Poland’s Cartographic Declaration of Independence: Eugeniusz Romer and his 1916 Atlas of Poland

Summary

This article examines the pivotal role of Eugeniusz Romer (1871–1954), a distinguished Polish geographer and cartographer, and his 1916 *Geographical and Statistical Atlas of Poland* in the rebirth of the Polish nation. Published during World War I, when Poland had been partitioned among Germany, Austro-Hungary, and Russia for over a century, the atlas served as a cartographic declaration of independence, defining the Polish people and their territorial boundaries through rigorous scientific methods. Romer identified 30 million Poles and proposed borders that challenged the occupying empires' narratives, arguing that Poland's subjugation was a 'crime.' The article traces Romer's inspirations, the atlas's creation, and its significant impact on the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, where his maps influenced Allied negotiations, particularly regarding Poland's eastern border. Despite the eventual Treaty of Riga (1921) extending Poland's border far beyond the Curzon Line, Romer expressed disappointment with the outcome. His work earned international acclaim, including honorary membership in the Royal Geographical Society, but his legacy was overshadowed by communist censorship and later overlooked by English-language historians. The article concludes by detailing Romer's later career, his opposition to authoritarianism, his persecution by the Nazis, and his death in 1954 under Soviet occupation, underscoring the atlas's dual nature as both a scientific achievement and a powerful political statement for Polish independence.