Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)

The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 (Polish

Polish language

Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...

: powstanie wielkopolskie 1918–19 roku; ) or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland

Greater Poland

Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...

region (also called the Grand Duchy of Poznań

Grand Duchy of Poznan

The Grand Duchy of Posen, or the Grand Duchy of Poznań was part of the Kingdom of Prussia, created from territories annexed by Prussia after the Partitions of Poland, and formally established following the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. Per agreements derived at the Congress of Vienna it was to have...

or Provinz Posen region) against Germany

Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...

. The uprising had a significant effect on the Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...

, which granted a reconstituted Poland the area won by the Polish insurgents plus some additional territory, at the cost of German territory.

Background

After the 1795 Third Partition of Poland

Third Partition of Poland

The Third Partition of Poland or Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in 1795 as the third and last of three partitions that ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Background:...

(Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...

), Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

had ceased to exist as an independent state. From 1795 through the beginning of the Great or First World War

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, several unsuccessful uprisings to regain an independent state took place. An 1806 uprising was followed by the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw

Duchy of Warsaw

The Duchy of Warsaw was a Polish state established by Napoleon I in 1807 from the Polish lands ceded by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. The duchy was held in personal union by one of Napoleon's allies, King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony...

which lasted for eight years before being partitioned again between Prussia and Russia.

At the end of World War I, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson

Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...

's Fourteen Points

Fourteen Points

The Fourteen Points was a speech given by United States President Woodrow Wilson to a joint session of Congress on January 8, 1918. The address was intended to assure the country that the Great War was being fought for a moral cause and for postwar peace in Europe...

met with opposition from European nations standing to lose power or territory. German politicians had signed an armistice

Armistice

An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...

leading to a cease fire on November 11, 1918, with the Western and former Eastern front lines outside of Germany. Many Germans felt they had not lost the war and felt betrayed by their leadership (Stab-in-the-back legend). Germany had signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, mediated by South African Andrik Fuller, at Brest-Litovsk between Russia and the Central Powers, headed by Germany, marking Russia's exit from World War I.While the treaty was practically obsolete before the end of the year,...

with Bolshevik

Bolshevik

The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

to settle the eastern frontiers. Therefore, from the date that the armistice was signed until the Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles

was fully ratified in January 1920, many territorial and sovereignty issues remained unresolved.

Wilson's proposal for an independent Poland did not definitively set borders for Poland that could be universally accepted. Most of Poland partitioned to Prussia in the late 18th century was still part of Germany at the close of World War I, with the rest of the subsequent post-World War I Polish being part of Russia and Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary

Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...

. The portion which was part of Germany included the Provinz Posen, or territory of Greater Poland

Greater Poland

, of which Poznań

Poznan

Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

(Posen) was a major industrial city. The majority of the population was Polish (60%) and was uncertain whether they would be repatriated with the proposed new Polish nation.

The uprising

In the autumn of 1918 Poles with hopes for a sovereign Poland began serious preparations for an uprising after the Kaiser Wilhelm's abdication on 9 November 1918, which marked the end of the German monarchy, which would be replaced by the Weimar Republic

Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...

.

The uprising broke out on 27 December 1918 in Poznań

Poznan

, after a patriotic speech by Ignacy Paderewski, a famous Polish pianist.

The uprising forces consisted of members of the Polish Military Organization of the Prussian Partition, who started to form the Straż Obywatelska (Citizen's Guard), later renamed as Straż Ludowa (People's Guard) and many volunteers — mainly veterans of World War I. The ruling body was the Naczelna Rada Ludowa (High Peoples' Council) — at the beginning members of the Council were against the uprising, but supported it a few days later: unofficially 3 January 1919; officially 8 and 9 January 1919 — and the military commanders: Captain Stanisław Taczak (promoted to major, temporary commander 28 December 1918 – 8 January 1919) and later General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki

Józef Dowbor-Musnicki

Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki was a Polish military officer and commander, serving with the Imperial Russian and then Polish armies...

.

The timing of the uprising was fortuitous, as between October 1918 and the first months of 1919, internal conflict had weakened Germany, with soldiers and sailors rebelling against the monarchy and its hawkish generals. Demoralized by the signing of an armistice on November 11, 1918, Germany was embroiled in the German Revolution

German Revolution

The German Revolution was the politically-driven civil conflict in Germany at the end of World War I, which resulted in the replacement of Germany's imperial government with a republic...

.

By 15 January 1919, the rebellious Polish forces managed to take control of most of the Province of Posen

Province of Posen

The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....

, and engaged in heavy fighting with the regular German army and the forces of the Grenzschutz, up until the renewal of the truce between the Entente

Allies of World War I

The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...

and Germany on 16 February, which affected the Wielkopolska or Posen Province part of the front line. Skirmishes continued, however, until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles

on June 28, 1919.

Many of the Wielkopolska insurgents also took part in the 1919 - 1921 uprisings in Silesia.

Reaction

The Greater Poland Uprising is considered to be one of the two most successful Polish uprisings: the second was the Great Poland Uprising of 1806 which was ended by the entry of Napoleon's Army.

The uprising had a significant effect on the Versailles decisions, which granted Poland not only the area won by the insurgents, but a portion of the Province of Pomerania and the towns of Bromberg, Leszno, and Rawicz (the Polish Corridor

Polish Corridor

The Polish Corridor , also known as Danzig Corridor, Corridor to the Sea or Gdańsk Corridor, was a territory located in the region of Pomerelia , which provided the Second Republic of Poland with access to the Baltic Sea, thus dividing the bulk of Germany from the province of East...

). The riots also influenced the decision to have popular votes in Silesia, where the public was allowed to vote whether it wanted to be part of the German or Polish state.

Germany's territorial losses following the Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles

incited German revanchism

Revanchism

Revanchism is a term used since the 1870s to describe a political manifestation of the will to reverse territorial losses incurred by a country, often following a war or social movement. Revanchism draws its strength from patriotic and retributionist thought and is often motivated by economic or...

and created problems such that the status of the independent Free City of Danzig

Free City of Danzig

The Free City of Danzig was a semi-autonomous city-state that existed between 1920 and 1939, consisting of the Baltic Sea port of Danzig and surrounding areas....

(Gdańsk) and the Polish Corridor

Polish Corridor

between East Prussia

East Prussia

East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...

and the rest of Germany became an issue in German politics. Attending to the issue was part of Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...

's political platform. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Poland refused several German proposals for popular referendum

Popular referendum

A popular referendum is a type of a referendum that provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a...

s, population transfers, highway projects and customs union reform. Under Hitler, Germany invaded Poland

Invasion of Poland (1939)

The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...

in September 1939.

Events before

January 1916 – creation of Secret Inter-Party Citizen's Committee (pl.
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...

Tajny Międzypartyjny Komitet Obywatelski) formed by members of the German Reichstag
Reichstag (German Empire)
The Reichstag was the parliament of the North German Confederation , and of the German Reich ....

of Polish nationality.
July 1918 – network of local Citizens' Committees is created on area of Prussian Partition.
11 October 1918 – Polish organizations in the German Empire publicize common documents in which they declare the will to create independent Polish state; in effect, revolution.
9 November 1918 – beginning of the German Revolution
German Revolution
The German Revolution was the politically-driven civil conflict in Germany at the end of World War I, which resulted in the replacement of Germany's imperial government with a republic...

, which also occurred in Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...

. Poles organized secret military structures in the Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...

garrison, Jarocin
Jarocin
Jarocin Jarocin Jarocin ( is a town in central Poland with 25,700 inhabitants (1995). Since 1999 Jarocin has been located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, prior to that it was located in the Kalisz Voivodeship (1975–1998).- History :...

and Inowrocław.
10 November 1918 – events of the so-called Republika Ostrowska.
11 November 1918
- Armistice signed, ending hostilities of World War I
  World War I
  World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
  
  .
- The Citizens' Guard (Straż Obywatelska), renamed a few days later to The People's Guard (Straż Ludowa) comes out from the underground. The Mayor of Poznań
  Poznan
  Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
  
  (Posen) Ernst Wilms is removed from office. German military authorities give permission for functioning of the People's Guard to keep peace in the Province of Posen
  Province of Posen
  The Province of Posen was a province of Prussia from 1848–1918 and as such part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. The area was about 29,000 km2....
  
  .
12 November 1918
- The Central Citizen's Committee, later renamed to the High People's Council (Naczelna Rada Ludowa, NRL), creates temporary "government-in-waiting" – Commission (Komisariat): Stanisław Adamski, Wojciech Korfanty
  Wojciech Korfanty
  Wojciech Korfanty , born Adalbert Korfanty, was a Polish nationalist activist, journalist and politician, serving as member of the German parliaments Reichstag and Prussian Landtag, and later on, in the Polish Sejm...
  
  and Adam Poszwiński.
- Jarogniew Drwęski becomes the Mayor of Poznań.
13 November 1918
- Commission of the High People's Council calls citizens of German portion of Poland to keep calm in spite of the revolution.
- "Assassination on City Hall" – as it was dominated by Germans, the Execution Department of Worker's and Soldier's Council proceeded to Poznań's City Hall, an armed group of Poles forced them to change four of the German Delegates with Poles: Bohdan Hulewicz, Mieczysław Paluch, Henryk Śniegocki
  Henryk Sniegocki
  Henryk Śniegocki was commandant of the Local Scout Command and next the Headquarters of Scouts on the German Reich , the participant of Greater Poland Uprising...
  
  and Zygmunt Wiza. Due to this event, Poles gain control over the headquarters of Poznań Garrison and 5th Corps.
17 November 1918 – Commission of NRL calls for a one-time collection of money called a "national tax".
18 November 1918 – elections to Poviat's People's Councils and members of the Partition's Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....

(1399 MPs).
20 November 1918 – in exposé of the Polish government in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...

: przyłączenie Wielkopolski będzie jednym z pierwszych naszych zadań (the joining of Greater Poland will be one of our first tasks).
3 December 1918 – The Partition Sejm of Poznań began official proceedings, in building of the "Apollo" Cinema. MPs were representing all lands of the Prussian Partition and Polish economic emigration, mainly from Westfalen.
5 December 1918 – end of the Partition Sejm, which declared it's wanting of unification with the other partitions in a renationalized Poland and with NRL officially electing its members.
6 December 1918 – first meeting of the NRL elected. Bolesław Krysiewicz becomes a Speaker. Election of executive body – Commission of NRL formed by representatives of: Greater Poland
Greater Poland
Greater Poland or Great Poland, often known by its Polish name Wielkopolska is a historical region of west-central Poland. Its chief city is Poznań.The boundaries of Greater Poland have varied somewhat throughout history...

- Stanisław Adamski and Władysław Seyda; Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...

– Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty
Wojciech Korfanty , born Adalbert Korfanty, was a Polish nationalist activist, journalist and politician, serving as member of the German parliaments Reichstag and Prussian Landtag, and later on, in the Polish Sejm...

and Józef Rymer
Józef Rymer
Józef Rymer was a Polish and Silesian activist and politician.Born in Zabełków on February 2, 1882. Before the First World War he was an activist in the Zjednoczenie Zawodowe Polskie , a Polish labor union organization in Imperial Germany...

; Eastern Pomerania
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship, or Pomerania Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in north-central Poland. It comprises most of Pomerelia , as well as an area east of the Vistula River...

– Stefan Łaszewski; Kuyavia
Kuyavia
Kujawy , is a historical and ethnographic region in the north-central Poland, situated in the basin of the middle Vistula and upper Noteć Rivers, with its capital in Włocławek.-Etymology:The origin of the name Kujawy was seen differently in history...

– Adam Poszwiński.
11 December 1918 – Polish language
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...

and teaching of religion in Polish returns to schools.
15 December 1918 – Polish government in Warsaw breaks diplomatic relations with Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

.

Uprising

27 December 1918 – evening: uprising starts with shooting in front of Poznań's Police Headquarters, which was opposite the "Arkadia" Theater and Hotel "Bazar" (Franciszek Ratajczak is killed here). Fighting also start in other towns. Jan Mertka dies under Boczków
Boczków
Boczków is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nowe Skalmierzyce, within Ostrów Wielkopolski County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately north of Skalmierzyce, north-east of Ostrów Wielkopolski, and south-east of the regional capital...

(both victims are mentioned in bulletin of NRL). Szamotuły, Środa Wielkopolska
Sroda Wielkopolska
Środa Wielkopolska is a town in central Poland, about southeast of Poznań, with 22,001 inhabitants .-Overview:It is situated in Greater Poland Voivodeship, having previously been in the former Poznań Voivodeship...

, Pniewy
Pniewy
Pniewy is a town in Szamotuły County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 7,477 inhabitants .Pniewy had once been flooded to make way for a reservoir.- People :...

, Opalenica
Opalenica
Opalenica is a town in Nowy Tomyśl County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 9,861 inhabitants .The noble de Opalenica Opaliński family originated here as lords of the area and a branch of the de Bnin Bniński family of Clan Łodzia.There was a narrow-gauge railway in Opalenica but it closed...

, Buk
Buk
Buk is a town in central Poland, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Poznań Voivodeship .The town's name means "Beech" in Polish, and the flag of the town shows a branch of beech, and three beech leaves....

, Trzemeszno
Trzemeszno
Trzemeszno is a town in central Poland belonging to the group of the oldest settlements in the region. The town’s name derives from an Old Polish word “Trzemcha” meaning the flower of the "Bird’s Cherry" plant, which once grew in the vicinity...

, Września
Wrzesnia
Września is a town in central Poland with 28,600 inhabitants . It is situated in the Września County, Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Poznań Voivodeship , on the Wrzesnica River.- History :...

and Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...

are liberated. Poles in Poznań capture main train station, Main Post Office and part of city fortifications.
28 December 1918
- Poles in Poznań capture Cytadela (Fort Winiary, main stronghold), Fort Grolmann and armory on Wielkie Garbary Str. (today Garbary Str.)
- Commission of NRL promotes Captain Stanisław Taczak to temporary commander-in-chief of uprising (he is also promoted to rank of major).
29 December 1918 – Poles capture Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Grodzisk Wielkopolski
Grodzisk Wielkopolski is a town in western Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship , with a population of 13,703 . It is south-west of Poznań, the voivodeship capital. It is the seat of Grodzisk Wielkopolski County, and also of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Grodzisk Wielkopolski...

, Kłecko, Kórnik
Kórnik
Kórnik is a town with about 6,800 inhabitants , located in western Poland, approximately south-east of the city of Poznań. It is one of the major tourist attractions of the Wielkopolska region....

, Wielichowo
Wielichowo
Wielichowo is a town in Grodzisk Wielkopolski County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 1,830 inhabitants ....

, Gostyń
Gostyn
Gostyń is a town in Greater Poland Voivodeship , in Gostyń County. According to 30 June 2004 data its population was 20,746.-Geography:Gostyń is located at 17°01' East and 51°53' North....

, Witkowo
Witkowo
Witkowo is a town in Gniezno County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, located southeast of Poznań.- External links :*...

and others.
30 December 1918
- Failure of peace talks with Germans, who refuse to take responsibility for hostilities of 27 December.
- In Poznań Poles force 6th Regiment of Grenadiers from their barracks. After talks, Regiment leaves city with weapons.
- Liberation of Wronki
  Wronki
  Wronki is a town in the Szamotuły County, western-central Poland, situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Piła Voivodeship . It is located close to the Warta River to the northwest of Poznań, and has a population of approximately 11,000...
  
  , Wągrowiec
  Wagrowiec
  Wągrowiec is a town in northwestern Poland, 50 km from both Poznań and Bydgoszcz. Since the 18th century it has been the a seat of a powiat. It is currently attached to the Greater Poland Voivodeship...
  
  , Gołańcza. Polish soldiers stop German offensive against Gniezno near Zdziechowa
  Zdziechowa
  Zdziechowa is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gniezno, within Gniezno County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately north of Gniezno and north-east of the regional capital Poznań....
  
  .
31 December 1918
- Liberation of Kościan
  Koscian
  Kościan is a town on the Obra canal in west-central Poland, with a population of 24 059 inhabitants in June 2009. Situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Leszno Voivodeship , it is the capital of Kościan County...
  
  , Oborniki Wielkopolskie, Ostrów Wielkopolski
  Ostrów Wielkopolski
  Ostrów Wielkopolski is a town in central Poland with 72,360 inhabitants , situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship; the seat of Ostrów Wielkopolski County.-History:Recently, a small fortified dwelling dating from the 10th century was discovered on the north-east side of...
  
  .
- Unit of Poles under command of Paweł Cymes begins offensive on Cuiavia.
1 January 1919
- Paderewski leaves Poznań.
- Liberation of Jarocin
  Jarocin
  Jarocin Jarocin Jarocin ( is a town in central Poland with 25,700 inhabitants (1995). Since 1999 Jarocin has been located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, prior to that it was located in the Kalisz Voivodeship (1975–1998).- History :...
  
  , Krotoszyn
  Krotoszyn
  Krotoszyn is a town in central Poland with 30,010 inhabitants . It has been part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999; it was within Kalisz Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998....
  
  and Mogilno
  Mogilno
  Mogilno is a town in central Poland, situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , previously in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship .-History:...
  
  .
3 January 1919 – to avoid anarchy in Great Poland, the Committee of NRL decides to take over control of spontaneous uprising, but also decides that this decision should be kept secret.
4 January 1919 – Commission of NRL decrees new President of the Province of Poznań, Wojciech Trąmpczyński
Wojciech Trampczynski
Wojciech Stefan Trąmpczyński was a Polish lawyer and National Democratic politician. Voivode of the Poznań Voivodeship in 1919. He served as marshal of the Sejm of Poland from 1919–1922 and Senate of Poland from 1922 to 1928....

. German authorities call for boycott of new President.
5 January 1919 – Czarnków
Czarnków
Czarnków is a town in Poland in Czarnków-Trzcianka County in Greater Poland Voivodeship, previously in Piła Voivodeship . It has 12,000 inhabitants.The town lies on the Noteć river...

, Jutrosin
Jutrosin
Jutrosin is a town in Rawicz County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 1,836 inhabitants .Krystyna Łybacka was born in Jutrosin....

, Kruszwica
Kruszwica
Kruszwica is a town in central Poland and is situated in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship , previously in Bydgoszcz Voivodeship .It has a population of 9,412 people .-History:...

, Nakło, Nowy Tomyśl
Nowy Tomysl
Nowy Tomyśl is a town in western Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the capital of Nowy Tomyśl County. The population is 15,627 ....

, Miejska Górka
Miejska Górka
Miejska Górka is a town in Rawicz County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,121 inhabitants ....

, Rawicz
Rawicz
Rawicz is a town in central Poland with 21,398 inhabitants . It is situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship ; previously it was in Leszno Voivodeship . It is the capital of Rawicz County.-History:...

, Strzelno
Strzelno
Strzelno is a town in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. The town is located south of Inowrocław. According to the June 2005 Census, the population numbered 12,486.-History:...

and Wolsztyn
Wolsztyn
Wolsztyn is a town in western Poland, on the western edge of Greater Poland Voivodeship...

are captured by the Poles.
6 January 1919
- Poles capture Ławica Airport in Poznań with all aircraft undamaged.
- Fighting near Czersk
  Czersk
  Czersk is a town in northern Poland in Chojnice County, Pomeranian Voivodeship.On July 1, 2006 this municipality celebrated 80 years of granting this community the status of city....
  
  and Kościerzyna
  Koscierzyna
  Kościerzyna is a town in Kashubia in Gdańsk Pomerania region, northern Poland, with some 24,000 inhabitants. It has been the capital of Kościerzyna County in Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999; previously it was in Gdańsk Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998...
  
  in Pomerania
  Pomerania
  Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...
  
  .
- Inowrocław liberated.
7 January 1919
- Poles divide captured lands into seven Military Districts (Okręg Wojskowy).
- Germans recapture Chodzież
  Chodziez
  Chodzież is a town in northwestern Poland with 20,400 inhabitants . Situated in the Chodzież County, Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Piła Voivodeship .-Geography:...
  
  and Czarnków
  Czarnków
  Czarnków is a town in Poland in Czarnków-Trzcianka County in Greater Poland Voivodeship, previously in Piła Voivodeship . It has 12,000 inhabitants.The town lies on the Noteć river...
  
  .
8 January 1919
- Commission of NRL takes all civil and military authority without declaring territorial range of this power. It also promotes General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki
  Józef Dowbor-Musnicki
  Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki was a Polish military officer and commander, serving with the Imperial Russian and then Polish armies...
  
  to commander-in-chief of uprising forces.
- Poles recapture Chodzież (Battle of Chodzież) and Czarnków. They also win Battle of Ślesin
  Slesin
  Ślesin is a town in Konin County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,324 inhabitants . In partitioned Poland it belonged to the Russian-controlled Congress Kingdom from 1815; it returned to Poland when the country regained its independence in 1918....
  
  and capture Sieraków
  Sieraków
  Sieraków is a town in western Poland with 6,022 inhabitants . Located by the Warta River, it has been situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship , previously in Poznań Voivodeship ....
  
  .
9 January 1919
- NRL officially announces taking control over Great Poland. Beginning of polonisation of administration, most anti-Polish officials are fired. In Poviats, German landrats are subordinated to Polish starosta
  Starosta
  Starost is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership that has been used in various contexts through most of Slavic history. It can be translated as "elder"...
  
  s, which in future takes all their power.
- Poles lose Nakło.
- Polish airmen bomb military airfield in Frankfurt (Oder)
  Frankfurt (Oder)
  Frankfurt is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Oder River, on the German-Polish border directly opposite the town of Słubice which was a part of Frankfurt until 1945. At the end of the 1980s it reached a population peak with more than 87,000 inhabitants...
10 January 1919 – fights on southern front near Kąkolewo
Kakolewo
Kąkolewo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Osieczna, within Leszno County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately south of Osieczna, east of Leszno, and south of the regional capital Poznań. It was formerly in Leszno Voivodeship .The village...

, Leszno
Leszno
Leszno is a town in central Poland with 63,955 inhabitants . Situated in the southern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously the capital of the Leszno Voivodeship . The town has county status.-History:...

and Rydzyna
Rydzyna
Rydzyna is a Polish town that was the seat of king Stanisław Leszczyński during Leszczyński's first short reign from 1704-1709. Rydzyna is known as "the pearl of the Polish baroque"....

. Poles capture Sarnowa
Sarnowa
Sarnowa is a Polish place name of:* Sarnowa, Konin County, a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ślesin, Konin County* Sarnowa-Kolonia, a village in the administrative district of Gmina Ślesin...

.
11 January 1919 – Germans recapture Sarnowa and win in Battle of Zbąszyń
Zbaszyn
Zbąszyń is a town in Poland, in Greater Poland Voivodeship, in Nowy Tomyśl County. It has 7,319 inhabitants .-History:The town was first mentioned in historical sources from 1231, and it received its city charter before 1311. As a result of the Second Partition of Poland in 1793 it became part of...

; Polish victory in Battle of Szubin
Szubin
Szubin is a town in Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, located southwest of Bydgoszcz. As of 12 December 2004 it had a population of 9354.-History:...

and they capture Łabiszyn, Złotniki and Żnin
Żnin
Żnin is a small town in Poland with a population of 14,558 . It is in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and is the capital of Żnin County. The town is situated in the historic land of Pałuki and the Gniezno Lake Area on the river Gąsawka.-Etymology:The name originates from the Polish word...

.
12 January 1919 – fights near Leszno and Lipno
Lipno
Lipno may refer to:* Lipno, Poland, a town in north-central Poland, seat of Lipno County*Lipno, Gmina Lipno in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Lipno, Świecie County in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship...

.
13 January 1919 – Germans recapture Szamocin
Szamocin
Szamocin is a city in Chodzież County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland.During the Partitions of Poland the town belonged to Kreis Kolmar in Posen.-External links:* http://www.szamocin.umig.gov.pl/...

.
14 January 1919 – Commission of NRL appeals to Roman Dmowski
Roman Dmowski
Roman Stanisław Dmowski was a Polish politician, statesman, and chief ideologue and co-founder of the National Democracy political movement, which was one of the strongest political camps of interwar Poland.Though a controversial personality throughout his life, Dmowski was instrumental in...

for help on negotiation of ceasefire.
15 January 1919 – failed attempt to recapture Szamocin by Poles.
16 January 1919
- First number of Tygodnik Urzędowy Naczelnej Rady Ludowej with laws of NRL is published.
- In central Polish government of Ignacy Paderewski are two politicians of Great Poland: Józef Englich - minister of treasury and Kazimierz Hącia - minister of industry and trade.
17 January 1919 – Men born in years 1897, 1898 and 1899 are called up and drafted into Great Polish Army.
20 January 1919 – transfer of money to banks of the Reich on other side of front line is forbidden.
21 January 1919
- NRL creates oath of soldiers of Great Polish Army.
- Evidence of false information about Polish attacks on German civilians published by authorities in Berlin
  Berlin
  Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
  
  , suggesting behavior like that of Germans themselves, is sent to Paris
  Paris
  Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
  
  . Contemporaneously, NRL appeals to Allies asking for a military mission, suggesting the possibility of the Great Polish Army fighting against Bolshevik
  Bolshevik
  The Bolsheviks, originally also Bolshevists , derived from bol'shinstvo, "majority") were a faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party which split apart from the Menshevik faction at the Second Party Congress in 1903....
  
  s. Many articles about the situation in Great Poland appear in Western newspapers.
22 January 1919
- Northern front: Poles are forced to leave Potulice
  Potulice
  Potulice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, within Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Nakło nad Notecią and west of Bydgoszcz...
  
  .
- Southern front: Poles win Battle of Robaczysko.
- Joseph Noules is nominated by Highest Council of Allied Countries as chief of Allied mission in Poland.
23 January 1919 – Poles defend Miejska Górka
Miejska Górka
Miejska Górka is a town in Rawicz County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,121 inhabitants ....

after heavy fighting.
25 January 1919
- Poles capture Babimost
  Babimost
  Babimost is a small town in Poland in the Lubusz Voivodeship, Zielona Gora County.Area: 3,6 km², Population: 4,300 , City rights: 1397...
  
  and Kargowa
  Kargowa
  Kargowa is a town in Zielona Góra County, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,663 inhabitants ....
  
  .
- All communication between Great Poland and Reich is broken.
- Decree canceled Prussian prohibition of Polish language in schools.
26 January 1919 – Soldiers of Great Polish Army with commander Gen. J. Dowbór-Muśnicki give oath on Wilhelm Platz, renamed on Plac Wolności (Freedom Square) in Poznań.
28 January 1919 – German offensive in area of Bydgoszcz and Nakło. Battle of Rynarzewo. Germans capture Szubin.
29 January 1919 – Roman Dmowski gives speech in front of Highest Council of Allied Countries in which he asserts Polish rights to the Prussian Partition, and accusing Germans of two-faced policies.
2 February 1919 – beginning of Polish-German talks in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

.
3 February 1919 – Poles stop German offensive on northern front. Their counterattack forces German withdrawal to northern bank of Noteć
Notec
Noteć is a river in central Poland with a length of 388 km and a basin area of 17,330 km². It is a tributary of the Warta river and lies completely within Poland....

river. Poles recapture Rynarzewo and win Battle of Kcynia
Kcynia
Kcynia is a town in Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 4,712 inhabitants .Kcynia is the birthplace of Jan Czochralski....

.
4 February 1919
- Poles recapture Szubin
  Szubin
  Szubin is a town in Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, located southwest of Bydgoszcz. As of 12 December 2004 it had a population of 9354.-History:...
  
  ; heavy fighting on southern front near Rawicz
  Rawicz
  Rawicz is a town in central Poland with 21,398 inhabitants . It is situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship ; previously it was in Leszno Voivodeship . It is the capital of Rawicz County.-History:...
  
  .
- Beginning of talks between Polish government in Warsaw with Commission of NRL about representation of Great Poland in Sejm
  Sejm
  The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
  
  Ustawodawczy.
5 February 1919 – Failure of talks in Berlin. German conditions were: demobilisation of Great Polish Army, recognition by Poland of German claims to Great Poland and payment by Polish side for all damage made during uprising. In spite of this, Entente
Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was the name given to the alliance among Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907....

still remarks that both sides are ready for peace talks.
6 February 1919 – end of talks about representation of Prussian Partition in Sejm Ustawodawczy. With regard to fact that Great Poland, Cuiavia, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...

and Pomerania
Pomerania
Pomerania is a historical region on the south shore of the Baltic Sea. Divided between Germany and Poland, it stretches roughly from the Recknitz River near Stralsund in the West, via the Oder River delta near Szczecin, to the mouth of the Vistula River near Gdańsk in the East...

are still officially part of Reich, to avoid international repercussions, Polish government and NRL decide to resign from planned election of 126 MPs, giving temporary right of representation of Prussian Partition to 16 MPs of Reichstag.
7 February 1919
- Heavy fighting in Kolno
  Kolno
  Kolno is a town in northeastern Poland, located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, about 150 km northeast of Warsaw. It is the seat of Kolno County, and the seat of the smaller administrative district called Gmina Kolno, but it is not part of this district, as the town has gmina status in its own...
  
  , which was captured many times by both sides.
- Commission of NRL promotes 122 former NCOs
  Non-commissioned officer
  A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
  
  of German Army to rank of Second Lieutenant
  Second Lieutenant
  Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
  
  .
- Chief of state Józef Piłsudski signs decree officially allowing 16 MPs from Prussian Partition to participate in Sejm Ustawodawczy.
9 February 1919 – Poles stop German offensive near Trzciel
Trzciel
Trzciel is a small town in Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,348 inhabitants ....

.
10 February 1919 – Poles stop German attack near Rawicz
Rawicz
Rawicz is a town in central Poland with 21,398 inhabitants . It is situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship ; previously it was in Leszno Voivodeship . It is the capital of Rawicz County.-History:...

.
11 February 1919 – Commission of NRL dissolves all town councils, giving 25 March as date of elections of new self-governments.
12 February 1919 – Germans use armoured train
Armoured train
An armoured train is a train protected with armour. They are usually equipped with railroad cars armed with artillery and machine guns. They were mostly used during the late 19th and early 20th century, when they offered an innovative way to quickly move large amounts of firepower...

to capture Kargowa
Kargowa
Kargowa is a town in Zielona Góra County, Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,663 inhabitants ....

and Babimost
Babimost
Babimost is a small town in Poland in the Lubusz Voivodeship, Zielona Gora County.Area: 3,6 km², Population: 4,300 , City rights: 1397...

, but their offensive is stopped near Kopanica
Kopanica, Greater Poland Voivodeship
Kopanica is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Siedlec, within Wolsztyn County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland.The village has a population of 890.-References:...

.
14 February 1919
- Beginning of talks about prolongation of ceasefire after World War I. German delegation is against extending it for Great Poland, but France
  France
  The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
  
  forces them to allow this condition.
- German Main Headquarters is moved to Kołobrzeg as a part of preparation for using all forces against Great Poland.
16 February 1919 – prolongation of Allied-German ceasefire in Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....

is signed, which also referred to front in Great Poland. Contemporary Great Polish Army is recognized as Allied Forces.

Between ceasefire and reunification

18 February 1919 – In spite of ceasefire, there is fighting near Rynarzewo. Poles capture armoured train.
9 February 1919 – Volunteer company of Great Polish soldiers moves to Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...

to fight against Ukrainians
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...

.
20 March 1919 – Ostmarkenzulage – special allowance for German officials working in eastern provinces, which aimed to stimulate German colonization of Prussian Partition, is canceled.
23 March 1919 – Poles win landslide in election of City Council of Poznań.
24 March 1919 – Commission of NRL ask Polish Government in Warsaw to create separate administration of ex-Prussian Partition, as it is far more developed than rest of the country. Ignacy Paderewski forces government to leave all power in hands of NRL in those lands till final recognition of Polish-German border, and in future creation of autonomy of those lands (after all only Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...

received it). NRL mobilises men born in 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 and 1901.
5 April 1919 – Sejm Ustawodawczy announces by-elections in ex-Province of Posen for next 42 MPs.
9 April 1919 – Commission of NRL decrees 8-hour workday in industry and trade.
10 April 1919 – Commission of NRL decrees removing all signs in German language from offices and train stations, and changes all streets names into Polish. Punishment for breaking this law was 2 years of prison and 10,000 Polish marks.
16 April 1919 – NRL decides that 3 May will be national holiday.
7 May 1919 – Wszechnica Piastowska is opened.
15 May 1919 – Polish language becomes only official language. German language is only auxiliary, but a lack of Polish speaking officials means German is still used in judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...

till 1920.
25 May 1919 – Army of Great Poland is subjugated to Headquarters of Polish Army, but keeps its separate organisation.
30 May 1919 – People's Guard is transformed to Home Defence (Obrona Krajowa).
1 June 1919 – by-elections of MPs to Sejm Ustawodawczy.
6 June 1919
- Skirmishing near Bydgoszcz (Bromberg).
- Rising threat of German offensive induces Commission of NRL to introduce state of emergency in all lands under its jurisdiction, and in a belt of 20 km from the front line it introduces martial law
  Martial law
  Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
  
  . A few days later, NRL announces penalty of death for acting against Great Polish Army or in interest of German Army.
18 June 1919 – Skirminshing near Rynarzewo.
28 June 1919 – Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...

gives almost all of Great Poland to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

.
1 July 1919
- Commission of NRL removes customs border with ex-Kingdom of Poland.
- Artillery fire at front.
9 July 1919 – outside of 20 km belt near front, state of emergency is canceled.
10 July 1919 – proceedings of Polish Government with whole Commission of NRL about further policy in Former Prussian Partition (Były Zabór Pruski). Decision taken about creation of Ministry of Former Prussian Partition (Ministerstwo Byłej Dzielnicy Pruskiej).
1 August 1919 – Sejm Ustawodawczy votes on resolution about "Temporary organisation of government in former Prussian Partition" (O tymczasowej organizacji zarządu byłej dzielnicy pruskiej), creating Ministry of Former Prussian Partition and plan of gradual unification of Great Poland with rest of country.
12 August 1919 – Władysław Seyda becomes first Minister of Former Prussian Partition.
19 August 1919 – NRL is dissolved.
28 August 1919 – Headquarters of Polish Army issues daily order No. 216 in which Great Polish Army is amalgamated with Polish Army, and its Headquarters are transformed to Headquarters of 7th Corps.
6 November 1919 – Commission of NRL is dissolved.
10 January 1920 – ratification of Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...

, according to which Polish forces in Great Poland should take control over small pieces of Great Poland's territories given to Poland that are resisting under German control and Eastern Pomerania
Pomeranian Voivodeship
Pomeranian Voivodeship, or Pomerania Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in north-central Poland. It comprises most of Pomerelia , as well as an area east of the Vistula River...

.
13 January 1920 – Headquarters of Great Poland front issues orders for preparation of implementation of Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...

.
17 January 1920 – beginning of occupation of remaining German held territories assigned to Poland under Versailles treaty.
8 March 1920 – Great Poland front dissolved.

Epilogue

24 March 2005 – last Polish fighter of uprising, Lieutenant Jan Rzepa, dies at age 106.

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