Order of the Day for July 6, 1945
Anders' Order of the Day for July 6, 1945, was written just after the British and US Governments had given
their recognition to the Soviet-backed Polish government in Warsaw, and retracted recognition from the legal
Polish government-in-exile in London. The speech which follows is a bitter verbal attack on the policy of the
Allies and expressed the Polish feeling that the sacrifice they had made in the war must not be allowed
to go in vain.
Men, I am turning to you at a period of extreme difficulty and of far-reaching importance.
The Governments of the Western Powers have decided to recognise the so-called Provisional
Government of National Unity imposed on Poland by her occupation and thus to withdraw recognition
from the legal Government of the Polish Republic in London... The World Powers by-pass our
constitution and our lawful authorities, and in accepting the present circumstances, they have agreed
to the fait accomplis created with regard to Poland and the Poles by a foreign force.
Men, at this moment we are the only part of the Polish Nation which is able, and has the duty, loudly to
voice its will, and just for this reason we must prove today by word and by deed that we are faithful to
our oath of allegiance, true to our citizen's duty towards our country, and faithful to the last wish of our
fallen comrades in arms, who fought and died for an independent, sovereign and truly free Poland....
Our country, deprived of the rights of speech, looks towards us. It wishes to see us in the land of our
ancestors - to that end we are striving and longing from the bottom of our hearts - but it does not want
to see us as slaves of a foreign force; It wants to see us with our banners flying as forerunners of true
freedom.
As such a return is impossible today, we must wait in closed and disciplined ranks for a favorable
change of conditions. This change must come, or otherwise all the terrible and bloody sacrifices
of the whole world, suffered throughout six years, will have been in vain. It is impossible to imagine
that humanity has suddenly become blind and has really lost the consciousness of a mortal danger....
We will fulfill our duty towards our country and its lawful authorities!
Long live the glorious Republic of Poland!