Published : 2025-08-31

The Great Losers. Members of the People’s Party of Mława Poviat in the Post-War Reality, 1945–1949

Abstract

After World War II, the Polish Peasant Movement faced a dilemma: whether to cooperate with the communists or to form an independent political force to promote agrarian ideals supported by the rural majority. It was recognized that Poland had fallen into the Soviet sphere of infl uence after the Tehran and Yalta conferences. The People’s Party members of Mława Poviat [Powiat] aligned with the Polish People’s Party’s (PSL) efforts, hoping to win the parliamentary elections and shape a new government. However, the Stalinist regime, which relied on electoral fraud, terror, and the dismantling of opposition from within, left no room for democratic development. Although their chances were slim – estimated at 30% by Stanisław Mikołajczyk – the People’s Party members made a genuine attempt at preserving democracy.

Keywords:

“Roch” People’s Party, Polish People’s Party (PSL), communists, Poviat Security Office in Mława, elections, Stefan Kocięda, Stanisław Mikołajczyk



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Arent, L. A. (2025). The Great Losers. Members of the People’s Party of Mława Poviat in the Post-War Reality, 1945–1949. Masovian Studies, 20(1), 11–47. https://doi.org/10.54539/sm.102


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