Forts and Factories: Discourses on the Heritage of 19th Century Russian Rule in Poland

The 19th century was a time of profound political and cultural turmoil for Poland during which territories were divided between three European empires, among them Tsarist Russia. During the Russian rule, two big Polish cities: Łódź – the industrial center and Warsaw – the capital city and significant military place went through significant modernization, industrial development and social changes. The lack of political independence also shaped the social and cultural identity of these cities. Industrialization brought about economic opportunities, urban growth and new class dynamics, but aspirations and actions for freedom were a constant part of social life at that time. This duality of progress and subjugation defines the 19th century in Poland, highlighting the complex interplay between industry, occupation, and modernity.

We will present how material heritage, such as forts, factories and other tangible remnants, associated with the times of Russian rule is (re)interpreted, and (re)used. To this day objects such as Orthodox churches and cemeteries, military facilities (forts and citadels), public buildings, and urban infrastructure facilities that were built during the tsarist rule have remained in the landscape of Polish cities. The vision of heritage at the state level is dominated by the idea of single national history. In such a situation, the presence of “foreign heritage”, especially when defined as the heritage of colonizers or occupying forces, is a challenge to the narrative of historical policy and may be seen as a “negative heritage”. Our analysis will explore how the dissonant heritage of 19th-century modernization, social diversity and at the same time foreign rule, is redefined, silenced and used by different groups in two local communities in contemporary Poland.