As long as there have been universities, certainly since the Middle Ages, the students have banded together into associations. In Europe's old universities, students were united into so-called nationes, associations of students from the same country. These were very formal organizations; the members of a natio lived together, took care of one another, and spent their free time together. In more recent times, the student organizations developed local affiliations. Members of these organizations, which were called (in German) Landsmannschaften, all came from the same geographical area. They distinguished themselves with a common symbol and items of apparel, which set them off from members of other organizations.

A new form of student organization began to appear at German universities in the early 19th century. They were called Burschenschaften, and as in the Landsmannschaften, members were identified by symbols and hats. They were organized around clear ideals, the most important of which was a rejection of political absolutism. They enjoyed great popularity with students but were persecuted by the police from the German States.

The Burschenschaft model, i.e. organization centered on ideals rather than geographical areas, spread throughout the regions influenced by German culture, which included most of Middle Europe. Associations of this sort became known as fraternities. Different types of fraternities were created throughout the 19th century, especially in Germany itself. Some were religious, as for example the Catholic fraternities that rejected ceremonial initiation rites that included duelling. Others emphasized political neutrality (they were called Corps). The common foundation of all such fraternities was the notion of lifelong association. This meant that a member did not break off his relation to the fraternity when he graduated. Rather, he lent support to the fraternity as an alumnus. He took part in Founders Day ceremonies, and finally, he sent his sons as new pledges.
 

Detailed history of the fraternities in Germany
 

Beginning in the 1820's, the Polish students in Russian universities began to found fraternities of this sort. At this time, Poland was partitioned under Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary, and the fraternities were the only legal way that Polish students could meet for patriotic purposes. The fraternity Convent Polonia was founded in 1828 in Dorpat (now Tartu, Estonia). In addition to the typical fraternal ideals, the Polish student fraternities emphasized patriotism and collegial efforts for the well-being of the Polish people. Polish fraternities were founded at this time at the universities of Dorpat, Riga, St. Petersburg, and Vienna.

Following Poland's independence in 1918, these fraternities colonized newly open universities in Poland itself. New fraternities were also founded. Lechia was established on June 15, 1920, in Poznan, and it was one of the strongest Polish fraternities during the time between the world wars. Its motto was "Honor and Country" and it particularly emphasized assistance for Polish people in exile.

On the photos below: the Officers of Lechia in 1933 (1) and the pledges with the Pledgemaster (in Polish: Olderman) and President in 1930 (2).

The Association of Polish Academic Fraternities was founded in 1921, and by the Second World War, it included about 100 student fraternities from different Polish universities and the Free City of Danzig. Poles studying as foreigners in Brno, Czernowitz, Fribourg (Switzerland), Kaunas, and Vienna, also founded Polish fraternities. Minority groups such as Germans, Ukraines, Jews, White Russians, and Russians also had their fraternities in Polish universities.

The activities of the Polish fraternities were interrupted by the attack of German and Soviet troops in September of 1939. The active members and many of the alumni lost their lives during the war, and others had to emigrate. Most of the insignias and other ceremonial materials were lost. Student fraternities were not allowed to return to the universities during the time of Communism. Their christian, patriotic, and conservative ideals were too dangerous for the government. In spite of this, the surviving alumni maintained contact and organized unofficial meetings and festivities. The reactivation of the Polish fraternities first became possible after the fall of Communism.

Homepage of the Lechia Fraternity

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