NWP-Left was created in Łódź in autumn 1926 as a result of the secession of the National Workers Party activists supporting the government of marshal Józef Piłsudski. Throughout the period of his activity was the leftist wing of holding power in Poland the political camp known as „Sanation” movement in the 1926–1939 years. Initially party retained its organizational independence, but in 1930 was transformed into autonomous structure within the pro-government Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government. Numerous internal conflicts between different factions within the party about the direction of political activity and its role in the political scene of the country caused organizational crisis and decrease of popularity among residents of Łódź. As part of the process of looking for a new political identity NWP-Left has made changes of the program to a more left-wing course and the transformation into the National Labour Party in 1932.
The diary kept by a writer from Warszawa, C. Jellenta, presents the initial months of the First World War from the point of view of a citizen of Warszawa. Jellenta, who was observing the outbreak of the great conflict with interest and devotion, frequently presented the fortunes and misfortunes of Łódź’s citizens in the context of fights taking place in a close proximity to the city. The writer was a passionate observer of, in his opinion, a significant change of the profile of a statistical citizen, which was caused by the calamitous events taking place between November and December 1914. Finally, after taking part in numerous meetings with the refugees from Łódź, Jellenta characterized the possibility of irreversible internal changes among the Lodzermensche as unlikely. Moreover, he frequently pointed out that the fights taking place near Łódź may be considered as a clash of two natural forces – the German and Slavonic elements. Such an understanding of the conflict may be considered as a clear reference to the battle of Grunwald.
The outbreak of the First World War was connected with occurrence of significant economic problems in the city. In connection with lack of combustible materials, large scale deforestations of parks and forests located around the city took place. In later years, the remaining tree stands were protected better due to introduction of many preventive measures. New parks were created and existing green areas were modernized. During the War, the green areas located in the city were also improved, especially by executing numerous plantation-related undertakings. Offices responsible for maintaining green areas were also caring about military cemeteries. Even though the significant attempts were carried out, Łódź recorded tremendous financial losses due to the devastation of forests located around the city.
Jerzy Żuławski, who had been engaged in spreading the ideas of the legionaries, visited Lodz together with the representatives of the PNO Commiserate on 18th October 1914. His main tasks were to censor local newspaper and publish the „To the arms!” magazine, in which he addressed mainly the current events. The poet was also performing other activities aiming at promotion of the ideas of the Legions, among others, by trying to convince the local elites to his ideology – mainly in the form of private letters. Żuławski was one of the organizers and speakers during the rally in the Grand Theater. Even considering his significant attempts, the ideas spread among the citizens of Lodz were not successful. The poet left the city together with other PNO Commissioners on 28th October 1914. He died of typhoid few months later.
The article presents the reader in the characteristics of the press market in the Second Republic of Poland, the characteristics of Catholic publishers and the impact of the most important Catholic publishing center in Niepokalanów – Franciscans. However, it applies to, above all, one of the most popular newspapers of the interwar period, and also the most popular Catholic daily newspaper. The text describes the genesis of „Mały Dziennik” magazine and the effort of creator (Franciscans) associated with its publication. Moreover, the article presents the development of the publishing house, editorial board, as well as the newspaper and its evolution over the years 1934–1939. Furthermore, it shows the reactions of different political and social environments and newspapers on the creation of this newspaper and its content. It also presents the behind-the-scenes work of editorial board, including changes in its composition, publishing schedule, methods of distribution, acquisition of readers and subscribers, as well as advertisers. The article describes the main groups of topics covered in the newspaper and main regular columns (related to events in the world, in Poland, in the Church, etc.). It separately shows the method of advertising products in this newspaper and conducting promotional campaigns. It describes the most important social events conducted by the newspaper. The author also characterizes the ideological background of the newspaper connected with the orthodox and nationally oriented Catholicism.
The following article analyzes participation of the Polish Socialists in the constitutional debate conducted in the parliament between 1928 and 1930. In the first section, the political context of the debate and main constitutional demands of the Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government are presented. Further, the article discusses role of the constitutional debate in the Polish Socialist Party’s (PPS) political strategy of that time. Leaders of the PPS were arguing that the Nonpartisan Bloc’s constitutional draft was synonymous with the institutionalization of the dictatorial rule in Poland. Socialists criticism of the draft is reconstructed in details in the next few paragraphs. Special attention is given to the discussion about constitutional role of the president and the parliament as well as the connections between class conflicts and political system – main themes in the socialist’s analyzes, presented in the press, mass meetings as well as during parliamentary sessions. In the last part of the article the strategies of argumentation (especially main strategy – discourse polarization) used by socialists leaders, commentators and party’s propagandists are presented and elaborated.
After leaving the city by the tsarist administration in the first weeks of the war, custody order took over the structure of organized spontaneously, the Civic Militia (MO). Łódź was divided into so-called. MO areas, which in turn were divided into so-called uczastki. One of the first tasks of a supervising public buildings in the city and on the protection of the local trees regularly robbed by fuel-free population. With time MO expanded his powers. With MO were many sections responsible for specific aspects of city life, eg. issues order, health and the fight against prostitution. Of particular importance was functioning as the Section on Legal Affairs and the Committee on reconnaissance conciliation, interim justice. After the town was captured by the German army in December 1914 MO was forced to implement regulations occupier. In January, 1915 MO was reorganized as a result, the positions remained only 1000 militiamen who received salaries since then. The militia was disbanded at the end of June 1915. One of the reasons were frequent conflicts MO with representatives of the occupation authorities. In place of MO was appointed Imperial Police Office. Despite the undeniable fraud and irregularities, MO activity has contributed to the development of civic awareness Lodzians.
Łódź, though doesn’t play a great role in administrative and territorial structure of today's Polish Army, however, has a long and rich history in this respect. The city was the seat of the military authorities of the district-level territorial both in the Interwar Poland, as well as the People’s Republic of Poland. During the second Republic of Poland they were located at Spacerowa Street 4, renamed soon on Tadeusz Kościuszko Street 4 (later at T. Kościuszko Street 67, finally at Konstantynowska Street 81/83 – now The Legions’ Street). The individual cells of the military authorities also were located for example at Piotrkowska Street, Stanislaw Moniuszko Street and Zachodnia Street. Invasion of Poland of 1939 and the fall of the Second Republic of Poland marked the liquidation of Poland and Polish military structures in the city. Their headquarters were taken over by the Germans. Again in the role of the headquarters of the military authorities of the district level, Łódź is revived in 1945. After 1989 the role of Łódź in the territorial structure of the army began to systematically degrade, and military buildings and facilities have passed into the hands of the city, or private.
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