本文研究第二次世界大戰之前期、中期和後期的蘇波關係,描繪當時國際政治的情況以及說明兩國和西方同盟之間的外交策略與目的,也分析蘇聯對波蘭侵佔策略與霸權。 The history of Polish-Russian relations was marked by rivalry, conquest and power play.
Generally, Russia’s policy towards Poland revolved on Tsarist expansionism, Soviet security concerns, advancement of socialism; while that of Poland towards Russia centered on the dream of revival of an old empire or Polish supremacy among the Slavic nations.
The author investigates primarily the inter-war period, because it precipitated Poland’s re-emergence as independent state in the 20th century, her downfall 20 years later and subordination to the USSR. The Polish-Soviet interwar relations include the following important issues:
a) Background - Polish-Lithuanian Empire/ Rise of Muscovy - The Partitions of Poland / Tsarist Empire - WWI aftermath/ 1920 Polish-Soviet War
b) Independent Poland / Communist Soviet Union - Poland foreign policy - Soviet diplomacy and Soviet-German collaboration
c) WWII - Eastern Poland under Soviet occupation - Western, Polish, Soviet diplomatic overture - Polish communists and war development - Towards a Soviet Satellite
The thesis presents in detail the Polish-Soviet relations on the eve, during and the aftermath of WWII, analyzing the circumstances and revealing the motives of the diplomatic moves of both countries and to a certain extent the position of Poland’s Western allies. The mechanism of Soviet hegemony’s encroachments on Poland is also given due attention.