Historical Outline of the Polish-Soviet War of 1920-1921

Guiding statement for the construction of a monument to commemorate the Victory of the Polish Army over the Soviet Red Army in Warszawa – a monument designed by Stanisław Szukalski in 1921 (Chicago).

The chronology of the total war of Poland against Russian aggression is well described in popular publications, books, scientific monographs, as well as broadly accessible material on the Internet. In the commentary presented here, we want to point to aspects other than military and see in those events the eternal struggle of darkness against light, of evil against good, ideology of slavery against the belief in freedom.

The war that Russia conducted was aimed in the first place against Poland, an old Republic just reemerging into existence after 123 years partitions and non-existence as a state. The Polish Republic has awaken after a long sleep, raising like a phoenix from ashes suddenly and without anybody’s permission. It has come into energetic existence from the ashes of World War I devastation, being animated by the latent National Spirit, relying on the rock foundation of one of the oldest nations of modern Europe. Nations have either their own Spirit, called “Eidos”, meaning an indestructible essence, or they perish. The spirit and culture of a nation are not given at its birth, but rather accrued over the vast expanse of its history. Therefore, it is with intellectual development of people that a culture is created. Newly born people have no intellect, but they possess the all-important potential of such a capacity: without any guarantee as to who or what they may become. And such shall be their nation; enslaved or free.

In 1920, the revolutionary Red Army was five-and-a-half million strong, its troops ready for a bloody conquest. The Polish Army had less than one million soldiers. At that time in Rhineland stood an army of 60,000 German communists, perfectly armed and ready to join and assist the Soviet Red Army. Western powers refused to help Poland. Stevedores of Hamburg and London refused to load the armament that Poland bought. The British governor of Gdansk closed the harbor to prevent supplies from going to Poland. Czech’s government in Prague refused transit through its territory for trains carrying arms, munition and equipment shipped from France.

At the beginning of 1920, German General Hans von Seeckt, Chief of Staff [Truppenamt] expected communist victory. He counted on territorial gains for Germany, as Poland would ultimately be destroyed. The political foundation of his political stand was alliance and friendship between Germany and Russia. The 1920 defeat of the Bolshevik Army was a painful blow to his hopes, however he kept and nurtured his pro-Bolshevik sympathies. Twenty years later in August 1939, his dream of the German-Bolshevik alliance was realized.

As soon as the First World War was over, the new Europe sentenced Poland to annihilation by marching hordes of Bolsheviks. However, resurrected Poland had also some true and loyal friends. Such tried and true friends were the Hungarians: an ancient and valorous Nation, imbued by history with an honorable and chivalrous spirit. It was the Hungarians who sent hundreds of cargo rail-cars with munitions at the very time when the Polish Army was running short on supplies. Twelve spirited Americans came to Poland and formed a flying squadron, under the name of Tadeusz Kościuszko, a general and a hero of the American Revolution. The squadron distinguished itself by providing priceless air reconnaissance of the movements of the enemy.

Back in America, Polish immigrants organized themselves to defend Poland. Thousands of young Poles from America and Canada joined the Blue Army of Gen. Józef Haller and arrived in France before proceeding to front-lines of Poland, contributing greatly to the efforts of defending their old country in her mortal hour of need. The Polish immigrants in America were very well prepared for combat due to training in fraternal organizations of which Polish Falcons Alliance of America (Związek Sokołów Polskich w Ameryce) was the oldest.

The ”Falcon” movement originated in Poland after the brutal suppression by Russia of the Polish uprising of 1863. Its goal was to regenerate the Polish nation through physical fitness and patriotic education. The first ”nest” in the United States was founded in 1887 in Chicago. Beginning with the First World War in 1914, Stanisław Szukalski, renown as the greatest sculptor in Chicago of that time, spent each Sunday among the young Polish Falcons. The patriotic spirit instilled by many Polish fraternal organizations in America greatly helped in the American war effort.

It should be remembered that in France in 1917 only 800 volunteers signed up in a newly forming gen. Józef Haller Polish Blue Army, while America provided 20,720 volunteers. Eventually the Blue Army had enlisted 70,000 trained soldiers, mostly from USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentine, Great Britain, Holland and Russia. There were infantry, cavalry, artillery, sappers and armored divisions and airmen squadrons. They were equipped with a superb modern equipment, including 98 airplanes and 120 tanks.

In 1917 when Americans declared war on Germany, a universal draft was proclaimed. 100,000 volunteers reported to the first draft, of which 40,000 were immigrant Poles. It is worth noting that this huge willingness was bolstered by the colossal generosity of the American Polonia toward the rebirth of Poland. The Polonia collected a formidable sum of 500 million (present value dollars) to equip and transport troops to Europe.

Beyond that, there is another reason to remind us of the endowment the American Polonia generously contributed to re-birth of Poland. It was one individual, one man, a Pole with his heart beating musically for Poland: Ignacy Jan Paderewski. This world-renowned artist had not only God-given musical talent as composer and a pianist, but he was also a virtuoso of diplomacy, having a distinguished personality that emanated nobility of his spirit. His presence was evoking virtues that were encouraging ascending qualities in others. Ignacy Jan Paderewski was a statesman of indelible distinction. It was due to his efforts and diplomatic talents that America assumed as one of her cardinal political goals at the Versailles Peace Conference, a Rebirth of Poland. It is important to remark that it is not the collective masses who determine the course of history, but solely individuals endowed with higher spirits. May the spirit of Paderewski return!

The situation in Poland during the summer of 1920 was tragic from a military and political point of view. And yet, Poland won the war! For Soviet Russia the defeat was a mortal blow to her plans of implementing Communism across all of Europe. This was the only war in XX century that the Soviet regime had lost. The Polish Army had excellent soldiers, first class officers, superb military intelligence, and brilliant cryptologists who broke the Red Army cipher codes. Nevertheless, the chances of Poland winning the war were slim, given the overwhelming disproportion of military power from the Red Army and the added hostility of Great Britain, Germany and Czechs toward Poland. Asymmetry of power was daunting; specter of annihilation was very real. And yet, Poland won in splendid style. Such a singular victory has yet to be repeated. What won was the spirit of Polish Army, its will to fight, her soldiers’ valor, and the iron determination to win. In all military struggles, what wins is the fighting spirit of the soldier, his noble resolve and fighting tradition. These virtues cannot be purchased or quickly learned. They all came from ancient national myths lovingly kept in the treasury of national memory. It is Art, the high art, that forms the national memory, an artistic patrimony endowed and passed from generation to generation, a high human spirit specific to each nation; mystic, transcendental human power that is more precious than life.

There would be no Poland as we know today if not for the genius of poetry and literature created by poets and writers like Krasicki, Norwid, Słowacki, Mickiewicz, Fredro, Sienkiewicz, Prus, or music like Moniuszko, Chopin, Wieniawski or Szymanowski, and geniuses of painting like Matejko, Gierymski, Malczewski, Chełmoński, Wojtkiewicz and Makowski. That is only the shortest list of world class talents from Poland which must include also such artistic giants as Joseph Conrad-Korzeniowski and Balthus-Klossowski.

Back in 1910, living in far-away America a devout patriot and a great artist Ignacy Jan Paderewski of his own initiative presented the Polish nation with an extraordinary gift: a monument commemorating 500 years anniversary of the Polish victory over the Teutonic Knights at the battle of Grunwald in 1410, in the biggest battle of the Middle Ages. The beautiful monument was placed in Kraków.

In 1683, Poland won a decisive battle at Vienna against the Ottoman Empire, saving Christian Europe from the Turks. A monument commemorating that brilliant victory of the Polish kingdom over the Ottoman Empire awaits to be erected.

There is an excellent project in progress commemorating Glory of the Polish Cavalry at one of the largest battles with Bolsheviks near Komarów in 1920. In Suwałki-Augustów-Sejny region by the initiative of a local patriot, late Jan Góral, a number of significant monuments were built. Among them, a monument of Niemen Battle at Berżniki and a monument dedicated to the fallen Polish Soldiers fallen in the war of 1920.

The subject of the present American and World Polonia initiative is a project envisioned by one of the greatest sculptors of XX century, Stanisław Szukalski. Stanisław Szukalski [1893-1987] lived in America and was one of the most prominent artists in Chicago, considered widely as one of most admired sculptors. He, like Paderewski, was a Polish patriot. His art was of the highest quality, each creation of never-before-seen originality, where indelible imagery is entwined with perfection of his craftsmanship. One can claim with certainty that Szukalski was the greatest sculptor of XX century. In 1921, he designed a huge monument related to the Polish-Soviet total war of 1920. His breathtaking vision does not commemorate any specific event or heroes, but rather depicts the myth and the will of a nation. The quality is known as “terribilita”, projecting frightful power and placing it in the metaphorical realm where myths of a nation are stored. The image presents to us a huge Centaur, a stallion with wings of the Polish Hussars and an emblematic historical Polish White Eagle. It expresses rather than one moment of victory, the very Spirit of Victory that flies toward all future victorious moments in life of a nation. It celebrates the glory and the hope of a nation determined to preserve its spiritual patrimony.

This monument will be built in Warsaw on a monumental scale to project the highest artistic achievement and it’s historical meaning. It will create a public space for national gatherings, ceremonial occasions, military oath giving and rituals. This image will live among our essential symbols, unmistakably understood by every Pole.

We appeal to you, Polonia around the world and patriots in Poland, for your generous donations to build in Warszawa this unique and grandest work of art which will serve and lift spirits of generations of Poles by its timeless meaning.