History of Poland is very long and complicated however I would like to briefly mention about the situation which was prevailing in Poland especially in Greater Poland (District of Poznan) commonly called Wielopolska. In 1795 Poland disappeared from the map of the Europe for 123 years after a third partition of Poland. Three European powers: Prussia, Russia and Austria split Poland between themselves. At that time there were a numerous migrations on polish territories. This contributed to the fact that Poles, Germans and Jewish many of whom lived in Poland at that time.
There was not Poland but the Polish society and spirit was for whole that time. There was no polish schools, offices, administrations etc. to keep polish spirit Poles spoke in polish. The Imperial German policy was to limit and stop Polishness in the new territories. At the beginning of the XX centuries these actions intensified. Next step taken by Imperial German Government was a ban on teaching religion in the polish language in all schools at Greater Poland. This launched a number of school strikes from which the loudest was Wreschen school strike in 1901.
Such a strike also took place at Gnesen (Gniezno) in 1906. There are confirmed sources that Zofia Kubasik was one of the schoolgirls participating in that strike.
The below photo presents three oldest sisters of Bronislaus. From right to the left Maria, Lucyna and Zofia. One of them was a painter. In my opinion Lucyna match most and probably she was a painter. Exploration is still in progress…
One of the paintings painted probably by Lucy in the interwar period. The painting shows blossom apple tree.
For the 95 anniversary of school strike in the Catholic People’s School in Gniezno article appeared with the story of an eye-witness of this incident. It was an article where Zofia Kubasik described the events from 1906.
Tak wspomina to wydarzenie Zofia Kubasik: “Pewnego dnia po wakacjach letnich w 1906 r. uczniowie, wchodząc do klas, ujrzeli na swoich ławkach nowe podręczniki do religii. Było to Pismo Święte i katechizm. Kiedy dzwonek ogłosił rozpoczęcie lekcji, wszedł nauczyciel i powitał dzieci pozdrowieniem ‘Gelobt sie Jesus Christus’. Dzieci odpowiedziały w języku polskim ‘Na wieki wieków. Amen’. Nauczyciel Niemiec, nic nie wyjaśniając, rozpoczął modlitwę po niemiecku, a dzieci mówiły za nim po polsku. Wtedy nauczyciel przerwał modlitwę i wyszedł, dzieci w międzyczasie złożyły wszystkie podręczniki na katedrę. Po skończonej lekcji wszedł nauczyciel do klasy, zobaczył to i nadal zachowując spokój opuścił ją. Na następnej lekcji dzieci siedziały same, gdyż wszyscy nauczyciele odbywali naradę w kancelarii“.
Just says this event Zofia Kubasik: One day after a summer holidays in 1906 students entering to classes, they found on their desks new book for religion. There were the Scripture and the catechism. When a bell announced the beginning of lessons the teacher came and greeted the children greeting ‘Gelobt sie Jesus Christus’. Children responded in Polish ‘For ever and ever. Amen’. German teacher, without explanations began a prayer in German and children….
The second photo shows Zofia Kubasik. Photos signed on the reverse: “Na pamiątkę siostra Twoja Zocha” – “So you remember me – your sister Zocha” (Zofia).
One of the youngest Bronislaus’ sisters Stefania Kubasik.
More information about them can be found in the post Family
