Camp of National Unity explained

Abbreviation:OZN
Native Name:Obóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego
Leader:Adam Koc
Stanisław Skwarczyński
Foundation:21 February 1937
Dissolution:1940s
Membership Year:1938
Membership:100,000
Newspaper:Gazeta Polska[1]
Predecessor:Sanation Right
Ideology:Polish nationalism
National conservatism
Economic militarism
Economic nationalism
Anti-communism
Antisemitism
Youth Wing:Union of Young Poland
Wing1 Title:Paramilitary wing
Wing1:Obóz Polski Walczącej
Headquarters:Warsaw, Poland
Position:Right-wing
Country:Poland

Obóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego (pronounced as /pol/, English: Camp of National Unity; abbreviated "OZN"; and often called "Ozon" (Polish for "ozone")) was a Polish political party founded in 1937 by sections of the leadership in the Sanacja movement.

A year after the 1935 death of Poland's Chief of State Marshal Józef Piłsudski, in mid-1936, one of his followers, Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły, attempted to unite the various government factions under his leadership. The attempt failed as another (opposing) Sanacja politician, President Ignacy Mościcki, likewise had a large following; nevertheless, substantial numbers of people did throw their lot in with Rydz-Śmigły.

On February 21, 1937, diplomat and Colonel Adam Koc formally announced the formation of OZN.[2] Its stated aims were to improve Poland's national defense and to safeguard the April 1935 Constitution. OZN was strongly pro-military, and its politicians sought to portray Marshal Rydz-Śmigły as Marshal Józef Piłsudski's heir, describing Rydz-Śmigły as the "second person in the country" after President Mościcki—a claim that had no foundation in the Polish Constitution. The party later went on to win the 1938 Legislative election.

OZNs first official leader was Adam Koc,[3] and its second was General Stanisław Skwarczyński. After the 1939 German invasion of Poland and the start of World War II, OZN leadership passed to Colonel Zygmunt Wenda. In 1937, OZN claimed some 40,000–50,000 members; in 1938, 100,000.

During World War II and the German occupation of Poland, OZNs underground military arm, created in 1942, was known as Obóz Polski Walczącej (the Camp of Fighting Poland).

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Gazeta Polska is the OZN body. "Newspaper Lvov," p. 1, No. 280, December 10, 1937.
  2. Web site: 23 February 1937. Gazeta Lwowska. 2020-06-22. Jagiellonian Digital Library.
  3. Book: Patterson, Archibald L.. Between Hitler and Stalin: The Quick Life and Secret Death of Edward Smigly Rydz, Marshal of Poland. 2010-07-01. Dog Ear Publishing. 9781608445639. en.