September 1939
Germany and Soviet Union divided Poland after successful Invasion on Poland. This outraged Western Allies regimes. who called this as act of aggression and murder (PoD).
Summer 1941
US Congress rejected idea of sending Lend-Lease to Soviet Union. Instead some of strenghtened Lend-Lease sent to Great to Great Britain was sent to Soviet Union.
June 1943
Battle of Stalingrad was won by Soviets with terrible casualties for both sides.
August 1943
After Allied invasion on Italy Soviet forces stopped Wehrmacht at Kursk with great cost in soldiers but failed its counter-offensive.
December 1943
Soviet offensive on Kursk occurred with limited success
June 1944
German forces besieging Leningrad were defeated during Novgorod-Leningrad Offensive.
D-Day landing in Normandy - beginning of Overlord campaign.
Tarnopol-Odessa Offensive occured. (marked on map as to April 1944).
Successful Market Garden offensive into Netherlands. Edward Gierek from Witte Brigade joins Polish Army.
November 1944
Bagration Offensive occured and was successful despite very heavy losses. Beginning of Warsaw Uprising (backed by Western Allies but not by Stalin).
Finland capitulated before Soviet forces.
Western Allies entered into Central Germany.
December-February 1944/45
Southern Offensive under Zhukov resulted in conquering Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, half of Austria and Czechoslovakia. Rokosowski led successful attack on Northern flank (Baltic states).
Western Allies croosed Oder river (late January)
Soviet unsuccessfuly tried to atack through Vistula river.
Władysław Raczkiewicz was a Polish politician, lawyer, first and last president of the Polish government in exile and first president of Polish Republic after World War 2. During two years of presidency he centered his efforts of rebuild Poland from destructions of World War 2. At first he moved government temporary to Krakow which was less damaged by war. It's worth mentioning that Warsaw was capital city de jure but government returned there eleven years later in 1956.
On 12 March 1945 he met with Chairman of Polish United Workers' Party Bolesław Bierut and called all Poles to form joint government formed from communists and democrats but negotiations failed. Polish communists demanded half seats in Sejm (elected by Communist Party, not voters), abolition of Senat, enacting central planning economy and signing treaty of friendship with Soviet Union. Seeing it as unacceptable Raczkiewicz refused their demands and was called in Eastern Poland as fascist reactionary. Despite that he enacted many reforms that could be viewed as socialist - universal free healthcare and right for free education (primary schools, secondary and universities). He inspired economists to wrote Economical Rebuild Programme which consisted from using public works (People's Brigades) to recovery after war. Thanks to this many cities devastated by war were rebuild during 1945-1953 (Warsaw was fully finished in 1953). Many right-wing politicians viewed this as socialist moves but president was supported by nation wholeheartly and practically had no political opposition in country. One of his critics, politician Jacek Ujanowski during speech called his as socialist scum and was attacked by angry mob who viewed president as person who rescued Polish nation.
On March 1945 it became known that Leopold Okulicki was in Soviet prison (he was captured after unsuccessful Warsaw Uprising by NKVD) and president supported by majority of Sejm sent diplomatic note in which he demanded release of General but as response Stalin said that Okulicki is not in Soviet Union. When he face trial in Moscow (26 June 1945) and was sentenced to ten year in prison Polish government called his as act of treason. As response Polish People's Republic ceased diplomatic contacts with Krakow's government and expulsed its ambassador.
Unfortunately Władysław Raczkiewicz died on 6 June 1947 (at the age of 62) and didn't see effects of his hard work.
One of his unpopular moves was Decret No.2 in which he wrote that all Germans who supported Nazi regime should be expulsed from Poland. In effect most of German minority leaved Poland and moved to German Republic.
When Second World War ended Poland was divided into two countries: western democracy and eastern communist state ruled by Chairman of the Polish United Workers' Party Bolesław Bierut - NKVD agent and Stalinist hardliner. During first years of his reign (1945-1950) more than six millions of citizens crossed Vistula border and settled in Western Poland (most of them in new aquired German cities in West). As response he reinforced border guards and equipped them with newest weapons in order to close borders. Many people were shot during escape but at the end of 1950 emigration from country nearly stopped.
Another case was devastation of eastern Poland which experienced six years of war - Soviet invasion of 1939, German invasion of 1941 and again Soviet invasion of 1944. Unemployment was high so Central Commitee decided to enact five years plan in cooperation with Joseph Stalin. Central planning economy was introduced, several reforms and investments into industry introduced. After five years country was rebuild from war. During next six years new five years' plan expanded heavy industry and began militarization of Polish society after Korean War (just like in Western Poland). During years of his reign more that one hundred thousands Poles were imprisoned, many of them received prison sentences for counter-revolutionary actions. On 1945 he negotiated return of Poles from Soviet Western lands to Eastern Poland.
Władysław Raczkiewicz died in office on 6 June 1947, three years after D-Day. Fulfilling his last will Polish politicians organized free elections on 20 June 1947 in which all political parties were allowed to vote. Elections was won by Włądysław Ander supported by centrist Polish Democrat Party (Polska Partia Demokratyczna). During his five years' term as president he supported Raczkiewicz's ideas such as Economic Rebuild Programme, expanding Polish industry and social welfare. At the beginning Anders established Commitee for Economical Growth which was group of economist and scientists that supported valuable industry's branches in Poland. Thanks to their investments Nowa Huta was established as group of heavy industry factories which produced tractors and agriculture machines which were later given to Polish farmers as part of agricultural mechanisation. In addition Anders continued dismantling German factories and sending machine tools to Poland where they were used to build Polish industry. It was stopped three years later.
During second year in serving as President Anders accepted Marshall Plan and 15% percent of money were sent to Poland in order to defend Western Europe from communist influence. Funds taken from Plan were significant part of government investments into national industry.
On 6 January 1950 there was border incident between Polish People's Party and Polish Republic. Group of refugees from communist controlled Poland managed to escape throught Vistula river. In pursue communist border guard crossed border too and entered into Polish Republic land where democrat border guard encoutered refugees and offered help. One of them Lieutenant Józef Karp was shot by communist soldier and died few hours later. As response his men led by staunch anti-communist Sergeant Jan Karpiela using help from local garrison repulsed "communist attack" and began artillery shelling of border post which was quickly destroyed. After few hours four men were killed and twenty was wounded. After that Bolesław Bierut announced that this was attack from fascist regiments and ordered Polish People's Army 1st Infantry Division under Zygmunt Berling to cross Vistula and attack Warsaw. He was stopped by Stalin and communist Sejm who ordered him to calm down and only send diplomatic note as protest.
On 9 February 1950 Anders gave speech in which he called all Poles as citizens of one country and encouraged these who lived on Eastern side of Vistula to emgirate. As response members of Polish Communist Party left Sejm and announced that they will not support President. One year later Communist Party was delegalized.
When North Korean forces supported by Soviet Union and Chinese People' Republic attacked South Korea hawkish Anders created infantry division (composed from three infantry brigades and one artillery - 15000 men), sent in together with other Allied forces to Korea and began militarization of Polish society. State invested in heavy industry - armaments' factories were built in Kielce, Poznań, Wrocław, aviation factories were built in Warsaw and shipyards were build in Gdańsk, Szczecin and Kołobrzeg. As response Polish People's Republic condemned this action "taken by fascist government" and began their own militarization.
During 1950-1953 President created several garrisons as territorial defence composed from local conscripts in many border cities.
On March 1950 Anders changed vote system from proportional into single-member district for both houses of parliament (Sejm and Senat).
On 9th July 1951 two artillery shells from traverse in Mielec fell on city Osiek on Western bank of Vistula and destroyed barn with three cows inside. Local commander of "Territorial Defence Zone: Osiek" Karol Baryła feared that this is final attack of communist forces that wanted to destroy democrat Poland and enacted martial law in city and neighbourhood. Local civillians were evacuated to shelters, men from age 18-50 conscripted and armed. Artillery brigade began firing upon Mielec and damaged several buildings there. Situation was calmed down when General Sosabowski arrived and revoked martial law. War for three cows ended, but communist forces still wanted revenge. On 13th July 1951 Polish diplomat Jan Karski and communist diplomat Stefan Tarkowski met in Osiek and arranged "peace treaty" in which both sides were obliged to pay compensation for their counterparts: 20 thousands of Polish zloty for barn and three cows and 1000 thousands of Polish ruble (circa 5500 in Polish zloty) for damaged house's roof in Mielec.
On May 1952 Anders announced that he will not seek for reelection and supported Jan Karski as Polish Democrat Party's candidate.
Sejm during 1945-1950:
Polish Democrat Party - 158 MPs
Polish Social Democrat Party - 140 MPs
Polish National Party - 48 MPs
Liberal Party - 47 MPs
Christian Union - 32 MPs
Polish People's Party - 24 MPs
Communist Party - 11 MPs
Sejm during 1950-1953:
Polish Democrat Party - 211 MPs
Polish Social Democrat Party - 192 MPs
Polish National Party - 22 MPs
Liberal Party - 21 MPs
Polish People's Party - 10 MPs
Christian Union - 3 MPs
Communist Party - 1 MP
Jan Karski was Polish officer during World War II (lieutenant), resistance fighter during German occupation, diplomat and man who tried to warn world leaders about Holocaust through his reports. He served as ambassador in United States during 1945-1950 and published several books about Holocaust and role of Polish society in rescuing Jews which made him famous on both sides of Atlantic. He was strong opponent of German rearmament and resigned in 1950 when rearmament was started. After that he returned to Polish Republic and engaged in politics. Soon he became candidate for president office and was elected on 1 August 1952. During elections he was supported by Polish Social Democrat Party and Polish Democrat Party.
Two weeks before elections, on 14 July 1952 Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin died due to stroke that happenned two days earlier (but due to books written by her daughter he was mentaly ill during his last year of reign and was poisoned when he ordered expulsion of all Jews from Soviet Union). After his death Lavrientiy Beria with Vsevolod Merkulov and Sergei Goglidze seized power in Soviet Union (Georgian clique). They quickly secured most important offices (General Secretary, First Deputy Chairman and Prime Minister) and achieved majority of power. On 1 September Beria called back all Soviet soldiers from Korea and condemned North Korean government as distortion of true communism. Two weeks later he ordered release of million prisoners from gulags and began rehabilitation of Stalinist victims. Polish government observed Soviet government changes with hope for ending Cold War and unification of both Polish states. Hopes were encouraged when Beria informed US government that he is willing to negotiate unification of Poland only if she became neutral, non-aligned country and NATO paid 100 millions of dollars for Soviet Union for this move. Proposal outraged Bolesław Bierut and nearly all Soviet leaders and Communist Party. After negotiations in NATO countries United States, Great Britain and France agreed to send their delegates to Warsaw Conference which was planned on 15 January 1953 between Western and Eastern Blocs. All changed on 1 January when Lavrientyi Beria was arrested by Nikita Khrushchev, Viacheslav Molotov and Lazar Kaganovich. He was accused of treason (Stalinist purges), counter-revolutionary actions (during Russian Civil War), several rapes and sexual abuses (Stalin's daughter, Kliment Voroshilov daughter-in-law, Alexander Proskebyshev's daughter, Rada Khrushchev and many others) and sentenced to death. According to some historians he was beaten to near-death by Khrushchev for killing his daughter.
Party chosen Viacheslav Molotov as new First Secretary of the Central Commitee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union with Nikita Khrushchev as Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Their first task was destruction of Georgian clique which was performed by trials in Moscow and sentencing them for life.
On March 1953 Jan Karski negotiated release of last Polish citizens from Soviet prisons including Leopold Okulicki and many others members of Home Army.
Molotov-Khrushchev alliance weakened in 1956 when Khrushchev openly condemned Stalinism on Communist Party Convention and later in whole Soviet Union. (same as OTL). Alliance was broken on two yeas later when Boris Pasternak book Doctor Zhivago (published in Soviet Union on 1957 and few months later in other countries) received Nobel Prize. Khrushchev supported Russian autor despite Molotov's objections and on next Party Convention (in which for the first time political dissenters were allowed to take part and were open for crowds) he accused Molotov of counter-revolutionary actions and treason (Ribbentropp-Molotov Pact) which led to his depose one day later. As new First Secretary Leonid Brezhnev was appointed.
On March 1956 Secret Speech was published by Warsaw News in Western Poland. Soon news about it leaked to Eastern Poland where this caused dissent among workers due to despotic Bierut regime. First demonstrations were held on 19 March in Lublin but were shattered by Polish People's Army intervention. On 1 April Bolesław Bierut was recalled to Moscow where he died (He ate cookie with Kremlin). As new First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party hardliner Edward Ochab was appointed who ordered garrisons to suppress all demonstrations by force if necessary. This costed life of few hundred Polish citizens but this calmed down Polish society for year. New demonstrations occured when illegal newspapers reported corruption in Ochab's government on March 1957. Massive protests occurred in major cities of Eastern Poland and Ochab was forced to resign. On his office Włądysław Gomułka was chosen and announced several reforms as "Polish way to socialism". On 1 April Soviet Army began march from Lwów to Lublin and Khrushchev arrived there via plane. After long negotiations he allowed "Polish experiment" to continue. New laws introduced freedom of speech, meeting and art. For the first time since 1945 diplomatic contacts with Western Poland were reintroduced and ambassador sent to Warsaw.
During years 1952-1962 dove Jan Karski performed Economical Growth Programme in which he emphasised expanding industry through establishing state-owned factories governed by state institutions. During Karski Decade Polish economy grew rapidly and overtook Eastern Poland economy (in fact all countries in Eastern Bloc had weaker economy than Western Poland). He is perceived as fatheor of modern Polish industry.
On 1953 Prime Minister Tadeusz Tomaszewski from Polish Democrat Party was accused of bribery along with several other prominent persons in government and party leadership. He was forced to resign by president and new elections were held on 6 June 1953. Stanisław Ostrowski from Social Democrat Party was appointed as new Prime Minister and formed Left Coalition (Social Democrats, Socialists, People's Party). This caused disintegration of Polish Democrat Party and merging left-overs with National Party which gained more support during 1950s' crisises.
When Algerian War erupted President Jan Karski condemned using tortures by both sides and called for peace while offering himself as mediator. His cries were unheard, just like during World War 2.
When on 1960 three French jet-fighters destroyed Leonid Brezhnev's plane "Cold" phrase in Cold War was endangered due to demands from Nikita Khrushchev (extradition of three pilots who killed Brezhnev, compensation for victims' families and compensation from French military to Soviet state for killing head of state). He gave 7-days ultimatum to France and after week France agreed on only compensation. As response Khrushchev called this as act of murder and recalled Soviet ambassadors from NATO countries. Few hours later France capitulated and sent three pilots to Soviet Union where they were sentenced to life in prison.
During Cuban Crisis of 1960 (March-April) Polish-Polish relationships were damaged and once again border garrisons were ordered to watch each other moves. This caused second wave of Polish society militarization.
When Soyuz 1 carried by R-7 rocket entered into Low Earth Orbit with Colonel Gherman Titov onboard its signals were received by Warsaw Politechnic's students on 07:04 4 March 1962 Polish president was first who congratulated such a technical success. Khrushchev started wondering how Poles knew about start few minutes after its launch and decided to hide Soviets space travel efforts.
Polish Sejm during 1953-1958
Polish Social Democrat Party - 182 MPs
Polish Democrat Party - 172 MPs
Polish Socialist Party - 34 MPs
Polish National Party - 30 MPs
Polish People's Party - 21 MPs
Liberal Party - 15 MPs
Christian Union - 5 MPs
Polish Sejm during 1958-1963
United Left Alliance - 221 MPs*
Polish National Party - 212 MPs**
Polish People's Party - 27 MPs
*Composed from Social Democrats, Socialists and left Democrats.
**Composed from Nationals, Democrats, Christian Unions, some of Liberals.
On 1956 workers' demonstrations occured in major communist Polish cities but were violently suppressed by hardliner First Secretary Edward Ochab. One year after some scandals involving ministers of Ochab's government workers arised once again and forced him to resign. Party fearing that after Khrushchev's thaw hardliner or reformist would be not accepted by Soviet government chosen Władysław Gomułka (Comrade Wiesław) as new First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR - Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza) who personally visited protesters in Lublin and announced thaw in internal policies called as Polish way to socialism - amnesty for political prisoners, freedom of speech, press and right to meeting. This caused suspicions in Soviet Union so Khrushchev visited Poland and after negotiations agreed to reforms taken by Polish communists.
During Wiesław's thaw Polish society flourished - many independent from Communist Party, non-censored newspapers were established all across country. In Lublin Theatre Dziady drama was played on 1959 (highly anti-Russian drama written by Polish author Adam Mickiewicz) and despite objections from hardline faction Gomułka allowed this to be played in other cities, just like Doctor Zhivago in Soviet Union. Another issue was Katyn's massacre - in Western it was widely known that Soviet killed thousands Polish officers but official propaganda in East rejected this ide as imperialist lies and still viewed this as German-made murder. After long and controversial proceedings Communist Party allowed newspapers to write truth about this "incident" (in Eastern Polish nomenclature). It worsened relationships with First Secretary Viacheslav Molotov who called Gomułka as traitor and Western Polish spy who should be executed for treason (initiative was blocked by Khrushchev who wanted to maintain positive relations with American president Dwight David Eisenhower).
Another case was economical reforms taken by new government - decollectivization of agriculture became a fact and Poland was first socialist country in which collectivization was almost entirely abandoned. In industry government heavily invested in light industry. On 1958 state-owned automobile company FSO was established and soon become one of most profitable car company in Eastern Bloc. One year later first model of Maluch (In English: Toddler or Baby) was produced and soon conquered Poles' hearts as cheap and reliable car for four persons (in fact, only three adult person could enter car despite four seats). On 1963 Soviet Union government allowed export of these toddlers to Western countries (such as Western Poland where it became even more popular than in country of origin). Polish ex-president Jan Karski once said that he bought several Maluchs during his life and it was best cars he ever had. Another state-owned company was Polish Radio Factory established Lublin on 1959. It produced cheap radios that soon were in all Polish homes due to lower price. Some of them were later adoptem to FM and AM formats and sold to Western countries in great numbers. Thousands of women found jobs after establishment Cloth Factories in Lublin, Lwów and Tarnobrzeg where they produced durable clothes for men and women. Polish economy finally recovered after disastrous war.
On 1960 Włądysław Gomułka attacked Catholic Church by abolition of Epiphany holiday and later Assumption of Mary. One year later he banned religion subject from schools. On February 1962 he legalized Jehovah's Witnesses' organization in country calling them as victims of oppression from fascist organizations such as NSZ. Thanks to that Poland became transit road for their publications from Western countries to Eastern Bloc. During last years of reign he was more independent from Soviet Union and began to take actions even without their agree. In example he congratulated President Nixon when he signed Civil Rights' Act of 1964 calling this as huge step to socialism. His speech was later used by Democrat Party during 1968 elections when they named Nixon a socialist-liker. He was deposed by Party when Soviet Union threatened Polish communists with military intervention.
September 1939
Germany and Soviet Union divided Poland after successful Invasion on Poland. This outraged Western Allies regimes. who called this as act of aggression and murder (PoD).
Summer 1941
US Congress rejected idea of sending Lend-Lease to Soviet Union. Instead some of strenghtened Lend-Lease sent to Great to Great Britain was sent to Soviet Union.
June 1943
Battle of Stalingrad was won by Soviets with terrible casualties for both sides.
August 1943
After Allied invasion on Italy Soviet forces stopped Wehrmacht at Kursk with great cost in soldiers but failed its counter-offensive.
December 1943
Soviet offensive on Kursk occurred with limited success
June 1944
German forces besieging Leningrad was defeated during Novgorod-Leningrad Offensive.
Tarnopol-Odessa Offensive occured. (marked on map as to April 1944).
Successful Market Garden offensive.
November 1944
Bagration Offensive occured and was successful despite very heavy losses. Beginning of Warsaw Uprising (backed by Western Allies but not by Stalin).
Finland capitulated before Soviet forces.
Western Allies entered Central Germany
December-February 1944/45
Zhukov-Rokossovsky Offensive leads to capture of Baltic states, Romania, capitulation of Hungary and Bulgaria and assistance with Tito's offensive against collaborators.
Western Allies entered into Poland. (January)
Soviet unsuccessfuly tried to atack through Vistula river.
I think you are way too discreet about the western front. How and at what cost did the western armies liberate all the continuent up to eastern Poland ?
If Germany performed better on the eastern front which was by far the toughest and where it engaged OTL more than 80% of its forces, it certainly performed better on the western front too.
After dove president Polish citizens chosen another hawkish man to this office. Lieutenant Colonel Ludwik Domoń was elected - veteran of II World War who fought during battle of Monte Cassino. During his first term he began negotiations with Władysław Gomułka about trade agreement between both Polish states and entered Maluch car into western markets. It was notable that on 1964 during Gomułka thaw he replaced military draft with voluntary service during peacetime. In same year he legalized Marxist Faction (first communist party in Western Poland since 1951) as revolutionary socialist party. In terms of economy he continued focus on light industry. He was average president remembered only for few political moves but surprisingly won reelection on 1967. Later it became known that elections were falsified by his party and was impeached from office.