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The majority of Polish organisations had – as the above considerations prove – a specific social profile. However, their central goal was broadly understood - national education. In other words, they mostly handled; education, organisation of social life, teaching Polish, spreading knowledge on the history and culture of Poland, and, to a lesser extent, economic or vocational activities. Industrial associations combined vocational training with a general education on national history, culture and duties. They also promoted the exemplary model of a Polish merchant and a small entrepreneur, proficient in his profession, fair to his customers and competitors, who raises his children and subordinates in the national spirit, reading Polish newspapers, active in associations and supporting Polish national and cultural needs. Peasants’ circles promoted agricultural progress in rural areas, but also performed educational and national tasks. Lectures and discussions held at their meetings tackled problems related to raising children, cultivating folk songs and customs, good cooperation with neighbours, etc. They taught that a good housemaster should raise his children in the national spirit, be religious and decent, nurture Polish folk customs, subscribe to Polish newspapers, read popular books on the history and geography of Poland, take part in fund-raising events for national purposes and vote for Polish candidates to the Prussian and German parliament.

The Catholic workers’ associations also considerably contributed to the dissemination of Polish national awareness. They were not typical trade unions, but rather organisations aimed at educating their members in the Catholic and national spirit. In magazines and during meetings, the workers were constantly reminded that the family home is the only school for Polish children, and that they should therefore teach their children to read and write in Polish.

The activities of the workers’ associations were anxiously observed by the Prussian authorities. One police report (from 10 January 1906) expressed the following opinion on the Union of Catholic Societies of Workers and its branches:  “[…] their common goal is to maintain the Polish national awareness of its members. They want to do it by cultivating Polish speech, Polish songs and customs, by teaching the history of Poland and by respecting national traditions. If their statutes include a provision on lectures, they mean education through reading Polish books and listening to Polish lectures. Social issues are of lesser importance to them. They were just used as propaganda to attract new members.”

The nests of “Sokół” were also targeted at shaping a “true civic, national spirit, capable of sacrifice at any time” in their members. According to Witold Jakóbczyk, the share of cultural activity was higher than the share of gymnastic exercise. The nests organised evening meetings where songs were sung and patriotic poems were recited, as well as celebrations of national anniversaries. As part of the so-called higher courses, adolescents from merchant, handicraft and worker families were educated in Polish literature, history and geography. Singing societies did not only organise concerts, amateur performances or public events, they also disseminated Polish culture, taught the Polish language and organised lectures on subjects concerning Polish history, literature and music; they also participated in celebrations of historical anniversaries organised in cities and towns by other associations. Conventions of singing circles from the entire Prussian Partition, disseminating national awareness among the masses, were a form of patriotic manifestations. The last one before the World War I, organised in Poznań (28-29 June 1914), gathered nearly 4000 participants. Its central event was a concert of patriotic songs performed by a mixed choir composed of almost 3100 singers.

In conclusion, it has to be stated that the strongly developed system of Polish organisations before the outbreak of the First World War, was the crowning success of the idea of the associations promoted by the Organicists since the 1840s. Associations educated the middle classes, peasants and workers. An important role was also played by newspapers and magazines and celebrations of historical anniversaries and rallies, which cannot be described in detail, as this would exceed the framework of this particular article. The function of the associations was, however, crucial. They organised meetings, events, etc., the participants of which were encouraged to read Polish newspapers, to be ready to make sacrifices for the nation and to take part in elections and rallies. Thus, it may be stated that organic work played a fundamental role in fostering active national awareness among the population. In the years preceding World War I, the majority of the Polish population in the region of Poznań were characterised by a high national awareness. Without it, the Greater Poland Uprising 1918-1919, which was not only victorious, but also the most popular and democratic of all of the Polish national uprisings, would not have been so strongly supported by Polish society, including the petty bourgeoisie, peasants and workers