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Union of Poles in Germany (Bund der Polen in Deutchland e.V.) is an organisation of the Polish minority in Germany, founded in 1922. The union initiated collaboration between other minorities, including Sorbs, Danes, Frisians and Lithuanians.

The union was intended to express views of Polish minority in Germany, partly native population of the former Polish provinces (Upper Silesia, East Brandenburg, Pomerania, East Prussia) - mostly farmers and workers, and partly Polish immigrants in Ruhr area. This base of union was calculated on 1.500 000 people. However, Polish minority was legal only in Upper Silesia where they possessed international status due to Treaty in Versailles. In other areas Poles were subject of assimilation policy and denial of existence.

In Nazi Germany Poles faced new menace: they found under growing pressure of the state and unification of the country. Poles outside of the Upper Silesia were forced to declare German nationality, activists of the union were subject of persecutions. However, the union was kept legal in hope to avoid revenge on German minority in Poland.

The leaders of the union found it necessary to invent new symbols for the union to avoid the possibility that Poles would adhere to new “national” symbols: German greetings and German swastika.

This lead to invention of new symbols for the union. The symbol of the union was the Rodło - a stylized representation of the Vistula river. The reason for its adoption was that the Polish national symbol, the White Eagle, was not allowed by Prussian law. The Nazi swastika provided an inspiration for the Poles's own alternative symbol that was designed to be challenge for Nazi Germany.

It was created by the graphic designer Janina Kłopocka, who made a rough sketch of "the emblem of the Vistula river, cradle of the Polish people, and royal Kraków - the cradle of Polish culture". The white emblem was placed on a red background to emphasize the solidarity with the Polish nation and its soul.

WW2 and after

Even before the invasion of Germany on Poland, the minority members were deported to concentration camps; some were executed in Piasnica mass murder site. The union was delegalised.

Members of minority were subject of obligatory military service in German Wehrmacht. In 1945 most of areas populated by Poles were located inside new Polish borders Oder-Neisse line. It is calculated that out of 3500 000 population remaining in Poland, more then 1500 000 belonged to Polish minority. Theoretically, they should be granted unconditionally Polish citizenship. Nevertheless, many of them faced difficulties to be recognised by Communist authorities as Poles. Moreover, along with most of Poles, they also shared outrage for communist ideology of the new government and the communist as people. Unlike most of Polish society, the native Poles sometimes had no other association with Poland then official communism. This lead sometimes to crises of identity among native Poles.

Timeline

• Aug 27 1922 founded in Berlin
• 1933 adopted Rodlo as symbol to challenge Nazis.
• March 6 1938 The first congress in Berlin. Adopted 5 rules for Poles
• September 1 1939 the union was made illegal by the Nazis and 1200 activists sent to concentration camps.
• 1945 reactivated.

5 rules for Poles

Original Polish version "1. Jesteśmy Polakami, 2. Wiara ojców naszych jest wiarą naszych dzieci, 3. Polak Polakowi Bratem, 4. Co dzień Polak narodowi służy, 5. Polska jest Matką naszą - nie wolno mówić o Matce źle."

1. We are Poles 2. The faith of our Fathers is the faith of our children 3. All Poles are brothers 4. Every day is service for the nation 5. Poland is our mother and it is not allowed to crtiticise your mother.

Presidents

• 1922-1931: Stanisław Sierakowski
• 1931- April 1939: Bolesław Domański
• April 1939 - September 1939: S. Szczepaniak
• 1950-1964: S. Szczepaniak
• 1964-1969: J. Styp-Rekowski
• 1970-1988: E. Forycki
• 1988-1991: T. Wesołowski
• 1991-1993: S. Jabłoński
• 1993-1997: T. Hyb
• 1997-  : J. Młynarczyk

Press

• "Dziennik Berliński", "Polak w Niemczech", "Mały Polak w Niemczech", "Gazeta Olsztyńska", "Mazur", "Głos Pogranicza", "Kaszub", "Dziennik Raciborski", "Ogniwio" and other.

Link

• Union of Poles in Germany

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