Early Risers and Late Sleepers: The Easter Rising and the Poznanian Uprising of 1918 19 Compared

This chapter compares the Easter Rising with the Poznanian or Greater Polish Uprising of 1918–1919, which aimed to ensure that the province of Poznania be transferred from the German Empire to the new Polish state to emerge from World War I. It identifies both of these as anti-imperial revolts carefully planned by conspirators and carried out by indigenous forces with nominal outside support. It points out, however, that, in contrast to the Easter Rising, the Poznanian Uprising occurred after the official end of the war and was immediately successful in its political goal. While both groups saw the war as an opportunity to strike a blow at their rulers, the Poles can be seen as ‘late sleepers’ compared with the ‘early risers’ in Dublin, who launched the first anti-imperial revolt in wartime Europe. The chapter explains the apparent restraint in anti-imperial activity as a product of the location of Poland at the heart of the military conflict and the greater international support for Polish independence. Only after the extensive reporting of British atrocities in the War of Independence from 1919 to 1921 did the Irish cause attract a similar level of international support, which allowed for eventual independence in 1922.