Union of Polish Patriots
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Union of Polish Patriots (Society of Polish Patriots, Polish: Związek Patriotów Polskich, ZPP, Russian: Союз Польских Патриотов, СПП) was a political body created by Polish communists and Stalin in Soviet Union in 1943. This body, unofficially controlled and directed by Stalin, became a foundation of the Communist government created by Soviets that eventually took power in the People's Republic of Poland.
ZPP was dominated by Communists (from January 1944 members of the political party of Centralne Biuro Komunistów Polskich (Central Bureau of Polish Communists).
Decision to create ZPP was made by Stalin in March 1943, although the organization was formally created in June 1943. ZPP significance increased after Soviet Union broke relations with the Polish government-in-exile in April 1943, following the discovery of the Katyn Massacre. In May 1943 ZPP was involved in the creation of the first division (1 Dywizja Piechoty im. Tadeusza Kościuszki) of the Ludowe Wojsko Polskie (which would later merge with the underground forces in Poland established by Soviet Union, known as Armia Ludowa) under general Zygmunt Berling. In June 1943 ZPP was officially created and Directorat ('Zarząd') of the ZPP was 'elected' in the form of: president Wanda Wasilewska, members: Stanisław Skrzeszewski, Stefan Jędrychowski, Włodzimierz Sokorski and Zygmunt Berling. ZPP also issued a declaration condemning the Polish government-in-exile led by Władysław Sikorski, as a body whose actions are damaging the "Anglo-Russo-American block".
Program of ZPP was dominated by the need to transform the socio-political structure of future Poland, importance of alliance with the Soviet Union and the need to change the borders (rejection of the Treaty of Riga borderlines).
ZPP had its own propaganda ("Wolna Polska), education and social services branches.
In 1944 ZPP formally recognized the State National Council (Krajowa Rada Narodowa) and was responsible for the formation of Polish Committee of National Liberation (Polski Komitet Wyzwolenia Narodowego).
Between 1944-1946 it was involved in resettling Poles from Soviet Union into Poland.
It was disbanded in 1946.
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- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Polish Wikipedia article as of 4 February 2006.
