The military implications of the presence of Russian immigrants in Poland (1918-1945)

The topic of this article is relevant and poorly studied, although more than 90 years after the first wave of emigration of the military and civilians from Russia have already passed. The author has substantiated the position that this historic event led to serious military consequences. Military emigrants from Russia were not only the custodians of social and cultural traditions of their homeland, but also of military and political experience, which they implemented in conditions of their stay in Poland. The publication examines the participation of Russian emigrants in the Polish army, their propaganda, intelligence and subversive activities in the anti-Soviet organizations in the pre-war years and during the World War II. It highlights the work of the German Wehrmacht and Abwehr on the formation and use of armed groups, consisting of the emigrants from the Soviet Union, including ethnic immigrants’ ones.