Republic of Tarnobrzeg

The Republic of Tarnobrzeg (Polish: Republika Tarnobrzeska, IPA: [rɛpuˈblika tarnɔˈbʐɛska]) was a short-lived entity, proclaimed 6 November 1918 in the Polish town of Tarnobrzeg. Its main founders were two socialist activists - Tomasz Dąbal and Father Eugeniusz Okoń, a Roman Catholic priest.

Republic of Tarnobrzeg

Republika Tarnobrzeska
1918–1919
Coat of arms
CapitalTarnobrzeg
Common languagesPolish
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentRepublica
Historical eraAftermath of World War I
 Established
6 November 1918
 Disestablished
Spring 1919
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria
Second Polish Republic
Today part of Poland
a. Soviet republic intended.
The city of Tarnobrzeg.

The idea of the Republic had its roots in mass demonstrations of peasants, which were taking place almost on a daily basis in the fall of 1918. Tarnobrzeg had been part of the Austrian Empire (Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria) and dissolution of this entity created a political unrest. On 6 November, after a demonstration with some 30,000 people, local peasants decided to take advantage of it and seize power.

As news of the Russian Revolution came to Tarnobrzeg, socialist activists decided to follow Communist ideas. They demanded the liquidation of capitalist government and the introduction of a land reform, which would result in taking away land from rich owners and giving it to the poor peasantry. Also, directed by Okoń and Dąbal, the peasants started to organize local administration as well as a peasants' militia.

The Republic of Tarnobrzeg was suppressed by units of the freshly created Polish Army at the beginning of 1919. Father Okoń was arrested but soon released, when the locals elected him to the Polish Parliament.

References

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