![]() Credit: Sputnikĭespite the significance of the fight with the Soviets for Polish independence, as well as for its perceived importance in preventing the spread of communism into Europe, the Poles seemed destined to lose the war by mid-1920 due to inferior numbers. No, unfortunately, I’m not making any of these up, and I may even be missing a few. It’s important to specify the year when referring to the 1920 Battle of Warsaw because Polish history is filled with its fair share of Warsaw battles. Because of this, some even refer to the Polish-Soviet War as the “War of 1920.” poland february 14 ![]() Though the major conflicts of the Polish-Soviet war began on Februand lasted until 1921, it’s important to note that most of the major fighting took place in 1920 – especially the significant 1920 Battle of Warsaw. ![]() The 1920 Battle of Warsaw, aka the “Miracle on the Vistula” Of course, many people who aren’t Polish nationalists may find those kinds of conclusions to be rather silly, and I would agree. Unsurprisingly, historians have been known to draw comparisons between the Polish-Soviet War and Jan Sobieski III’s defense of Vienna from the Ottomans – a military victory which many argue to have been the key victory preventing the spread of Islam into Europe all the way back in the early 17 th century. The fighting with the Soviets was also hugely symbolic for the newly-formed Poland because it reignited a fierce sense of nationalist pride among Poles as the defenders of Europe. poland february 14Īnd because they were also perceived as fighting to prevent the spread of communism into Europe, the Poles even received support, moral and otherwise, from numerous allies as far west as the U.S. ![]() Opposed to both the ideology of communism and to the notion of being reconquered by another Russian-led state, the Poles fought the Bolsheviks as if their very existence depended on it. The fact that the former empire was now restylized as the Soviet Union led by Bolshevik revolutionaries, rather than as an empire led by an autocrat, did very little to change these negative outlooks on all things Russian. Given that Russia had been one of the three empires that partioned Poland at the end of the 18 th century, Polish sentiments toward Russians couldn’t have been worse upon regaining independence. Losing significant territory would have undermined the country even before it had fully regained its independent status. ![]() Though Poland was not the only country concerned with westward Russian expansion at the end of WWI, it had everything to lose had the Russians been successful in doing so – from the perspective of statehood. But what happened next in the early years of post-WWI Poland is not as well-known, despite the significance it had for all of Europe. Of course, if you’re Polish yourself or love someone who is Polish enough to let them blab about Polish history, you’ve probably already heard this story a million times (shout-out to my non-Polish wife). Poland would not regain its independence until World War I came to a close in 1918 – 123 years later. On February 14, Poland proves it feels no love for Russian Empire – nor Soviet Communismīy 1795, the empires of Prussia, Russia, and Austria had partitioned the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth so that both Poland and Lithuania ceased to exist as independent countries. The date of the worldwide holiday for love also marks the day that the Red Army began attempting to bring the banner of communism to Poland, and the rest of Europe, with the first major battles of the Polish-Soviet War in 1919. Today, Poles enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day and exchanging flowers, chocolates, and greeting cards as valentines ( walentynki) on February 14 – and as everywhere else, the red heart symbolizing love features prominently in Poland on this day.īut the symbolism of the color red on February 14 is prominent in Poland in more ways than one. ![]()
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