Z dziejów harcerstwa polskiego w Republice Litewskiej 1918–1940

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Z dziejów harcerstwa polskiego w Republice Litewskiej 1918–1940

Journal Title: Przegląd Wschodni - Year 2016, Vol 14, Issue 53

Abstract

Prior to the First World War, the Polish scouting movement was developing as a secret association, mainly focusing on out-of-school and middle school youths. In the north-eastern parts of partitioned Polish lands occupied by the Russians, the organization grew most rapidly in Wilno, from where it was transmitted to the Kovno Governorate. On 27 December 1918, out of a number of loosely formed scout units, the first all-male, “Tadeusz Kościuszko Scout Troop” was formed. The following year, its female counterpart, the “Emilia Plater Scout Troop”, was created. Together they formed the independent Kovno troop, whose first commandant was Dr. Lucjan Martusewicz. After 1918, when the territories previously under Russian domination became parts of the newly independent states of Poland and Lithuania (with its capital in Kovno), the leadership of the Polish Scouting Association’s (ZHP) intention to subordinate Polish scouting units in Lithuania met with opposition from the Lithuanian side. The dispute caused by this decision would continue throughout the entire inter-war period and resulted in the refusal to officially recognize the activity of Polish scout troops in the Republic of Lithuania, meaning that they were forced, more or less, to operate in secret. Soon after, successive middle school scout troops were formed outside Kovno, in Poniewież (Panevėžys) and Wiłkomierz (Ukmergė). In 1923, when official registration was brought up once again, permission was conditional on the Polish scout troops being subordinated to Lithuanian scout organization and justified by similar regulations binding Lithuanian scout troops in Wilno to the ZHP. The conditions proposed by the Lithuanian side were deemed unacceptable, as they also involved swearing Lithuanian allegiance. Despite this, scout activity continued without any greater obstacles until 1926, when President Smetana took office at the head of a nationalistic government, once more forcing Polish scouting activities under ground. In such difficult circumstances, communication with the home country proved particularly meaningful and despite various difficulties, this was accomplished. The main goal of these efforts was to maintain contact with the leadership of the Polish scouting movement in Warsaw and participate in various training programs run in Poland. In the second half of the 1930s, a number of further attempts were made to negotiate with the leadership of the Lithuanian Scouting Organization (LZS), but they all resulted in similar offers mentioned above. The lack of progress in these talks meant that the existing problems between the Polish and Lithuanian scouting associations remained unresolved. The situation was further complicated by the outbreak of war. Several scouting publication appeared in 1939–1940, including Zarzewie, by Zbigniew Skłodowski, and Wzwyż, published by Tadeusz Kognowicki. They even found their way into the hands of Polish soldiers, interned in Lithuania following defeat in the September Campaign. The scouts made contact home and foodstuffs available to them, and even organized escapes. After 15 June 1940, when Kovno was occupied by Soviet forces, all Polish institutions, schools and organizations were dissolved. Polish middle schools, subject to their own fate, could no longer provide support to the scout troops. On the initiative of Zbigniew Skłodowski and Mieczysław Raczkowski, the Polish scouting organization changed its designation to Polish Organization in Lithuania (POL). This was intended to make further clandestine operations easier, despite increased surveillance from the occupying forces. It was also decided to initiate cooperation with various clandestine groups in Wilno (ZWZ, AK, Szare Szeregi). The main organizer of these activities was T. Kognowicki. In the middle of July 1940 the NKVD began arresting Polish activists, including Kognowicki and Skłodowski, both of whom were executed soon after. The remaining, older scouts joined the resistance movement in the years 1941-1944. Throughout the entire war and occupation, hunted by the NKVD and Gestapo, many of them paid the ultimate sacrifice. Only a small number survived.

Authors and Affiliations

Andrzej Gąsiorowski

Keywords

Harcerstwo Litwa Polacy

EP ID EP323515
DOI -
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