History of Poland, part III

[BardDandelion]

Hello!

Yesterday posted first build from third part of my project - History of Poland.

The third part of the series covers the period from the loss to the regaining of independence. During these difficult times, Poles repeatedly took up arms, trying to break the chains imposed by force. This period contributed significantly to building national identity, numerous works of art were created, Poles also achieved a lot in a field of science.

Ten builds of Part III will present events and characters from the end of XVIIIth century to the 1918.

IV part, that will cover years 1918-1945, will be built and posted in 2026.

Will update this post with every new build. ;)

Two previous parts may be checked in dedicated topics on EB forum:
Part I
Part II

 

Partitions of Poland, 1772, 1793, 1795

The gradual weakening of the Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century led to the conquest, division, and colonization of the country by three neighboring powers – Russia, Prussia, and Austria. Lacking a strong army, the country was unable to implement reforms and resist the three invaders. For Poland, the 123-year period of partition began, when the country disappeared from maps and existed solely in the hearts and minds of Poles.

A scene symbolically depicts this event. In an elegant, classicist palace, three monarchs, leaning over a map, establish the new borders. This is a reference to period illustrations that depicted the partitions in a similar manner.  


Kościuszko Uprising, 1794

After the Second Partition of Poland an uprising broke out, led by Tadeusz Kościuszko - a hero of the American Revolution, who returned from the United States to save Poland independence.

Due to supply shortages, peasant units armed with upright scythes also participated in the fighting alongside regular troops.

On April 4th, 1794 the Battle of Racławice took place. Polish forces under Kościuszko command defeated the Russian army. During the battle, Bartosz Głowacki, one of the peasant scythemen, gained fame by extinguishing the fuse of a cannon with his cap during an attack on Russian artillery, leading to its capture. In return for this action, he received a promotion and land.

Unfortunately, when Prussia joined Russia, the uprising failed and the Third Partition took place.

The Battle of Racławice is commemorated in numerous works of art, the most notable of which is the "Panorama Racławicka" - a massive (120m x 15m) painting displayed in a cylindrical chamber. The “Panorama” can now be admired in Wrocław.

 

The Napoleonic Wars, 1797-1815

When Napoleon Bonaparte appeared on the political map of Europe, Poles expressed hope for regaining independence. The French Emperor was an enemy of Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Therefore, many Poles living in exile joined his army.

The Polish Legions were formed in Italy in 1797. Written that same year, song "Mazurek Dąbrowskiego"
became a symbol of belief in regain of independence. Later - in 20th century - song became the Polish national anthem and remains so to this day.

In the following years, Poles fought alongside the French, and Napoleon's victories even led to the creation of the country - Duchy of Warsaw. It ceased to exist under the terms of the Congress of Vienna in 1815 after the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

 

November Uprising, 1830-1831

A a result of the agreements of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, a Russian-governed Kingdom of Poland was established from part of the Polish lands, with the Russian Tsar appointed as its king.

Over the years, the provisions of the constitution were violated: freedom of the press was abolished, censorship was introduced, repression and persecution of independence activists began, a secret police system was established, and the Russification of Poles began.

As a result of growing dissatisfaction and fear in the country and the wave of political changes in Europe (the July Revolution erupted in France, commemorated by the famous painting "Liberty Leading the People," and Belgium regained independence from the Netherlands), an uprising broke out in Warsaw on the night of November 29-30.

Despite significant initial successes and victories in battles, the uprising ultimately ended in defeat, repression, and mass emigration of Poles.

 

Fryderyk Chopin

After the fall of the November Uprising, a mass emigration of the Polish political, military, and cultural elite to Western Europe, primarily to France, took place. Due to its scale and nature, this phenomenon is referred to as the Great Emigration. It enabled the maintenance of Polish national identity, the formation of political groups, and the development of Polish culture abroad.

Representatives of the Great Emigration include not only politicians (Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, Józef Bem) but also Romantic artists and poets (Adam Mickiewicz, Juliusz Słowacki, Zygmunt Krasicki) and the composer Fryderyk Chopin.

Chopin is considered one of the greatest Romantic composers in the world, as well as one of the most important Polish composers. He was one of the most famous pianists of his time, often called the "poet of the piano." Characteristic elements of Chopin's works include a deepened expression and drawing on the patterns of Polish folk music.

 

Galician Slaughter, 1846

In the Austrian partition, plans were underway to launch a Kraków Uprising, which would later evolve into a nationwide liberation uprising. However, the Austrian authorities were aware of this and, to thwart these plans, began inciting peasants, hoping to prevent them from joining the uprising and to use them to suppress it.

The rumors and promises spread by the Austrians fell on fertile ground – in the 19th century, the feudal system was still in force, peasants were required to work off serfdom, were subject to the courts of the nobility, and could not leave their villages. Centuries of accumulated  injustice found their way to the surface.

Armed bands of peasants plundered and destroyed noble estates, burned property, and murdered nobles.

When the Kraków Uprising was suppressed, Austrian troops entered the areas engulfed by the Galician
occupation and brought peace.

 

January Uprising, 1863-1864

January Uprising was the largest and longest Polish national liberation uprising against the Russian Empire, lasting from January 1863 to October 1864.

The uprising erupted as a result of the escalating policies of russification, repression, and the restriction of the autonomy of the Kingdom of Poland. Its immediate trigger was the announcement of compulsory conscription into the tsarist army (the so-called "branka").

The uprising was a guerrilla war and encompassed the territories of the Russian partition. Despite initial successes, it ended in military defeat. It played an important role in shaping national consciousness. Polish society was forced to change its strategy of fighting for independence – armed uprisings were replaced by organic work – the economic, educational, and social development of the nation was to ensure the strengthening of Polish society and the regaining of independence in the future.

 

Exile to Siberia

For centuries, Siberia served two roles for Moscow: a nearly inexhaustible source of natural resources and a prison.

After the collapse of the January Uprising, the Russian authorities imposed harsh repression on participants and supporters of the uprising, including arrests, executions, and confiscation of property. One of the most severe punishments was exile to Siberia—forced deportations to remote regions of Russia.

Exiles were sent to labor camps, where, in harsh climatic conditions, they worked in mines, quarries, logging, and infrastructure development.

Among the exiles were not only partisans but also teachers, clergy, landowners, and intelligentsia. The exiles were intended to weaken the Polish national movement and intimidate the public. For many of those exiled, they were tantamount to a death sentence.

 

Maria Skłodowska-Curie

 

Maria Skłodowska-Curie was a Polish scientist, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize. She was the only
person in history to be awarded the prize twice in two different fields (physics and chemistry). She
pioneered a new branch of chemistry – radiochemistry, developed the theory of radioactivity, and discovered two new elements – radium and polonium.

She grew up in Warsaw in a patriotic family of teachers. There, in her youth, she studied at the "Flying University," a secret Polish university that, in defiance of the Russian authorities, also allowed women to pursue an education and provided employment to Polish scientists. To continue her education, Skłodowska traveled to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. She graduated with distinction and began working as a researcher in a laboratory. It was during this time that she met her
future husband, Pierre Curie.

During World War I, she organized mobile X-ray machines that allowed for X-rays to be taken in the field, which saved the lives of many soldiers.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Hope you guys find this project interesting.
Remember - I'm not a historian, for better understanding of presented events, check some valid sources - books and articles.

Edited November 7, 2025 by BardDandelion
update of project, new build added

[GeoBrick]

Love the chandelier. And the table supports. Not to mention the mirror frame. And the giant shelf covers the corner nicely.

[BardDandelion]

@GeoBrick Thanks! Seems that you enjoy a lot in this build. :D

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I like the huge window and the chanedlier ...very nice historical scene! 

[hikouki]

Love the minifigs!

[BardDandelion]

@LEGO Train 12 Volts Thanks! Unfortunately, not so nice historical event. :(

@hikouki Thanks a lot! Wanted to make each one in different color to make it clear that they come from three different countries.

[Feuer Zug]

Sad, the divisions cut by empires. Nice scene, small, yet full of details.

[BardDandelion]

@Feuer Zug Thank you! Yup, it is a very sad part of our history but there is a lesson to be learned.

[BardDandelion]

First post updated with new build! ;)

[Jack Sassy]

Once again, these are some beautiful builds. I was not aware of the Polish situation in the late 18th century. Interesting topic. 

[MaximB]

Cool works. You did a great job conveying the atmosphere in such a small format.

[BardDandelion]

@Jack Sassy Thank you very much!
Glad that I'm able to spread knowledge and information about history of my country using my hobby. This was my goal from the get go :)
Would be awesome if other builders from smaller countries, less covered in books and movies, decided to do the same. There was a guy from Netherlands who made series inspired by me and posted it on IG but can't find it now. He made builds covering periods from stone age up to post WW2 era.

@MaximB Thanks a lot! With each build in this series it's my goal to fit as much action and details as possible (and needed) in limited space. 

[Elysiumfountain]

Wonderfully done, I love the chandelier! And the historical context is excellent. I have to confess I don't know much about Polish history but I definitely need to learn more after reading some of the snippets you shared! 

[_TLG_]

Nice details!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

In the second scene the cannon is extremely realistic, I like the detail of the wheels!

I can't wait to see and learn with the next 8 dioramas!

[ddavid]

Looks amazing! Where is the minifig with a hat from?

[BardDandelion]

Thank you for your comments! Third episode added to the topic. ;)


@Elysiumfountain Thanks! Glad that you like my build, even more glad that I encouraged you to learn more about Polish history. :)

@_TLG_ Thanks a lot! :D

@LEGO Train 12 Volts Thank you! Third episode added, seven more to follow. :)

@ddavid Thanks! Which minifig? The one that is extinguishing the fuse? Torso is from SW (I think it's Mace Windu), hat is from CMF.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I didn't know the history of the Polish national anthem...its origin is remarkable! 

[BardDandelion]

@LEGO Train 12 Volts I guess all national anthems have somehow similar origins. For example, US anthem also was written during war against Britain.
How about your country, Italy?
Btw, Italy is mentioned in chorus of "Mazurek Dąbrowskiego" - we sing "March, march, Dąbrowski, from Italy to Poland". It's because army was formed in Italy, moved north during war and hoped it will help liberating Poland from Germany and Russia.
 

New scene was added to the first post. ;)

[BrynnOfCastlegate]

I like the trees in the "November Uprising". Very autumnal!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

History studied in this way is highly appreciated ...and even if you don't call yourself a historian you're doing a great job so far! 

[BardDandelion]

@BrynnOfCastlegate Thanks! Glad that you enjoy my build, tried to make it clear that the scene is placed in autumn. Seems I achieved it. :D
Unfortunately, there were also uprisings in other seasons. Some of them will be covered in this part of the project, some in future, in part IV.

@LEGO Train 12 Volts Thanks! I added that comment at the end just to make it clear to everyone that I'm not an expert, just an enthusiast. I have only some basic knowledge and some may say that these are incorrect, especially descriptions I provided, got this type of comments when presenting previous parts.
But on the other hand two weeks ago History of Poland was presented on convention and I've seen plenty of dads explaining depicted events and talking about characters to their kids. It felt really good. ;)

 

Another scene added to the first post. ;)

Edited September 29, 2025 by BardDandelion

[BardDandelion]

New episode added to the first post! ;)

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Chopin and Curie, two world-renowned giants!
Completely different fields, but both brilliant, beautiful representative diorama!