Mazurskie reminiscencje rocznicowe. Powiat giżycki w 90. rocznicę plebiscytu

Abstract

The starting point for a discussion about the 1920 plebiscite has always been the political or national interest, and not a rational analysis of the conditionings, the course of preparations or the mistakes made. And yet, Warmia, Masuria and Powisle are in practice three distinctive regions, varying in terms of history, culture and religion. In the case of Masuria, additional internal differentiation of this region is to be taken into account. For Roman Dmowski liquidation of the 'East-Prussian overhang' was one of the foundations of the reconstruction of the independent and economically strong Polish state. The fate of Masuria was only considered to be a problem in terms of Poland's access to the sea. The ethnical aspect, i.e. Polish roots of the Masurian people, was in this case of secondary importance, justifying only the formerly formulated postulates of geostrategic nature. However, basic evaluations of the Masurians' attachment to Polishness and the institution of the Polish state proved to be wrong. In correlation with the negligence of the determination of the German side, late and devoid of financial base propaganda activities, low level of activity of the Masurians themselves, limited interest and support of the Polish government and the mistakes made by the Allies - the catastrophic, for the Polish side, result of the plebiscite in Masuria was unavoidable.