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The United Kingdom and Poland made a military alliance in 1939. This agreement, called the Anglo-Polish Agreement, promised that they would help each other if Nazi Germany attacked either country. Later, more parts were added to this agreement in 1940 and 1944.

Why the Alliance Was Needed

Before the agreement, the United Kingdom tried to form a big alliance. They wanted to team up with France, Poland, and the Soviet Union to stop Germany from expanding. However, Poland's leader, Jozef Beck, was worried about joining with the Soviets. He also feared that Germany would see this big alliance as an attempt to surround them.

Despite these worries, Beck saw a chance to get British help. He suggested a secret agreement to British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax in March 1939. Poland hoped for British support if Germany attacked them.

Britain Promises Help to Poland

On March 31, 1939, Germany broke the Munich Agreement by taking over Czechoslovakia. Because of this, the United Kingdom made a public promise in Parliament. They said that Britain and France would support Poland's independence.

...if anything clearly threatened Poland's independence, and the Polish Government felt they had to fight back, His Majesty's Government would immediately give them all the support they could. They have promised this to the Polish Government.

I can also say that the French Government has allowed me to make it clear that they feel the same way as His Majesty's Government.

However, British military leaders knew they could not offer much direct help to Poland by land, sea, or air at that time.

On April 6, the Polish foreign minister visited London. They agreed to make the promise a formal military alliance. This meant the two countries would help each other permanently. The official agreement was signed later, on August 25.

Britain also extended this promise to Greece and Romania. This happened after Italy invaded Albania on April 13.

The Mutual Help Agreement

On August 25, 1939, the Agreement of Mutual Assistance was signed. This was just two days after the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviet Union. The agreement stated that the UK and Poland would help each other if either was attacked by a "European country."

The United Kingdom saw that Germany was trying to expand its power. By signing this pact, Britain hoped to show strength and stop Germany from attacking. A secret part of the agreement said that Britain would help Poland specifically if Germany attacked. If another country attacked, they would only "talk together" about what to do.

Both countries also promised not to make agreements with other nations that could threaten the other. Because this pact was signed, Adolf Hitler delayed his planned invasion of Poland. He moved it from August 26 to September 1.

Why the Big Alliance Failed

After Germany took over Prague in March 1939, Britain wanted to create a "Peace Front." This meant getting support from the Soviet Union and France. The goal was to stop Germany from attacking more countries by promising to protect Poland and Romania.

However, Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader, refused to help unless Britain and France first made a military alliance with the Soviet Union. Even though Britain decided to seek this alliance, the talks in Moscow in August 1939 were slow. Diplomats with little power handled the discussions.

Stalin also wanted Britain and France to promise to protect Finland, the Baltic states, Poland, and Romania from German influence. But these countries feared that Moscow wanted to control them. Poland, even with Hitler threatening them, refused to let Soviet troops cross its borders. They worried the Soviet troops would never leave. Some historians believe Britain was too against communism to trust Stalin.

Meanwhile, both Britain and the Soviet Union were also talking secretly with Germany. Eventually, Stalin chose to sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Hitler. This deal gave the Soviet Union control over much of Eastern Europe.

Polish Navy Joins Britain

In mid-1939, the Polish Navy ships were sent to Britain in a plan called Operation Peking. After Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the Polish government was in Britain.

In November 1939, the Polish-British Naval Agreement was made. This allowed Polish sailors to wear their Polish uniforms and have Polish officers on board, even on British-made ships. This agreement was later updated in August 1940 to include all Polish military units.

Polish Soldiers and Pilots in Britain

On August 5, 1940, another agreement was signed. It stated that the Polish Armed Forces (including land, sea, and air forces) would be "organized and used under British Command." However, they would still follow "Polish military law and rules." This meant they would be tried in Polish military courts.

The only change to this came on October 11, 1940. The Polish Air Force became an exception. From then on, Polish airmen followed British rules and laws.

Challenges and Criticisms

Some historians and public figures had concerns about the alliance. Polish historian Paweł Wieczorkiewicz noted that "Polish leaders did not know that England and France were not ready for war." He said they needed time to prepare and were willing to do anything to gain that time.

Stanisław Mackiewicz, a Polish writer, later said that accepting London's promises was "one of the most tragic dates in the history of Poland." He called it "madness."

On the same day Britain promised its support, Lord Halifax reportedly said, "We do not think this guarantee will be binding." Another British diplomat, Alexander Cadogan, wrote in his diary that the guarantee "does not give any help to Poland." He even called it "cruel to Poland, even cynical."

Military talks between Poland and Britain in London did not go well. After long discussions, the British only reluctantly promised to bomb German military targets if Germany attacked Poland in that way. Polish military leaders could not get any other promises.

At the same time, Poland tried to get a military loan. The Polish ambassador to Britain, Edward Raczyński, called the talks a "never-ending nightmare." Józef Beck wrote that the talks focused too much on money, not on the urgent situation. He felt the British offer did not help Poland quickly strengthen its army.

Finally, on August 2, 1939, Britain agreed to give Poland a military loan of £9 million. This was much less than the £60 million Poland had asked for. It was also less than what Turkey received around the same time.

See also

  • International relations (1919–1939)
  • Franco-Polish Military Alliance
  • Western betrayal
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