A Historical Foundation of the Memory Without Borders Project
The international public initiative “Memory Without Borders” bases its work exclusively on archival documents, official publications, eyewitness testimonies, and accounts from relatives of participants in the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. Documentary authenticity makes it possible to restore historical truth about the events that became the foundation of military cooperation among European nations in the struggle against Nazism.
When examining Soviet–Polish relations during the war, it is logical to turn to the events that marked the starting point of a new historical reality — the year 1939, when the Second World War began.
The Outbreak of War and the Fate of the Polish State
On September 1, 1939, the armed forces of Nazi Germany, supported by Slovakia, invaded Poland, marking the official beginning of the Second World War. The subsequent occupation resulted in enormous human losses for the country, with approximately six million people killed.
Between September 9 and 17, 1939, the Polish leadership left the national territory. By the end of the month, the Polish government-in-exile had been established, continuing its political activities abroad throughout the war.
General Władysław Sikorski became Prime Minister, simultaneously serving as Minister of Military Affairs, Minister of the Interior, and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces. The government included representatives of the major political parties of pre-war Poland.
The government operated successively from Paris, Angers, and later London, where it remained until 1990. Presidential authority was assumed by Władysław Raczkiewicz, who took the oath of office at the Polish Embassy in France.
The Agreement of July 30, 1941: Restoration of Cooperation
A key document in the history of wartime Soviet–Polish relations was the agreement signed on July 30, 1941, in London.
The document was concluded between Polish Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the USSR to the United Kingdom, Ivan Maisky.
Its official title was:
“Agreement between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the Republic of Poland on the Restoration of Diplomatic Relations and the Formation of a Polish Army on the Territory of the USSR.”
The signing restored diplomatic relations between the two states and became an important step toward uniting efforts in the fight against Nazi Germany.
Key Provisions of the Agreement
The agreement established several fundamental decisions:
- recognition that the Soviet–German agreements of 1939 concerning territorial changes had lost their validity;
- restoration of diplomatic relations and exchange of ambassadors;
- mutual commitments of military assistance and cooperation against Nazi Germany;
- consent by the USSR to the formation of a Polish army on Soviet territory under Polish command, operating in coordination with the Soviet High Command;
- immediate entry into force of the agreement without a ratification procedure.
A separate protocol provided for an amnesty for Polish citizens held within the USSR, including prisoners and detainees.
News of the agreement’s signing was published in the newspaper Pravda on July 31, 1941, emphasizing its international political significance.
Historical Significance of the Document
The 1941 Agreement became a turning point in the development of military cooperation between the USSR and Polish armed formations. It created the legal framework for the emergence of Polish military units formed on Soviet territory and initiated joint military actions against Nazi Germany.
These developments later led to the creation of Polish military formations, including the 1st Polish Infantry Division named after Tadeusz Kościuszko, which played an important role in the liberation of Europe.
For the Memory Without Borders project, this document represents the starting point for studying the history of military brotherhood that became a symbol of the joint struggle of nations against Nazism.
Sources
Document:
Agreement between the Government of the USSR and the Government of the Republic of Poland on the Restoration of Diplomatic Relations and the Formation of a Polish Army on the Territory of the USSR. July 30, 1941.
Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation (AVP RF), fond 3a — Poland, file 9, case 194.
Published in: Documents and Materials on the History of Soviet–Polish Relations. Moscow, 1973. Vol. VII, p. 208.
Photographs:
— Agreement text — AVP RF, fond 3a, inv. 1, file 19, case 194.
— Signing of the agreement by Maisky and Sikorski — Wikimedia Commons.
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We remember. History unites.