The article explores the dynamics of the formation of the image of Belorussia on the German mental map with a consideration of the German occupation policies during the First and Second World Wars. The author suggests that in 1915–18 the Germans tried to “invent” Belorussia in order to overcome the lack of knowledge about this region and, on the other hand strove to gain this “new land” and its population to ensure their own superiority in the East. It seems that the Kaiserreich was indeed tolerant to the profound cultural differences and sought to make use of the local regionalism in geopolitical sense. On the contrary, in the Nazi Germany the cultural differences were initially rejected in favor of the “master race”. In this respect, Belarusians were considered only as a mean to support of the forthcoming colonization. In the author’s opinion, there is much less continuity between the German war policies in the East in 1915−18 and 1941−44 than is generally accepted.
Ogłoszenie Aktu 5 listopada 1916 r stanowiło kolejny przejaw totalizacji Wielkiej Wojny, w której strony walczące intensywnie szukały wszelkich sposobów wyjścia z impasu jaki zapanował na frontach. Co nie jest zaskakujące, obie strony konfliktu przyjęły odrębną, zgodną z ich interesami i prowadzoną polityką interpretację dokumentu, co znalazło wyraz także w ikonografii. Propagandziści państw centralnych przedstawili decyzję Wilhelma II i Franciszka Józefa I jako akt o charakterze dziejowym, ogłoszony w imię bezinteresownej przyjaźni dla Polski. Z kolei ententa upatrywała w nim bezprawną i cyniczną próbę oszukania Polaków i przymusowego wprzęgnięcia ich w militarny wysiłek Niemiec i Austro-Węgier.
EN
The issuing of the 5th Of November Act (also called Two Emperors Act) in 1916 was further evidence of the total character of the First World War. All participants of the war desperately tried to overcome a deadlock in trench warfare. What is not astonishing, following the general line of their policy, both belligerent camps interpreted this document completely differently. This was refl ected in cartoons as well. Propagandists of the Central Powers presented the decision of both emperors as an act of historical importance, proof of the selfl ess friendship of its authors towards Poles. On the other side, Entente Powers saw in the 5th Of November Act an illegal and cynical attempt to cheat Poles and force them to join the military efforts of the Central Powers.
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