Nationalitätenfragen in der polnischen Anwaltschaft der Zwischenkriegszeit

The rebirth of the Polish state after a long period of partition constituted a great op-portunity as well as a new challenge for professionals in the Bar association. The Barassociation attained self-governing status. This, on the one hand, enabled the group tocreate an environment and to strengthen the social significance of this group in Poland.On the other hand, it created dangers caused by the different traditions which werecultivated in different parts of the formerly partitioned Poland. Another factor contri-buting to the problem was the multinational composition of the Bar. The Bar duringthe interwar years was highly divided ethnically. The Jewish and Ukrainian minoritieshad an especially strong representation. The Bar organizations protected their nationalautonomy. The conflict between the numerous associations, which were formally openfor minorities and practically organized according to national interests, was severe. Thisconflict was especially visible in Lesser Poland. The pressure of professional competiti-on cast a shadow over the Bar’s ethos. Antagonisms based on nationality were presentin the researched period with a varying degree of intensity and appeared in differentforms. The situation was finally alleviated by the act from 1938. The looming threat ofthe impending war also contributed to their appeasement.