Foch sets the terms

All eyes on France

The Germans were clotting. The authorities of the recently formed Weimar Republic suppressed the revolt in Berlin and gradually regained control of the another regions. At the same time, Ober-Ostu troops began to draw into the country, which remained on the east front since the end of the war. Soon, the office of the German troops were transferred from Kassel to Kolberg, or present-day Kołobrzeg, and the staff began to make the plan under the code name "position war". Its implementation was to lead to the recovery of Wielkopolska. The leaders of the uprising were aware that in a general confrontation with specified an opponent their troops did not have a large chance. This is why the Chief of the People's Council has put negotiations in place. In early February 1919, the Polish delegation went to Berlin to convince the Germans to accept the current state. The NRL's envoys reminded that Poles in the conquered areas were able to make the foundation of the administration, which provides order and security. It would be unwise to teardrop this up in these uncertain times. However, these arguments were in vain. “Germany... set relentlessly drastic conditions for a truce. Their main request was to disarm Polish troops and return the lands seized by the insurgents under close German control," writes Benon Miśkiewicz, a historian who deals with the past of the Wielkopolska Uprising.

So Poles returned to Poznań with nothing. The endorsements decided to search for Western Allies, but the situation was not clear. The British did not intend to weaken the Germans, in which they saw the counterweight for France – an eternal rival in the fight for primacy on the continent. London managed to convince the Americans. Meanwhile, a fresh threat has already begun on the horizon. The communist-controlled Russia wanted to carry the fire of the revolution to western Europe. The Polish politicians were increasingly proceeding rumors that the British quietly get along with the Weimar Republic to usage her troops for a general proceeding with the Bolsheviks. It was said that there was a hazard that a possible agreement would be concluded at the expense of Poland. If that's not enough, Berlin has another ace up his sleeve. According to the records a truce with Compiegne ending the fight on the fronts of planet War IGermany – at least for now – was to hold power within the limits before 1914. The future of parts of the territories was to be decided by another peace conference. Formally, Wielkopolska was a full part of the Weimar Republic, and the uprising organised by Poles could be treated as a common rebellion...

In this situation the uprising could only save France. The authorities in Paris have been following closely the situation in central Europe. They refused to let Germany to grow besides large due to the fact that it meant a deadly threat to them. shortly there would besides be a test of strength.

Greater Poland like Ireland?

The pretext was a gathering in the German Trevira. Power officials arrived in mid-February 1919 to extend this truce with Compiegne. So far it has been extended twice – each time without major problems. The Germans hoped it would happen now. For them, this would mean the silent consent of the Allies to choke the uprising. but French marshal Ferdinand Foch stood up. He demanded that the paper be supplemented by a evidence granting Poles control of all territories which they occupied during the last fighting in Wielkopolska. The Germans were angry. The request was rejected. And then Foch put the case on the blade. Sign here or I'll leave Trewir tonight. The truce ends next day morning. Gentlemen, do you know what this means? The French Army will resume its war effort," he told his adversaries. At that point, the Germans could not trust on the British, who were alienated by a abroad approach. due to the fact that erstwhile they asked for a more balanced approach to the Polish population, in consequence they heard that they should not interfere because... they suppressed the revolt in Ireland themselves.

Fuch has made his point. On 16 February 1919, the delegation of the parties concluded an agreement, according to which Poles retained the achievements of the uprising. A fewer days later, French general Charles Joseph Dupont arrived to Poznań to guarantee that the provisions of Trevirus were implemented.

But the case did not end there. "Germany has done a lot to correct the demarcation line in its favour, and in individual episodes there have been armed incidents," notes Marek Rezler, author of many publications on the subject a large Polish rave. At 1 point the tension was so large that the peacekeeping committee decided to leave Wielkopolska, while the Germans proceeded to arrange plans for another impact – this time with a much wider range. Operation under the code name “Spring Sun” was to lead their troops to Warsaw. Berlin intended to crush the only reborn Polish state, to snatch out the disputed lands in the north and west, and to send a clear signal to the Allies that the German army, though heavy beaten during the war, inactive constituted a force capable of bringing painful blows. Then Marshal Foch re-entered the action. On behalf of Allied command, he informed the government in Berlin that the attack on Poland would automatically launch a counteroffensive in the west. The Germans knew that they could not afford specified a risk. “They bent and gave up the offensive, and they postponed its plans for 20 years,” explains Rezler.

Finally, on 28 June 1919, pursuant to the arrangements of the Paris Peace Conference, Wielkopolska was assigned to the Republic of Poland.

While preparing the text, I used: Marek Rezler, Wielkopolska Uprising 1918-1919. A look after 90 years, Poznań 2008; Antoni Czubiński, Zdzisław Grot, Benon Miśkiewicz, Wielkopolska Uprising, 1918-1919. past outline, Warsaw-Poznań 1978; Stanisław Sierpowski, global Aspects of the Wielkopolska Uprising 1918-1919 [in:] "West Review" 2008, No 4