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The '''Polish-Soviet War''' was fought between the newly-formed [[Republic of Poland]] and the [[Soviet Union]] between 1920 and 1921.  The result of the war ensured that Poland would remain independent and non-[[Communist]] until [[World War II]].

The '''Polish-Soviet War''' was fought between the newly formed [[Republic of Poland]] and the [[Soviet Union]] between 1920 and 1921.  The result of the war ensured that Poland would remain independent and non-[[Communist]] until [[World War II]].

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

An independent Poland was one of [[Woodrow Wilson]]’s Fourteen Points and was confirmed in the [[Versailles Treaty]].  The new republic’s first head of state was Marshall Jozef Pilsudski, a [[World War I]] veteran and ardent Polish nationalist.  The government, especially Pilsudski, considered Soviet Russia to be the greatest threat to Poland’s security.  The Soviet government was not a participant in the Versailles negotiations, so the Polish-Soviet border was never fixed, making a confrontation almost inevitable.  Both sides hoped to expand their territory.  The Soviets had a larger army, but most of it was involved in the [[Russian Civil War]] against the Western-supported [[White Army]].

An independent Poland was one of [[Woodrow Wilson]]’s Fourteen Points and was confirmed in the [[Versailles Treaty]].  The new republic’s first head of state was Marshall [[Jozef Pilsudski]], a [[World War I]] veteran and ardent Polish nationalist.  The government, especially Pilsudski, considered Soviet Russia to be the greatest threat to Poland’s security.  The Soviet government was not a participant in the Versailles negotiations, so the Polish-Soviet border was never fixed, making a confrontation almost inevitable.  Both sides hoped to expand their territory.  The Soviets had a larger army, but most of it was involved in the [[Russian Civil War]] against the Western-supported [[White Army]].

 

==Outbreak==

==Outbreak==

==Kosciuszko Squadron==

==Kosciuszko Squadron==

When Poland became independent, a group of American pilots volunteered to join the Polish forces.  They formed the 7th squadron of the Polish Air Force, dubbed the Kosciuszko Squadron after the Polish national hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko, who had fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.<ref>[http://www.ccsu.edu/kosciuszko/history.htm Kosciuszko Squadron]</ref>  The unit served with distinction throughout the war, and the unit’s founder, Merian Cooper, was awarded Poland’s highest honor, the Virtuti Militari.<ref>[http://feefhs.org/pl/vm/vm-c.html Polish Order of the Virtuti Militari Recipients]</ref>  In aerial combat, 7th Squadron pilots downed two Soviet airplanes and an observation balloon.<ref>[http://users.accesscomm.ca/magnusfamily/polrspol.htm Polish Air Force claims in the Polish-Soviet War]</ref>

When Poland became independent, a group of American pilots volunteered to join the Polish forces.  They formed the 7th squadron of the Polish Air Force, dubbed the Kosciuszko Squadron after the Polish national hero [[Tadeusz Kosciuszko]], who had fought in the Continental Army during the [[American Revolution]].<ref>[http://www.ccsu.edu/kosciuszko/history.htm Kosciuszko Squadron]</ref>  The unit served with distinction throughout the war, and the unit’s founder, [[Merian Cooper]], was awarded Poland’s highest honor, the [[Virtuti Militari]].<ref>[http://feefhs.org/pl/vm/vm-c.html Polish Order of the Virtuti Militari Recipients]</ref>  In aerial combat, 7th Squadron pilots downed two Soviet airplanes and an observation balloon.<ref>[http://users.accesscomm.ca/magnusfamily/polrspol.htm Polish Air Force claims in the Polish-Soviet War]</ref>

==References==  

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://home.golden.net/~medals/1918-1921war.html The Polish fight for independence 1919-21]

*[http://home.golden.net/~medals/1918-1921war.html The Polish fight for independence 1919-21]

*[http://www.historynet.com/polish-soviet-war-battle-of-warsaw.htm Polish-Soviet War: Battle for Warsaw]

*[http://www.historynet.com/polish-soviet-war-battle-of-warsaw.htm Polish-Soviet War: Battle for Warsaw]

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744563,00.html Time article on Kosciuszko Squadron]

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,744563,00.html Time article on Kosciuszko Squadron]

==Further Reading==

==Further reading==

*''White Eagle, Red Star: The Polish-Soviet War 1919-20 and the “Miracle on the Vistula''”, by Norman Davies, Random House, 2004

*''White Eagle, Red Star: The Polish-Soviet War 1919-20 and the “Miracle on the Vistula''”, by Norman Davies, Random House, 2004

[[Category:Russian History]]

[[Category:Russian History]]

[[Category:Wars]]

[[Category:Wars]]