Second Polish Republic (1918-1939)
The Second Polish Republic, also known as the interwar period or the “˝Poland in between messing up” time, was a period of approximately 20 years in which Poland attempted to regain its footing after being dissolved for over a century. The country was able to achieve independence following World War I with the help of its European allies, and immediately got to work trying to make a name for itself.
Throughout the interwar period, the Second Polish Republic was characterized by a series of events that were both interesting and somewhat hilarious. Some of the most notable aspects of this period include:
The politics: Polish politics during this time were nothing short of comical. Political parties (and there were a lot of them) would form, merge, split, and re-form faster than a hamster in a wheel, making it impossible for anyone to keep up. There were so many parties that it became a sport to try and keep track of them all.
The economy: The Second Polish Republic was notoriously poor, and its currency was pretty much useless. This led to a lot of creative solutions to make ends meet, such as bartering and exchanging goods instead of using money. It also led to some interesting fashion choices, as people turned to homemade clothing and accessories to save money.
The military: The Polish armed forces during this time were nothing if not enthusiastic. Unfortunately, they were also pretty inept. The country was frequently invaded by its neighbors, and the army had a hard time keeping up with the demand for defending the country. This led to some rather amusing strategies, such as hiding in the sewers and painting fake tanks on cardboard cutouts to fool the invading armies.
The culture: Despite its difficulties, the Second Polish Republic was a hotbed of creativity and artistic expression. From literature to music to art, Polish cultural figures were making an impact on the world stage. They were also really good at throwing parties, which is always a plus.
Overall, the Second Polish Republic was a time of great turmoil and difficulty for Poland, but it was also a time of resilience and humor. Despite everything that was going wrong, the people of Poland were able to find joy in the small things, like a good joke or a round of vodka with friends. And that’s something we can all learn from.