The Hot Summer of 1939. Polish and Czechoslovak Military Intelligence on the Eve of the Outbreak of War in the Light of Reports by Polish Officers
The Hot Summer of 1939. Polish and Czechoslovak Military Intelligence on the Eve of the Outbreak of War in the Light of Reports by Polish Officers

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to present contacts between Polish and Czechoslovak military intelligence in the last months before the outbreak of World War II. The paper outlines the military and political relations of both countries in the second half of the 1930s and the related organization of Polish military intelligence directed at Czechoslovakia. Sudden developments in the situation of Poland’s southern neighbour after the Munich Conference of 1938 made it necessary to introduce changes regarding Polish intelligence objectives in the south. The pace of changes increased after the collapse of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. The establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia became a clear signal to Warsaw that its existing strategies must be redefined. Facing the threat of a German attack on Poland, direct contacts were established between Czech emigration intelligence centre in London and Polish intelligence service. Based primarily on the accounts of Polish officers, this paper is an attempt to discuss the course of negotiations and indicate problems the new allies had to face.

• Details
• Contents