1. Introduction
In the revival of Poland after more than a century of occupations there were large challenges. The state was built from scratch – not only in an administrative or political sense, but besides in an economical sense. 3 different legal systems, currencies, infrastructure, and besides immense poorness and deficiency of capital. Under specified conditions Polish entrepreneurs – tiny merchants, craftsmen, store owners and workshops – had to compete with well organized, strong abroad capital. In practice, this meant that in many cities and towns the Pole had a problem to keep his business.
It was in this reality that the bottom-up social action “Yours to Yours” appeared. Its main nonsubjective was simple: to encourage Poles to support home trade and services. Let us buy with our own, usage our services, invest in what is Polish – not hate, but reason and solidarity. This slogan carried with it the thought of national self-help: if we do not want strangers to dictate conditions, we must stick together and build our own economical facilities.
This was not an aggressive or violent campaign. On the contrary, it was based on a affirmative message, appealed to conscience and patriotism. It was a consequence to the real needs of a society that wanted to be not only politically free but besides economically independent.
It was clear to the sympathizers of this initiative: we will not build a strong Poland if we are dependent on another people's shops, banks and factories. It was not just a slogan – it was a way of reasoning that gave Poles a tool to fight for their place in the marketplace in everyday life.
2. Where did that password come from?
"His own to his own" came from nowhere. It is simply a slogan that came from concrete experiences – poverty, marginalization and powerlessness of tiny Polish entrepreneurs in the face of foreign-dominated marketplace capital. In inter-war Poland, despite regained independence, the structure of the economy was inactive mostly not in the hands of Poles. The cities were dominated by trade conducted by national minorities – mainly judaic and German – which had better access to capital, household facilities, trade contacts and frequently better developed organizational structures.
Polish merchants and craftsmen, especially those from smaller centres, lost in this competition. Many of them were single in the fight for the customer, had no support in larger organizations or chance of surviving in a collision with well-functioning trading networks. It was from these backgrounds that the impetus came to make a movement based on economical solidarity. The slogan "His own to his own" began to circulate as an expression of opposition to economical dependence and as an appeal for national unity in economical action.
The action was promoted by national, Catholic, Christian-social environments – newspapers, priests, teachers, local activists. But it was not a political initiative. Her strength was courage and simplicity. Everyone could participate in it: it was adequate that they would choose a Polish store alternatively of a abroad one, that they would order a service from a neighbour alternatively of looking elsewhere. It was a patriotism of everyday – without monuments, but with a receipt from a native store.
It is besides worth noting that there was more than sentiment behind this slogan. It was an effort to build a national economy without the request to hotel to statutory coercion. It was based on a conscious decision by the consumer, who began to realize that all acquisition of it was a vote – for or against the economical independency of Poland.
For many participants of this action, it was besides a form of a quiet but consistent revolution: to change the direction of reasoning of society from “cheap and faster” to “home and responsible”. And although the thought besides had its critics and darker sides, about which it is impossible to keep quiet, its sources were profoundly rooted in the desire to build something of their own – honest, Polish and common.
3. How did this work in practice?
The action “Your own to your own” was not an empty slogan. There was a real occupation behind that call. Throughout Poland cooperation networks between Polish merchants, craftsmen, producers and consumers began to be organized. Commercial cooperatives, debt funds, folk banks, as well as local shops with Polish goods and Polish service were established. They operated not only in cities, but besides in smaller towns and villages where the request for self-sufficiency was peculiarly strong.
This movement had many faces. In any places the alleged "Christian goods houses" were established – shops run by Polish Catholics, who clearly communicated their identity. In another regions, cooperative networks specified as the Societies were based on modern forms of organization and fair conditions for members. The common denominator was 1 thing: to support their own, not to be pushed out of the market.
Social education besides played a immense function here. Posters, brochures, articles in newspapers, sermons in churches – the same message was repeated everywhere: your regular choices matter. By buying from a Polish craftsman, you aid him to support his family. utilizing your services, you aid build a strong national economy. It was a simple but effective message. People began to see that their money had strength – and that they could usage that power for the benefit of the community.
It is worth noting that the action was not based on bans or violence. Yes, extremist environments arose that wanted to decision on, calling for boycotts or ostracisms towards “unown”. However, the main movement focused on affirmative transmission and voluntaryness. It was expected to be a bottom-up building of economical solidarity, not a trade war.
In practice, this was not easy. Competition was strong, prices in stores run by another groups frequently lower, and the availability of goods – better. However, the action was effective. The turnover of Polish shops grew, fresh workshops were established, local communities were beginning to act as a well-oiled mechanism. People saw the point in their choices having real consequences. And that was the top force of this movement.
4. Action Effects
The action “Yours to Yours” began to bring concrete results. In many towns Polish shops, workshops and cooperatives began to develop. tiny communities built their own economical structures – shops run by local merchants, welfare funds, dairy cooperatives, bakeries, service establishments. Citizens' economical awareness grew. Poles began to realize that money that remains in their hands is not only better conditions for entrepreneurs, but besides more jobs and greater independency of the full community.
In a symbolic dimension, the action besides strengthened the sense of dignity and impurity. After years of business and being “at home but on another people’s conditions”, more and more people felt that they were yet having a real impact on economical reality. The client ceased to be a passive marketplace associate – he became a conscious Community participant.
However, 1 cannot ignore the fact that the action besides had its controversial side – especially in the context of relations with national minorities, mainly the judaic community. In many towns it was the Jews who ran most shops, service facilities or wholesale outlets. specified were the realities – this was due to the tradition, the professional structure of this community and the historical condition, not to any "occupation" of the marketplace by force.
Thus, by supporting “its own”, the movement frequently led to a simplification in turnover in judaic stores. However, this was not truly motivated by racism, but by the desire for Poles to regain their place in their own economy. The movement did not request the removal of anyone from the market, but alternatively – equal start, fair competition and active support for those who were little present in trade for decades.
Of course, there have been cases of excesses, extremist slogans, attempts to exclude – especially on a wave of political emotions. But that was not the essence of the action. The main line “Your own to your own” was based on a affirmative message: let us build our own, support each other, work together. Not against individual – but for themselves.
That's why the action was so resonant and so lasting. Its strength was not only the slogan, but a real change of habits, which translated into the improvement of Polish entrepreneurship – and a noticeable improvement in the economical situation of thousands of families.
5. Why did that make sense?
The action “Your own to your own” was not just a consequence to economical difficulties. She was a conscious choice of direction – building an economy based on trust, solidarity and responsibility. At a time erstwhile the state had just developed and the marketplace was dominated by abroad interests, this initiative gave Poles a real tool to recover their own life. And that's why it made sense.
At the center of this thought was an average man – a customer, a craftsman, store owner, peasant, worker. He was to realize that his regular decisions – where he would buy bread, where he would give the shoes to repair, in which store he would spend his wage – matter. And it wasn't just about sentiment. It was about concrete: that all gold issued in “its” returns to the community, and released elsewhere – flows away.
For many participants of this movement it was a kind of economical patriotism, but practical, tangible. Not wearing banners, but rooted in everyday life. There was no request to manifest views – it was adequate to store consciously. It was this simplicity that made the action effective and understandable even for those who previously had no interest in politics or economics.
That was the intellectual aspect. Poles who were deprived of their own state for centuries could feel that something was yet up to them. That they do not gotta wait for aid in advance, that they can act bottom-up – effectively and responsibly. That sense of perpetration was priceless. It gave strength, a sense of pride and a sense of common interest.
This movement besides had its deeper layer – an idea. He showed that economics is not only money, but besides social relations. That trust and solidarity are of real value. That by buying from “your own”, you not only support his family, but besides invest in the stableness of your surroundings. Today, this reasoning comes back in modern forms: in "buy locally", "fair trade" moves, or supporting tiny entrepreneurs. But then, in interwar Poland, it was something fresh – and revolutionary.
"Its own to its own" made sense due to the fact that it came out of real needs and gave simple, circumstantial tools of action. Without large words, without force – simply through regular elections. And it was in this everyday life that his strength lay.
6. What's left of it today?
Although the slogan “His own to his” comes from the interwar, his sense did not grow old at all. The modern planet looks completely different – we have global markets, large corporations, online shopping. However, the thought of supporting local, theirs and natives inactive hits the point. Or is today, in an age of anonymity and mass, the request for this thought even greater?
The spirit of this action survived in many forms. First of all, in cooperatives, which, although partially distorted in the times of the Polish People's Republic, is inactive present and slow regains confidence. He survived in household businesses, tiny shops, craft establishments, which did not vanish despite the force of networking. He survived in local markets, bakeries, cheese shops, where quality and relation with the client inactive matter.
Today, more and more people say: support locals. Buy from your neighbor, not the heartless platform. Choose what is close – not only geographically but mentally. due to the fact that erstwhile you buy a product from individual you know, you support not only his business, but your world. It's a return to the relationship, to work for the community. And although we no longer say "Our own to our own" – we say practically the same thing, only in another words.
Importantly, present it is easier to avoid mistakes in the past. Social awareness has increased, we can better separate where solidarity ends and exclusion begins. We can say "support your own", not defining "your own" in terms of nationality, religion or origin, but by a community of values, place, quality and integrity. It's a mature version of the same idea.
"Your own to your own" does not request to return as a historical slogan. It can come back as a practice – modern, ethical and conscious. due to the fact that although times have changed, 1 thing remains: it is worth influencing. Where our money goes, who we support, what reality we co-create. And if we can choose – let us choose wisely. As did those in the Second Poland who knew that the economy was not only numbers, but mainly people.
7. Completion
"Your own to your own" was not utopia or propaganda. It was a practical, common sense thought for endurance and improvement in hard conditions. At a time erstwhile the state was just born and the marketplace was brutally competitive, this bottom-up initiative gave people a real tool of action. Without violence, without state decrees, without large money, it was based on something that everyone had within reach: a decision where and with whom they would spend their money.
To sympathizers of this thought it was not only an economical act, but besides a moral act. A voice for community, solidarity, common support. And although the planet has changed, the questions that were asked at the time are inactive valid. Do we have an impact on the economy? Yeah. Does our regular choices mean anything? Yeah. Is it worth supporting local, honest, committed people? Always.
The modern version of this thought does not request national, spiritual or ideological labels. Today, “his” is individual who creates value where we live. Who works honestly, pays taxes, cares about quality, and does not hide behind an impersonal brand. It could be a neighbour with a tiny bakery, a craftsman with a workshop, a local maker who doesn't cut corners. These are the ones we choose consciously – not out of duty, but out of conviction.
The legacy “Yours to Yours” shows that change begins from scratch. From how we live, where we buy, who we trust. You don't gotta wait for a better planet – you can co-create it all day, choosing what's ours. Not from hostility to others, but from loyalty to their own.
And that is the most valuable lesson of this pre-war action: that a community that can support itself is not doomed to lose. On the contrary, it can last anything. Even the most unfavorable times.
SWOJAK Association of Entrepreneurs and Farmers is a modern continuation of the thought of action “Your own to your own”. This organisation promotes the thought of common cooperation and solidarity between entrepreneurs and farmers, aiming to strengthen local economical and social communities. SWOJAK engages in various initiatives, supporting entrepreneurs in the improvement of their activities and promoting local products and services. present it supports not only business, but all initiatives, including cultural and sports.
Arthur Szczepek
