The Polish Army in Russia and its Evacuation

Abstract

At the beginning of 1942 Polish-Soviet relations were at their most paradoxical. The two countries had signed a treaty supported by a military agreement and should have embarked on a period of mutual co-operation and goodwill. However the relatively honest fulfilment by Russia of her obligations was inversely proportional to the situation at the front. While the Germans were pressing towards Moscow and it seemed that they might capture it, Stalin made vague gestures indicating that he was acting in good faith and real progress was possible, yet when Soviet defences strengthened, thousands of problems immediately presented themselves.