , from November 1918 to January 1919....
. Marian Januszajtis-Żegota
Marian Januszajtis-Zegota
Marian Józef Januszajtis-Żegota was a Polish military commander and politician...
and Eustachy Sapieha
Eustachy Sapieha
Eustachy Kajetan Sapieha was a Polish nobleman, prince of the Sapieha family, politician, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, and deputy to the Polish parliament ....
participated in this unsuccessful attempt.
On 16 January 1919, a non-partisan government arose with the ZLN’s representatives – Władysław Seyda (minister of “Prussian” district), Józef Englich (minister of finances), and reverend Antoni Stychel
Antoni Stychel
Antoni Stychel was a Polish priest, member of parliament, president of the Union of the Catholic Societies of Polish Workers .- References :...
(deputy speaker of the Polish Parliament). When in spring 1920 the situation on the front of the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
became critical, the ZLN attacked Piłsudski and became one of the inspirers of the creation of the Council of National Defense (Rada Obrony Państwa) with Roman Dmowski
Roman Dmowski
Roman Stanisław Dmowski was a Polish politician, statesman, and chief ideologue and co-founder of the National Democracy political movement, which was one of the strongest political camps of interwar Poland.Though a controversial personality throughout his life, Dmowski was instrumental in...
as a member from the National Democracy.
At that time, the ZLN’s political manifesto can be concluded in a few points:
-
- Nationalism
- Unity of the nation
- Elimination of class divisions
- Germany as a main threat to Poland
- Restrain the expansion in the East
- Private-capitalistic economy, objection to governmental interfering, support for worker’s insurance and land reform, and opposition against coercive land distribution
- Continuation of Polish religion and national traditions
- Significant position of the Catholic Church
- Reinforcement of parliament and reduction of presidential powers
The National Democrats had very strong influences among insurgents from Greater Poland (Wielkopolska), but not too strong position in 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...
(Kongresówka). Hence in January 1919, they decided to compromise with Piłsudski and to have a tolerant attitude towards government. When in summer 1920 the government of Wincenty Witos
Wincenty Witos
Wincenty Witos was a prominent member of the Polish People's Party from 1895, and leader of its "Piast" faction from 1913. He was a member of parliament in the Galician Sejm from 1908–1914, and an envoy to Reichsrat in Vienna from 1911 to 1918...
came into being, it obtained the full support of the ZLN.
From the second half of 1921 to the beginning of 1922, the ZLN took opposition towards the Chief of State (Naczelnik Państwa) as well as the following centrist regimes – the political offensive of the ZLN began. Before the elections in 1922, a rightist Christian National Union (Chrześcijański Związek Jedności Narodowej) was created and was called Hyena by its opponents. It included: the Popular-National Union, the National Workers Party (Narodowe Stronnictwo Robotnicze), the Polish Christian-Democratic Party (Polskie Stronnictwo Chrześcijańskiej Demokracji) and the National Christian Peasant Party (Narodowo-Chrześcijańskie Stronnictwo Ludowe). It won 98 seats (22%) in the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
(Polish Parliament) and 29 seats (26%) in the Senate
Senate of Poland
The Senate is the upper house of the Polish parliament, the lower house being the 'Sejm'. The history of the Polish Senate is rich in tradition and stretches back over 500 years, it was one of the first constituent bodies of a bicameral parliament in Europe and existed without hiatus until the...
.
Later, during the session of the National Union, the “battle” for the Presidency took place. A nominee of National Democrats, Maurycy Zamoyski, was defeated by Gabriel Narutowicz
Gabriel Narutowicz
Gabriel Narutowicz was a Lithuanian-born professor of hydroelectric engineering at Switzerland's Zurich Polytechnic, and Poland's Minister of Public Works , Minister of Foreign Affairs , and the first president of the Second Polish Republic....
who was murdered a few days after his election by fanatical rightist supporter, Eligiusz Niewiadomski
Eligiusz Niewiadomski
Eligiusz Niewiadomski was a Polish modernist painter and art critic who belonged to the right-wing National Democratic Party till 1904 and later continued supporting it. In 1922 he assassinated Poland's first President, Gabriel Narutowicz.-Life:Niewiadomski was born into a family of gentry descent...
.
1923-1928
On 17 May 1923, the signing of the so called Lanckorona PactLanckorona Pact
Lanckorona Pact was an agreement between Polish center and right wing parties on 17 May 1923 in Warsaw.The politicians of those parties agreed to pursue stricter polonization policies and to...
took place, in which representatives of the ZLN, the Christian-National Labour Party (Chrześcijańsko-Narodowe Stronnictwo Pracy), and the PSL “Piast” participated. It was an agreement between right-wing and centrist parties in which things such as: issues of colonization on Eastern territory, assigning governmental portfolios exclusively for Poles, and settling accounts with the Left were regulated. The effect of this agreement was the so called Chjeno-Piast government which was created on 28 May 1923. It was headed by Witos and on the ZLN’s behalf. Stanisław Głąbiński, Marian Seyda and Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty , born Adalbert Korfanty, was a Polish nationalist activist, journalist and politician, serving as member of the German parliaments Reichstag and Prussian Landtag, and later on, in the Polish Sejm...
were also in the government.
Program
In the years 1923-1926, ZLN activity was based on two simultaneously realizing political concepts:-
- activities proceeding to renew and preserve the centro-rightist governmental coalition
- preparing action of taking power by force
Foreign policy was based on a pro-French and anti-German attitude. In the East, there were ideas for the incorporation of territories of Western Ukraine, Western Belarus, and Wilno into Poland. The ZLN was for a nationalist Poland. Non-Poles were supposed to be 2nd-class citizens to the moment they underwent language and cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
. The social basis of the ZLN was composed of:
-
- city dwellers (mainly bourgeoisie, lower middle class, intelligentsia),
- workers from Łódź,
- landed gentry
Centers of National Democracy
-
- PomeraniaPomeraniaPomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
(Pomorze) - Greater Poland (Wielkopolska)
- WarsawWarsawWarsaw 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...
- SilesiaSilesiaSilesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
- Pomerania
Further activity
On 26 October 1924, the 4th ZLN Congress was organized, at which postulates on the development and reinforcement of the party, and the increase of discipline inside the party appeared. Workmen and country departments were created in order to increase the number of supporters. It was decided that if they come to power, communists will be deprived of a passive voting rights. The Supreme Council (Rada Naczelna) was chosen (Stanisław Głąbiński became its president) and a Board of Directors (Zarząd Główny) consisting of 30 members. Decisions of the Congress were the results of pro-fascist tendencies that appeared in the ZLN – from November 1923, a conflict occurred because Prime Minister Grabski tried to accommodate the atmosphere by negotiating with the national minorities.On 13 November 1925, the Grabski government collapsed and was replaced by the Aleksander Skrzyński
Aleksander Skrzynski
Aleksander Józef Skrzyński |Galicia]] – 25 September 1931 in Łąkociny near Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland) was a Polish politician who served as the country's prime minister from 1925 to 1926...
's administration with representatives of the ZLN, the Christian Democracy (Chrzreścijańska Demokracja), the National Workers Party (Narodowa Partia Robotnicza), the PSL “Piast”, and the Polish Socialist Party (Polska Partia Socjalistyczna). Jerzy Zdziechowski
Jerzy Zdziechowski
Jerzy Zdziechowski was a Polish politician, economist and economical activist, author of economical works....
(the minister of finance) and Stanisław Grabski (the minister of religion and education) both come from the ZLN.
In 1925, the ZLN defined its statute, in which it was said that only Poles who are Christians accepting the party's program, statute, regulations, and resolutions can be members of the ZLN.
On 10 May 1926, Witos’ third government was created, in which Zdziechowski and Grabski again acceded. Its activity was one of the reasons for Józef Piłsudski's May Coup. From 1926, as an answer to taking control by Sanacja (Piłsudski’s political movement), unity of Polish nationalist movements was postulated. However, some were becoming more and more radical. On 4 December 1926, the Camp of Great Poland (Obóz Wielkiej Polski) appeared. Its founders’ intention was to take the place of the ZLN.
On 7 October 1928, the ZLN dissolved itself because of the repressions from the Sanacja
Sanacja
Sanation was a Polish political movement that came to power after Józef Piłsudski's May 1926 Coup d'État. Sanation took its name from his watchword—the moral "sanation" of the Polish body politic...
regime and was replaced by the National Party
National Party (Poland)
Stronnictwo Narodowe was a Polish political party formed on 7 October 1928 after the transformation of National Populist Union. It gathered together most of the political forces of Poland's National Democracy right-wing political camp. SN was one of the main opponents of the Sanacja regime...
(Stronnictwo Narodowe).
Structure
The regional structure of the party consisted of:-
- regional administrations,
- district boards electing district administrations,
- rural (communal) and urban units with a president or a board headed by a president.
The most important party institution was the Supreme Council (Rada Naczelna). During the second meeting it was stated that it consists of all ZLN representatives, 100 members chosen by Congress, and one delegate from each district. Later, the membership was slightly changed: 60 members chosen by Congress and 3 delegates from each district. The Supreme Council chose the Board of Directors, a governing board consisting of 5 members, which nominates president.
Newspapers that presented similar values as the ZLN were Gazeta Warszawska
Gazeta Warszawska
Gazeta Warszawska was the first newspaper published regularly in Warsaw for an extended period of time. Founded in 1774, it remained active under a variety of names until 1935...
(Warsaw Gazette), Przegląd Narodowy, Gazeta Poranna, Myśl Narodowa, and Słowo Polskie.