Ukrainian Culture Stifled in Poland Debunked Paprocki

Minority Affairs and Poland, by Stanislaw J. Paprocki. 1935

“Ukrainians Oppressed in Poland” Soundly Debunked. Despite NUMERUS CLAUSUS, Jews Still Overrepresented at Polish Universities

This work surveys Jews, Ukrainians, Germans, Muslim-Tartars, Karaites, Russians, and others.

The most interesting details are on the Ukrainians. The facts on Ukrainian cultural growth are stunning, and soundly refute the premise that Poland was suppressing Ukrainian culture and trying to Polonize Ukrainians. Compare the pre-1918 situation (under Austria) and that of 1918-on, under Poland, with reference to Eastern Galicia. There were 52 Ukrainian periodicals in 1905 and 121 in 1935. (p. 83). The 557 Ukrainians cooperatives in 1912 had expanded to 3,261 in 1933/1934. (p. 89). The 112 village centers in 1927 had grown to 1,410 in 1933. (p. 91). And so on…

As for the Jews, Paprocki details their many political organizations. Interestingly, in the academic year 1932-1933, Jews constituted 18.7% of all the students at universities and other institutions of higher learning. (p. 167). Jews were 10% of Poland’s population. This means that, notwithstanding the numerus clausus, Jews were still over-represented at Polish academic institutions this late in the Second Republic!