Przemiany polskiej wsi w latach 1918–1989

Abstract

In the prewar period problems of Polish countryside were fragmentation and overpopulation. In spite of the land reform the farms were mainly smaller than 5 hectares and the peasants practiced the extensive farming. Only the part of bigger farms, mainly in Western and Middle Poland, was modern. The Great Depression led to 66% agricultural goods prices drop and it lasted until 1945. The Polish countryside during the World War II suffered enormous material and demographic loss. After the end of the war the radical land reform was introduced, which deepened agricultural fragmentation. Some part of the land remained in government’s possession and were transformed into State Agricultural Farm (Panstwowe Gospodarstwo Rolne, PGR). The area of this farms were extended systematically, particularly in the western and northern Poland’s areas. In 1948 the government started to collectivize the countryside. The famers were forced with restrain and repression to join the cooperative farms. After 1956 the most of the cooperative farms fell apart and the policy has been lightened, e.g. reducing compulsory deliveries. The deepening depression of the 70’s led to the prices drop and the collapse in the agricultural industry, which caused the breakdown of food supply. The bad condition of agriculture lasted until the last days of People’s Republic of Poland.