The purpose of the study is to determine how the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck’s (1815-1898) views on the Polish nation influenced his vision of the “Polish issue” in Russia. The article reconstructs Bismarck’s views on the “Polish issue” on the basis of his texts. Scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that it is the first time that the views of the “Iron Chancellor” on Russia’s Poles and origins of these views become an object of independent research. As a result of the study, the author comes to the conclusion that Bismarck’s negative attitude toward the Polish nation significantly influenced his vision of the “Polish issue” in the Russian Empire.