Final answer:
The Russification of Poland, an effort to assimilate Poland into Russian culture and influence, started in the 17th century and continued aggressively under various Russian tsars. It was met with resistance, and despite periods of increased Russian control, Poland's national identity remained strong, and Russification was never fully completed, especially after reforms in the 1950s and the eventual fall of the Soviet Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
Completion of Russification in Poland
The process described as Russification of Poland was an attempt by the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union to assimilate various ethnic groups under Russian culture and influence. It started in the 17th century when Russia and Poland divided territories of current Ukraine. Russification accelerated under Catherine the Great and continued under Tsars like Alexander III, targeting various ethnic groups, including Jews who were subject to pogroms and discriminated against in universities and professions.
Industrialization, which was deemed critical for economic development, was also a tool for Russification, connecting the vast lands through railroads and enhancing the movement of goods and Russian influence. Despite the efforts, Russification was often met with resistance in far-flung areas, where local cultures and languages persisted.
The re-emergence of an independent Poland after World War I challenged Russification, but during World War II and its aftermath, Poland was again subjected to control by Russia, continuing the Russification efforts. This persisted in different forms until the Eastern Bloc began to loosen, highlighted by events in 1956 when Władysław Gomułka introduced reforms that reduced Soviet control.
Throughout these periods, the imposition of the Russian language and Russian Orthodoxy were central to Russification policies. However, the national identity of Poles remained resilient, and the Russification of Poland was never fully completed, especially given the political changes during the Cold War and the eventual fall of the Soviet Union, which led to a re-establishment of Polish sovereignty and national identity.