At the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, we bring stories, reports and topics that approach one of the most important events of history. Follow a series of articles that captures the past with a reference to the present.
After the end of World War II, Poland was under the influence of the Soviet Union for decades. Although it was one of the winning states, it lost approximately 20 % of its territory. The shape of the new Poland was formed without any share of the Poles, but with the dominant role of SE Stalin, which was controlled by FD Roosevelt and W. Churchill. In this way, the post -war borders of Poland were established.
At the beginning of World War II, Poland had an area of 389,720 km². The total length of the border of the second Republic of Poland was 5,529 km. The longest border was with Germany – 1,912 km, then with the Soviet Union – 1,412 km AS Czechoslovakia – 984 km. The remaining borders: Lithuania – 507 km, Romania – 349 km, free town of Gdansk – 121 km and Latvia – 109 km. Six years later, the Poland map looked completely different.
The Germans attacked on September 1, and on September 17, the Red Army entered the east, fulfilling the provisions of the secret pact of Ribbentrop-Molotov. The result was the division of Poland into two parts and the extinction of its borders.
In Hitler’s plans, the Poles were to become slaves to the German gentlemen. Stalin wanted to engulf the Poles into the formless masses of “Soviet people”. For the Allies, Poland became only a pawn on a geopolitical chessboard.
Maps showed Stalin’s plan
The first agreements on future borders recorded on 23 August 1939 in a secret amendment to the Ribbentrop-Molot pact. Initially, the Narew -Visla -San line was counted. Lithuania was to fall to the German sphere of influence, while Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Romanian Besarabia were to belong to the Soviet Union. After the amendment of 28 September 1939 there were several changes: the Third Reich fell territories between Visla and Bugo (Eastern Mazovsko and Lublin), the USSR gained a free hand in the occupation of Lithuania. Poland disappeared from maps.
Exile Polish government did not recognize territorial changes. She believed that after the end of the war, Poland would return to the pre -war borders and that the changes would only concern territorial gains in the west and north. However, these hopes proved to be illusory.
When Germany 22 June 1941 attacked the Soviet Union, Stalin was forced to restore relations with the Polish exile government. The Russians, taken aback by development, went into the deep defensive. Stalin, when he joined the Allies and was pressed by the Nazis to the wall, was forced to restore relations with the Government of the Republic of Poland in exile.
End of Hitler’s rule
The turning point occurred in 1943 with a prospect for the end of Hitler’s domination in Europe. After the Battle of Stalingrad, there was a turnover on the Eastern Front and the Soviet Union began the winning campaign to the West. In 1943 he unilaterally interrupted intergovernmental relations with Poland.
Key decisions on the fate of the post -war world, in this case, also on the borders of Poland, fell especially during three large conferences: in Tehran (8 November – 1 December 1943), Jalte (4-11 February 1945) and Postima (17 July – 2. August 1945). However, the exile government in London had no word on the issue of future Polish borders. All key decisions were taken by a large three: Stalin (USSR), Roosevelt (USA, later Truman) and Churchill (United Kingdom). However, Stalin was the one who set the tone.
At a conference in Tehran, a decision was made to open the second front in Europe through the landing of allied troops in Normandy (Operation Operation Operation) in 1944. Stalin pushed for a long time to relieve the Red Army on the Eastern Front. At the same time, he spoke the Western allies since the opening of the second front in the Balkans, what Churchill wanted to maintain influence in Central -East Europe.
Stalin in Tehran, as an experienced politician, manipulated the leaders of the US and Britain. He discredited Churchill and earned the favor of Roosevelt. Even so that Roosevelt called him “Joe Joe” after a private conference.
The question of Poland was often the topic of negotiations. Practically, it was immediately decided that the eastern border would be based on a Curzon line. The only confusion was the fate of Lviv. But even this matter was quickly lost for Poland. Churchill himself later admitted: “I do not intend to start a big lament because of Lviv.”
After a long discussion, Churchill suggested a solution: “In principle, it was adopted that the core of the Polish state and the nation should be between the so -called Curzon line and the Odra River line, including Prussia and Upper Silesia (also known as Opolsko) as a part of Poland. Stalin got what he wanted. In addition, he demanded non -freezing ports in Kráľovci and Klajpede.
The US President agreed to ask his partners not to reveal these decisions because he had elections and feared the losses of the US-Polish community votes. The government of Stanisław Mikołajczyka adopted the thesis on the western border on December 7, 1943. The confession of Eastern Prussia, Gdansk, Upper Silesia and the sale of the territory between Odra and Lusatian Nisa and the proposed western border were assumed. When it was the eastern border, Poland was perfectly aware that every concession to the Kremlin would be the reason for further requirements of Stalin. Supporters of compromise in the USSR, including Mikołajczyka, were willing to give up part of the Eastern Lesser Poland, Volhynia and Polesia.
The British for the next few weeks persuaded Mikołajczyka to concessions, including the adoption of Curza line. For this, the USSR, according to Churchill, was to recognize the independence of Poland and Poland to obtain territories in the West.
On the night from 3 to 4 January in Sarny in Volhyni Red Army crossed the pre -war border of Poland. Soviet soldiers did not behave as allies, but as enemies spreading AS destruction, they enjoyed violence against local residents in conquered territories.
Yaltish agreement
The beginning of 1945 was ideal for Stalin. The Red Army was in full attack and crossed the pre -war boundaries of the Third Reich. It was only a matter of time before he would win Berlin. Central and Eastern Europe slowly fell into Soviet tentacles. Western allies, focusing mainly on the fighting in the Pacific, left the European Theater a bit. Stalin had all the triumphs in his sleeve, he knew well.
In such circumstances, the conference in Jalte began. One of the main topics was the question of Poland. Finally, three powers of the powers determined that the Eastern border should cross along the Curzon line, with deviations in some areas from 5 to 8 km in favor of Poland. Stalin disagreed to be attached to Poland.
As for the western border, there was no match. Stalin wanted the foreign line to become a line leading from the bristle, including the flow of Odra and the Lusatian Nisa. The bag disagreed with the Western allies. Churchill and Roosevelt were not supporters of Poland’s pushing so far to the west. Churchill said in his memories, “When it comes to the Nisa River (…), I would remind the listeners that during the previous interview I have always conditioned the postponement of the Polish border to the West by claiming that the Poles should not get more than they want and can use in the West.”
Finally, it was stated that in the West and the north “Poland should get a significant territorial addition”. The details were to be set during the next Conference of the Big Three.
Information concerning decisions at the Yaltic Conference, which, unlike the Tehran agreements, was triggered by a wave of protests among the Poles. On January 13, 1945, the government issued an exile led by Tomasze Arciszewski’s statement, stating: “The decision of the three great powers concerning Poland cannot be recognized by the Polish government and cannot be binding for the Polish nation.” The removal of the eastern half of the territory of Poland and the work of the so -called. Curzon’s line as the Polish-Soviet border of the Polish nation accepted as a new distribution of Poland. The course of the western border of Poland was established during the conference in Potsdam. Poland was awarded a report over Gdansk, part of East Prussia and territory to Ondra and Lusatian Nise. The detailed borders should have been adjusted by a separate conference, which has never happened.
Marionettes Stalin in the states of Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, launched the process of headless takeover.
