A C T A U N I V E R S I T A T I S L O D Z I E N S I S
F O L IA C A U C A S I C A 2, 1987
A n d r z e j C h o d u b sk i
THE POLES IN A Z ER B A IJA N IA N REV OLU TION A RY M O VEM EN T IN TH E LATE 19TH A N D EARLY 20TH CENTURIES
D e v elo p m e n t of th e r e v o lu tio n a r y m o v e m en t w as o n e of m o re sig n i-fica n t p h en o m e n a in th e so cio -p o litic al life of R ussia a t th e e n d of 19th c e n tu r y . In th e la t e e ig h tie s an d e a r ly n in e tie s of 19th c e n tu ry , th e r e w e re fo rm ed S ocial-D e m ocratic c irc les in d if fe r e n t c e n tr e s of th e e m p ire 1. It w a s a lso a t th a t tim e th a t K a rl M a r x 's id e as b eg a n to find th e ir w a y to A ze r b aija n . In itia lly , th e se id ea s w e r e sp re a d m a in ly b y r e p re se n ta tiv e s of th e lo ca l in te llig e n tsia . F o r su ch a c tiv ity th ey w ou ld b e fr e q u e n tly im p riso n e d a n d n e x t s en t in to e x ile for a t le a s t se v e ra l y e a rs . D esp ite s e v e re p u n ish m en ts a n d r e p re s sio n s th e n u m b er of p e o -p le in v o lv e d in th e r e v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ity te n d e d to g ro w all th e tim e. W o rk e r s w e r e jo in in g th e S ocial-D e m ocratic m o v em en t as w ell, a n d a lr e a d y in th e n in e tie s m o st m a n ag e m en ts of S o cial-D e m ocratic g ro u p s w e r e c o m p o sed of in te llig e n ts ia a n d w o rk e rs. T h e c o m p ete n c es a n d task s of th e in te llig e n ts ia m em b ers in c lu d e d m a n ag in g a c tiv itie s of o rg a n iza tio n s, p ro p a g a n d a a n d a g ita tio n am o ng w o rk in g class m asses a n d in o th e r e n v ir o n m e n ts , e d ito r ia l w o r k a n d d istrib u tio n of ille g al p rin ts. O n th e o th e r h an d , th e w o r k e r s a c te d as a lin k b e tw e e n in te l-lig e n tsia c e n tr e a n d th e c ir c le s in fac to ries.
T h e m o st f a v o u r a b le co n d itio n s fo r d isse m in a tio n of r e v o lu tio n a ry ide as in A z e rb a ijan c o u ld be fo u nd in Baku. T h is w as, h o w e v e r, an e x tr e m e ly c o m p lex an d d ifficu lt ta sk fo r th e follow ing re a so n s:
1) a stro n g im p act of Islam , w h ich sh a r p ly o p p o sed a n y c h an g es in th e so cial, e co n o m ic a n d p o litica l life;
2) v e r y stro n g p a tr ia ra c h a l-f am ily trad itio n s;
1 Z. Ł u k a w s k i , P o l a c y w r o s y j s k i m r u c h u r e w o l u c y j n y m 1894— 1907 [P o l o s in t h e R u s s ia n r e v o l u t i o n a r y m o v e m e n t 1894— 1 9 07 ], W a r s z a w a 1984, p. 16 an d th e f o l l o w i n g .
3) sp r e ad in g id eas of lo cal n a tio n a lism (pa ntiurk ism , p an islam ism , m iurid ism );
4) e x tr e m e ly low lev e l of e d u c a tio n and c u ltu r e (ab o u t 97 % of all M u slim s w e re illiter ate ) an d ac c o m p a n y in g d e e p ly ro o te d p re ju d ice s,
su p er stitio n s, an d d istru s t to a n y new id e a s2.
In sp ite of th e se d ifficu lties, th e r e v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ists co uld b o a st c e r ta in su c ce sses in th e M uslim en v iro n m e n t. T h e g r e a te s t su c ce sses w e r e sco re d b y r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s of th e M uslim y o u th , w h o h a d g o t som e in sig h t into th e re v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ity d u rin g th e ir aca d em ic stu d ies in R u ssia. A m on g th e m w e r e , for ex a m p le , M ie sha d i A zizb iek a n d N a -rim an K ier b a la y a N ad jaf.
A sig n ific an t ro le in th e A z e rb a ija n ia n re v o lu tio n a r y m o v em en t w a s p la y ed b y th e P oles. T h e P o lish r e v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ists re c r u its 1 la rg e ly from am o ng e x iles -r e v o lu tio n a rie s. T h ey a p p e a r e d in g u ite a big g ro u p in A z e r b a ija n in th e e ig h tie s. T h eir n u m b er g r e w q u ite c o n si-d e r a b ly in th e n in e tie s. T h us, fo r e x a m p le , in 1893 a lo n e th e n u m b e r of p e o p le sen t in to e x ile from th e K ingd om of P o la n d re a c h e d 78 p e r -sons. A m on g o th ers, S ta n isła w B ezkow sk i, T om asz S zym czak, F elik s T uro w icz, A n to n i B ukiew icz, a n d Ed m u nd K aw c zy ń sk i3 w e re d e p o r te d to A ze rb aija n .
T h e r e v o lu t io n a r y id ea s q u ic k ly m ad e th e ir w a y to th e P o lish w o rk e r s. T h e to ta l n u m b e r of th e P o lish w o r k e rs em p lo y e d in A z e r -b a ija n 's in d u s try a m o u n te d to o v er tw o th o u sa n d s in th e la s t y e a rs of 19th ce n tu r y . T h e y w e re m ain ly from W h ite R ussia a n d U k rain e. R e la tiv e ly e a s ily th e y a d ju s te d th em se lv es to c o n d itio n s e x istin g in B aku a n d e q u a lly e a s ily th e y w o n co n f id e n c e of th e w o r k e r s of o th e r n a tio n a litie s, w h ic h w a s d u e to th eir e x c e p tio n a lly h ig h le v e l of cla ss aw a re n e ss. T h ey w o u ld o ften criticize th e c a p ita lis t e x p lo ita tio n and ts a r 's o p p re ssio n am o ng th eir co llea g u es. It w a s to th e P olish w o r k e r s th a t S o cialD em o cratic a c tiv ists w o u ld a d d re s s th e ir r e v o lu t io n a r y slo -g an s fir st of all. T h ey did n o t h a v e to a w a it th e ir re s p o n se for a lon -g tim e. In th e e ig h tie s, p a rtic ip a tio n of th e P o lish w o rk e r s in th e r e v o -lu tio n a r y m o v em e nt w a s a lr e a d y q u ite p ro n o u n c ed .
T h e P o les in A z e rb a ija n w e r e o rg a n iz er s of th e fir st w o r k e r s' s tr i-k es. T h ey w e re p ro m p ted b y m ass p ro te sts of w o ri-k e r s in P e te rsb u r g a n d M oscow . T h e w o r k e r s p a rtic ip a tin g in str ik e s in A z e rb a ija n d e -m a n d e d p ri-m a rily in c r e a s e of th e ir w a g e s a n d sh o rten in g of w o rk in g h o u rs. Th us, m ain ly ec o n o m ic ca u ses g e n e ra te d th e w o r k e r s' p ro tes ts h er e . In th e fir st s ta g e of th e re v o lu tio n a r y m o v em en t d ev e lo p m e n t
* S e e : A. C h o d u b s k i , R e w o l u c j a k u l t u r a l n a w A z e r b e j d ż a n i e , [C u ltu r al r e -v o lu t i o n in A z e r b a i ja n ] , G d a ń s k 1981, p a s s i m .
in A z e rb a ijan , th e m ost a c tiv e in v o lv em en t w a s d isp la y ed by : Leon Jasew ic z, J u lia n G ry g laszew sk i, A n d rz e j C zu m ak, a n d tw o b ro th e r s — Leonid an d W ło d zim ierz R yn kiew icz. T h e ir r e v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ity r e -su lte d in im p riso n m en t a n d d e p o r ta tio n to S ib e ria 4.
T he first g e n e r a l str ik e of p o litica l c h a ra c te r too k p lac e in Baku o n 4th M ay 1902. O v e r fiv e th o u sa n d w o rk e r s took p a r t in it. A n im p o r ta n t ro le in th e str ik e w as p la y e d b y a P o le — H ip o lit K rz y ża n o -w ski, -w h o -w as re sp o n sib le for p rin tin g a n d d istrib u tio n of le aflets e x h o r tin g w o r k e r s of d if fe r e n t n a tio n a litie s to p a rtic ip a te in d em o n -str a tio n s a n d -strik es.
T h e P o lish w o r k e rs in A z e rb a ija n o r g a n iz ed o n e of th e b ig g est strik e s of ra ilw a y m e n in T ra n sc a u c a sia in F e b r u a r y 19065. A m o ng its o rg a n iz ers, th e m ain ro le w as p la y e d b y C zu m ak a n d R yn kiew icz. P rio r to the strik e , th e y h a d b e e n o rg a n izin g m e etin g s d u rin g w h ich th e y h a d str es se d th e n e c e ssity of p o litic a l c h a n g es in R u ssia an d p o -in ted o u t th e a b n o r m a litie s e x ist-in g -in th a t co u n try . Both of them w o rk e d a t a r a ilw a y s ta t io n in Y e lisav ie tp o l, w h e r e th e y s et up a M a r x is t o rg a n iz atio n c alle d „Y e lisa v ie tp o l S ta tio n O r g a n iz atio n " , an d p r in ted le aflets. In F e b r u a r y 1906, 47 m em b ers of th e o rg a n iz atio n , in c lu -d in g its lea -d e rs, w e re a r re ste -d .
A w id e re n o w n in Y e lisa v ietp o l w a s w o n b y a P o lish w o rk e r by the n am e of K azim ie rz Borozdicz. D u rin g b re a k s in w o rk he w o u ld g a -th e r ra ilw a y m e n a n d a c q u a in t -th em w i-th c o n ten ts of ille g a l w o rk e rs ' n ew sp ap e rs a n d leaf le ts. T h is fo rm of a c tiv ity w as v e r y sig n ific an t c o n sid e rin g th e fa c t th a t A z e r b a ija n ia n w o rk e r s w e re fo r th eir m o st p a r t illite ra te . T h ey w e r e u n fa m ilia r w ith th e la n g u a g e of n e w sp a p er s an d le af le ts o r w ith th e w o rd „ r e v o lu tio n " . B orozdicz d e m an d ed th at h is liste n er s sh o u ld s u p p o rt a c tiv e ly s tr ik e s an d be r e a d y to u n d e r ta k e a rm e d stru g g le. In h is sp e ech es, th e re p r e d o m in a te d a slo g an „ A w ay w ith anarchy"®.
R ailw a y m en in A z e r b aija n w e re g e n e r a l d istin g u ish in g th em se lv es b y th eir v e r y a c tiv e in v o lv e m en t. A p a r t fro m Y e lisav ie tp o l, it is w o rth m e ntio n in g th e w o r k e rs e m p lo y e d o n a r a ilw a y ju n ctio n B a la d jar y n e a r Baku, w h o o rg an iz ed o n e of th e first strik e s in A z e rb a ijan . In th e first y e a r s of 20th c e n tu r y , th e sta tio n m as te r th e r e w a s a P ole — W ło -d zim ierz O k u licz a n -d h is -d e p u ty — W ła -d y s ła w G órnicz. Both su p p o
r-4 C e n tr a l n y j G o s u d a r s tv c n n y j I s t o r ië e s k i j A r c h iv A z er b a jd ż ar a sk oj S SR |fu th e r: C S H A A ] , f. 46, op . 1, d. 24; f. 315, op . 1, d. 814; f. 831, op . 1, d. 2; if. 898, o p 1, d. 114.
5 I b i d e m , f. 831, op . 1, d. 2; A . C h o d u b s k i , P o l s k i e t r a d y c j e r e w o l u c y j n e w B ak u , [P o lis h r e v o l u t io n a r y tr a d itio n s in B ak u ] „ D z ie n n i k B a łt y c k i" 1981, N o . 240.
ted th e S o cial-D em o cratic m o v e m en t a n d th e w o r k e rs a c tiv e ly p a r tic i-p atin g in this m o v em en t, an d a ssisted th em in d is tr ib u tio n of lea f le ts7. T h e P olish w o r k e r s p la y e d a sig n ifica n t ro le in o rg a n iz a tio n of S o cial-D em o cratic c irc les a n d g ro u p s in A z e rb a ijan . O n e of th e m ost p r o m in e n t of th em in th is field w as C elin a B ob row sk a (1876— 1960)8 w h o h a d b e e n h old in g th e p o sitio n of th e se c r e ta r y of th e S ocial D
e-m o cra tic P a rty of R u ssia n W o r k e r s sin ce 1902. S he ca e-m e froe-m W ite b sk Region, an d h er first co n ta c ts w ith th e w o rk in g - c la ss m o v e m en t had p la ce in W a r sa w in 1894. S in c e 1898 sh e h a d b e e n a m em ber of th e S ocial D em o cratic P a r ty of R u ssia n W o r k e rs. F o r h er re v o lu tio n a r y a c ti v ity sh e w a s a r r e s te d in 1900, b u t sh e m an a g e d to e sp a c e and av o id p e n a l se r v itu d e in th is w a y . S he w e n t to S w itz erla n d , b u t she so on r e tu r n e d to h e r co m p an io n s in th e r e v o lu tio n a r y m ovem ent. She m ad e h e r w a y to Baku, w h e re sh e sta y e d till 1905, a n d n ex t sh e w as c o n n e cte d w ith th e re v o lu tio n a r y m o v e m en t in M o sco w till th e en d of h e r life. S h e a r r i v e d in B aku in c o n n e tio n w ith d is tr ib u tio n of „ I sk r a " ( re v o lu tio n a ry new sipaper). B aku w as a t th a t tim e o n e of th e p o in ts w h e re th is n e w sp a p e r w a s se n t from a b r o a d an d n e x t d is tr i-b u ted in o th e r p a r ts of R ussia, w h ile fro m S ep tem i-b e r 1901 Baku w as
a ty p o g r ap h ic p o in t of its re p r in tin g . „ I s k ra ” w a s r e p r in te d t h e r e in th e to ta l n u m b er of 60 000 c o p ie s 9. I t w a s also in th e u n d e r g r o u n d t y -p o g r a -p h y in B ak u „N in a" th a t th e w o rk s of K arl M arx , F ried rich E ngels, K a rl L ieb kn ech t, V lad im ir L enin w e r e p r in te d alo n g w ith p ro c la -m a tio n s a n d le aflets. B ob row sk a a tta c h e d a g r e a t d e al of a tte n tio n to se lec tio n of a p p r o p r ia te p o litic a l a g ita to r s a n d p ro p a g a n d ists of th e S o cial-D em ocratic m ov em en t. S he w o u ld se e to it th a t th e y r e p re se n te d a ll p ro fe ssio n a l g ro u p s. A n im p o rta n t se c tio n of h e r a c tiv ity w a s th e m ain ta in in g of c o n ta c ts w ith r e v o lu tio n a r y a ctiv ists in sm a ller c e n tr e s su ch a s S h usha, N u h a , a n d K a dab ek .
A n im p o rta n t ro le in th e a g ita tio n a c tiv ity of th a t tim e w as p lay ed in B aku b y W ik to r R ad us-Z en ko w icz (1877— 1967)10. H e w as a so n of th e P o lish p o litica l ex ile. H is fir st c o n ta cts w ith th e S o cial-D em o cratic a c tiv ity to o k p lac e d u rin g h is stu d ies in M oscow . R ad us-Z en k ow icz w a s a jo u r n a lis t, w h o p u b lish ed his a r tic le s a ro u sin g e n h a n c e d p o liti-ca l a c tiv ity of w o r k e rs b o th in le g a l an d illeg a l p a p e rs. In Baku, h e
i I b i d e m , f. 898, op. 1, d. 114. * E n c y k l o p e d i a R e w o l u c j i P a ź d z i e r n i k o w e j , W a r s z a w a 1971, p. 43. * I s t o r i j a A z e r b a j d ź a n a , v o l . 2, B ak u 1960, p. 474— 475. 10 C S H A A , f. 315, op. 1, d . 814; R o b o ć e e d v i i e n i e v B a ku (1905 g. ) v g o d u p e r v o j r e v o l u c i i . D o k u m e n t y i m a t e r i a l ' y , B ak u 1956, p. 541; S o v e t s k a j a i s t o r i ć e s k a j a e n c y k l o p e d i j a , v o l . 11, M o s k v a 1968, p. 832.
p u b lish ed h is a r tic le s in su c h n e w sp a p e r s „B ak iński R o b o tn ik " (Baku W o rk e r), „ W e zw an ie" (A pp eals), or „ O rz e ł" (Eagle).
T h e a c tiv ity of a g ita tio n - p ro p a g a n d a ty p e w as fu lfilling its aim s. T h e n u m b er of m em b ers of th e S o cial-D em o cratic g ro u p s w a s g ro w in g all th e tim e. T h e y w e r e also jo in e d b y M uslim s. T h e socio-po litical in v o lv e m e n t of p o p u latio n an d th e e x t e n t of its m e m b e rsh ip in d iffe-r e n t o iffe-rg a n iz atio n s foun d th e iiffe-r b es t v isib le e x p iffe-r e s sio n in th e n u m b eiffe-r of str ik e s an d p a r tic ip a tio n of w o rk e r s in th e se strik e s. H o w ev er, th ey w e re b e st v er ifie d b y th e R e v o lu tio n in 1905— 1907. To m an ife st th e so lid a rity w ith th e e v e n ts in P e te rs b u rg , th e s tr ik e o r g a n iz e d in A z e r
-b a ija n -b e tw e e n 6th a n d 20th of J a n u a r y e n c o m p a ss e d a lm o st all w o rk esta b lish m en ts. W o r k e r s' p r o te s t fou nd its su p p o rt am on g c e r ta in r e -p r e s e n ta tiv e s of th e in te llig e n tsia . F ro m am o n g th e P o lish in te lle c tu a ls w e ll k n o w n in B aku e n v ir o n m e n t, w o r k e rs ' p r o te st w as su p p o rted am o n g o th e rs b y K azim ierz S kó rew icz — a n a rc h itec t, Jó zef B ratk o
-w sk i — a te a c h e r in B aku R ea l S chool, P a -w e ł P o to ck i — an e n g in e e r. S om e sig n s of u n d e r s ta n d in g fo r w o rk e r s' d e m o n s tr a tio n s w e re d i s-p la y e d b y th e R ylski fam ily, a g ro u s-p of m illio n a ire s h av in g th eir o w n sto ck co m pan y.
Q u ite sig n ific an t seem s to b e h e r e th e life h isto ry of th is fam ily, and th e w a y in w h ic h th e y e a r n e d th e ir m illions. H ip o lit R y lski, fa th e r of th e fam ily, n e v e r felt h im self to be a m illio n aire . H e w as an e x ile in S ib eria. A fte r se r v in g his s e n te n c e in S ib eria, h e cam e to Baku, w h e r e h e s ta r te d his w o rk as a r a ilw a y tra c k - w a lk e r. N e x t h e g o t in v o lv e d in th e oil e x t r a c tio n b u sin e ss. O w in g to h is h a r d w o rk and a c cu m u la te d sa v in g s h e w as a b le to p u rc h a se a sm all site w h ich p r o v e d to be v e r y ric h in „b lac k g o ld ". A fte r s e v e r a l y e a r s of oil e x p l o -ita tio n he b ec am e o ne of the ric h e st m en in Baku. A t th a t tim e h e w as a ccu sed of a p p r o p ria tio n of oil from th e n eig h b o u rin g oil d e p o sits. T h e c a u s e of th is a c cu satio n w as th e fa c t th at in 1899 o n e of h is h elp er s w as c a u g h t w h ile co llectin g oil from th e n eig h b o u rin g o ilw ells. S la n -d er s an -d im p u ta tio n le-d to a c o m p le te b re ak -d o w n of R y lski an -d his su ic id e 11. L ater on, th e alle g a tio n s p ro v e d to be u n ju stif ied . H is c h il-d re n an il-d h e irs of his fo rtu n e il-diil-d n o t fo rg et th eir f a th e r's life h isto ry . A t th e tim e of m ass p ro te sts of th e w o rk in g class, th e R ylski fam ily d id n o t c o u n te r a c t th e d istu rb an ce s. N e ith e r did th e y im pose a n y p e -n a ltie s o-n th e str ik i-n g w o rk e rs. A d iffe re-n t a ttitu d e w as assu m ed b y th e re m a in in g m illio n a ire s in Baku. F o r ex a m p le , T a g ije v — a mil- lio n a ire - p h ila n th r o p ist th r e a te n e d th e strik in g w o r k e r s w ith th e m ost s e v e r e p en a lties, a n d w h e n h is th r e a ts did n o t w o rk, h e c alled in th e g e n d a rm e rie an d o rd e re d them to sh o o t at th e w o rk e rs.
T h e R ev o lu tio n of 1905— 1907 w as su p p re sse d . It c o n trib u te d , ho w e v er, to a m ark e d a n im a tio n of the c u ltu ra l an d e d u c a tio n a l life. It d re w a tte n tio n to d en a tio n a liz a tio n p ro c esse s. W o r k e rs o ften blam ed re p r e s e n ta tiv e s of th e in tellig e n tsia for d e n a tio n a liz a tio n of Poles. S ta r ting from a u tu m n 1905, th e r e w as u n d e r ta k e n a s e a rc h fo r n e w so lu -tion s th at w o uld allo w to in v o lv e th e b ig g e st p o ssib le n u m b er of th e P o lish p eo p le in Baku in th e so c io -c u ltu r al life. T h e a tta in m e n t of th ese aim s w as to b e p ro m o ted b y e sta b lish m e n t of n e w P olish o r g a n iz atio n s su ch as „P o lish H om e", C ath o lic S o cie ty of C h arity , P olish S o ciety of M u tu al A id „ H e ar th " , P o lish sch oo l and P o lish li b r a r y 12.
A n e w s ta g e in th e r e v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ity of th e P o les in A z e r b a jan sta r te d in th e y e a rs of th e F ir st W o rld W a r. M an y P o les c h e r ished h o p es for im p ro v em e n t of th eir liv in g co n d itio n s, an d a s u b s ta n -tial p a r t of them h op ed th e y w o u ld be allo w ed to re tu r n to th eir ho m e co u n try . T h ese h o p e s w e re acc o m p an ied b y irre so lu tio n s. Q u ite r e -m a rk a b le in th is r e sp e c t w as a sta te -m e n t -m ade b y a n e ld e r ly w o -m an, an in h a b ita n t of G e o rg ia n to w n K u taisi, w h ic h w as q u o te d b y B ohdan an d K rzysztof B aran o w ski. „A lm ost all P o les w e r e a w a itin g im p a tien tly th e tim e of re p atr ia tio n . F o r us, h o w e v er, b o rn in th e C a u c a su s an d b ro u g h t u p far a w a y from o u r co u n try , th is w as an ap p r o a c h in g tim e of som e h u g e life ca la m ity . W e h a d to le a v e b eh in d u s in K u ta isi e v e -ry th in g w h ich h ad b e e n w on b y tw o g e n e ra tio n s an d tr a v e l to the u n k n o w n " 13.
T h e P olish p e o p le in A z e rb a ija n w e re stro n g ly sp lit th en. T h e p r o -p r ie ta r y classe s an d th e in te llig e n tsia g e n e ra lly su -p -p o rted th e local, b o u rge o is n a tio n alists. T h e r e d ev e lo p ed , h o w e v er, also q u ite stro n g p ro b o ls h e v ik o r ien ta tio n . It w a s su p p o rted b y th e P o lish so cialist o r g a -n izatio -ns. T h eir m em b ers q u ite o fte-n jo i-n e d th e R ad A rm y see i-n g i-n it th e ir re v o lu tio n a r y d uty . In A u g u st 1921, on th e b a sis of leftw in g o r g a -n iz atio -n s th e re w as se t up th e P o lish S ectio -n a tta c h e d to th e C om m itte e of th e R u ssian C o m m u n ist P a rty (b olshev iks) in Baku. Its p ro g r a m -m e e n v isa g e d th a t its -m ain ta sk w o u ld b e p r e p a ra tio n of p a r ty and s ta te e m p lo y e e s fo r th eir w o rk in P o la n d 14.
T h e P olish S ection , in a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e r e g u la tio n s a b o u t n a tio n a lity sec tio n s a tta c h e d to p a r ty co m m ittees of th e R u ssian C om
-12 A. C h o d u b s k i , „ D o m P o l s k i " w B a k u [„ P o lis h h om e" in B a k u ], „ P r ze -g lą d P o lo n ij n y " 1984, N o . 4, p. 101 an d t h e f o l lo w in -g . 13 B. B a r a n o w s k i , К. B a r a n o w s k i , P o l a k ó w k a u k a s k i e d r o g i [C a u c a s ia n r o u te s of P o l i s ] , Ł ód ź 1985, p. 195. 14 P a r tijn y j A r c h iv CK A z e r b a jd ź a n a , f. 1, op . 23.5, N o . 20, 1.3; A . C h o d u b s k i , W k ł a d w r e a l i z a c j ę r e w o l u c y j n y c h i d e i [C o n tr ib u tio n to R e a li z a tio n of R e v o l u t i o -n a ry I d e a s ] , „G los W y b r z e ż i " 1983, N o . 220.
m u n ist P a rty (b o lsh ev ik s) c o n s titu te d a n o rg a n iz a tio n a l form p ro m o -ting m ore a c tiv e in v o lv e m e n t of th e P o lish co m m u nists in w o rk for a p p r o p ria te p o litica l e d u c atio n , a r o u s al of th e c lass a w a r e n e ss, o v e r com ing of b a r ri e r s b etw e e n n a tio n s, w in n in g co n f id en ce for th e com m u n ist p a r ty an d th e S o v ie t a u th o rities , an d sec u rin g a c tiv e a n d c o n sciou s p a rtic ip a tio n of th e P o lish w o rk in g m asses in th e so c ia list r e -c o n stru -c tio n of th e -co u n try .
In th e in itial sta g e of its a c tiv ity , th e P o lish sec tio n h ad 42 m em -b ers. It m a in ta in e d v e r y c lo se r e la tio n s w ith th e P o lish B urea u of th e C e n tr al C o m m ittee of th e R u ssian C o m m u n ist P a rty (b olshev iks) in M oscow . T h e P o lish co m m u n ists in A z e rb a ija n w e re a tta c h in g a g re a t d ea l of th eir a tte n tio n to im p le m e n tatio n of a ssu m p tio n s of th e c u ltu r a l r e v o lu tio n m aking e ffo rts to e r r a d i c a te illite r ac y , a ttr a c t p o p u latio n to e d u c a tio n , scien ce, te ch n iq u e a n d art. A n im p o rta n t ta sk of th e S e
ctio n w a s th e g a th e r in g of th e P o lish c u lt u r a l h e r ita g e from th e p r e r e -v o lu tio n p erio d . D u rin g th e tu rm o il of th e re -v o lu tio n a n d th e ci-v il w as, th e c u ltu r al p r o p e r ty of th e P o lish o r g a n iz a tio n s w a s d isp e rse d a n d p lu n d ere d . A g r e a t d eal of a tte n tio n w a s d e v o te d a sp e cia lly to co m -p letio n of lib r a r y c o lle ctio n s, w h ich w e re n e x t -p as se d o v e r to th e Li-b r a r y D e p a rtm e n t of th e P e o p le's C o m m issariat of E d u ca tio n in B ak u 15. T h e r e p a tria tio n of P o les to th e ir c o u n try w as co m m e nc ed a fte r th e e n d of th e F ir st W o r ld W a r . It w as of a m ass a n d o ften s p o n ta -n eo u s c h a ra c te r. A lm o st all P oles left A z e rb a ija-n . Som e of th e m tried to r e tu r n th er e a g ain a fte r som e tim e. T h is p ro c ess of r e p a tria tio n la -sted till 1922.
A t th e tim e w h e n so m e P o les w e r e le a v in g A z e r b a ija n , o th e r s w e r e com ing th ere . H o w ev e r, th e r e w e re fe w e r n ew -a rr iv a ls . M a ny P o les a r r iv e d in A z e rb a ija n in 1920 as so ld iers of 11th A rm y . A g r e a t m an y of them d ec id ed to rem ain th e re for g o od an d th e y b e cam e a c tiv e ly in v o lv e d in c o n str u c tio n of th e s o c ia list r e a lity . T h e c o m m a n d e r of 11th A rm y w as a P o le — M ich ał L ew an d o w sk i (1890— 1937)ie. H e ca m e fro m a p o or w o rk in g cla ss fam ily. L e w an d o w sk i w a s b o rn on 15!th M ay 1830 in Tifilis. W h e n h e w as a y o u n g b o y h is f a th e r d ie d an d h is m o -th e r m a rrie d a C ossack, w ho tr e a te d h is ste p so n v e r y se v e r ely . A t -th e a g e of 16 h e h ad to b e g in h is w ork. H is f ir st jo b w a s th a t of a n e w
s--boy. H e m ad e h is w a y to th e ar m y w h e n h e did n o t y e t r e a c h his ad u lth o o d . I t w as in th e a rm y th at h e w as a cc ep te d to school. D uring th e re v o lu tio n a r y e v e n ts h e too k the side of b o lsh ev ik s. H e d istin g u
i-15 C h o d u b s k i , , , D om P o ls k i" .. . , p. 106— 107.
5,i B i k in s k ij F ilia l C c n t r a l’nocjo M u z oja W . I. L e n in a. N e g a t i v n y j fon d , N o . 5152, 5212, 9;)42, 22084, 11802,- A C h o d u b s k i , D o w ó d c a a r m i i [A r m y C o m m a n d e r ], „ G ło s W y b rz e ż a " 1Э82, N o . U
shed h im self w h e n sm ash in g c o u n te r r e v o lu tio n a r y tro o p s fo rm ed b y L av r K o rnilov . A m ong o th e r s h e to o k p a r t in th e b a ttle of K uban.
■As so o n as th e R ed A rm y w as fo rm ed h e jo in e d it. S ta rtin g frorm F e b ru a ry 1918 h e w as c h a r g ed w ith a ta sk of fo rm ing th e R ed A rm y re g im e n ts in th e N o rth e r n C au ca su s. W ith in a sh o rt tim e h e m an ag ed to form big re g im e n ts th e re . In F e b ru a r y 1918, h e w a s e le c te d a com -m issar for -m ilita ry aff airs in th e T e r e c k S ov ie t R e pu b lic p ro c la i-m e d in M arc h 1918 a n d he to o k o v e r co m m an d of th e lo ca l Red A rm y r e g im en ts. In J u ly of th a t y e a r h e p ro c e e d e d to liq u id a tio n of c o u n t e r r e v o -lu tio n a r y fo r ces in th a t re g io n . H e sco r ed n u m e ro u s su cc esses, and m a n y v o lu n te e r s w e re jo in in g th e re g im e n ts co m m an d e d b y him . A m ong them w e re m an y P oles. T h e m o m en t 11th A rm y w as form ed h e w as a p p o in te d its su p re m a co m m and er. A t th e b e g in n in g of A p ril 1920, this a rm y h ad 72.5 th o u sa n d so ldiers.
L ew an do w sk i d e v o te d a g r e a t d eal of h is a tte n tio n to th e p olitica l a c tiv ity of so ld iers. In 1920, h e jo in e d th e com m u n ist p a rty . T h e e x a m -ple of th e co m m an d e r w a s fo llow ed b y his so ld ie rs w ho also b eg a n to jo in th e p a r ty in big n u m b ers. By M ar ch 1920 e v e r y fo u rth so ld ier of 11th A rm y w a s a m em b er of th e co m m u n ist p a rty . T h e c o m m a n -d er of th e A rm y w a s a lso -d e v o tin g a g r e a t -d ea l of h is a tte n tio n to c u ltu ra l-e d u c a tio n al a c tiv ity . H e v e r y o ften c h a rg e d th e se d u ties to his c o u n try m e n . T h e r e w e re se t u p illite r a cy e r a d ic a t io n c en tre s, club s an d e v e n schools.
H av in g w o n T s ar its in an d A str a k h a n 11th A rm y w a s se n t to th e T ra n sc a u c a su s. T h e co m m an d er of th e f ro n t w as M ich ał T u ch a cze w sk i, w h o b eca m e th e m ar sh a l of th e S o v ie t U n io n la te r on. D ue to the fac t th a t th e c o u n te r r e v o lu tio n a r y fo rces h eld th e ir p o sitio n s v e r y firm -ly in th e T ra n sc a u c a su s, th e S o v iet tr o o p s h a d to d isp la y m axim u m sac rifices a n d c a u tio n w h e n c a p tu r in g th ese a rea s. L e w a n d o w sk i w a s c o n sta n tly in to uch w ith T u ch ac zew sk i. O n 28th A p ril 11th A rm y e n te r e d Baku.
A fter e n te rin g Baku, a p a r t of 11th A rm y o ccu p ied st a tio n a r y p o -sition s. T h e fo rm s an d m e th o d s of its p ar ty - p o litic a l a c tiv itie s cha ng ed . M an y so ld iers, in clu din g n u m ero u s g ro u p s of P oles, esta b lish ed p e rm a -n e -n t ties w ith A z er b aija -n . T h e y c o -n stitu te d a -n im p o rta-n t so u r c e of c a d re s fo r th e n ew ly form ed rep u blic.
L ew an d o w sk i left 11th A rm y on 30th J u n e 1920. H e w a s a p p o in ted a co m m a n d er of T er ec k - D a g e sta n i M ilita ry G ro up s, a n d from A u g u st 1920 h e w as a co m m an d er of 9 th K u b an A rm y, w h ic h w a s c h a rg ed w ith a task of sm ash in g W ra n g e l's tro o p s as so on as po ssible. B efore h is d e p a rtu r e fro m 11th A rm y, h e w a s d e c o r a te d w ith th e R ed B an ner O r d e r of th e S o v ie t A z erb aija n ,
In th e fo llo w ing y e a r s h e h eld m an y im p o r tan t m ilita ry po sts. B et-w e en 1934 a n d 1937 h e et-w as a m em b er of th e M ilitar y C o un cil of th e S ov ie t U nion. In 1935, in th e h i e r a r c h y of m ilita r y fun ctio ns, h e w as n o m in a te d an a rm y c o m m an d er of th e seco nd ra n k . In M a rc h 1936, h e re c e iv e d th e O r d e r of L enin for h is e x e m p la r y co m m a n d in g an d e x c e lle n t co m ba t an d p o litic al p r e p a r a tio n of m ilita ry ca d re s. In Ju n e 1937, sim ila rly to m an y o th er e m p lo y ee s of th e R ed A r m y G e n er al H e a d q u a r te rs h e w as u n ju s tly ac c u se d of tre a s o n óf sta te a n d e x e -cuted .
P oles could b e also fo u n d am o ng o r g a n iz er s of th e C o m m u nist P a rty of A z erb a ijan . J a n G o d lew sk i (1886— 1961 )17 w a s o n e of th e m em b ers of th e g ro u p in itiatin g co n v o c atio n of its illeg al fo u nd ing co n g r ess in F e b r u a r y 1920. H e cam e from a p e a s a n t fam ily in V o lyn , a n d h e b e g a n his w o rk as a fit te r in B aku in 1901. H e w as in v o lv ed in th e r e v o lu -tio n a ry ac tiv ity . D uring th e first c o n g r ess of th e C om m u nist P a r ty (bo lsheviks) of A z e rb aijan h e w as e le c te d a m em b er of its C e n tra l C o m m ittee. In 1920, h e w a s ap p o in te d a p o litical co m m issar of th e h a r b o u r u rb a n d istric t in Baku. H e w a s also a m em b er of th e R e v o lu tio -n a r y T rib u -n al. B etw e e-n 1923 a -n d 1925 h e w a s a c h a irm a-n of th e D is-tr ic t C ou rt, a n d in th e la te r y e a r s a is-tr a d e u n io n ac tiv ist. Till th e e n d of h is life, h e re m a in ed in Baku.
T h e n u m b er of P o lish co m m u n ists in A z e rb a ija n w a s in c re a sin g q u ite c o n sid e r a b ly sta r tin g from su m m er 1920. M an y r e p r e se n ta ti v e s of th e y o u n g P o lish in tellig e n tsia jo in e d th e p a rty . T h e P o les re a d ily p a r tic ip a te d in p o litica l co u rse s an d tr a in in g to b e ab le to p a r tic ip a te a c tiv e ly in so cialist tra n sf o rm a tio n s of th e S o v iet U n io n la te r on. Q u ite a big g r o u p of them w a s se n t to s tu d y in L en in g ra d an d M oscow .
In th e first y e a r s of th e S o v ie t p o litic al r u le in A ze rb aija n , P olish co m m u n ists w e r e m e m b ers of p r a c tic a lly all o rg a n s of p o w er. Th us, for ex am p le , E ug eniu sz T o m asze w sk i w a s a d e p u ty C o m m issar for E d u -catio n , Ja n G o d lew sk i w a s a c h a irm an of th e D istrict C o urt, M ich ał U szyń sk i, M ich ał D ow na r-Z ap o lski an d M ichał D ą b ro w sk i18 w e r e am o n g th e fo u n d e rs of B aku U n iv e rsity , P aw e ł P o to c ki an d M ic h ał A b ra m o -w icz d e a lt -w ith g e o lo g ica l pro blem s, an d L u d-w ik K n it an d A le k sa n d e r P iestu n - D ą b ro w sk i e x e r te d a sig n ifican t in f lu e n c e on d ev e lo p m e n t of
th e A z erb a ija n ia n a r t 19.
T h e r e v o lu tio n a r y a c tiv ity of th e P ole s in th e C au c asu s, inc lu d in g
17 E n c y k l o p e d i a R e w o l u c j i p. 118. 18 A . C h o d u b s k i , N a p r i n c i p a c h d r u i b y i s o l r u d n i c e s t v a , „U gr u n d a " 1981, N o . 3. 19 N . M . M i k l a s e v s k a j a, S t a n o v l e n i e i r a z v i t i e i s k u s s l v a s o c i a l i s t i ć e s k o g o r c a l i z m a w S o v e t s k o m A z e r b a j d i a n e (1920— 1945), B d ku 1974, p. 21, 79 a n d th e f o llo w in g .
A z e rb a ijan , w as an o b je ct of a n im ate d in te r e st on th e P olish te rr ito r ie s an d th e P olish e m ig r a n ts in W e ste r n E u ro p e in th e sec o n d half of 19th c e n tu r y and in th e e a r ly 20th c e n tu ry . T h is a c tiv ity r e c e iv e d also som e a tte n tio n of th e P o lish S o cialist P a r ty led by Jó zef P iłsu d sk i20. In 1901, th e r e cam e o u t a b ro c h u re w ritte n b y Leon W a sile w sk i an d en title d W e w s p ó ln y m ja rzm i e (U n der th e com m on y oke), in w h ich th e a u th o r w as p o in tin g a t th e n e c e s sity of fig h tin g to g e th e r w ith th e C au c asia n n atio n s to o v er th r o w th e tsarism . In th e p er io d of e v e n tfu l re v o lu tio n a r y tran sf o rm a tio n s, th e P o lish R eg en cy C o u n cil in W a r sa w d e le g a -ted it » r e p r e se n ta tiv e to th e C au c asu s. T h is w as W a c ła w O stro w sk i, w h o ac te d as ,,ro y al-P o lish r e p r e se n ta ti v e a ttac h e d to th e g o v er n m e n ts of G eo rg ian, A rm e n ia n an d A z e rb a ijan ia n R ep u b lics", an d la te r o n w h e n P o lan d re g ain ed its in d e p e n d e n c e as „ r e p r e s e n ta tiv e of the P o lish s ta te in th e C a u ca su s" . D u e to a big n u m b er of th e P ole s in Baku, O stro w sk i o p en ed th e P olish C o n su la te th e r e 21, w h ich w as d ir ec te d am ong o th ers b y S ta n isła w W ąso w icz, (Jan ) T y d e lsk i an d S te fan R ylski.
W h ile d esc rib in g th e a c tiv ity of P olish co m m u n ists in A z erb aija n , it is w o rth n o tin g th a t P o lish w om en w e re a c tiv e ly in v o lv e d in e m a n -c ip atio n a n d a teiz a tio n a-c tiv itie s. T h e m ain p latfo rm for the a te iz atio n a c tiv ity w a s th e U n io n of F ig h tin g A th eists led b y a P o le — Ig n acy D ębicki. In th e first y e a r s of th e S o v ie t ru le, th e P o les w e re am onq th e b ig g e st a c tiv ists of th e U nion. T h e P olish w om en also d istin g u ish e d th e m se lv e s in p ro d u c tio n sp h e re, in th e s tate ad m in istra tio n , an I in th e so cio -cu ltu ral life. It w as e a sie r fo r th e m to effect c h a n g es in th e social re la tio n s p re v a ilin g t h e r e th a n fo r r e p re s e n ta tiv e s of o t h e r n a tio n s.
In th e S o v ie t p erio d , m an y P o le s in v o lv e d th e m se lv e s a c tiv e ly in c o n stru c tio n of th e so cia list re a lity . T h e re re m a in ed , h o w e v er, th eir q u ite sig n ific an t p a r t w ho r ef u se d to a cc ep t th e re v o lu tio n a r y ch an ges. T h e y w o u ld c r e a te o p p o sitio n o rg a n iz a tio n s suc h as e.g. „P ro m eteu sz ". A. p a r t of th e P oles w ith this o rien ta tio n tried to le a v e the S o v ie t U n io n b y all m ean s a n d th ey o ften b eca m e in v o lv e d in th e a n tiso cia list a c tiv ity tren d . In su ch a w ay b eh a v e d a w ell k n o w n a c tiv ist a m o n i the P o les in the C a u ca su s — S ta n isła w Z u b er22. H e left for Italy w h e re h e b eca m e o n e of ad v iso rs of B enito M ussolini.
I n s titu te 1 for P o liti c a l S c ie n c e , U n iv e r s it y of G d an sk 80 J. R o y с h m a n , K a u k a z [C a u c a s u s ], [in :] P o l s k a i P o l a c y w c y w i l i z a c j a c h ś w i a t a . S ł o w n i k e n c y k l o p e d y c z n y [Рэ1 in d a n d P o le s in c iv il is a t i o n s of th e w o rld . E n c y c lo p e d i c d i c ' n n . i r y ] , v o l . 4, W a r s z a w a 1939, p. 271. 21 I b i d e m , p. 273; M . E R e s п 1 - z a d e , A z e r b e j d ż a n v. w a l c e o n i e p o d l e g ł o ś ć [A z e r b a ija n ;n s tr u g g l e for in d e p e n d e n c e ], W a r s z a w a 1938, p. 157— 160. 22 S. Z i e l i ń s k i , M a ł y s ł o w n i k p i o n i e r ó w p o l s k i c h k o l o n i a l n y c h i m o r s k i c h [S m a ll d ic tio n a r y of P o lis h c o lo n i a l an d s e a p i o n e e r s ] , W a r s z a w a 1933, p. 638 — 639
A n d r z e j C h o d u b s k i P O L A C Y W N U R C I E A Z E R B E JD Ż A N S K I E G O R U C H U R E W O L U C Y JN E G O W K O Ń C U X I X I N A P O C Z Ą T K U X X W . W k o ń c u X I X w . j e d n y m z w a ż n y c h z j a w i s k ż y c ia p o l i ty c z n o - s p o ł e c z n e g o R os ji b y ł o k s z t a łt o w a n ie siq r u ch u r e w o l u c y j n e g o . W t e d y r ó w n i e ż z a c z ę ł y p r z e n ik a ć d o A z e r b e jd ż a n u i d e e K ar o la M a rk s a. I s to tn e m i e j s c e w r u ch u r e w o l u c y jn y m t e g o k r aju z a ję li P o la c y . W y r ó ż n i li s i ę w n im z a r ó w n o p r z e d s t a w i c i e le in te li g e n c j i , ja k i r o b o t-n ic y . P o ls c y d z i a ł a c z e r e w o l u c y jt-n i r e k r u to w a l i s i ę w d u ż e j m ie r z e s p o ś r ó d z e s ł a ń c ó w . N a p o c z ą tk u l a t d z i e w ię ć d z i e s i ą t y c h d o A z e r b e jd ż a n u z e s ła n o m . in . S t a n is ł a w a B c z- k o w s k ie g o , T o m a s z a S z y m c z a k a , F e lik s a T u r o w ic z a , A n t o n i e g o B u k i e w ic z a , E d m u n d a K a w c z y ń s k i e g o . W o s ta tn ic h la ta c h X I X w . w p r z e m y ś le A z e r b e j d ż a n u p r a c o w a ło p o n a d 2 t y s i ą c e p o ls k ic h r o b o tn ik ó w . W y r ó ż n i a ł ic h s p o ś r ó d in n y c h n a r o d o w o ś c i ta m p r a c u ją c y c h w y s o k i p o zio m ś w ia d o m o ś c i k l a s o w e j . P o l a c y w A z e r b e jd ż a n i e b y l i o r g a n iz a t o r a m i p i e r w s z y c h s t r a jk ó w r o b o tn ic z y c h . W p ie r w s z e j fa z i e k s z ta ł t o w a n ia s i ę r u c h u r e w o l u c y j n e g o w A z e r b e jd ż a n ie d u żą a k ty w n o ś c i ą w y r ó ż n ia l i s ię : L e on J a s e w ic z , J u lia n G r y g la s z e w s k i , A n d r z e j C zu m a k , b ra c ia L e on id i W ło d z im ie r z R y n k ie w i c z o w i e . W ś r ó d g r u p z a w o d o w y c h s z c z e g ó ln i e d u ża a k t y w n o ś ć r e w o lu c y j n a c e c h o w a ł a P o la k ó w k o le j a r z y . S z e r o k o z n a n i z te j d z ia ła ln o ś c i b y l i k o l e j a r z e z J e li s a w ie tp o l a i B ała d ż a r ó w . N a p o lu o r g a n i z a c j i k ó ł i gr u p s o c ja l d e m o k r a t y c z n y c h w A z e r b e jd ż a n ie w y -r ó ż n i li s ię C e l in a B o b -r o w s k a i W ik to -r R a d u s -Z e n k o w ic z . W y s t ą p ie n i a -r e w o l u c y j n e c i e s z y ł y s i ę ta m p o p a r c ie m in t e li g e n c j i. N a s z c z e g ó l n ą u w a g ę z a s ł u g iw a ł y p o s ta w y np. K a z im ie r z a S k ó r e w i c z a — a r c h ite k ta , J ó z e f a B r a tk o w s k ie g o — n a u c z y c i e la , P a w ł a P o to c k i e g o — in ż y n ie r a . N o w y e ta p a k ty w n o ś c i r e w o lu c y j n e j P o la k ó w w k r aju o g n ia z a r y s o w a ł s i ę w la ta c h I w o j n y ś w ia t o w e j . W s ie r p n iu 1921 r. n a b a z i e o r g a n i z a c j i l e w i c o w y c h (SD KPiL , P P S -L e w ic y , PPS) p o w s ta ła s e k c ja p o ls k a p r zy K o m ite c i e R K P(b) w B ak u. W p ro g r a m ie s w y m ja k o g łó w n e z a d a n ie p o s ta w ił a p r z y g o t o w a n i e p r a c o w n ik ó w p a r ty jn y c h i p a ń s tw o w y c h d o p r a c y w P o ls c e . W 1920 r. d u ż o P o la k ó w k o m u n is tó w p r z y b y ło d o B ak u w s z e r e g a c h X I A r m ii C z e r w o n e j. D o w ó d c ą arm ii b y ł P o la k M ic h a ł L e w a n d o w s k i . W p ie r w s z y c h la t a c h w ł a d z y r a d z i e c k i e j w A z e r b e jd ż a n ie p o ls c y k o m u n iś c i z a s i a d a li p r a w i e w e w s z y s t k i c h t a m t e j s z y c h o r g a n a c h w ła d z y . T a k np . z a s tę p c ą k o m is a r z a l u d o w e g o o ś w i a t y b y ł E u g e n iu s z T o m a s z e w s k i , p r z e w o d n ic z ą c y m S ą d u O k r ę g o w e g o J an G o d l e w s k i, U n i-w e r s y t e t B a k iń s k i o r g a n i z o i-w a li M ik o ła j D ą b r o i-w s k i, M ik o ła j U s z y ń s k i, M ic h a ł D o i-w - n a r -Z a p o is k i, o p r o b le m a c h g e o l o g i i d e c y d o w a li P a w e ł P o to c k i, M ic h a ł A b r a m o w i c z , n a k sz t a łt a z e r b e j d ż a ń s k ie j s z tu k i is t o tn y w p ł y w w y w ie r a li L u d w ik K n it i A l e k s a n -d er P ie s t u n -D ą b r o w s k i.
