Polish Government in exile

The Polish government in exile is the name given to the Polish political authorities which were established initially with Angers, in France, then with London after the invasion of the Poland at the beginning of the Second world war.

From Warsaw to London

In September 1939, whereas the German and Soviet armies control the Polish territory according to the plan defined by the Pacte germano-Soviet, the legitimate government and the Polish supreme command, which refuse to go, take refuge in France. They then constitute a government in exile which is chaired by Władysław Raczkiewicz, which chooses like Prime Minister the general Władysław Sikorski. This one quickly creates a Union of the armed struggle (Z.W.Z.) entrusted to the general Stefan Grot-Rowecki. This clandestine army will be distinguished on the ground by its activities from resistance. It will be replaced in February 1942 by the Army of the interior ( Armia Krajowa or A.K).

Recognized by the allied , the Polish government in exile settles in London after the French defeat of June 1940. The Sikorski general persuades the English military officials to form motorized unit which will become the First armor-plated Division Polish in February 1942, and which will make it possible to the Poles to take an active part in the release of Europe. Reinforced by the arrival of exiled soldiers, the Polish army becomes gradually the first foreign army in Great Britain.

After the “offensive allemande against the Soviet Union in June 1941, the Polish government in exile decides to join again the diplomatic relations with her old Soviet adversary. The prisoners of war Polish held in the USSR are then released and join the Polish army of the general Władysław Anders which will take part in particular in the Bataille of the mount Cassin and with the Opération Market Garden in 1944.

Reaction of Stalin

In April 1943, whereas is discovered the Massacre of Katyń, the Polish government in exile opposes the position allies, which tends to clear the Soviet army. A few months later, Sikorski dies in an air crash to the return of an inspection to the Middle East. Stanisław Mikołajczyk succeeds to him.

In Poland, Stalin set up the Polish Comité of national release (or Committee of Lublin), of inspiration Communiste, to thwart the Polish government in exile. At the end of the war, it informs the allies which it wishes to preserve the territories annexed by the USSR in 1939, which refuses the Polish authorities of London. Mikołajczyk is also opposed to the project of Stalin to set up a Communist government. But in January 1945, the Red Army enters Warsaw and installs the Committee of Lublin there.

Finally, at the time of the Conference of Yalta, the February 11th 1945, the Polish borders are redefined according to the claims of Stalin, and a government of “national union” is made up. Mikołajczyk, which resigned of its post of Prime Minister for the government in exile, agrees to take part in it. It is named Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for agriculture.

In March 1945, the Soviet authorities organize a meeting with representatives of the government in exile and Polish resistance. Hardly arrival on the spot, part of the delegation is brutally stopped. Its members are shown, at the time of a public lawsuit, to have fought “against the Soviet Union and the interests of Poland”, and “to have collaborated with the Nazi S”. The majority of the defendants will be condemned to custodial sentences or the exile.

On its side, Mikołajczyk resigns of the government Polish pro-Soviet following the scandal with the fraud which entâché the legislative elections of January 1947. Threatened to be stopped, it chooses the exile again. After a passage to London, where he is regarded as a traitor to have collaborated with the Communists, he decides to settle with the the United States.

The government in exile during the Communist regime

Refusing to recognize the Popular republic of Poland, the Polish government in exile continues its action in spite of internal tensions. In 1954, part of the delegates, which asserts the support of 80% of the exiled Poles, is opposed to president August Zaleski which wishes to continue its mandate beyond the 7 years term. The dissidents then train the “Council of national unit” directed by three persons in charge: Tomasz Arciszewski, the general Władysław Anders and Edward Raczyński. They will be reconciled with the government in exile only after the death of Zaleski in 1972.

Some delegated or close to the government in exile will decide to turn over to Poland, like the Prime Minister Hugon Hanke, in 1955, and its predecessor Stanisław Mackiewicz, in 1956. The Polish Communist regime then largely médiatisé the return of exiled, allotting suitable stations to them and forgiving them their last activities. The Polish government in exile continued its activities until the December 22nd 1990, shortly after the election of Lech Wałęsa with the presidency of the Republic after decades of Communist regime in Poland. It is then the President-in-Office, Ryszard Kaczorowski, which gave to the new president democratically elected the badges of the presidency of the Republic.

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