Divided Loyalty: Britain's Polish Ally During World War II
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Poland was a quasi-military state undergoing rapid political and social change. Nevertheless, Britain signed an agreement with the country as part of its decision to adopt a policy of encircling Germany: a resolution requiring an ally in the East.
On the collapse of Poland in October 1939, the country's political opposition executed a coup against the Polish government and formed a new administration, which was recognized by the Allies as the Polish Government in Exile. This regime change precipitated a feud between the supporters of the new and old governments, which lasted throughout the war. In 1945, the British removed their recognition of the exiled government – now based in London – to pave the way for the Soviet Union to impose a communist administration in Poland.
However striking and fateful these events were, the history of how regime change came to Britain's Polish ally has largely been ignored until now.
Paperback
234mm x 156mm
258 pages
19 black-and-white photos
3 black-and-white maps