Russia (and USSR): The Irritating Factor  in the French-Polish Relations in the 20th Century

During World War I the French authorities based their policy towards Poland on their current relations with the Russian ally. That is why France did not support the idea of Polish independence before spring 1917. Over the next two decades the priorities of Paris were to separate Germany from Russia and to strengthen Poland so that it could replace Russia in its role of the Eastern ally which would enfeeble Germany. It was in the interest of Paris that Warsaw had no conflicts in the East. After the French-Soviet diplomatic relations were established in 1924, the place of the Soviet Union in Europe became the bone of contention in the French-Polish relations. France wanted to include the Soviet Union in the policy of European security, which caused Poland’s resentment. After 1944, the French-Polish relations were determined by the efforts on the part of France to increase its influence in the Eastern Europe. After 1989, together with the emergence of the pro-American policy of Warsaw, France became again more distanced towards Poland’s Eastern policy which provoked conflicts with Russia.
 

During World War I the French authorities based their policy towards Poland on their current relations with the Russian ally. That is why France did not support the idea of Polish independence before spring 1917. Over the next two decades the priorities of Paris were to separate Germany from Russia and to strengthen Poland so that it could replace Russia in its role of the Eastern ally which would enfeeble Germany. It was in the interest of Paris that Warsaw had no conflicts in the East. After the French-Soviet diplomatic relations were established in 1924, the place of the Soviet Union in Europe became the bone of contention in the French-Polish relations. France wanted to include the Soviet Union in the policy of European security, which caused Poland’s resentment. After 1944, the French-Polish relations were determined by the efforts on the part of France to increase its influence in the Eastern Europe. After 1989, together with the emergence of the pro-American policy of Warsaw, France became again more distanced towards Poland’s Eastern policy which provoked conflicts with Russia.