"Poles can be forgiven for believing that they won their own independence in 1918. However, this was not the case," wrote Norman Davies. And he was right. Who helped us create a free Poland? And have we remembered their merits?
Of course, the contribution of Poles, both legionnaires and those fighting in foreign uniforms, to regaining independence in 1918 cannot be underestimated. They certainly contributed to the mutual exhaustion of the forces of the partitioning states.
The real conditions of peace after World War I, however, were dictated by the victors - representatives of Western democracies. When the conflict was coming to an end, they faced the problem of Polish independence. And had it not been for some politicians and military who supported the Polish efforts, perhaps history would have turned out differently. Who is it about?
5. Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart
General Adrian Carton de Wiart helped reborn Poland to its feet, seeking support from the British government.
The British people from the post-war period do not have the best PR in our country. Lord Curzon and the line drawn by him are remembered. Or the words of Prime Minister Lloyd George who, with a typically British sense of humor, threw the slogan:"Giving Poland Silesia is like giving a monkey a watch".
Against this background, Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, the British war hero, is presented more favorably. Shortly after the war, he became a member of the military mission to Poland. Initially, he knew little about the purpose of his trip. As he admitted himself:
I had a rather vague idea of where Poland lies. I knew it was somewhere close to Russia (...) I also learned that Poland is currently waging five wars at the same time :with Germans, Bolsheviks, Ukrainians, Lithuanians and Czechs.
In 1919, general Carton de Wiart found himself with an Allied mission in Lviv.
However, ignorance quickly turned into sympathy, which de Wiart proved when he became a liaison between the British and the Polish command in the fall of 1918. He performed his function in a manner that was extremely kind to Poles.
He demanded material support from his government and organized warfare for Poles in Hungary. What is no less important, it also allowed for its transport through the territories of Czech hostile to Poland. Moreover, he liked our country to such an extent that after finishing his service, he settled in Polesie. He spent the entire interwar period in Poland.
4. Marshal Ferdynand Foch
Had it not been for General Foch, the fate of the war could have gone completely different. Would Poland regain independence then?
During World War I, Foch was the head of the French General Staff. From March 1918, he was also the commander-in-chief of the Allied Forces. This deeply religious Catholic, a man of strong character and courage was not afraid to take responsibility even for large losses. This is how he fought off the last German offensive in spring 1918. He put up a tough resistance against the attackers. "Don't give up any land," he ordered
The Marshal did not hide his friendly feelings for Poland. Perhaps they were related to his intransigent stance towards Germany. We owe him, among other things, the success of the Greater Poland Uprising. Only his decisive attitude, including the threat of a resumption of military operations, prevented the suppression of the Polish insurgency by the German army in the spring of 1919.
In 1923, Foch visited Poland. He was greeted enthusiastically. "As a soldier, I admired and admired the enormous work you have done, taking on your shoulders such an enormous responsibility" - Józef Piłsudski said to him just before decorating the French with his own Virtuti Militari cross.
3. Georges Clemenceau
This French politician, an excellent orator, was known for his sharp humor. He was called the "Tiger" because he carried out his political plans ruthlessly. He treated his political opponents in words almost brutally, and if it was necessary, he also did not refuse sword or pistol duels. Before becoming prime minister for the first time, he overthrew as many as ten governments. In November 1917, when France was on the verge of collapse, he was awarded the post of Prime Minister for the second time.
The Prime Minister of France, Georges Clemenceau, may not have been guided by his sympathy for Poles, but his dislike for the Germans was very beneficial for us.
Together with the prime ministers of Great Britain and Italy and the president of the United States, Clemenceau was a co-creator of the Treaty of Versailles. Poles could count on him.
Maybe there was some sympathy for the country on the Vistula, but it must be admitted that the French politician was driven primarily by other emotions. He was in favor of a strong, independent Poland, because ... he hated the Germans so much that he wanted to create strong allied countries flanking "Boszów" from the east.
During the deliberations on the peace treaty after World War I, Clemenceau advocated the creation of a strong Poland.
2. Colonel Edward Mandell House
The Texas military man was Wilson's most trusted advisor and friend. "We felt so complete sympathy and understanding in so many matters that soon we were able to guess without words what the other was thinking," said the president about their relationship. "House is my second personality," he added.
House was an eminence gray in the White House. One of the ambassadors even called him "Undersecretary of State." Interestingly, the military title was honorary, and House worked full time… for free. He also had no particular political ambitions. Perhaps because he had inherited a large fortune and simply did not have to apply for votes or for living expenses. Who will forbid the rich?
Colonel Edward Mandell House was one of President Wilson's closest advisers. And he encouraged him to support the issue of Polish independence.
On November 12, 1915, Paderewski arrived at House and persuaded him to support the Polish cause. It was primarily the colonel who "sold" the idea to President Wilson. Soon the Polish issue became one of the priorities of the ongoing conflict for the United States.
At the Versailles conference, as admits A. Scott Berg in the book "Wilson" , "The American delegation remembered especially Poland, which it considered to be the foundation of a rebuilt Europe." It was not just sympathy. Practical considerations spoke in favor of independence:"Poland was also the most important buffer between Germany and Russia, a dam protecting Western Europe against communism."
1. Woodrow Wilson
Even before the US entered the war, Wilson emphasized that an independent Poland was one of the conditions for a lasting peace.
Woodrow Wilson's two presidential terms were during the First World War. Initially, the United States was neutral and even grew wealthy on loans and supplies mainly provided to the Allied side. When they finally entered the war, the president was full of beautiful, democratic convictions.
“We have no selfish goals to achieve. We don't want rulership or conquests, ”he told Congress. "Wilson appeared [in a fighting Europe] with a power that no one in history had possessed:great ideals," claimed the British diplomat after the war.
Wilson was greeted with all honors in Paris. Pictured with the President of France, Raymond Poincaré.
Even before the US declared war on Germany, Wilson was formulating the principles of a future peace. "Poland, armaments," freedom of the seas "- this is how the concepts presented to Congress in January 1917 were summed up by the president's biographer, A. Scott Berg, author of "Wilson" . However, the most important thing for the Polish cause was on January 8, 1918, when the president presented a peace program consisting of 14 points in his address to Congress. Point 13 was devoted to the need to rebuild independent Poland with access to the sea.
Where does such a sympathy for Poland come from? We owe it not only to numerous voters of Polish origin, but also to ... the personal charm of Ignacy Jan Paderewski. During private talks, he persuaded the president and his adjutants that it is worth restoring independence to Poland. "My dear Paderewski, I can assure you that Poland will resurrect and will exist again," the American president announced to the Polish virtuoso. And he kept his word.
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