Poland. Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych records, 1940-1945

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Summary

Title:
Poland. Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych records
Dates:
1940-1945
Creators:
Poland. Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych
Abstract:
Essays, bulletins, reports, and studies, relating to Poland's boundary disputes following World Wars I and II; events and conditions in Poland under German and Soviet occupations during World War II; Polish-Soviet relations; communism in Poland; and twentieth century Polish agriculture, economy, foreign relations, history, politics, and government.
Extent:
13 manuscript boxes (5.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
Mainly in Polish
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Poland. Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych was brought to life by the Presidential decree of July 1942. It had been known earlier, since 1940, as the Biuro Prac Politycznych, Ekonomicznych i Prawnych (Department of Political, Economic and Legal Analysis). The ministry's English name is self-explanatory: Ministry of Preparatory Work Concerning the Peace Conference.

Unlike other branches of the government it functioned more as an advisory agency by collecting ideas for the country's post-war political and economic reconstruction. Ideas were solicited from top class specialists, researchers, government experts, and non-government employees.

That was also a way for the ministry to provide financial support to those who found themselves out of work in exile but who could, thus, contribute to the government's information bank.

The materials included in this collection deal with some of the most critical issues for Poland, which should have been solved either during the war or shortly thereafter. They document how Poles envisioned their future and how little of those plans materialized between 1945 and 1989. But the researcher should remember that these are not official government plans but merely suggestions submitted for consideration.

Among the issues of particular importance discussed here are the restoration of the German state; Poland's relations with the Soviet Union; borders and historic disputes about them; and events and conditions in the country under Soviet and German occupation. Plans to restore the Polish economy and the problem of war reparations are particularly well covered.

Researchers are also advised to consult the Poland. Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych records, also in the Hoover Archives, on topics such as disarmament, execution of treaties, economic organization of post-war Europe, Central European federation, boundary disputes, and military and political alliances.

The records of the Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych were sent to the Hoover Institution in 1947 along with the archives of the Polish Research Centre (London).

Biographical / historical:

Ministry of Preparatory Work Concerning the Peace Conference, Polish Government-in-Exile (London).

Acquisition information:
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1947
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Zbigniew L. Stanczyk
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-02-27 16:43:35.969074

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Poland. Ministerstwo Prac Kongresowych records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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