Article
English, Russian, Ukrainian
ID: <
oai:doaj.org/article:b3c5789f692d46a9a4671f73bec91f5c>
·
DOI: <
10.31652/2411-2143-2022-40-51-58>
Abstract
The article is aimed at studying the development of the Polish national movement in Galicia during the First World War. Methods of research: analysis, synthesis, generalization, problem-chronological, historical and systemic. The scientific novelty: for the first time in domestic historiography, the genesis of the Polish national idea in Galicia in 1914-1918 and the activities of local Polish politicians for its implementation were comprehensively investigated. The results: Thanks to the liberal political regime of Austria-Hungary, the Polish national movement of Galicia in the late nineteenth century - early twentieth century. achieved significant results. Therefore, the Polish political elite saw (at the beginning of World War I) a chance to liberate Polish lands from the Russian Empire and restore its national state. According to most representatives of the Polish national movement, the achievement of this goal should be based on support and close alliance with the Habsburg monarchy. As a result, all Polish parties in Galicia and their representatives in the Vienna Parliament solemnly sided with Austria and the Fourth Union in the world conflict. At the first stage of the world war, Polish society of the region enthusiastically supported Austria-Hungary and helped to form national units within the Austrian army - the Polish legions. The situation has undergone a dramatic change after the signing of the Fourth Union of the Treaty with the Ukrainian People's Republic. The secret addition to this document provided for the division of Galicia by nationality. This undermined the trust of Polish politicians and society in Vienna. In addition, American President W. Wilson in January 1918 in his "14 theses" guaranteed the restoration of the Polish state with access to the sea. With the entry into the war of the United States on the side of the Entente, the Quadruple Alliance almost lost the chances of a military victory. Therefore, at the end of 1918, the Polish political elite of Galicia realized the need to unite in order to rebuild the Polish state within the borders of 1772 without the support of the Quadruple Union.