Free Polish State (1939-1991)

WWII and Early Polish State On September 1, 1939, the Third Reich invaded the Second Polish Republic. The Soviet Union followed, invading on Sept. 17. The Polish government at that time could not win the war and went into exile in France. This caused the creation of the Free Polish State on Christmas of 1939. Between 1940 and early 1944, the government in exile created the Domowe Wojsko Ludu Polskiego (Home Army of the Polish People), the Wolna Polska Marynarka Wojenna (Free Polish Navy), and Armia Powietrzna Polski (Air Army of Poland). When the Warsaw Uprising started in 1944, the state invaded Nazi and Soviet occupied Poland. Polish-Soviet Relations The Free Polish State took control of Poland and created the capital in Bialystok. This day became known as Independence Day and is celebrated on November 28. The Soviets were angry, since the Poles refused to created a communist coup. This started the Second Polish-Soviet War (1944-1946). The war ended with a Polish victory and ceasefire signed in 1947. The ceasefire agreed that if the Soviets supported the Poles militarily and did not force them to create a communism government, the Poles would support them in the Cold War against the US.