anti-polonism

Anti-Polonism (alternatively spelled antipolonism; also, Polonophobia) is a term denoting hostility toward Poles, or more precisely an irrational or malicious hostility toward Poles as a nation or as a cultural community. Anti-Polonism has been prominent in some countries during certain periods in history. It has manifested in individual behaviors as well as in institutionalized prejudice and persecution. It is often associated with a Polish "black legend" and a belief that almost any evil or folly may be laid at the doorstep of the Poles. It should be noted that the term anti-Polonism has not found wide currency in the English language. It does not appear in major English-language dictionaries, and LexisNexis shows it to have been used rarely in English-language dailies or magazines within the past 10 years. It has, however, appeared in some scholarly works (http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/lukas.htm). To the extent that people believe that Poles, Polonia and Poland continue to be treated as objects of ridicule, discrimination and exploitation, "anti-Polonism" and the kindred term "Polonophobia" may enter more widespread use. Hostility toward Poles—analogously to other ethnic phobias—has been used as a tool by demagogues seeking their own personal, or their own ethnic group's, aggrandizement at the expense of a disparaged, demonized or dehumanized people. Forms of hostility toward Poles have included:

Racist hostility, a variety of xenophobia;
cultural hostility: a strong prejudice against Poles and Polish-speaking persons;
organized persecution of Poles as an ethnic or cultural group, often based on a belief that Polish culture or interests are a threat to one's own national aspirations.

Organized persecution of ethnic Poles (to 1918)

When the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth totally lost its independence in 1795 and remained partitioned for 123 years, ethnic Poles were subjected to Germanization under Prussian and later under German rule, and to Russification in areas annexed by Imperial Russia. In Russian-occupied areas, many thousands of Poles who advocated Polish independence were exiled to Siberia.

Organized persecution of ethnic Poles (1918-1939)

After Poland regained her independence following the First World War as the Second Republic of Poland, the question of her borders was not settled. Poles were persecuted in the disputed territories, especially in Silesia, where this led to the Silesian Uprisings. During the Polish-Soviet War of 1919-21, many Polish prisoners of war were summarily executed by the Red Army. The aftermath of the Polish-Ukrainian War (1918-19), the Polish-Soviet War (1919-21) and the Treaty of Riga (1921), coupled with Soviet propaganda, led to growing tensions between Poles and Ukrainians in eastern Poland.

Genocide against Poles (1939-1945)

Hostility toward Poles reached a particular peak during World War II, when all of Polish society was an object of German genocidal policies. Poland lost approximately a third of her population. Millions of Poles died in German concentration camps such as Auschwitz, where Poles were the second most numerous victims after the Jews.

The Soviet occupation of Polish territories during World War II was also extremely brutal. Polish prisoners of war were executed in the infamous Katyn Massacre and at other sites, and thousands of Polish intelligentsia, including academics and priests, were sent to labor camps (GuLags). With the conclusion of the Second World War, Nazi atrocities perforce ended. Soviet atrocities, however, continued. Soldiers of Poland's Home Army (Armia Krajowa) and returned veterans of the Polish Armed Forces that had served with the Western Allies were persecuted, imprisoned and often executed following staged trials (as in the case of Witold Pilecki, organizer of Auschwitz resistance).

Persistent prejudices against Poles (1945 to present)

More recent, "milder" forms of hostility toward Poles have included disparaging "Polish jokes" and libelous references to World War II-era "Polish death camps" (actually German concentration camps, on occupied Polish territory, whose victims included millions of Poles). Only slightly less obnoxious are the persistent German canards, dating back to World War II and meant to illustrate Polish stupidity or incompetence, that Polish cavalry "bravely but futilely" charged German tanks, and that the Polish Air Force was wiped out on the ground on the opening day of the war.

Anti-polonism

Organized persecution of ethnic Poles (to 1918)

Organized persecution of ethnic Poles (1918-1939)

Genocide against Poles (1939-1945)

Persistent prejudices against Poles (1945 to present)

See also