Poles in Latvia

By Eriks Jekabsons (State Historical Archive of Latvia)

Poles and Polish Nobility in Latvia

Poles have been directly involved with Latvian-inhabited lands since 1562, when the weakened Livonian states, under threat of an invasion by the troops of Russia's tsar Ivan the Terrible, sought protection from the Polish king. Thus began the so-called “Polish Era,” which lasted in Riga and Vidzeme until 1621, in Latgale until 1772, and in the Duchy of Kurzeme, which was under the vassalage of the Polish king, until 1795. In Latgale the Polish cultural influence continued, and the Polish landed gentry remained even after the region became part of the Russian Empire. In this predominantly Catholic region, the destinies of the Latvian and Polish nations were most closely intertwined. The first book in Latvian was published by Polish Jesuits in 1585.

The Polish nobility in Latgale consisted mainly of polonised descendants of former German Knights of the Livonian Order (e.g., the famous Plater family), as well as landed gentry from Poland and Lithuania. The Polish intelligentsia and gentry were active in both nineteenth-century nationalistic rebellions against Russian rule, especially in 1863, when an armed Polish unit engaged Russian army troops in southern Latgale. After 1863, the Russian authorities subjected the Poles in Latgale to various restrictions and repressions which, nevertheless, were ineffectual in diminishing the influence of the Polish nobility. In southern Latgale the polonisation of Catholic Latvian farmers was especially pronounced; moreover, repression of the Catholic religion evoked resistance and a defiantly pro-Polish attitude.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, as a result of the development of industry, Riga, the governmental seat of Vidzeme, became the centre of social activity for Poles. In 1878 the first Polish Society was established, and in subsequent years two Polish fraternities were established at Riga Polytechnic Institute, along with numerous other social organisations. Future leaders of independent Poland were trained at schools in Riga, Liepaja, and Jelgava. In 1897 there were 65,056 Poles in all of Latvia, but in 1913 there were 45,562 Poles in Riga alone. The Revolution of 1905 stimulated Polish activities: they became involved in local self-government, established Polish organisations in Liepaja, and founded two private Polish secondary schools, as well as a number of elementary schools, in Riga.

World War I

World War I brought dramatic changes for the Polish population. Conscription of the male population and deportation of workers to remote Russian provinces almost completely paralysed Polish social life in Riga while a continuous, massive flood of refugees from war-torn regions of Poland and Lithuania streamed through Riga and Latgale. The revolutionary events of 1917 enabled Latvia's Poles to resume their political activity - for example, in Riga's City Council elections - but this activity was interrupted by the Bolshevik coup and the German occupation. Even so, the Council for Poles of Latgale was established, but at the end of 1918 the Council had to relocate to Poland. During the short period of Soviet rule, the Poles in Latgale suffered severe repression because of their social stratification. Poles constituted the fourth largest minority - about 3% - in independent Latvia (in 1920 there were 52,244 Poles; in 1935, 48,949 Poles). For the first time in Latvia's history, Poland played a significant role in the lives of Latvia's Polish inhabitants. The Polish Embassy in Latvia provided considerable support to local Poles. Apart from isolated disagreements, relations between Latvia and Poland were generally good.

Poles in the First Republic of Latvia

Already in 1919 there were three Polish members of the Latvian People's Council, and in all four Saeimas (Parliaments) between 1922 and 1934 deputies were elected from the Polish Union, later renamed the Polish People's League. The Pole J.Wierzbicki was the Vice-Minister of Interior Affairs from 1928 to 1931. Poles were also active in the Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party; there were Polish deputies in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, and other cities, as well as in the local governments of Latgale. From 1922 to 1940 many Polish-language newspapers and magazines were published, and the Polish education system, established in 1919, was expanded. Polish secondary schools were established in Latgale, Riga, Daugavpils, and Rezekne; scores of elementary schools were established in Latgale, Riga, Liepaja, and Jelgava; and until 1934 there was a Polish vocational school in Daugavpils. Up to 1934, the work of these schools was supervised by the Polish Education Department within the Ministry of Education, and subsequently by the Polish Education Specialist within this Ministry. Schools and Polish organisations encouraged the formation of boy scout and girl scout troops (harcerze), which became part of the Latvian Scouts' Central Organisation. The number of Polish organisations was impressive. In the early 1930s there were 15 societies for various interest groups - culture, education, charity, youth, sports, students, teachers, farmers, and temperance; there was also a Polish theatre and numerous choirs in Riga, Liepaja, and Latgale. In the late 1930s six puppet theatre troupes were established. The Polish poet O.Daukszta became well known, and the painter A.Romer was acclaimed throughout Europe. The centre of Polish activities moved to Daugavpils when the Polish House was purchased in 1931. Polish sports festivals were an annual event since 1934. From the merging of numerous organisations emerged the highly influential Society of Latvian Poles in 1939 (approximately 3,400 members), which became the hub of Polish social activities. With the outbreak of World War II in the fall of 1939, the Society looked after the interned Polish servicemen by collecting donations, organising holiday celebrations, and the like.

Many Poles achieved fame throughout Latvia - the sculptor K.Ronczewski, the chemist W.Fiszer, the artists S.Civi-Ciwinski and B.Kondrat, the ballet-dancer B.Milewicz, the choreographer J.Leszczewski, the historian J.Juszkiewicz, and others. Poles distinguished themselves in all spheres of endeavour, including military officers, police officers, and members of the paramilitary organisation. Between 1918 and 1920, Polish soldiers who fought in Latvia's War of Liberation were decorated with the Order of Lacplesis (the highest military award in Latvia).

Poles in Latvia during World War II

The Russian occupation of Latvia brought to the Poles repression, murder, arrests, and deportation to Siberia, where multitudes perished. The Polish press and Polish organisations were shut down. The German occupation of 1941-1944 likewise meant restrictions and repressions for the Poles. Many joined the reconnaissance and sabotage units of the Polish National Army (Armia Krajowa). At the end of the war, many Poles, afraid of a second Soviet occupation, left Latvia.

Poles in Soviet-Occupied Latvia

After the war, the Poles in Latvia were subjected to the same measures as the Latvians - russification, assimilation, repression, and collectivisation. Collectivisation caused large numbers of Poles to forsake their farms, and the closing of the last Polish school in 1949 contributed to assimilation. The Poles were the only minority in Latvia that formed an armed anti-Soviet guerrilla group, and many Poles rose to high rank in the Latvian underground army. In the 1960s, one of the most notable dissidents in Latvia was the Pole J.Jahimowicz.

The number of Polish inhabitants remained fairly constant 52,800 in 1959; 60,400 in 1989; and 63,400 in 1996. By 1996 61.4% of Poles had obtained Latvian citizenship. Because of the lack of Polish schools and because of massive russification, only 21% declared Polish as their native language in 1979; in 1989 only 27% knew Polish.

Poles Today in Independent Latvia

During the Latvian Awakening Movement of the 1980s, it became possible for Poles to experience spiritual and renewal and resume their social and political activities. Because of their age-old consciousness of solidarity, they were one of the first minorities to recover their sense of national identify; at the same time, they supported Latvia's liberation movement. One of the most influential figures of the Awakening was the leader of the Union of Latvian Poles - I.Kozakiewicz. In 1988 the Society for Polish Culture and Language, Promien, was established in Daugavpils, and the Society for Polish Culture was founded in Riga. In 1990 the two societies merged to form the Union of Latvian Poles (with approximately 3,000 members), which declared its unequivocal support for Latvia's independence. The Union of Latvian Poles popularised the motto “For our freedom and yours,” which was also the slogan of the Polish rebellion of 1831. In 1989 activity resumed in Polish primary schools, in scouting, and in library services. In 1991 the Polish press in Latvia was reactivated. The most significant result was reawakened national consciousness, which enabled the Poles to develop and extend their social activities while maintaining close ties with Latvia's governmental institutions, as well as the Polish Embassy in Latvia and various support organisations in Poland.

After the renewal of Latvia's independence, social and educational activity flourished. At present, there is the Polish secondary school in Riga named after I.Kozakiewicz; the Polish experimental school; the elementary school in Daugavpils; and the preparatory schools in Kraslava, Jekabpils, and Rezekne. Every year hundreds of pupils participate in festivals of Polish culture; there are also cultural events in Latvia, such as concerts, organised by patriotic societies, as well as cultural events in Poland.

The most socially active Poles work under the sponsorship of the Union of Latvian Poles, which has chapters in Riga, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Rezekne, Ludza, Kraslava, Jekabpils, Ilukste, Jelgava, Cesis, Ventspils, Dobele, and Jurmala. The Daugavpils branch has reclaimed its pre-war property, the Polish House; in 1995 a memorial plaque was placed in front of this house to commemorate the Latvian Poles who died during the war.

After a fifty-year violent rupture of their social fabric, the Poles in Latvia are functioning seamlessly once again. Because of its diverse contacts with Poland and because of its sense of belonging to the Latvian state and Latvian people (a sense cultivated over many generations), there is every reason to hope that the Polish people will continue to be a distinct and independent national minority which is at the same time truly a part of Latvia and that the Poles in Latvia will serve as a bridge to one of the most significant countries in Eastern Europe - Poland.