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Acquisition Information
Preferred Citation
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Introductory Note
Scope and Contents
Title: Poland. Ambasada (Great Britain) records
Date (inclusive): 1918-1945
Collection Number: 45013
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: Mainly in Polish
Physical Description:
134 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize folder
(55.9 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, memoranda, reports, financial records, studies, conference proceedings, printed matter, and photographs, relating
to Anglo-Polish relations, especially relations between Great Britain and the Polish government-in-exile in London during
World War II; Anglo-Polish trade; Polish foreign policy and participation in the League of Nations during the interwar period;
conditions in Poland during World War II; and wartime activities of the Polish government-in-exile. A digital copy of this
entire collection is available at
https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/en/zespol/-/zespol/22832 .
Creator:
Poland. Ambasada (Great Britain)
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
A digital copy of this entire collection is available at
https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/en/zespol/-/zespol/22832 . 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.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1984.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Poland. Ambasada (Great Britain) records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library
& Archives.
Alternative Form Available
Also available on microfilm (163 reels).
Introductory Note
Poland and Great Britain established formal diplomatic relations in February 1919. During the decade that followed Poland
was represented in London by an envoy in the rank of minister and, since November 1929, by an ambassador. The following diplomats
were the Second Polish Republic's chief representatives in Great Britain:
- Eustachy Sapieha: 1919-1920
- Jan Ciechanowski: 1920-1921
- Wladyslaw Wroblewski: 1921-1922
- Konstanty Skirmunt: 1922-1929
- Edward Raczynski: 1934-1945
The archives of the Polish embassy in Great Britain shared the turbulent history of Poland. A large portion of the embassy's
archives was tranferred to Warsaw during the 1930's. Part of this documentation was destroyed during the war. The surviving
22 linear meters are now held in the Contemporary Records Archives (Archiwum Akt Nowych) in Warsaw, and are described in a
detailed published inventory. Most of the embassy archives remaining in London were evacuated to Canada and the United States
during the early years of the war on orders of Count Edward Raczynski who, during 1941-1943, was both Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Ambassador in London. In July 1945 the United States and Great Britain abandoned their Polish ally, withdrawing
recognition from the London-based Polish government in exile. To protect the archives from falling into the hands of the representatives
of the Soviet-dominated government in Warsaw, Poland's Ambassador in Washington, Jan Ciechanowski, transferred all of the
archival collections held in Washington to the Hoover Institution. The Ciechanowski deposit included the archives of the Polish
embassies in Washington, Moscow-Kuibyshev, and London. The Hoover part of the archives of the Polish embassy in Great Britain
occupies 133 manuscript boxes or about 17 linear meters. What remained in London, about 6 linear meters, has been preserved
in the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum. The Polish Institute's holdings also include the papers of Edward Raczynski and
Jan Ciechanowski.
by Maciej Siekierski
June 1998
Scope and Contents
This collection contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, financial records, studies, conference proceedings, printed matter,
and photographs, relating to Anglo-Polish relations, especially relations between Great Britain and the Polish government-in-exile
in London during World War II; Anglo-Polish trade; Polish foreign policy and participation in the League of Nations during
the interwar period; conditions in Poland during World War II; and wartime activities of the Polish government-in-exile. Includes
correspondence, memoranda, reports, notes, financial studies, and other material from the office of the Commercial Counsellor
at the Polish Embassy in London, and from the League of Nations.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Poland -- History -- Occupation, 1939-1945
World War, 1939-1945 -- Diplomatic history
World War, 1939-1945 -- Poland
World War, 1939-1945 -- Governments in exile
Poland -- Foreign relations -- 1918-1945
Great Britain -- Foreign relations -- Poland
Poland -- Foreign relations -- Great Britain
Great Britain -- Commerce -- Poland
Poland -- Commerce -- Great Britain
League of Nations