Polski Związek Zachodni
The Polski Związek Zachodni (PZZ), in German Polish West Confederation, was founded in 1921 as the “Association for the Protection of the Western Territories” (Związek Obrony Kresów Zachodnich (ZOKZ)). In 1933 the name was changed to "Polski Związek Zachodni". The organization had set itself the goal of anchoring national-Polish thinking and the claim to areas beyond the existing western borders in the population. The organization was based in the city of Poznan . The organ of publication was the magazine Polska Zachodnia .
The work of the association was supported by the country's clergy. They emphatically approved the expulsion of Germans and Jews to Germany, so that these areas fell entirely to Catholicism. Traditionally, clergy took part in the organized uprisings and were later among the co-founders of the PZZ. The future Bishop of Kattowitz, Stanisław Adamski , who held a leading position in the PZZ after 1945, exposed himself in particular .
After the start of the war against Poland , the National Socialists began to eliminate the Polish intelligentsia. Those affected were people who were active in the socio-political field, including a. Union officials, officials of nationally -minded parties, including officials of the Polski Związek Zachodni.
Membership development
- 1923: 19.133
- 1924: 24.377
- 1925: 17,644
- 1926: 20,100
- 1927: 21,666
- 1928: 23,737
- 1929: 27.798
- 1930: 29.926
- 1931: 32.883
- 1932: 35,302
- 1933: 37.903
- 1934: 50.346
After the Second World War, the further development of the Polish concept of the West began with her .
literature
- Michał Musielak: Polski Związek Zachodni 1944–1950. Warsaw 1986.
Individual evidence
- ^ Georg W. Strobel: The Church of Poland, the social German syndrome and the role of both in the Sovietization of Poland. In: Hans-Jürgen Karp , J. Köhler: Catholic Church under National Socialist and Communist dictatorship. Germany and Poland 1939–1989. Böhlau, Köln / Wien 2001, ISBN 3-412-11800-1 , pp. 103-142, here p. 111.