When discussing dictatorships during the interwar period (1919 – 1939) in European history, the focus usually falls on Nazi Germany and the Stalinist Soviet Union. Sandwiched between these two titans of totalitarianism was the Second Republic of Poland. To say interwar Poland was in the worst possible position is an understatement. Events between 1939 -1945 would prove that the Pole’s had a great deal to fear from their much larger and avaricious neighbors. Because Poland was so badly victimized during the Second World War by the Germans and Soviets, it can be easy to overlook the fact that Poland was governed for much of the interwar period by a dictatorship rather than a democracy. The Poles had their own problems with radical politics which led them down the dead end road of dictatorship.
Going from a flawed democracy to a dictatorship required several historical events to take place, one of the first and most deadly was the assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz in 1922, after he had served as the first President of the Second Republic for only five days. Narutowicz is a mere footnote for many in what was a sordid era, one that would end in failure. He is one of those characters that appears on the historical stage for the briefest of moments, but whose fate represents a portent of more ominous trends to follow. While Narutowicz is mainly known for his 120 hour tenure as the President of Poland, his life also represents many of the contradictions inherent in a Poland that was pieced back together in the postwar World War I world.
Living Abroad – At Home In The World
Gabriel Narutowicz was born in 1865 within a Poland that had ceased to exist after the partitions of the late 19th century. He came from a small Baltic town, Telsze, that was part of the Russian Empire. Today the town is located northern Lithuania (present day Telsiai). At the time of his birth, many of the inhabitants of Telze were Jewish. Narutowicz’s family were Polish-Lithuanian nobles. His father had been involved in the 1863 uprising against Tsarist Russian rule, was subsequently imprisoned for a year and died shortly thereafter. Young Gabriel’s mother was no less a patriot than his father. She moved her family to Latvia, a land where school instruction was less Russified and her children could learn in their native tongue. This was the first of many moves to come in Narutowicz life. He would end up spending less time in historically Polish lands, than he would abroad. That made him no less devoted to Poland.
When it was time for college, Narutowicz began his studies at St. Petersburg in Russia. Before long he was stricken by illness, leading him to quit school. Eventually, Narutowicz found his way to Zurich, Switzerland where he studied to become an engineer. He excelled in scientific subjects, leading him toward a career in the field of engineering. While in Switzerland, Narutowicz received another education just as valuable in the field of politics. While in Zurich, he began to assist Polish exiles who had fled onerous Russian rule back home. He also became involved in socialist politics. The Russian authorities looked with scarcely disguised disdain at Narutowicz’s activities. They soon banned him from returning to Russia. This would set the course for Narutowicz’s life abroad.
Master Builder – Engineering Success
While he spent most of his adult life in Switzerland, Narutowicz’s time there shows he made every effort to help his ethnic brethren. All the while, he was making a name for himself in the field of engineering. At one point, Narutowicz was chief of engineering for work done on the Rhine River. He also held a teaching position at an Institute in Zurich for many years. While in this position, he continued to assist Poles in need during the First World War. His work brought him to the attention of those looking to build a strong and sustainable independent Poland after the war. Narutowicz was invited and accepted the position of Minister of Public Works for the reconstitute Polish nation. Narutowicz was an energetic and successful minister, overseeing public works projects that improved infrastructure and helped modernize Poland. He became so highly respected that the prestigious Minister of Foreign Affairs position was soon given to him.
It is a tragic irony that Narutowicz would end up being murdered by a right-wing nationalist for his supposed lack of sufficient Polish patriotism. He did as much as anyone to help Poland succeed. Politically, Narutowicz backed the policies of Poland’s most powerful native son, Josef Pilsudski. One point of disagreement between the two men was whether Narutowicz should run for the presidency. Pilsudski had declined to run because he thought the Presidency was not sufficiently powerful enough. Narutoicz decided to stay in the race. He was viewed as a sensible, compromise candidate, whose politics were moderate. That did nothing to mitigate criticism when he won a surprising victory in the election. The fact that Narutowicz’s electoral support came from a combination of center, left and pro-minority policies infuriated right wing nationalists. They could barely stomach Narutowicz’s candidacy, let alone his election.
An Unfolding Tragedy – “The Jewish President”
A campaign to slander Narutowicz by right wing and nationalist groups was promulgated to make his job more difficult. He held a tenuous position in a toxic political environment. Among the arguments used against him was that he supported Jews and non-Polish minorities. The right-wing press stirred discontent by stating that Narutowicz was the “Jewish President”. Slurs were frequently directed at him by rabid nationalists. It is interesting to note that much of this criticism likely arose due to deep rooted insecurities within the incipient Polish state. The Poles had more to worry about than the Soviets and Germans, it was also home to large minority populations which were eyed with suspicion.
One-third of the Second Republic’s population was made up of minorities including Ukrainians, Belarusians, Lithuanians and Rusyns, each of whom had their own national aspirations. Narutowicz’s formative life experiences with disparate cultures and living abroad should have made him an excellent choice for the presidency in an extremely complex Poland. Those experiences had certainly influenced his worldview. His background was questioned by those looking to crush his presidency before it even began. A tragedy was on the verge of unfolding as Narutowicz prepared to take office in December 1922. Little did he know just how short his tenure was going to be.
Click here for: Art of Darkness – Shooting Gallery: The Assassination of Gabriel Narutowicz (Part Two)