VOLYN VOIVODESHIP IN THE SECOND POLISH REPUBLIC: FROM THE HISTORY OF TERRITORIAL CHANGES, 1921-1939

Abstract

The article examines the administrative and territorial changes that took place in the Volyn voivodeship in the interwar period. Changes in the territorial division of voivodeships became the subject of numerous discussions, the participants of which emphasized that the division into voivodeships built in 1919–1921 was imperfect and did not meet the needs of state administration and economic challenges. Most projects were presented in the 1920s in connection with the activities of three governmental and parliamentary commissions that worked on the concept of territorial division. The voivodships of the Second Polish Republic were very diverse in terms of area, population, population density, and level of economic development. Volyn voivodeship was economically and financially weak and could not withstand investment challenges, especially in terms of infrastructure, like most voivodeships. Most of the proposed changes in the administrative-territorial structure of the Volyn voivodeship concerned either the northern territories bordering the Polish voivodeship, or the western territories adjacent to the Lublin Region, but most of these proposals were not implemented. The only significant change in the territorial structure of the interwar Volhynia voivodeship was the inclusion of the Sarny County. At the same time, throughout the interwar period, internal changes took place in the administrative and territorial structure of the voivodeship.