Manifesto of the People’s Government of the Republic of Poland
107th anniversary of proclamation of Manifesto

Headed by Ignacy Daszyński as Premier, the Provisional People’s Government of the Polish Republic was established on November 7, 1918 in Lublin by a group of independence-oriented Leftist activists (PPS, PSL Wyzwolenie). This Government did not however attain a nation-wide reach, and functioned alongside other power centres, among them the Polish Liquidation Commission in Galicia....

The Massacre of Warsaw's Praga District (4 November 1794)
Russian cruelty and barbarity towards civilians

On November 4, 1794, one of the most tragic events in Polish history unfolded in Warsaw’s Praga district. The assault by Russian troops under Alexander Suvorov’s command led not only to the collapse of the city’s right-bank defenses and the defeat of the Kościuszko Uprising, but also to a massacre of civilians. Within hours, thousands...

Polish War Cemeteries in Italy
Soldiers of the Polish II Corps Fallen on Italian Soil in the Fight for Poland's Freedom

There are four war cemeteries in Italy commemorating the participation of the Polish II Corps in the Italian campaign. The largest necropolis is in Bologna, where the unit fought its last battle and ended its campaign in 1945. The others are located in Casamassima and Loreto and – the most famous – on the Monte...

Józef Piłsudski: The Father of independent Poland
(5 December 1867 – 12 May 1935)

A soldier, strategist, and statesman, he enjoyed immense authority among his compatriots. As Marshal of Poland, he became a symbol of the fight for freedom. Józef Piłsudski is still considered a national hero, and his influence extended far beyond the country’s borders, influencing the fate of Europe as well. by Grzegorz Barański   The road...

Wincenty Witos: The peasant leader of Poland
(21 January 1874 – 31 October 1945)

Three-time prime minister and leader of the peasant movement, Wincenty Witos was one of the most distinguished statesmen of the Second Polish Republic. Born into a poor peasant family, he rose to the heights of power through his own hard work and determination, never losing touch with his origins. Witos earned a place in Polish...

Zbigniew Herbert: The Poet of Burning Verses
(29 October 1924 – 28 July 1998)

He was one of the most important Polish poets and writers of the 20th century, with his works translated into dozens of languages. His nonconformist stance during the totalitarian regime in the Polish People’s Republic became a point of reference for independent circles. Despite his outstanding artistic achievements and international recognition, he remained very private....

Olga Boznańska: The painter of souls
(15 April 1865 – 26 October 1940)

Olga Boznańska is one of the most important artists of the 19th and early 20th Century, famous for her original style and boundless devotion to art. She was born in Krakow, the daughter of engineer Adam Boznański, Nowina coat of arms, and Eugénie Mondan, of French origin, on 15 April 1865 and died in Paris,...

General Stanisław Maczek and the Black Devils
Long war of the Polish 1st Armoured Division

Generał Stanisław Maczek has gone down in history as a brilliant army general. The Germans called his army the Black Devils. He himself often said that „the Polish soldier fights for the freedom of all nations, but dies only for Poland”. by Piotr Abryszeński Stanisław Maczek was born on the 31st of March 1892 to...

How the Chopin Competition Began
The beginnings of the oldest and most prestigious piano competition in the world

Major international classical music competitions evoke strong emotions in both participants and observers. They offer winners cash prizes, concert commissions, and recording contracts; provide commentators ample material for reflection and discussion; and deliver unforgettable aesthetic experiences to audiences. One of the oldest public events of this kind is the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which...

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Polishhistory is an online project of the Polish History Museum in Warsaw. It is primarily addressed to all those interested in Polish and Central European history. Our aim is to build a community consisting of those professionally involved in research and of those interested in the outcomes of research, essentially, all lovers of history. The...