Between Passion and Civic Duty: Polish Politics and Sport in Szczecin, 1945–1950

After the Second World War, sports communities in the areas incorporated into Poland became more active. The influx of settlers led to the creation of new organizations, which were based on prewar organizational patterns and traditions. Right from the outset, the People's Government utilized athletes for political and propaganda purposes. This was primarily aimed at integrating the 'Recovered Territories' with the rest of the country, a process that unfolded notably in Szczecin, the main urban center in Western Pomerania. The governing power harnessed the enthusiasm and zeal of the youth, along with the belief that sports are apolitical. Following the adaptation of the organizational structure of sports to the Soviet model, the mass indoctrination of sports communities commenced in 1950. The Communists began leveraging activists and athletes without constraints to promote a new ideology, with the goal of aligning society with the state policy of that era.