Polonophobia Russian Confronted By Pilsudski

Joseph Pilsudski: The Memories of a Polish Revolutionary and Soldier, by Jozef PIlsudski, Darsie Rutherford Gillie. 1931

Joseph Pilsudski Grew Up With a Love for Poland and a Passionate Hatred of Poland’s Enemies. Oppression of Poland Was Bad Enough, But Contempt for Poland Was Unbearable

English woman D. R. Gillie provides English-language translations of several of Jozef Pilsudski’s autobiographical writings. These writings describe Pilsudski’s early life, his function as a Polish socialist revolutionary, the Riflemen, the Legions, imprisonment at Magdeburg, and early Presidency of the resurrected Polish state. The 1920 Bolshevik War, about which Pilsudski has written a separate book, is not featured in detail.

Gillie provides maps as well as helpful annotations of the autobiographical chapters. In addition, he/she gives few-page-each introductions to each chapter. All these make this book lucid, and are especially helpful to readers unfamiliar with Polish events or personal matters related to Pilsudski.

YOUNG JOZEF LEARNED POLISH PATRIOTISM AT HIS MOTHER’S KNEE

Jozef Pilsudski was born just four years after the long-partitioned Poles had been defeated in their January 1863 Insurrection against tsarist Russia, and it has been said that Pilsudski’s mother instilled in him a hatred of Russians. This does not come through in the autobiography. However, the attitudes of Pilsudski’s mother come through unambiguously, as remembered by son Jozef: (quote). Our mother, an irreconcilable patriot, did not even try to hide from us the pain and disappointment that the failure of the rising caused her, and indeed educated us with particular emphasis on the necessity of a further struggle with our country’s enemies. From our earliest childhood she made us acquainted with the works of our greatest poets, especially those which were forbidden, taught us Polish history, and bought none but Polish books. (unquote). (p. 11).

IT IS EASIER TO FORGIVE AN INJURY THAN AN INSULT. PILSUDSKI CONTENDED WITH POLONOPHOBIC CONTEMPT

Pilsudski’s enmity towards Russia blossomed while he was in Gymnasium (high school): (quote) In these circumstances my hatred for the Tsarist administration and the Muscovite oppression grew with every year. Helpless fury and shame that I could do nothing to hinder my enemies often stifled me; my cheeks burned, that I must suffer in silence while my pride was trampled upon, listening to lies and scornful words about Poland, Poles, and their history. (unquote)(p. 13). [Those readers who have been confronting contemporary Polonophobia, as I have, can identify.]

[The student of American history may recount the high-handed rule, of the British Crown, over the American colonies. This prompted Ben Franklin to declare, “…though many can forgive injuries, none ever forgave contempt.”]

PILSUDSKI BRIEFLY TURNS VIOLENT

Although Pilsudski was a revolutionary, the only violent action that he personally took part in was the hold-up of a mail train at Bezdany. A bomb was thrown under the train, and the train was then attacked with smoke petards. This provided cover for the theft of hundreds of thousands of roubles from the train. (p. 174).

THE LARGE AND INCLUSIVE POLISH NOBILITY

In common with many authors, Gillie points to the broad character of the Polish SZLACHTA. It comprised 10% of the Polish nation, and its farmers and landowners corresponded to the range spanned by the yeoman and magnate in English society. (p. 3).

THE PALE: TSARIST RUSSIA DUMPS HER JEWISH PROBLEM ON THE POLES

Although he does not discuss the Endek movement, Gillie summarizes the situation in post-1863 Russian-occupied Poland, including the Pale and the ensuing Jewish-Polish alienation, that eventually led to Dmowski’s reciprocated hostility towards the Jews. He/she writes: (quote) The industrialization of Russian Poland had produced a new middle class in which Jewish, German, and other foreign elements indifferent to Polish interests played a large part. The Russian repression of Polish national life made it impossible for the Poles to absorb the great Jewish community, one-tenth of the whole population of the Polish provinces. Jews were not allowed to emigrate into Russia proper, where they would have found a plentiful scope for their talents; on the contrary, the community was reinforced during the nineties by thousands of Jews expelled from the interior of Russia, who were quite alien to Poland; a Jewish national movement based on the Yiddish language arose which seriously complicated the social and national problems of the country. (unquote). (p. 31).

THE EARLY ZYDOKOMUNA

Gillie includes details of various political parties. For instance, the S.D.P.K.P.L (the Social Democrat Party of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania) led by Rosa Luksemburg and Feliks Dzierzynski, represented the anti-national wing of Polish socialism. (p. 151). It eventually merged with Communism. (p. 162).

THE 1920 POLISH-SOVIET WAR

Finally, Gillie touches upon the 1920 Bolshevik War. He/she contends that credit for the victory belongs to Pilsudski alone, and not to the French Military Mission, other generals, or anyone else. (p. 364).