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National-Socialist Commune

Political party in Poland (1888–1893)

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National-Socialist Commune (Polish: Gmina Narodowo-Socjalistyczna) was a Polish socialist-revolutionary and nationalist organization founded by exiles in Paris in 1888 and remained active until 1893.

History[edit]

The organization was founded in 1888 by Stanisław Barański.^[1] Barański united young Poles, primarily a group of medical students in Paris, along with members and supporters of the pre-existing socialist organizations Równość and Lud Polski. The organization adopted a red flag featuring an eagle and the motto "Freedom, Equality, Independence."^[2] The official publication of the National-Socialist Commune was Pobudka, a monthly publication in Paris edited by Barański. In the Pobudka edition, Barański was initially assisted by Antoni Złotnicki, followed by Jan Lorentowicz. Starting from the first issue, Bolesław Limanowski^[1] contributed articles to the magazine. In addition to them, other authors who published texts in the journal under pseudonyms included Marian Abramowicz, Władysław Grabski, Jan Wacław Machajski, Tadeusz Jaroszyński, Antoni Lange, Maria Sulicka, Maria Szeliga, Gabriela Zapolska, and Jan Lucjan Tolkemit.^[3]

In January 1889, the National-Socialist Commune published its program in Pobudka:^[4]

Poland seeks two things: to recover independence as the only guarantee of national liberties, given the existence and prosperity of the Polish nation threatened by the invasion, and a radical revolution of the prevailing socio-economic relations based on free leasing and private property, which it must be replaced by one based on the principles of economic equality, political freedom and national independence.

— Program of the National-Socialist Commune

The organization advocated for the nationalization of land, real estate, and tools of work, as well as universal suffrage for all citizens, irrespective of their ethnicity, gender, and religion.^[5] They underscored that Poland's independence and social issues are intertwined and cannot be resolved separately. The National-Socialist Commune aimed to initiate a "political revolution" for Polish independence, which would subsequently transition peacefully towards socialism.^[4] The movement sought to establish its base in the "cultured proletariat." The National-Socialist Commune viewed all parties advocating for political freedom and the expansion of social equality as allies, provided they did not obstruct their activities with moderate and reformist aspirations. The organization was openly influenced by Marxism, but its primary theoretical reference was Limanowski. The National-Socialist Commune prioritized the consideration of Polish realities and its political and social relations, first seeking its own path to socialism before aspiring to an internationalist project.

Beginning in January 1889, the National-Socialist Commune, while maintaining its political and ideological autonomy, aligned with the Liga Polska based on a special agreement, recognizing it as the supreme national revolutionary institution.^[6] At that time, the commissar of the Liga Polska in Paris was Henryk Gierszyński,^[1] who had previously collaborated with the National-Socialist Commune. As ideological disputes within the Liga Polska intensified, activists from the National-Socialist Commune became increasingly passionate advocates for the creation of a national liberation party that was also openly and radically socialist. This evolution coincided with Gierszyński being succeeded by activist Zet Bolesław Motz, who began to fiercely compete with the National-Socialist Commune for influence among Polish youth based in Paris. Starting in 1891, Pobudka, led by Lorentowicz^[3] following Barański's death, was particularly active in promoting its own party concept.

From 17 to 23 November 1892, delegates from the National-Socialist Commune participated in the Paris congress, which led to the establishment of the Foreign Union of Polish Socialists (ZZPS). This congress is considered the founding congress of the Polish Socialist Party. Following the congress, the Paris branch of ZZPS was established based on the National-Socialist Commune.^[7]

References[edit]