Polish Catholic Hierarchy during the Great War 1914-1918 and the Polish War with Bolshevik Russia Cover Image

Polska hierarchia katolicka w czasie wielkiej wojny 1914-1918 i wojny z bolszewicką Rosją
Polish Catholic Hierarchy during the Great War 1914-1918 and the Polish War with Bolshevik Russia

Author(s): Wiesław Wysocki
Subject(s): History, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Interwar Period (1920 - 1939)
Published by: Towarzystwo Naukowe Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego Jana Pawła II
Keywords: Church; Polish episcopate; World War I; partitions; Polish-Bolshevik war; 1918; 1920; independence

Summary/Abstract: This short study presents attitudes of the hierarchs of the Catholic Church in the areas of Russian, Prussian and Austrian Partitions at the beginning of the Great War of 1914-1918 and the changes that occurred under the influence of external circumstances and changes in public awareness during the world conflict in relation to the issue of Polish statehood. The vast majority of bishops were in favor of supporting the reborn Polish state and actively participated in this process, expressing this in the public, civic and church life. The year 1920, crowned with Polish military successes, was the finale of the Polish-Bolshevik War, started in 1919, in which the involvement of both Catholic hierarchs and the communities they led was seen on many levels. There are many indications that never before had the Church shown a greater commitment than in 1920.

  • Issue Year: 20/2023
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 111-163
  • Page Count: 53
  • Language: Polish