Sanation

Sanation (Polish: Sanacja) refers to a political movement and the corresponding period in the Second Polish Republic from the mid-1920s to the beginning of World War II. The term, meaning purification or sanitation, describes efforts by Józef Piłsudski and his allies to restore order after political instability, economic turmoil, and social unrest that followed Poland’s 1918 independence.

Origins and rise to power: The movement gained shape after Piłsudski’s May Coup of 1926, when he returned to political leadership and set the stage for a new ruling framework. Although he did not immediately abandon civilian government, his influence grew, and a broad pro-government bloc, the Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government (BBWR), became the dominant political force in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The Sanation leadership pursued a centralized, technocratic approach to governance and sought to curb opposition parties and political fragmentation.

Governance and policy: The Sanation regime combined authoritarian-leaning governance with modernization aims. It implemented administrative centralization, reforms in law and finance, and measures intended to stabilize the economy. The 1935 April Constitution strengthened presidential authority and limited parliamentary powers, reflecting the regime’s preference for a strong executive. Censorship and police powers increased, and political opposition faced repression and marginalization. In infrastructure, public investment and modernization programs complemented the regime’s stability goals.

Legacy and end: Piłsudski died in 1935, but the Sanation movement persisted under his successors until the outbreak of World War II. The invasion of Poland in 1939 effectively ended the period, though debates continue about its achievements in stabilization and modernization versus its political repression and suppression of democracy.