Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

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Futurist
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Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#1

Post by Futurist » 22 Dec 2020, 02:59

Which cities in the Second Polish Republic were the most modern? As in, had the most modern technologies relative to the times, the most luxuries and conveniences, et cetera? I'm assuming that Warsaw, the Polish capital, would definitely qualify for this, as would possibly Lodz and perhaps Krakow as well, but which other Polish cities would have likewise qualified for this at the time of the Second Polish Republic?

GregSingh
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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#2

Post by GregSingh » 22 Dec 2020, 11:48

I would say Gdynia.


gebhk
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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#3

Post by gebhk » 22 Dec 2020, 21:33

Knee jerk reaction - I am with GregSingh that Gdynia was the most modern in the sense of infrastructure and functionality ie port installations. I am not sure 'luxury' is a measure of modernity unless by that you mean modern conveniences, in which case yes, Warsaw might have the edge - radios, TV, that sort of thing. Warsaw had, I think, the greatest saturation with that other symbol of modernity - the motor vehicle. However when we come to modernity of the mind and spirit - ie the arts, philosophy, science etc, I don't feel knowledgeable enough to comment.

Sid Guttridge
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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#4

Post by Sid Guttridge » 23 Dec 2020, 02:45

Yup, Gdynia. It was built almost from scratch during the 1920s and 1930s. All other cities were much older foundations with presumably run down areas and obsolescent facilities.

Sid.

Futurist
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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#5

Post by Futurist » 23 Dec 2020, 08:30

Interesting. I suppose that this also applies to recently built cities in some other cities. For instance, Astana in Kazakhstan is more modern-looking than the rest of Kazakhstan is, and most of Astana was only built recently due to the Kazakh capital being relocated there in the 1990s.

Njorl
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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#6

Post by Njorl » 27 Dec 2020, 21:57

As far as towns are concerned I'd propose Stalowa Wola. Similarly to Gdynia built almost from scratch in late 1930s as a part of COP. I recall having read memoirs of a German soldier from N.A. 168 from 1939 (68 I.D. was from Berlin and its vicinity, so they were quite urban types) who was quite surprised when they came across modern blocks of flats in the middle of forrest.

And the COP in general triggered construction of relatively modern settlements and new quarters in already existing towns/cities (just like it was in Mielec, where new quarter for factory workers of WP2 - Airframes Construction Plant No 2 - was built).

Regards
MJU

Edit: Just found out that Stalowa Wola officially became town only in 1945. Here's link to a few period photpgraphs on the city's official website - scroll down to see them

Futurist
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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#7

Post by Futurist » 02 Jan 2021, 04:51

The Carpathians are definitely where I would not have expected a new, modern Polish city to be built in the 1930s!

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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#8

Post by Piotr Kapuscinski » 19 Jul 2021, 20:57

I would say that these seven (if we count mostly the largest cities):

Gdynia
Poznan
Warsaw
Lvov
Lodz
Cracow


Honorary mention to Stalowa Wola as described by Njorl above.

==========

And Vilno was the least modern of all of the largest cities.

For instance 73% of buildings in Vilno were wooden in 1931.
There are words which carry the presage of defeat. Defence is such a word. What is the result of an even victorious defence? The next attempt of imposing it to that weaker, defender. The attacker, despite temporary setback, feels the master of situation.

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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#9

Post by Futurist » 20 Jul 2021, 01:14

Peter K wrote:
19 Jul 2021, 20:57
I would say that these seven (if we count mostly the largest cities):

Gdynia
Poznan
Warsaw
Lvov
Lodz
Cracow


Honorary mention to Stalowa Wola as described by Njorl above.

==========

And Vilno was the least modern of all of the largest cities.

For instance 73% of buildings in Vilno were wooden in 1931.
Were any other cities in eastern Galicia as modern as Lvov was?

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Re: Most modern cities in the Second Polish Republic?

#10

Post by Piotr Kapuscinski » 20 Jul 2021, 02:41

^^^ Also Katowice was a very modern city, I forgot to mention it above.
Were any other cities in eastern Galicia as modern as Lvov was?
Tarnopol looked fairly modern, it was the capital of Tarnopol Voivodeship:

https://www.kawiarniany.pl/2018/06/11/t ... -swiatowa/

^^^
In the link above you can find black-&-white photos of pre-war Tarnopol:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kresy#Lar ... _and_towns
There are words which carry the presage of defeat. Defence is such a word. What is the result of an even victorious defence? The next attempt of imposing it to that weaker, defender. The attacker, despite temporary setback, feels the master of situation.

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