1939
September
Poland is invaded by Germany and Soviet Russia more......
Poland is invaded by Germany and Soviet Russia more......
1940
Hundreds of thousands are arrested, imprisoned or shot
Millions are deported to Siberia more......
Millions are deported to Siberia more......
1941
Germany attacked Soviet Russia.
Stalin becomes an ally of Britain. more......
Stalin becomes an ally of Britain. more......
1942
General Anders forms a Polish army.
The British government considers allowing the Soviet Union to keep Eastern Poland more......
The British government considers allowing the Soviet Union to keep Eastern Poland more......
1943
Thousands of bodies of Polish officers are found in the Katyn Forest
more......
1943-Tehran
Roosevelt and Churchill met with Stalin at Tehran
more......
1944
The Warsaw uprising
more......
1945-Yalta
The fate of Poland is sealed at the Yalta Conference.
more......
1945-47 Resettlement
Those Poles who fought with the Allies were allowed to settle in Britain.
more......
1945 to 1990
Poland suffers years of oppression under communist rule
more......
2010
Poland is now a part of the EU
more......
My personal opinion
It is for everyone to make up their own mind as to whether or not Britain betrayed Poland
more......
The Stories
This section describes events from 1939 to the present, including quotes from British government documents. I will try to give the facts and not add in value judgements.
References given (such as FO followed by numbers) are either taken directly from The National Archives or indirectly via Behind Closed Doors - Laurence Rees.
Other material comes from The Dark Side of the Moon General Sikorski.
This section will be added to with time.
References given (such as FO followed by numbers) are either taken directly from The National Archives or indirectly via Behind Closed Doors - Laurence Rees.
Other material comes from The Dark Side of the Moon General Sikorski.
This section will be added to with time.