1196 | 201 | Poles of Lithuania – The orphans of the great shift | Karol Kaźmierczak
Poles in Lithuania are Old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealths heirs. Between XIV-XVIII century in Vilnius (Wilno) region proces of massive assimilation had proceeded. After union with Kingdom of Poland incoming Poles introduced new cultural patterns which turned out to be very attractive to the local Baltic and Ruthenian population. Process of adopting the Polish culture and language in the region of Vilnius involved the nobility, the bourgeoisie, and the broad masses of the peasantry. The latter often adopted Polish culture and national identity after the collapse of the old Commonwealth, during the rule of the Russian Empire, when the Polish national declaration meant rather a disadvantage than an asset. This process was very extensive and lead to creation of what can be called the historical “north-eastern Polish belt”-a belt of densely populated Poles stretching from the borders of present-day Poland, through Vilnius (Lithuania) to the region of Daugavpils (Latvia). In XX century Wilno region became object of new Lithuanian nation territorial claims, despite the fact, that majority of inhabitants was Polish. This caused political and military conflicts between two nations, which also occurred under Third Reich and Soviet Union occupation, during World War Two and Cold War. 1945 meant great shift of Polands borders, which moved to the West, leaving Vilnius region (and its Polish inhabitants) within the borders of the USSR. During the USSR collapse there was an activation, national mobilization of Lithuanians and local Poles. Lithuanians made effective efforts to secede their republic from the USSR. The Poles put forward a program of national-territorial autonomy within the new Republic of Lithuania, which was politically suppressed by the Lithuanian elites. In the conditions of the new unitary, ethnocratic state, the Polish minority feels discriminated. It tries to defend its interests with a relevant ethnic party – Electoral Action Poles of Lithuania.
Karol Kaźmierczak
Fundacja Kompania Kresowa (Borderlands Company Foundation)
ID Abstract: 201