Rodlo
Encyclopedia
The Rodło is a Polish
emblem
used since 1932 by the Union of Poles in Germany
. It is a stylized representation of the Vistula River and Kraków
as the wellsprings of Polish culture.
had seized power in Germany, Nazi emblems were soon nationalized. The swastika
became national emblem of the Third Reich and Poles from the Union of Poles in Germany could not use their national symbols anymore, because they were prohibited in Nazi Germany
. Dr. Jan Kaczmarek approached the supreme council with the following proposal:
The Rodło was invented as a new symbol that Poles in Germany could rally around. The name "rodło" is a portmanteau of "ród" ("folk
") and "godło" ("emblem
").
The Rodło graphics was conceived in 1930's by graphic designer Janina Kłopocka, who sketched the "emblem of the Vistula River, cradle of the Polish people, and royal Kraków
, cradle of Polish culture". The white emblem was placed on a red background – the Polish national colors. It was adopted in August 1932 by the leadership of the Union of Poles in Germany
.
, who have used it alongside the fleur de lys
. After the World War II it was also used by organizations working in Poland, on the territories gained from Germany as the result of war.
In 1985 the People's Republic of Poland
introduced a Rodło Medal. In 1992, after the fall of communism
, it was discontinued.
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...
emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
used since 1932 by the Union of Poles in Germany
Union of Poles in Germany
Union of Poles in Germany is an organisation of the Polish minority in Germany, founded in 1922. In 1924, the union initiated collaboration between other minorities, including Sorbs, Danes, Frisians and Lithuanians, under the umbrella organization Association of National Minorities in Germany....
. It is a stylized representation of the Vistula River and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
as the wellsprings of Polish culture.
History
After Adolf HitlerAdolf 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...
had seized power in Germany, Nazi emblems were soon nationalized. The swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
became national emblem of the Third Reich and Poles from the Union of Poles in Germany could not use their national symbols anymore, because they were prohibited in Nazi 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...
. Dr. Jan Kaczmarek approached the supreme council with the following proposal:
The Rodło was invented as a new symbol that Poles in Germany could rally around. The name "rodło" is a portmanteau of "ród" ("folk
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
") and "godło" ("emblem
Emblem
An emblem is a pictorial image, abstract or representational, that epitomizes a concept — e.g., a moral truth, or an allegory — or that represents a person, such as a king or saint.-Distinction: emblem and symbol:...
").
The Rodło graphics was conceived in 1930's by graphic designer Janina Kłopocka, who sketched the "emblem of the Vistula River, cradle of the Polish people, and royal Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, cradle of Polish culture". The white emblem was placed on a red background – the Polish national colors. It was adopted in August 1932 by the leadership of the Union of Poles in Germany
Union of Poles in Germany
Union of Poles in Germany is an organisation of the Polish minority in Germany, founded in 1922. In 1924, the union initiated collaboration between other minorities, including Sorbs, Danes, Frisians and Lithuanians, under the umbrella organization Association of National Minorities in Germany....
.
Other uses
The Rodło has since been adopted by other organizations of Poles in Germany, notably the ScoutsScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, who have used it alongside the fleur de lys
Fleur de Lys
Fleur de Lys is a superheroine from Quebec and an ally of Northguard, created in 1984 by Mark Shainblum and Gabriel Morrissette. The name of the character is inspired by the heraldic symbol of the fleur de lys. It is the official emblem of Quebec and a prominent part of the Flag of Quebec...
. After the World War II it was also used by organizations working in Poland, on the territories gained from Germany as the result of war.
In 1985 the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
introduced a Rodło Medal. In 1992, after the fall of communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, it was discontinued.