The Soviet Occupation of Poland 17.09.1939

[v2]

On September 17, 1939, at 2:15 a.m. the Polish Ambassador to the U.S.S.R., M. Waclaw Grzybowski, was summoned to the Soviet Foreign Office. On arriving at the Kremlin, he was received by M. Potemkin, who read him a Note to the effect that the Soviets regarded the Polish Government as disintegrated, and the Polish State as having in fact ceased to exist. All agreements concluded between the U.S.S.R. and Poland were in consequence declared to have ceased to operate. Poland bereft of leadership had become a suitable field for all manner of hazards and surprises constituting a threat to the U.S.S.R. Furthermore, the Soviet Government could not view with indifference the fate of the kindred Ukrainian and White Russian people living on Polish territory, and, in existing circumstances, left defenceless.

Accordingly, the Soviet Government had ordered its troops to cross the Polish border and take under their protection the life and property of the population of Western Ukraine and Western White Russia. At the same time, the Soviet Government proposed to extricate the Polish people from the unfortunate war into which they were dragged by their unwise leaders, and enable them to live a peaceful life.

There existed between Poland and the Soviet Republic a pact of non-aggression dated July 25,1932, which on May 5, 1934, was extended until December 31, 1945.

Notwithstanding the strong misgivings aroused in all quarters by the new pact concluded on August 23, 1939, between the Soviets and Germany, in the first days of the war between Poland and Germany a general impression prevailed of a certain good will on the part of the Soviets towards Poland. On August 27 Izvestia published an interview with Marshal Vorosilov who stated that the new understanding with Germany would not prevent Russia from supplying raw materials and even war materials to Poland.

Along the entire Russian border it had been noticed that the tone of Russian broadcasts was not at all unfriendly towards Poland, and on certain frontier stations - much to the amazement of those who were informed - special arrangements were being made in great haste in order to facilitate the transport of goods into Poland. At Molodeczno, it was rumoured, a large convoy of lorries had been rushed over the frontier by night in early September. The Polish Government certainly had difficulties in keeping in touch with its local representatives. Since September 5 it was constantly moving owing to German bombing. But complete tranquillity reigned in the Eastern Provinces of Poland. Mobilisation had taken place under normal conditions and perfectly smoothly; all public authorities were functioning without interruption.

In the light of events it is unnecessary to stress the evident bad faith of the Soviets. The perfidy of Moscow's diplomatic language was vividly reminiscent of many similar documents of the 18th century, when Russia, with Berlin as chief accomplice, undermined the old monarchic Commonwealth of Poland.

In any event, the entrance of the Russian troops was such a surprise, not only to the population but also to the civil and military authorities, that in many places it was thought that the Bolsheviks had entered Poland as allies against Nazi Germany. These doubts were, of course, very soon dispelled. In many places communist "fifth columns" made their appearance with accompanying incidents of violence and plunder. The more determined Polish commanders swerved eastwards, and a new phase of warfare began between the Carpathians and the Dzwina, which lasted another three weeks....

photos: Institute of National Remembrance

[Wurger]

[spit5]

We remember
YouTube - 17 wrze?nia 1939

[Thorlifter]

A sad day in Polish history.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

To the brave Polish soldiers who fought hard against both the Germans and the Russians.

A lot of people forget the treaty the Germans and the Russians signed about partitioning Poland. Russia was not the poor victom as many like to believe.

[Lucky13]

Poland...!

[parsifal]

Britain and france have a share in this. When Stalin went looking for a collective security arrangement to contain German agrression, he was redused by Britain (mostly) and also france, mostly on the basis that the Communist system was more a threat than nazi aggression. Most assessments at the time thought that the french and English would win the war, if it started in late 1939 or 1940, the allies expected the French to be on the offensive, with 50-60 Brit Divs supporting the,m and italy providing materiel to the allies. Germany was considered to be committing national hari kari, if she went to war, which ultimately she did, but not in the frame of reference anticipated by the allies at the time.

Effectively, the bombasity of the western allies forced the russians into the unholy alliance

[Njaco]

to all the Polish fighters who, although their home soil was being trampled, continued to fight with bravery and bravado. From the RAF Nos. 300 squadrons of the BoB to the paratroopers of Market Garden.

[stasoid]

By moving his troops to the Curzon Line in 1939, Stalin restored generally accepted, historical border established in 18th century between Russia and Poland.
Although several skirmishes between Soviet and Polish troops, through pure misunderstanding, took place in September 1939, there was no point for polish soldiers to fight and die for something that is not in fact your "home soil" but rather a colony.

[JugBR]

totally agreed with herr adler, soviet union was so evil than germany. but the war was declared just against germany. f* hypocrisy or fear of big bear, you choose, but the fact is ussr was important to allies defeat germany later.

people dont know today but when the germans advanced over ukraine, lithuania, belarus, and also russia they was received like liberators by local population. the only country wich really fought directly against soviet comunism was germany.

but poland saw the horror of facism and comunism. 2 arrogant superpowers. thats the problem about ones decides the future of anothers. we learn history to remember and dont let it happen again anymore, but allways happens.

[v2]

The provinces of Volhynia (Wolyn), Polesie, Nowogrodek, and Wilno as well as Bialystok had been subjected to the Russian Empire for more than a century. But Lwow, Stanislawow and Tarnopol had seen the Russians only once, in 1914, and had never been under Russian rule: they had been annexed by Austria in the first partition of Poland in 1772.

[parsifal]

Poland had been subjected to superpower whims for hundreds of years. i dont know Polish history, but I do kow that they got stuck between napoleon and the Russians in the 1800s.

Conflict between Poles and russians is centuries old, with one side then the other having the upper hand at various times.

What sets the last war apart from all the others is the sheer enormity of the crimes committed against the Poles. Something like 5 million Poles perished in that war, with attrocities from both the germans and the Russians. The Poles as a people deserved better than what they got out of the war....

[stasoid]

Originally Posted by v2

The provinces of Volhynia (Wolyn), Polesie, Nowogrodek, and Wilno as well as Bialystok had been subjected to the Russian Empire for more than a century. But Lwow, Stanislawow and Tarnopol had seen the Russians only once, in 1914, and had never been under Russian rule: they had been annexed by Austria in the first partition of Poland in 1772.

Lwow was originally a city of Kievan Rus back in 13th century inhabited by ethnic Ukrainians. Over the centuries of Polish rule its demographics changed but still, by 1939 Poles were an ethnic minority on those territories Stalin "occupied".

[stasoid]

Originally Posted by parsifal

What sets the last war apart from all the others is the sheer enormity of the crimes committed against the Poles. Something like 5 million Poles perished in that war, with attrocities from both the germans and the Russians. The Poles as a people deserved better than what they got out of the war....

Most attrocities against Poles in the area were commited by ukrainian nationalists who fought against the Red Army and on many occasions collaborated with Nazies.

What's interesting is that Russia didnt gain anything from Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Not a single square mile.
Lithuveniaand Belarus almost doubled their territories and Ukraine added 25% to its pre-war lands. Now, they condemn Russia for the Pact and years of "occupation" but not in a hurry to return those lands back to Poland.

[Wurger]

Originally Posted by stasoid

Most attrocities against Poles in the area were commited by ukrainian nationalists who fought against the Red Army and on many occasions collaborated with Nazies.

What's interesting is that Russia didnt gain anything from Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Not a single square mile.
Lithuveniaand Belarus almost doubled their territories and Ukraine added 25% to its pre-war lands. Now, they condemn Russia for the Pact and years of "occupation" but not in a hurry to return those lands back to Poland.

Where are you from Stasoid? Let me guess from Russia......judging by your posts.I think you should have gone to a nearest library to find out much more about the history of Poland, Lithuvenia, Belarus and Ukraina before you started posting here.The Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact don't mention at all.

I'll keep an eye on you mate.