The Defense of the Polish Second Republic


 This article describes Polish defensive preparations against the German invasion in 1939, pointing to some of the shortcomings of criticism in the historiography. Due to economic and industrial conditions in Poland in the interwar years, an alliance had to be made with the French and British governments in regards to a potential war with Germany. Not only did the lack of enthusiasm for providing loans and matériel by the French and British influence the German decision of aggression, but once the attack became imminent, the pressure not to mobilize jeopardized the whole defensive strategy. Nevertheless, even in the middle of September 1939 Polish soldiers remained resilient and optimistic, yet the continued failure of the allies to support Poland in accordance with agreements, and ultimately the invasion by the Soviet Union put an end to any hope of further defense.