Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Provisional Government of the
Republic of Poland Rząd Tymczasowy
Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Polish) |
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| 1944–1945 | |||||||||||
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| Capital | Warsaw (de jure) Lublin (de facto) |
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| Common languages | Polish | ||||||||||
| Religion | Catholic | ||||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Pole, Polish | ||||||||||
| Government | Provisional government | ||||||||||
| President of KRN | |||||||||||
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• 1944–1945
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Bolesław Bierut | ||||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||||
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• 1944–1945
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E. Osóbka-Morawski | ||||||||||
| Historical era | World War II | ||||||||||
| 22 July 1944 | |||||||||||
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• Provisional Government formed
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31 December 1944 | ||||||||||
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• Government of National Unity
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28 June 1945 | ||||||||||
| Currency | Polish złoty | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | Poland Slovakia Ukraine Belarus |
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The Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland (Polish: Rząd Tymczasowy Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, or RTRP) was a temporary government in Poland. It was set up by the State National Council on the last day of 1944. This happened during World War II, as the war was ending.
Contents
Why a New Government?
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland was created to replace an earlier group. This group was called the Polish Committee of National Liberation, also known as the "Lublin Committee." The new government was an important step. It helped the Polish Workers' Party and the Soviet Union gain more control in Poland.
Key Moments in History
How the Government Started
On January 1, 1945, the Polish Committee of National Liberation officially became the Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland. However, not everyone agreed with this. The Polish government-in-exile, which was based in London, protested. They said the Soviet Union was taking over Poland's rights. Even Winston Churchill (from the UK) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (from the USA) protested, but they didn't do much more.
The new Provisional Government said it was the real government of Poland. At first, only the Soviet Union officially recognized it. But before a big meeting called the Yalta Conference, Joseph Stalin (the Soviet leader) made it clear. He told the Western Allies that Poland was under Soviet control and would stay that way. The Provisional Government then took charge of Polish areas that the Red Army had taken back from Germany.
Leaders and Control
The leader of the Provisional Government was Edward Osóbka-Morawski. He had also led the previous "Lublin Committee." There were also two deputy leaders: Władysław Gomułka from the Polish Workers' Party and Stanisław Janusz from the People's Party. The Minister of Defense was Michał Rola-Żymierski, and the Minister of Security was Stanisław Radkiewicz.
The Polish Workers' Party said the government was a "coalition," meaning different groups working together. But in reality, the Polish Workers' Party controlled all the important jobs. A Soviet general named Ivan Serov also had a lot of unofficial power over the government. Some Polish Communists, like Władysław Gomułka, didn't like this much Soviet control. But they couldn't really change things.
Moving to Warsaw
On January 18, the Provisional Government moved its base from Lublin to Warsaw.
The Yalta Conference and Poland
From February 4 to February 12, 1945, the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union met at the Yalta Conference. This meeting took place in Crimea. At Yalta, they made an important statement about Poland.
They decided that Poland's eastern border should mostly follow the "Curzon line." This line was a suggested border from after World War I. They also agreed that Poland should get more land in the north and west. The leaders said they would ask the new Polish government what it thought about these new areas. The final western border of Poland would be decided later at a peace conference.
During the Yalta Conference, Churchill asked Stalin when free elections could be held in Poland. Stalin replied, "Within a month," unless something bad happened on the war front. Churchill said this would make them feel better, and they would fully support a freely elected government.
On April 23, 1945, a Soviet diplomat named Vyacheslav Molotov was in Washington, D.C. The US President Harry S. Truman and the US government asked Molotov to find a compromise on the "Polish question." On the same day, Prime Minister Edward Osóbka-Morawski of the Provisional Government held a press conference. He said they needed people who agreed with their foreign policy and social changes. He added that they wanted people who truly accepted the Yalta decisions, not just formally.
A New Government Takes Over
On June 28, 1945, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Poland changed. It became the Provisional Government of National Unity. This new government was meant to be more of a "coalition" with different groups. Stalin had promised this at Yalta. It was a way to show good will to the Western Allies and the Polish government-in-exile in London.
See also
In Spanish: Gobierno provisional de la República de Polonia para niños
