Rozbieżności w stosunkach polsko-łotewskich po I wojnie światowej i ich wojskowo-polityczne następstwa

• Authors: Wiesław Bolesław Łach

Title variants

EN

The Discrepancies in the Polish-Latvian Relations after World War I and its Military-Political Consequences

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The article entitled “Discrepancies in Polish and Latvian relations after World War I and its Military and Political Consequences” is a study presenting the current state of historical and military knowledge concerning the place, role and significance of Polish and Latvian relationships after World War I. Contacts between reborn Poland and a new Latvian state were not established instantly. However, a drive towards military cooperation between both sides became visible in the second half of 1919. Latvia was then at war with Soviet Russia and needed support. Under these conditions, Poland seemed to be the most important ally, whose help should be sought. A formal agreement on a joint military operation was concluded on 30 December 1919. According to this agreement, the Operating Group of General Śmigły-Rydz, formed with Polish and Latvian troops, started its actions on 3 January 1920. Daugavpils was seized soon after, and consequently, direct communication was established between Poland and Latvia. Despite the shared victory, discrepancies started to emerge. Poland wanted Latvia to stand by its side during the offensive on the eastern front planned for the spring of 1920. The Latvians had a different view on this matter. Along with defeats of the Polish troops, the attitude of Latvia towards Poland became cooler. The sign of the turnabout was the rapid conclusion in August 1920 of peace talks with Soviet Russia, in the most tragic moment of war for Poland. The seizure of Vilnius in October 1920 by General Żeligowski resulted in further deterioration of Polish-Latvian relations and became an obstacle for entering into a military alliance. Despite a significant general improvement, the Polish and Latvian relations were still bothered by unsettled issues. The problem was an indefinite and hesitant view of Latvia towards the solution of the Vilnius affiliation issue. It inclined towards neutrality under the condition of Lithuania holding its independence. In 1926, apart from general pacification, as a matter of fact, it can be claimed that despite the stabilisation of Polish-Latvian relations, political and military alliance was not achieved. The borders and expanded economic cooperation were not arranged either. Such an unstable state of affairs remained until 1939.

Keywords

EN

international relations; political history; first world war; militarism; relations between Poland and Latvia

• Publisher: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego
• Journal: Przegląd Wschodnioeuropejski
• Year: 2011
• Volume: 2
• Pages: 135-150

Dates

published

2011

Contributors

author

Wiesław Bolesław Łach

• Warmia and Masury University in Olsztyn

Identifiers

ISSN

2081-1128