Published: 2026-06-30

Poland as a colonial power? The colonial theme in the Second Polish Republic as reflected in the Morze Monthly, 1924–1939

Przemysław Michał Fydryszewski
Echa Przeszłości
Section: ARTICLES
https://doi.org/10.31648/ep.12880

Abstract

The article explores Polish colonial aspirations in the interwar period, as reflected in the Morze monthly published by the Maritime and Colonial League between 1924 and 1939. It outlines the ideology and propaganda underpinning colonial sentiments in the Second Polish Republic and demonstrates how these ambitions were intended to position Poland among colonial powers with overseas territories. Particular attention was paid to settlement projects in Angola, Liberia, Brazil, and Madagascar, which, although never realized, illustrate the mechanisms linking emigration policy with the drive for colonial expansion. The analyzed sources indicate that the Maritime and Colonial League not only promoted colonialism as a remedy for problems associated with overpopulation and access to resources, but also attempted to foster a sense of national pride by highlighting the achievements of Polish travelers and explorers.

The Morze monthly played an important role in shaping public opinion: it promoted educational initiatives on colonialism, popularized knowledge about non-European cultures, and consistently argued that Poland should strive to acquire overseas territories. In practice, these plans remained largely utopian because they were constrained by the geopolitical and economic limitations of the Second Polish Republic; however, they were an important element in the development of maritime awareness and national identity. The article emphasizes that Polish colonialism was primarily a political concept and a tool of social mobilization rather than a realistic expansion program.

Keywords:

colonies, Maritime and Colonial League, Morze monthly, Second Polish Republic

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Fydryszewski, P. M. (2026). Poland as a colonial power? The colonial theme in the Second Polish Republic as reflected in the Morze Monthly, 1924–1939. Echa Przeszłości, (XXVII/1), 94–116. https://doi.org/10.31648/ep.12880

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