Polish-Croatian relations in the context of the activities of the Krakow Slavic Society at the beginning of the twentieth century

Abstract

The article explores the activities of Krakow Slavists at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, focusing on their stance toward the Croats, particularly their culture, history, and mutual relations. The aim of the article is to illustrate how Slavic enthusiasts from Galicia perceived the role of Poles in the broader Pan-Slavist movement. This is a crucial topic because South Slavic historiography often propagated the claim that Poles were opposed to the idea of Slavic cooperation. Figures such as Marian Zdziechowski, Tadeusz Stanisław Grabowski, and Jan Magiera contradict this assertion. Opposing Pan-Slavism or Neo-Slavism did not imply that Poles rejected Slavic collaboration, but rather the role of Russia. In their opinion, Russia did not act in the Slavs’ interest but against them, pursuing the Greater Russian goals of the Tsarist regime. Consequently, they proposed alternative solutions, emphasising the central role of Polish culture and advocating for collaboration among Slavic nations on equal terms. Thanks to their knowledge of Slavic languages and cultures, Krakow Slavists maintained numerous contacts with individuals from various Slavic countries, including Croatia. After World War I, some Poles and South Slavs continued this line of thought, believing that Poland should become the cultural centre of Slavic heritage. A section of the article is dedicated to demonstrating the stance of key representatives of the Krakow Slavophile community towards Croats, supported by a detailed analysis of texts concerning Croats published in the monthly journal Świat Słowiański. This publication served as the press organ for this community, featuring contributions from foreign authors. The journal aimed to promote the Polish concept of Slavic unity and familiarise the Galician public with the issues of Slavs within and outside the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.