Obóz Zjednoczenia Narodowego ( Polish pronunciation: [ˈɔbuz zjɛdnɔˈtʂɛɲa narɔdɔˈvɛɡɔ] , English: Camp of National Unity ; abbreviated " OZN "; and often called " Ozon " (Polish for " ozone ")) was a Polish political party founded in 1937 by sections of the leadership in the Sanation movement.
3-509: A year after the 1935 death of Poland's Chief of State Marshal Józef Piłsudski , in mid-1936, one of his followers, Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły , attempted to unite the various government factions under his leadership. The attempt failed as another (opposing) Sanacja politician, President Ignacy Mościcki , likewise had a large following; nevertheless, substantial numbers of people did throw their lot in with Rydz-Śmigły. On February 21, 1937, diplomat and Colonel Adam Koc formally announced
6-489: The 1938 Legislative election. OZN' s first official leader was Adam Koc , and its second was General Stanisław Skwarczyński . After the 1939 German invasion of Poland and the start of World War II , OZN leadership passed to Colonel Zygmunt Wenda . In 1937, OZN claimed some 40,000–50,000 members; in 1938, 100,000. During World War II and the German occupation of Poland, OZN' s underground military arm, created in 1942,
9-544: The formation of OZN . Its stated aims were to improve Poland's national defense and to safeguard the April 1935 Constitution . OZN was strongly pro- military , and its politicians sought to portray Marshal Rydz-Śmigły as Marshal Józef Piłsudski's heir, describing Rydz-Śmigły as the "second person in the country" after President Mościcki—a claim that had no foundation in the Polish Constitution. The party later went on to win
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