The Management of Physical Culture in Łódź in 1945–1949

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present how physical culture was managed in Łódź in 1945–48 during the times of social and political changes. This period is characteristic for the rebirth of sport movement after the WWII and the activities of the authorities aimed at introducing a new model of management of physical culture. On the territory of the voivodeship of Łódź, sport activity was revived along with the withdrawal of German army. The activity of reviving clubs and sport unions was quite spontaneous at first. The model of management of physical culture, introduced in 1946,combined physical education issues with military training referring to pre-war models. The newly created Voivodeship Office of Physical Education and Military Training in Łódź in 1948 was temporary. The final objective was introduction of sports management based on the Soviet model. In the years 1946–49 Łódź authorities popularized the development of physical education and sport in the way compatible with the State policy. They put pressure on massive sport events, sport was combined with military and agricultural training. The new authorities supported the development of physical education and sport in leftist organizations. Sports associations which were claimed to be adverse were eliminated.