Metadata language
Starostowie na Pomorzu w latach II Rzeczypospolitej (1920–1939) : portret zbiorowy
Subtitle:Starosts in Pomerania under the Second Polish Republic (1920–1939) : a Collective Portrait
Creator:
Olstowski, Przemysław (1968– )
Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla
Instytut Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk ; Fundacja Instytutu Historii im. Tadeusza Manteuffla Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Place of publishing: Date issued/created: Description:Wydanie I. ; 340 stron, [19] stron tablic : faksymilia, fotografie, portrety ; 25 cm. ; Bibliografia na stronach 319-329. Indeks. ; Projekt dofinansowany ze środków budżetu państwa przyznanych przez Ministra Nauki w ramach Programu Doskonała nauka II ; Streszczenie w języku angielskim.
Subject and Keywords:Powiaty [DBN] ; Starosta [DBN] ; Województwo pomorskie (1919-1939) [DBN]
Abstract:
A starost (head of a poviat or a district) was a paramount figure in the state administration of the Second Polish Republic. Aided by his office, he represented the central government within a poviat (the second-level unit of territorial administration, also translated as a district). At the same time, he played a chief role in local government. He led the Poviat Communal Association, directing the work of its legislative body (Poviat Assembly) and its executive arm (Poviat Department). He reported to the voivode (a governor of a voivodship or a province, the first-level unit of territorial administration) and – through him – to the Minister of Internal Affairs. In the years 1920-1939, there were a total of 96 poviat and town starosts in the state service in the Pomeranian Voivodeship (enlarged in April 1938 to include some poviats from the Poznań and Warsaw Voivodeships). Since Poland regained independence in 1918, starosts were involved in the reconstruction of the reborn state, the borders of which were partly established by the Treaty of Versailles and partly by force of arms. They were expected to efficiently administer and ensure the social order in poviats in the difficult interwar period, marked by economic crises and – after the May 1926 Coup – the rise of authoritarian rule. Starosts were not only administrators, from whom the superior authorities expected efficiency in management, but also political officials. On one hand, the Act of 17 February 1922 on the State Civil Service paved the way for a career in public administration that could culminate in the post of starost, a professional and politically neutral official. On the other hand, starosts’ duties in terms of ensuring public safety and order, as well as managing local government meant that they were the executors of the instructions and expectations of the voivode and his office. The political nature of the post of starost was clearly revealed after the May 1926 Coup. It brought to power a political camp, which – despite having democratic and patriotic traditions, and deserving credit for its involvement in the armed struggle for Poland’s independence – eventually moved towards authoritarianism. In the 1930s, this was manifested in the state administration’s tight control over the political and social life of the province. Starosts were the regime’s leading figures locally. This work is a study on the corps of officials who constituted the backbone of the state apparatus in interwar Poland. As such, it contributes to the history of administering Pomeranian poviats and navigating the complexities of politics and social life. It refers to the formation of the Polish state administration in Pomerania in 1919-1920 and to the changes it experienced after the May Coup. After 1926, Pomeranians holding the posts of starosts were almost completely replaced by officials coming from other parts of the country, a large percentage of whom were active officers of the Polish Army, transferred to the civil service after leaving the military. They had to cope with strong political polarization of the 1930s, face the consequences of the deep economic crisis and address the challenge posed by the German minority in Pomerania, numerous and well-organized. The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 brutally put an end to the Second Polish Republic and its territorial administration. During wartime, a significant number of starosts continued to serve the Polish state either at home – in the civilian and military structures of the Polish Underground State, or abroad – in the Polish Armed Forces. Under the German and Soviet occupation, they suffered, sometimes sacrificing their lives. After 1945, some lived in communist Poland, where many were repressed, while others remained in exile, most often in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, where they participated in the political and social life of Polish emigration.
IH PAN, sygn. II.16982 Podr. ; IH PAN, sygn. II.16983 ; IH PAN, sygn. II.16984 Gdańsk ; click here to follow the link
Language: Language of abstract: Temporal coverage: Rights:Licencja Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa 4.0
Terms of use:Zasób chroniony prawem autorskim. [CC BY 4.0 Międzynarodowe] Korzystanie dozwolone zgodnie z licencją Creative Commons Uznanie autorstwa 4.0, której pełne postanowienia dostępne są pod adresem: ; -
Digitizing institution:Instytut Historii Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Original in:Biblioteka Instytutu Historii PAN
Projects co-financed by:Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego
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