Rise of the
communist left to
power and political
transformation
(1942-1947)
Radosław Domke
The situation before the war
 The communist movement in Poland was very weak. In 1918, the
Communist Workers' Party of Poland (KPRP) was established, which
was renamed the Communist Party of Poland (KPP) in 1925. In the
late 1930s, its management was liquidated in Moscow on Stalin's
orders. In fact, it was a Soviet agent.
 At the end of the war in 1939, the communist movement in Poland
practically did not exist. Only a few organizations lacked public
support (e.g. Hammer and Sickle). After Germany attacked the
Soviet Union, Stalin decided to slowly create dependent party
structures in Central Europe. At the end of 1941, it was dropped by
parachutes, the so-called The Initiative Group which created the
foundations of the future party.
Dramatis personae
Władysław Gomułka
Bolesław Bierut
Edward Osóbka-Morawski
Wanda Wasilewska
Zygmunt Berling
Stanisław Mikołajczyk
1942 creation of the Polish Workers'
Party (PPR)
 On January 5, 1942, the Polish Workers' Party (PPR) was established.
The name was intentional because, in addition to communists, it
could also attract supporters of the moderate left. Their leaders
changed frequently. However, they were always completely
dependent on Stalin.
1944 – Establishment of the
National National Council (KRN)
 On New Year's Eve 1943/1944, the KRN was established. It was a kind
of underground parliament created by the communists and
intended to create the appearance of a legal representation of the
Polish nation under occupation. It included parties such as: PPR
(communists), RPPS (socialists), SL (peasants).
In the middle of the USSR
 At approximately the same time, Stalin established his structures in
1943, the Union of Polish Patriots (ZPP) was established, and in 1944,
the Central Office of the Polish Communists (CBKP) was established
as a "foreign representative organization of the PPR in the territories
of the USSR". ZPP contributed to the creation of the Polish Army in the
USSR, completely dependent on Stalin. Let us remember that after
the evacuation of Anders' Army from the USSR, there was no Polish
armed formation there.
I Polish Infantry Division named after
Tadeusz Kościuszko
 Already in the spring of 1943, the first Polish armed formation was
established. In the following years, another Corps and Armies were
established. The Second World War ended with two Polish armies
arriving from the USSR (the 1st Polish Army and the 2nd Polish Army),
numbering almost half a million soldiers, which, together with the
Red Army, captured Berlin.
Conference in Tehran XI-XII 1943
 During its deliberations, the issue of the Polish government or borders
has not yet been finally resolved. However, it became clear that
Stalin would not easily let go of his future Polish sphere of influence,
nor would he give up the territories he had occupied in September
1939. The Polish western borders, which were to be expanded at the
expense of defeated Germany, became an open issue.
1944 - Polish Committee of National
Liberation (PKWN)
 There was already a party (PPR), a quasi-parliament (KRN), a
government still had to be formed. On July 22, 1944, the PKWN was
established, the basis for the future government. In theory, he
preached very democratic and socially accepted ideas, but in fact
he was Stalin's puppet and a substitute for the communist
government. Its name was changed in a few months to the
Provisional Government, and on June 22, 1945, the Provisional
Government of National Unity (TRJN) was established on its basis.
PKWN
Conference in Yalta II 1945
 More details emerged at Yalta - it was decided that TRJN was to be
established and Poland was to obtain a significant expansion of its
territory in the West and North of the country. Taking into account
the fact that almost all of Poland had already been occupied by
the Red Army, the country's dependence on the Soviet Union was
becoming a fact.
Provisional Government of National
Unity(TRJN)
 Representatives of the Polish government in London were invited to
TRJN. Most refused, but some succumbed to temptation. The most
important politician who came from Great Britain and took part in
the creation of the new government was the peasant department
Stanisław Mikołajczyk from PSL. TRJN was quickly recognized by the
leading Western world powers (USA, UK, France).
Conference in Potsdam VII-VIII 1945
 Ultimately, he sanctioned the border on the Oder and Lusatian
Neisse and the granting of the southern part of Eastern Prussia to
Poland. However, it left a "window" in the form of future free
elections in Poland, which were to decide the future of the country,
and a declaration of a peace conference to confirm post-war
borders in Europe, which never took place...
The period of the civil war…?
 In the years 1944-1947, the communist authorities in Poland were
strengthened. The independence underground, counting on the
help of Western powers, obviously did not agree to Poland's
dependence on the USSR. Therefore, at the end of the war and in
the first post-war years, there were a number of armed uprisings,
attacks, and minor battles, all of which were signs of a civil war.
Soldiers who recognized the London government were called
Cursed Soldiers or Unbroken Soldiers.
The first reforms of the communists
 The PKWN and the later Polish government, together with the
National Council, introduced a number of reforms aimed at winning
over society and making the country similar to the USSR. Agrarian
reform and nationalization of industry were introduced. Free schools
and universities were opened throughout the country. The country
began to remove the rubble of the war and rebuild it on a grand
scale.
Propaganda
Regained Territories
The Myth of Piast’s Poland
Referendum 1946
 3 times yes.
 Forgeries.
 Gradual liquidation of the opposition.
Elections to the Legislative Sejm
1947
 Forged.
 Final separation from PSL, which formally received only 10% of the
votes.
 Mikołajczyk's escape to the West.
Victory of the communist left
 Although it was still necessary to introduce more reforms, unite the
communist movement in the country and finally eliminate the
Cursed Soldiers, by 1947 it became clear that a fundamental
transformation of the political system had already taken place. The
communists won rigged elections and continued their extensive
propaganda campaign. The Cold War became a fact and Poland,
together with Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and
Albania, took sides in the conflict, namely the Soviet Union. In the
same year, Kominform was also created, i.e. organizations intended
to control the communist parties of Poland, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and to some extent also Yugoslavia,
France and Italy. Only then did the "Iron Curtain" finally fall over
Central and Eastern Europe, dividing the world into two camps.
Thank you