The Polish government could not afford a capitulation of the Polish public because of the industrialization projects such as Central Industrial Region (Poland), nearly finished by early 1939, and the projects that were to follow it. Poland was an independent country until 1795 when it was partitioned by Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Moreover, not only did the German military and civilian volunteers commit war crimes against the ethnic Poles and Polish Jews, they spread rumors of massive ethnic cleansing which led thousands of people to flee the German advance and made military maneuver difficult. To the southwest, Poland and Czechoslovakia contested boundary disputes (see: Zaolzie). Between that time and 1991, Germany had 7 changes of border. Serious difficulties arose in dealing with foreign assets and internal minorities. The PZL.37 o was an excellent twin-engine medium bomber; Poland had 36 ready-to-fight when the war started. Rumors circulated to the effect that Pisudski proposed to France that Poland and France launch a preemptive military strike to overthrow Hitler in 1933. The Polish-Soviet war, began in 1919, was the most important of the regional wars. Land reforms were undertaken along ethnic lines. The Russians recognized the Polish right to autonomy and allowed formation of the Polish National Committee, which supported the Russian side. Ignacy Daszyski headed a short-lived Polish government in Lublin from November 6 but Pisudski had overwhelming prestige at this point. "[64], Poland's dream of leading a bloc of neutral nations in Eastern Europe collapsed after 1933 with the advent of Hitler's openly expansionist Nazi regime in Germany and the obvious warning of France's desire to resist Germany's expansion. [1][2][3] Its independence was confirmed by the victorious powers through the Treaty of Versailles of June 1919,[4] and most of the territory won in a series of border wars fought from 1918 to 1921. The history of countries in much of Europe, especially central and eastern Europe, has been one of change. The Holocaust: Europe, the World, and the Jews, 1918 - 1945 By Norman Goda In January 1937, In the Shadow of Zion Promised Lands Before Israel by Adam L. Rovner NYU Press 2014 page 133, Jabotinsky's Children: Polish Jews and the Rise of Right-Wing Zionism One week later, Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. Old film featuring short 'portraits' of Serbian and Polish children/workers in 1920 just after World War 1. [9], Most Polish leaders of that period wanted to create a larger Polish state; one optimal plan, dating back to the Paris Peace Conference, included the incorporation of East Prussia and the German city of Knigsberg being placed in a customs union with Poland. [77] If Poland lost the vote, the corridor would go to Germany and the seaport of Gdynia would become a Polish exclave with a route connecting Poland with Gdynia. While Poland did not exist as an independent state during World War I, its geographical position between the fighting powers meant that much fighting and terrific human and material losses occurred on the Polish lands between 1914 and 1918. The Polish political scene was democratic but chaotic until Jzef Pisudski (18671935) seized power in May 1926 and democracy ended. After 1945, Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany had no diplomatic relations for decades. [68] Faced with the threat of war, the Lithuanian government accepted the Polish demands. "The Key Points of Polish-German Relations up to 1939,", Krasuski, "The Key Points of Polish-German Relations up to 1939.". For the next decade, Pisudski dominated Polish affairs as strongman of a generally popular centrist regime, although he never held a formal title except for minister of defense. Germany had 2800 new fighter planes plus bombers and transports.[61][62]. It remained the only European country to neither cooperate with nor surrender a battle to the Nazis. As happened elsewhere in Central Europe, with the exception of Czechoslovakia, the attempt to implant democracy did not succeed. Following the death of Poland's ruler Jzef Pisudski in 1935, the Endeks intensified their efforts. Peace talks continued while both sides prepared for war. While Poland did not exist as an independent state during World War I, its geographical position between the fighting powers meant that much fighting and terrific human and material losses occurred on the Polish lands between 1914 and 1918.