Summary/Abstract: The article analyses the position of the Polish press under Prussian Partition in times of the rising threat of war after the Sarajevo assassination and immediately after the outbreak of war. In the Prussian annexation, under difficult conditions of the intensification of national oppression, relatively a lot of Polish newspapers and magazines, representing various political options, were printed. Some of them took a loyalist stance, especially in Upper Silesia –„Głos Śląski” i „Katolik” i „Górnoślązak”, „Kurier Śląski”, also “Gazeta Gdańska” newspaper, published in Pomerania, and – to a lesser extent – „Gazeta Grudziądzka”. Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) was dominated by the anti-German national democratists’ press: „Kurier Poznański”, „Orędownik”, „Dziennik Bydgoski”, „Dziennik Kujawski”, much like in „Gazeta Toruńska” of Pomerania. The information about the assassination at Sarajevo caused a stir in the press. Most newspapers printed special supplements and over the next few days published many details about this crime. In the newspapers the scenarios were widely publicized. In most situations commentators did not predict an escalation of conflict as people became accustomed to the Balkans turbulent history. Most of the Polish newspapers openly sympathized with the Serbs, who just like Poles were subjected to the Austrian political system of “violence and pressure” for years. Most assessments of the causes and consequences of the assassination were linked to parallel situation of Polish lands. Only a few newspapers found the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia partially justified. The opinion that it was unacceptable for a sovereign state predominated and the rejection of ultimatum was predicted. There was the hope for limiting the scale of conflict and effective diplomatic mediation. After the outbreak of the war only some of the newspapers continued to appear and they published, out of necessity, official information and messages. Only some commentators distanced themselves from pro-war sentiments in Germany. Some of the newspapers took a loyalist stance while the others expressed reservations and had attitudes of expectations towards the conflicting sides. The defense of the national identity was the most important thing. Most of the titles did not believe German propaganda: that the Entente countries provoked the war. The press exposed Germany’s imperial ambitions as well as intentions of creating pro-German orientation in the Polish society.
