Pre 1802
Prior to Great Patriotic War of 1802, the lands and people of Lithuania and Poland were considered part of the Russian Empire, Austrian Empire, and the Kingdom of Prussia. The Polish and Lithuanians experienced varying degrees of oppression between the three occupiers.
Kingdom of Prussia
Prussia controlled the West and North of Poland and were the most brutal of the occupiers. The Prussian intention being to Germanise the Polish people and completely eradicate its culture and language. Under Prussian oppression thousands of Poles were forced to suppress their culture and the German language was made the official language. With all children being forced to attend schools which taught them Prussian culture, history, ideals and the German language. Hundreds who opposed Prussian measures were killed and thousands imprisoned or exiled.
Russian Empire
The Empire of Russia controlled Central and Eastern Poland as well as the entirety of Lithuania. Lithuanians were given a special minority status and allowed limited self rule. Poles however similarly to the Poles under Prussian rule had their culture and language suppressed. However the efforts by the Russians was largely limited to quelling attempts at Polish self rule, and the Russian's were did not have a plan to eradicate Polish culture.
Austrian Empire
Under the Austrian Empire, Poles had the largest amount of freedom and were largely free of oppression. Austria controlled the southern regions of Poland and formed the region into an autonomous region with a limited degree of self-rule. The Polish language and culture being encouraged, however attempts at breaking free from Austrian control were closely monitored by the Austrian Secret Police.
Kingdom of Prussia
Prussia controlled the West and North of Poland and were the most brutal of the occupiers. The Prussian intention being to Germanise the Polish people and completely eradicate its culture and language. Under Prussian oppression thousands of Poles were forced to suppress their culture and the German language was made the official language. With all children being forced to attend schools which taught them Prussian culture, history, ideals and the German language. Hundreds who opposed Prussian measures were killed and thousands imprisoned or exiled.
Russian Empire
The Empire of Russia controlled Central and Eastern Poland as well as the entirety of Lithuania. Lithuanians were given a special minority status and allowed limited self rule. Poles however similarly to the Poles under Prussian rule had their culture and language suppressed. However the efforts by the Russians was largely limited to quelling attempts at Polish self rule, and the Russian's were did not have a plan to eradicate Polish culture.
Austrian Empire
Under the Austrian Empire, Poles had the largest amount of freedom and were largely free of oppression. Austria controlled the southern regions of Poland and formed the region into an autonomous region with a limited degree of self-rule. The Polish language and culture being encouraged, however attempts at breaking free from Austrian control were closely monitored by the Austrian Secret Police.