The attitude of the Jewish population towards the Polish state in the Stanisławów Province in 1921-1922

Abstract

Polish-Jewish relations in the first half of the 20th century remain the most difficult fragment of our common fate. Very often opinions about them are formulated that are not based on a solid analysis of the source material. The ensuing text was created as a result of research work on previously unused source material relating to the beginnings of the Stanisławów Province in the years 1921-1922. Building the Polish state in the Eastern Borderlands was extremely difficult, especially in view of the hostility of the Ukrainian people fighting for the establishment of their own state, the weakness of their own administrative structures, or the lack of support from the powers of the League of Nations. The Jewish population maintained a cold neutrality in the face of the efforts and actions of the Polish state, favouring the efforts of the Ukrainian people. The image of the selfisolation of the Jewish population from the Polish state, reluctance to participate in elections or the census, is an important element in the discussion on Polish-Jewish relations in the Second Polish Republic.