Dublin Core
Subject
Description
Published in 1944, "Polish Armed Forces Through the Ages" features a foreword by General Marian Kukiel, alongside contributions from Władysław Dziewanowski and Antoni Minkiewicz. The volume showcases art from active and former members of the Polish military, documenting the history of various military units.
Kazimierz Pankiewicz provided much of the visual content, recreating military plates from territories then under German or Soviet occupation. The Minister of War from the government-in-exile contributed to the text, making the work a piece of wartime propaganda that emphasizes the struggle for Polish sovereignty.
The post-war political climate in Poland ultimately determined the fate of many contributors. The new government in Warsaw exiled many of the veterans who had fought against the Nazi occupation. General Kukiel, a highly decorated officer and scholar who commanded Polish units under British command, faced political opposition and eventually lost his citizenship. This widespread displacement forced many soldiers to seek new lives abroad, leading to the growth of Polish communities in areas such as Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Kazimierz Pankiewicz provided much of the visual content, recreating military plates from territories then under German or Soviet occupation. The Minister of War from the government-in-exile contributed to the text, making the work a piece of wartime propaganda that emphasizes the struggle for Polish sovereignty.
The post-war political climate in Poland ultimately determined the fate of many contributors. The new government in Warsaw exiled many of the veterans who had fought against the Nazi occupation. General Kukiel, a highly decorated officer and scholar who commanded Polish units under British command, faced political opposition and eventually lost his citizenship. This widespread displacement forced many soldiers to seek new lives abroad, leading to the growth of Polish communities in areas such as Northeastern Pennsylvania.