General Władysław Anders, 2nd Polish Army Corps in Italy under British command, receives British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, near the town of Rimini in Italy, on September 2, 1944.
PM Churchill: Do you remember, General, the last time that we met and talked in Cairo? [on 22 August 1942, when they had discussed the situation of the Poles in Russia].
Gen. Anders: I do remember, of course.
Churchill: You were right at the time.
After that he asked: “What is the state of your soldiers” morale in view of the events they witness at present?
Gen. Andres answered that the morale of the troops was excellent, that each soldier… was perfectly aware… that the first task and obligation was the destruction of Germany… but that they were most anxious at the same time about the future of Poland, and about all that was happening in Warsaw.
Then Mr. Churchill mentioned that that he did not think [the Polish military officials] were not satisfied with his speech last winter.
Gen. Anders: We still have a grudge against you, Prime Minister
Churchill: In concluding the treaty of alliance with Poland, Great Britain has never guaranteed her frontiers. She… undertook the obligations for the existence of Poland as a free, independent, sovereign and great state, … free from any alien interference. I can assure you, General, that we have not changed our point of view; Poland will not exist but she must be a champion of Europe. You must trust us; we will keep our pledges. But you must not rigidly insist ot the maintenance of your eastern boundaries. You will get territories in the west much better that the Pripet marshes…
Gen Anders: Histroy tells s that some corrections of frontiers occur after each war… But we will never consent to the Bolsheviks, even during the war, taking as much territory as they wish…
Churchill: Obviously these matters can be settled at a peace conference. (Turning to the General and touching him with his hand): You will be present at the conference. You must trust us. Great Britain entered this war in defence of the principle of your independence, and I can assure you that we will never desert you.
Gen. Anders: Our soldiers have never for one moment lost faith in Great Britain. They know that first of all Germany must be beaten, and they are ready to carry out any task for this end… But… we are convinced that all Stalin’s announcements that he wants a free and strong Poland are lies and impostures… The Russians entering Poland are arresting and deporting our wives and children to Russia as they did in 1939. They disarm the soldiers of our Home Army, shoot our officers, and imprison members of our Civil Administration, destroying those who have been fighting the Germans without interruption since 1939. Our wives and children are in Warsaw, but we prefer that they should perish there rather than live under the Bolsheviks. We all prefer to perish fighting rather than to live cringing.
Churchill (deeply moved): You should trust Great Britain, who will never abandon you – never. I know the Germans and Russians are destroying your best elements, particularly the intellectuals. I deeply sympathize with you…
Gen. Anders: Russia was preparing for war for twenty years… immediately after the war she will resume this policy, while you will not keep 6,000,000 men under arms and 70,000 aircraft in the air.
Churchill: We have a treaty with Russia for twenty years. (After a short pause): It may be that this will not last. But I believe that the situation in Russia has changed, and the men who hold power at present will not keep it to the same degree after the end of the war… Hence all your apprehensions are superfluous, especially as you must trust Great Britain and the United States, who will never desert you… And it is necessary to realize that the potentialities of Great Britain and the United States are unlimited… We used only two-fifths of our forces for the powerfull blow wich we struck in invading Europe, scoring success which far outweighed all Soviet contributions to the war… (Changing the subject of a conversation): [The Commander-in-Chief] is considered to continue Beck’s policy. [The Premier of the Polish exiled government] is a good man, is he not?
Gen. Anders: I do not know him well. I consider that he might talk with Stalin, but he had no right to speak with traitors, that is, with the “Union of Polish Patriots” (Polish communists) in Moscow…
Churchill (having observed that the meeting was being photographed): If Stalin sees this photograph… General, he will be furious. But I consent that you may publish this photograph. Let Stalin be angry. But I do insist that you send me a copy. Stalin dislikes you – he says you are a wicked man.
Gen. Anders, returning to the question of the “Committee of Patriots”, observed that Stalin had Governments ready for all the countries he would like to put under Communist rule. Then he added jokingly: ‘I’m sure that he already has a man ready to take your place, Mr. Churchill.’
Churchill (laughing): The same as the Germans had one. But they did not have the chance… (He repeats once more): I and my friend President Roosevelt, who will again be elected President, will never abandon Poland. Put your trust in us.
Gen. Anders: We are soldiers, and for this reason we are well able to distinguish between politics and truth.
Churchill (smiling): Oh yes, I see you are also a good politician.
Gen. Anders: We were taught to be so in Russia.
Taken from Norman Davies’ (2003), Rising ’44: The Battle for Warsaw. Pan Books, London
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