Where is Kresowiak's Homeland? To answer this question, or alternatively to make specified an attempt, we must first answer a number of another questions. First of all – what is this Homeland? What are Kresy, where do they start and where do they end? Who is the modern Kresowiak? erstwhile does it start to be, and erstwhile does it stop? And besides – what makes the interplay of events possible? Let's start at the beginning.
Poland researcher Stanisław Ossowski proposed his own theory, Thanks. We can bring clarity in term Someone's homeland, especially in the event of confusing circumstances, which consist of both the place of birth, how to also often mixed origin and nationality. By its concept, We can separate private homeland and ideological homeland. Following this lead, a private homeland determines place of birth or the residence of a single man, while the ideological homeland would then be a common national territory. We see, That in specified a classification private homeland appears as something, a We know by a more common word ‘Little Homeland“ Still, specified an approach can only aid us In understanding complex historical-political circumstances, where Any peculiar Kresowiak can be found, But Do not settle this issue in the end. W This explanation is due to the fact that we can treat a private homeland as a subset of the ideological homeland. We are dealing with the denominator "common" ‘national territory“ Easy is Thus specified discrimination and rather precise demarcation, When dealing with a certain area, closed ա within 1 national state. But we know, that national borders do not necessarily coincide with territories, resident by representatives one nationality. A even on the contrary – the rule, no except, is such delimitation of national borders, which makes, that there is simply a certain number of people belonging to that nation outside of the state and vice versa in that country a certain number of people live, being representatives of another nation.
As a Polish nation, We number the past of our statehood from of 966, When we were baptized. Since then the seasons not only the borders of our country, But also his form, as in most countries in the world, has changed respective times. By Some time, and that was the case. period our highest power – we functioned together with the Lithuanian people, as the Republic of both Nations. We were at war. And thus, We were gaining and losing territories, depending on the circumstances. Sorry., It happened. We as a state even vanish from the planet map, And that's enough. long period. Nation But he survived. We were reborn after 123 years of business as II Rzeczpospolita – although much smaller, it inactive retains its multinational character, especially East.
Despite these many territorial changes, Over the centuries, a certain area has cleared up, which we could call central, the central part of the Polish State, how to also correspondingly located farthest from it, often border, i.e. – Edges. In XVI and 17th century name ‘Ends’ was narrow strip of border lands in the south-eastern part of the Republic, which occupied then land Ukraine and partially Moldova and Romania. One should pay attention to an interesting phenomenon. As already mentioned, The concept of Edges derives etymologically from the explicit indication of their geographical and culturally borderline nature. W Therefore, with time and gradual contraction of territory Poland in hers different varieties, followed division of the Edges into external and internal.
This 1 After the Treaty of Riga of 1921., by which determined new east border, It's just... concept ‘Edge Lost’, be ‘Edge External” or “Fronts of Further” – which as the lands of the erstwhile Republic of both Nations, members of the individual republics of the russian Union. Because of this, cities like Lviv and Vilnius – erstwhile the heart of Polishness – proved to be ‘Closer Borders’, be also simply ‘Kresami“ This was affected by their position in the area between established after the Treaty of Riga the east border of the Second Republic a line Curzon, which In 1920 r. was a line proposal demarcation Polish and Bolshevik troops, submitted by British abroad Minister George Curzon.
Still lands these remained within the borders of the Polish State. Then we can speak both o quite precisely defined Borders and about the people of the border and again the reasons for uncertainty in range I don't think there was an identity.. Each Polish, resident These lands, declaring Kresy as his private homeland, at the same time without hesitation he could indicate Poland as whole, citing Homeland in the wider sense of the word. After The end of planet War II, and the territory of our country has not only diminished, but has besides been importantly shifted to In Western direction. In addition, mass resettlement actions have caused a fast change in the structure of the population. It was. is besides natural – in those conditions – the consequence of subsequent activities of the occupier, to for collection and depolonisation Earth, which belonged to Poland forever. W The context of the Kresowiaks had serious consequences, We can split in 2 main directions.
Kresowowacy at home – that is, in Poland
The consequence of forced resettlement processes (although not only due to the fact that In game There was besides a stand-alone exodus from native lands caused by hostile to Polish population actions of Ukrainian nationalists and Definitive failure of a small Homeland on item sealed, legalised in the forum international russian occupation) is now a crucial concentration of the population about the end of the line Poland – in the west. Most people, declaring the origin of the end, we will find in the voivodship lubuski, next on this list – Western-Pomeranian, Lower Silesian and Opole. Right in with moment occurs au more complications. Previously as Kresowiak we could specify person, Who gave birth au and most likely spent most of her life in the Kresach (abstracting from it, which circumstantial areas in each we will consider a peculiar case to be a limit), also raised was specific mentality, characteristic of this region, and is the carrier of this peculiar region sub-species of Polish culture. But after specified mass, forced or forced the decision has undergone major changes. W situation erstwhile the Kresowiak generation was moved back to Poland”, found, that how much They themselves are inactive representatives of the generation, who came into the planet in the Kresach, are their children, grandchildren and subsequent generations – no longer. We understand. However, It's not possible to cut it (and the full happiness) in 1 swing of this string, making children raised in these families, no connection to the Borderlands. Quite. On the contrary, parents were willing to give their descendants cognition of their roots, lovingly cultivate the memory of the lost small Fatherland – and they have been doing so always since more than 70 years. So they are besides carriers and continuationrs of culture and end heritage.
On the another hand, we can point to the opposite. Seeds of those mentioned Now. displaced au Polish Kresowiak cannot boast of the authentic origin from Kresów, Because through the tragedy of their ancestors they gained happiness the anticipation from birth itself to function ,,among its own’, under the care of the homeland, not be exposed to any nationality discrimination, do not proceed in continuous combat mode o survival and preservation of identity. But It's not like listed inconveniences This also In a way,, a au decades, yes truly even centuries (repeatedly bows to distinguishing the Edges for further and closer), shape if You could say that., “real” Kresowiaks and determined specific acquisition of their characteristics, which can be recognized even today.
But what about, if the upbringing of specified a individual causes that, regardless of the circumstances mentioned, she feels a strong bond with this "other" small Homeland, of be Maybe he never saw, and she knows only from the stories of relatives – and subjectively yourself with whole She's definitely declaring, who can question it and on what grounds?
Endowed at home – I mean in the Endages
However, a crucial number of Poles or people of Polish origin declaring membership of the Polish people, Still to the east, in the area, which we can now call the Ends with an appetizer ‘Former“ There's over a million of them..
Depending on This figure besides varies from country to region. Different au also Policy conditions, In which Kresowiakm comes to function in their small homelands. Unfavorable actions against local Poles authorities State, which had previously been implemented by russian authorities, and present in the worst of its edition take place in Belarus, expressed in violent repression — be adverse legislative solutions in the field of education and language law, why they gotta face up to Lithuania and Ukraine – have 2 effect.
Z one pages can be said, that indirectly contribute to any degree even to hardening the Kresovians in their conflict to preserve their identity, o right au freely declaring and nurturing their own national affiliation, Maintaining ties with their ideological homeland – Poland. W such a case This would be a affirmative example of the other effect.
On the another hand, au Admit that frequently the effects of specified assimilation policy or even anti-Polish are absolutely compatible au assumptions. We can, can't we? indicate the persons, who, fulfilling all the nonsubjective reasons for being Kresowiak – personally do not feel in admitting specified position none Needs. And this may besides be dictated by a number of different reasons. Someone, remaining for a long time behind the east border of Poland‘,formally” being Kresowiak only due to being born in a circumstantial familybut since birth having Nationality of another countries, He won't feel this ties almost never.
With We can't put individual liable for that choice.. You should Because remember, that any Poles in the Borderlands over long years were forced to hide and choke their Polishness. For the safe life of their children, though, without seeing prospects in another behaviors, they renounced became Polish and stopped her care and transfer Come on.. Then, Even if they wanted to return, it was besides late. No. No. We can Therefore, surprise, That their descendants feel au already completely assimilated, and starting families with – also It's not like Indigenous residents of these Earth, but representatives of the titular nation in the country – halt even more attached au This country are Citizens. They give their children to the locals schools, While the availability of educational facilities is uncommon au Polish language teaching – and the process is evidently going on itself of myself. All it takes is time.. W such cases Poland loses its charm as Matrix, lost Country distance au, becomes rod Just 1 au Neighbors. I Come on. regret au over Losing another possible associate of our nation, indicate be knowing too. No. No. I mean, he goes here. o common conformism. Having private homeland within the boundaries of an ideological homeland, which overlap, Many Kresowiaks have tangible reasons for such, No another choice.. They have no problem identifying and identifying their own identity. They become an integral part of another nation and state, besides offering him their feelings patriotism. By stopping being Kresowiaks, they cease to be Polish. These concepts are inextricably related, and the erstwhile should be regarded as a subset of the second.
From the author – from the position of Kresowiak
In summary, We can return au Children recognition thread Kresowiak, who moved au au Poland. Maybe. This be good point reference to consider defining criteria, rod We can scope in the discussion on Kresowiak. I dare say., that in the case analysed 1 of key factors – how to also in the context of another related issues, e.g.. the nationality to be taken into account – there is simply a declaration He prefers the individual concerned. This 1 how the person’s opinion is subjectively expressed, who willingly wants to confess au Being Kresovian – Of course., with maintaining, however, an objectively substantive basis for of – is worth much more than a case, When we have much better a documented set of premises, But ‘interested’ in fact... Not at all. is interested. Can we Therefore, to say that and answers to a question that it's gone in the title, no Can we give a group, and should we give a separate vote to each individual Kresowiak?
Quite trivial and possibly an elaborate message would be to say about the individuality of all man's fate, and the differences that we must take into account erstwhile formulating any conclusions. However, in the case of Kresowiak I think it's all the more reason to be careful, due to the fact that the specifics of this community – which has a hard common denominator, but at the same time how different, different and frequently even conflicting living experience in the context of functioning in abroad states and nations – makes drawing universal conclusions a burden of additional hazard besides far generalisation.
Edges are different – Eastern, Northeast, Southeast, further, closer. Kresowia are different – English-, Belarusian-, Lithuanian-, Latvian-, Russian-, Ukrainian etc. Elders, younger, more right or left, conservative or liberal, spiritual or non-believer, etc.
Which is our common denominator.? We were born. and We grew up in all kinds of conditions. Some still in the russian Unionbut in different republics, au walking for with local specificity, others – Now. rod its decay respectively in those countries as independent entities, with different national policies. What? We're connected.? Well..., We have a common homeland. A The country of Kresowiak is Poland.
