Komitet Obywatelski Niesienia Pomocy Biednym (Citizens’ Committee for Providing Aid to the Poor) in Lodz – organization, structure, and tasks at the initial period of the World War I (1914–1915)

Abstract

In the initial period of the World War I, there were two committees in Lodz with the status of social aid institutions: Główny Komitet Obywatelski miasta Łodzi – GKO (Main Citizens’ Committee of the City of Lodz) and Komitet Obywatelski Niesienia Pomocy Biednym – KONPB (Citizens’ Committee for Providing Aid to the Poor). Both of those organizations were formed virtually at the same time, i.e. on the first days of August 1914, and their activities complemented each other. The first of them took over the function of the city government with a number of competences in administration after Władysław Pieńkowski had left the city; the other one focused its efforts on typical social care for residents, who had suddenly found themselves in a situation of hazard to their safety, life, and health, at the risk of losing the source of income. The main goal of KONPB in the initial phase of the war was to provide material aid to the poorest residents of Lodz; the most important form of support used by the greatest number of people was provision of food. It was used by people of all religions and nationalities. They included, most of all, factory workers with families, people who lost their source of income, families of enlisted reservists, immigrants, homeless people, and those using services of many Lodz philanthropic and social organizations and institutions. This work presents several aspects of KONPB activities, such as the origins, structure, tasks, and financial resources as well as the cooperation and communication with GKO. Lodz citizens’ committees were liquidated by German occupation authorities on 30 June 1915, after almost a year of operations.