On this day in 1941 the Polish government in exile and the Soviet Union entered into a treaty abrogating the results of the Soviet Union's participation with Nazi Germany in the September 1939 invasion of Poland and making them allies. The agreement also provided that the USSR would cause a Polish military unit to be formed in its territory.
Polish-Soviet Union Agreements : July 30, 1941
Moscow, July 30, 1941
1. The Government of the U.S.S.R. recognizes the Soviet-German treaties of 1939 as to territorial changes in Poland as having lost their validity. The Polish Government declares Poland is not bound by any agreement with any third power which is directed against the U.S.S.R.
2. Diplomatic relations will be restored between the two governments upon the signing of this agreement, and an immediate exchange of Ambassadors will be arranged.
3. The two governments mutually agree to render one to another aid and support of all kinds in the present war against Hitlerite Germany.
4. The Government of the U.S.S.R. expresses its consent to the formation on territory of the U.S.S.R. of a Polish Army under a commander appointed by the Polish Government in agreement with the Soviet Government, the Polish Army on territory of the U.S.S.R. being subordinated in an operational sense to the Supreme Command of the U.S.S.R., in which the Polish Army will be represented. All details as to command, organization and employment of this force will be settled in a subsequent agreement.
5. This agreement will come into force immediately upon signature and without ratification. The present agreement is drawn up in two copies, in the Russian and Polish languages. Both texts have equal force.
The Soviet Government grants amnesty to all Polish citizens now detained on Soviet territory either as prisoners of war or on other sufficient grounds, as from the resumption of diplomatic relations.
The Soviets did indeed allow for the formation of Polish military units under this agreement, although in 1942 they were evacuated to the west through Iran. They were fairly sizable in number, with over 70,000 men at the time. Following evacuation, they came under overall British control and were part of the Polish forces armed and equipped by the United Kingdom.
Following that, additional Polish formation were created under the leadership of Polish communists. These forces were outside the control of the Polish government in exile.
On the same day, the Royal Navy launched a Quixotic raid on the European far north, hitting Kirkenes in Norway and Petsamo in Finland by air.
The raid was not a success and frankly fit into the category of odd British efforts of a show the flag nature that were not always well thought out. The leader of the two carrier raid doubted the concept himself and his doubts proved correct. Conducted in the high Arctic summer, the long day precluded surprise and the overall results have been termed a "disaster".
The German 6th Army commenced an assault on Kiev.
Hitler issued his Directive No. 34 on the fact of increased Soviet resistance to the invasion of the Soviet Union. Just days prior he was planning for the whole thing to wrap up.
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