The only successful Polish Rising - 1918/19, Wielkopolska

I have checked with Search, there is no thread about Powstanie Wielkopolskie, Greater Poland Rising, in 1918/19.
Yesterday they celebrated the 90th anniversary of the only successful Rising in Poland.

The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918-1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918-1919 (Polish: powstanie wielkopolskie 1918-19 roku; German: Großpolnischer Aufstand) or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region (also called the Grand Duchy of Poznań or Provinz Posen region) against Germany. The uprising had a significant effect on the Treaty of Versailles, which granted Poland the area won by the insurgents plus some additional territory.

The uprising broke out on 27 December 1918 in Poznań after a patriotic speech by Ignacy Paderewski, a famous Polish pianist. The timing of the uprising was fortuitous, as between October 1918 and the first months of 1919, internal conflict had weakened Germany, with soldiers and sailors rebelling against the monarchy and its hawkish generals. Demoralised by the signing of an armistice on November 11, 1918, Germany was embroiled in the German Revolution.

By 15 January 1919, the rebellious Polish forces managed to take control of most of the Province of Posen, and engaged in heavy fighting with the regular German army and the forces of the Grenzschutz, up until the renewal of the truce between the Entente and Germany on 16 February, which affected the Wielkopolska or Posen Province part of the front line. Skirmishes continued, however, until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Poland_Uprising_(1918%E2%80%931919)

Paderewski arrives in Poznań.



Fights in the city

Fights in the Poznań--



Fighting in trenches. Similarly to Warsaw Rising, Poles were using German equipment.

They didn`t get one bridge too far.

Insurgent troops liberate Polish towns

They paid a price. About 2000 insurgents were killed. Here, the funeral of some of them.

But casualties didn`t discourage others. Volunteers joined insurgent troops en masse...





powstaniewielkopolskie.pl/index.php?menu=historia

The medal for brave participation
Officers who led the Rising
Major Stanisław Taczak
General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki
Colonel Andrzej Kopa
Anniversary ceremonies near the monument in 2007
Reconstructions

Photos from here: cswl.mil.pl/index.php/powstanie-wielkopolskie-1918/#more-131

In my opinion three Silesian uprisings (1919, 1920, and 1921) against the German authorities were successful for Poland too.
At least the 1921 insurrection.

IMHO all polish uprisings, not only against Germans were very fruitfull for Poles. All of them contributed alot in Polish self-awareness as europe sufferer.

Took you that long to come up with such a cheap comment?
Well let me reply:
How fast the memory of the 1990ties fades away. You forgot when you commiebastards crowded the streets in Poland begging for food? Selling cheap vodka and cigaretes to make a cheap rubel! And making eyes like a starving dog to get a bułka? History repeates and god beware it goes not for the 1920s or 1610s historic relationships between our countries. Once you burned the last drop of oil, or maybe, hopefully so, the chinese will kick your ass out of sibiria once they have the capability to destroy flying missiles of yours.

Two of my great-grandfathers participated in this rising. I must say that I am surprised of the level of recognition of this event from "Warsaw". Usually there were more concentrated on the rising in the part of Poland occupied by the Russians. Quite a refreshing change I must add.

Yes, sorry, I forgot about them. Probably because they were on a smaller scale than Wielkopolskie Rising.


Yes. I would only correct your last sentence - not as Europe`s sufferer but contributed a lot to raising general Polish awareness.
E.g., in 1830s, there was a danger that Poles would finally adapt to Russian rule, that they will like it as it was. The November Rising of 1830/31 was needed to abolish this national self-complacency, to shatter the opinions and beliefs that it was possible to live under Russian rule. Poles had to start loathing Russia in order to be a free nation again. And Russians, with their persecutions after all Risings, certainly made it easier for Poles.

Without those Risings, Poles would be like Belarussians or East Ukrainians today - Russianised Poles. :):):)


The same things could and can be said about Poles who go the the West, this is the sad truth, did you forget Poles who went to West Berlin to sell vodka and eggs in late 1980s??? . If you are too young to remember these times, listen to the song Berlin Zachodni by Big Cyc.

leoslyrics.com/big-cyc/berlin-zachodni-lyrics

So that's why there's lots of flags in Poznań flying...and why there's candles/flags/etc on Wrocławska.

Oh Pawian! I am just looking at the photographs you have sent. Are these people in front of memorial tablet real modern brave polish soldiers ? My God!

Especially I was shocked to see horsemen with lances....Do you still use them in armory?

You got the point, Kostik.
They look much better than Vova's valonki-GIs lol.

Yes. They are much more reliable and practical than Russian submarines. Polish horses ride well while Russian subs.... you know...

Much more effective than Red Army peasant infantry :)

But where is a squadron of hussars with famous sabres? We have alot of tanks for them.

Please, stop flaming and try to remain on topic.
Thank you.

Rising was organized by sane people when proper moment came. You can win much if romantic delusion is rejected. According to the art of war, one should never start a war that hardly could be victorious. Polish elites often forget about this rule and sacrificed life of many Poles without any sense.