Il II Army Corps Polish was born in a dramatic context, linked to the mass deportations and persecutions suffered by the Polish population following the invasion and partition of the country between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, sanctioned by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. After the fall of Poland, approximately one and a half million Poles were deported by the Soviets to the gulags or to remote locations in the Soviet Union.
The situation changed in 1941, when Hitler launched theOperation Barbarossa, invading the USSR. Faced with the new Nazi threat, Stalin was forced to seek alliances and signed an agreement, called the “Sikorski-Majskij Pact”, with the Polish government in exile, led by General Władysław Sikorski. The agreement provided for the resumption of diplomatic relations between Poland and the USSR, amnesty for Polish prisoners in Soviet labor camps, and the creation of a Polish army on Soviet territory, under Polish command.
Free yourself from the conditions brutal of the gulags, thousands of soldiers and civilians joined the new Polish army, led by General Władysław Anders and known as “Anders’ Army”. In January 1942, the contingent was transferred to the Asian republics of the Soviet Union: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and the headquarters was located in Jangi-Jul (Uzb).
However, the logistical and political difficulties were enormous, as many deportees were physically weakened by the conditions of imprisonment; diseases such as tuberculosis, dysentery and scurvy were widespread, and there was a lack of food, equipment and weapons, as the Soviet Union had different priorities than rebuilding a foreign army. Despite the difficulties, between 1941 and 1942, approximately 75.000 soldiers and 37.000 civilians were recruited, many of whom were women and children liberated along with the military.
Relations between the USSR and the new Polish army were difficult from the beginning, conditioned by the opposing ideology. In fact, the Poles, loyal to the government in exile in London, represented a vision of Poland independent and democratic, opposed to the Soviet plans for post-war control. Furthermore, during recruitment, the absence of thousands of Polish officers captured in 1939 was noted. This led to the discovery, in 1943, of the Katyn massacre, in which the Soviet NKVD had executed over 22.000 Polish officers and intellectuals.
Tensions between Poles and Soviets quickly escalated. The ambiguous attitude of the USSR, which did not really intend to support an independent Poland, made it clear that the project could not continue on Soviet soil.
Due to political tensions and lack of adequate logistical support, it was decided to move the Polish Army out of the USSR. In March 1942, approximately 115.000 people (both soldiers and civilians) embarked on a difficult journey to the Middle East, via the Caspian Sea and Iran. During the transfer, thousands of people died due to extreme conditions and disease, and civilians, including women and children, were placed in refugee camps run by humanitarian organizations and the Allies.
In 1942, the Polish Army left the USSR with British permission and moved to Persia (present-day Iran), where it joined the Allied command and was reorganized.
In Persia, the Polish Army absorbed new recruits from Polish communities scattered throughout the Middle East. The unit was later transferred to Iraq, where it was formally reorganized as the “II Polish Corps” and comprised several divisions, including the 3rda Carpathian Infantry Division, the 5tha Kresowa infantry division, the 2a Warzszawa Armored Brigade and various support elements. In December 1943 the 2nd Polish Army Corps arrived in Italy and was incorporated into the 8tha British army
The training took place in Iraq and Palestine, under British command. During this phase the soldiers were equipped with modern weapons supplied by the Allies and allowed the Polish Army to become an important asset for the Allied coalition, as its members were determined and motivated, seeing military service as an opportunity to liberate Poland.
Despite cooperation with the Allies, Poland's geopolitical position remained fragile. The USSR continued to influence the Allies' decisions and pursue its plan to turn Poland into a satellite state. This reality made it clear that, even fighting alongside the Allies, Polish independence would be at risk after the war.
With the move to North Africa and later to Italy, the Polish Army in the East became an integral part of the Allied war effort. Their participation culminated in the Battles of Monte Cassino, where is the II Polish Army Corps played a crucial role in breaking the Gustav Line and opening the road to Rome.
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