Second Polish Republic
The Polish state re-established in 1918 after more than a century of partition. It lasted until Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland in 1939.
Partitions of Poland: Three partitions between 1772 and 1795 divided the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. They erased Polish statehood for more than a century before its restoration.
March Constitution: The Polish constitution adopted in March 1921, establishing a parliamentary republic with a strong legislature. It defined the republic’s original system of government.
Roman Dmowski: A Polish nationalist politician and diplomat who advocated an independent Poland and represented Polish interests at the Paris Peace Conference. His national-democratic vision rivaled Piłsudski’s approach to rebuilding Poland.
Invasion of Poland: The German and Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939, which ended the country’s independent government on its territory. The invasion brought the Second Polish Republic to an end.
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth: A federal state formed by Poland and Lithuania in 1569 that lasted until the partitions of the late eighteenth century. It was the earlier Polish state whose loss shaped later ideas of national restoration.
World War I: A global war fought from 1914 to 1918, ending with the defeat of the Central Powers and the collapse of several empires. Its outcome dismantled the empires that had partitioned Poland.
May Coup: A military coup in Poland in May 1926, led by Józef Piłsudski, that displaced the parliamentary government. It ended the republic’s first phase of parliamentary rule.
Ignacy Jan Paderewski: A Polish pianist, composer, and statesman who served as prime minister in 1919 and promoted Polish independence abroad. His international standing helped secure support for the restored state.
Polish government-in-exile: The Polish government established abroad after the 1939 defeat, which continued to claim legal authority over Poland during the war. It preserved the republic’s state continuity outside occupied Poland.
Second Polish Republic and Polish People's Republic: A comparison of interwar Poland’s political system with the communist state established after the Second World War. The postwar republic differed in sovereignty, political institutions, and its relationship with the Soviet Union.