After the war, the gentlemen pictured below (and many others like them in the Polish emigre community around the world)
worked tirelessly on behalf of the Polish Government-in-Exile in London, England.
For many Polish exiles, World War Two had not yet ended as long as their homeland was occupied by the Soviets. In fact,
although demobilized by the British government in England, the soldiers of the Polish Forces in the West were not demobilized
by the Polish Government-in-Exile. Many Polish soldiers, within their veterans' organizations, maintained a combat readiness
well into the 1950s.
This is not as unreasonable as it may sound. Following the post-war Soviet takeover of much of Eastern Europe and the
dropping of the Iron Curtain, Soviet intentions became painfully clear to the Western leaders, who had never believed the
Poles, and the Cold War began. There was for many years an impending sense that a third world war was looming just around
the corner.
Standing from the left: A. Bluj, J. Kwaczek, J. Moscicki, C. Kobylanski, M. Poprawa, R. Rodycz, M. Lottamoza
Sitting from the left: B. Kowalski, S. Rzepka, K. Pygiel, Minister O. Jastrzembski, T. Rosol, F. Drabczyk, S. Rajca,
B. Sokolowski
Here, these men have just been decorated for their service to Poland by Minister Oktawian Jastrzembski
of Montreal. Despite the fact that England no longer recognized the exiled Polish government, they allowed it to exist.
The Government-in-Exile finally blended with the de facto Polish government after communist rule dissolved in 1989.