ENThe relationships between citizens and local government in the first postwar decade on the example of the community of Kościeliska

Edmund Nowak

University of Opole

Abstract

The article covers relationships between the local government and the citizens during the first postwar decade in the community of Kościeliska, located in Olesno district. As a point of departure the author gives characteristic of this community, then cases of the citizens-authority relationships are analyzed in the context of the political, social and economic situation of that period. The main emphasis is put, firstly, on the citizens’ participation and engagement in the activity of the party-dominated local government, secondly, on the efforts of the local government trying to solve a difficult social and economic problems experienced by the local population. The local government had a limited capacity to deal with these problems, causing a strong social discontent additionally affected by severe and excessive, both financial and material, contributions to the state. Moreover, the local government tried to manifest its ‘severeness’ towards citizens, which was predominantly indicted by the imposition of a large number of administrative penalties. A situation in the community was being worsened by the presence and behaviours of the Red Army’s soldiers, looting, confiscating of property and activity of gangs robbing around. These phenomena had an adverse impact on the security of the local population and the local government was usually helpless when facing these problems. The article presents also some interesting examples of the citizens-government relationships during the process of displacement of German population followed by the so-called ‘de-Germanization’. The last part highlights the issue of indoctrination and surveillance of the citizens by the police and security services. In conclusion, the author is in agreement with those historians who argue that the postwar reality was full of contradictions and citizens were entangled in numerous relations of dependency.

Keywords:

Poland 1945-1955, local authority, citizen-state relationship, Kościeliska, Olesno district