Józef Piłsudski wobec sojuszu Polski z Rumunią w okresie międzywojennym
Józef Piłsudski and the Polish-Romanian Alliance in the Interwar Period

Summary/Abstract: Józef Piłsudski had been an advocate of the close cooperation between Poland and Romania since the beginning of the independence. This attitude resulted from the current premises and was connected with the formation of the eastern borders of the Polish state. A substantial role in this cooperation was played by the Ukrainian issue, firstly cooperation against the West Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR) and then the plans to support Petlura’s Ukraine, which was supposed to constitute a bastion protecting both countries from Russia’s expansion. This very aspect determined the conclusion of the Polish-Romanian alliance in 1921, which became the foundation of Polish foreign policy. The Marshal was a proponent of its tightening and strengthening. His journey to Romania in September 1922 was devoted to this aim. However, the changes resulted from the accession to power of the centre-right led to the removal of Piłsudski from political life and the loss of the possibility of influencing the alliance with Romania. This situation changed after the May coup and the Marshal’s return to power. He started propagating the need for the closer collaboration with Romania again. It was to serve the construction of a wider constellation of Central and Eastern European countries as a form of protecting this region against the threat posed by the Soviet Union. These activities were particularly intense in 1928. The underestimation of the danger by Romanian politicians and the deplorable state of the army made Piłsudski realize that this concept was illusory. However, he did not see another alternative to the Polish-Romanian alliance as an element allowing some leeway in Polish foreign policy towards Moscow and he was convinced of the need to maintain it. With great determination, he sought to coordinate the activities of the USSR’s limitrophes in concluding non-aggression pacts with that country. He even tried to overcome the resistance of Bucharest by diplomatic pressure. Despite the fiasco of these efforts and changes in the international situation in the early 1930’s, he was still convinced of the importance of the alliance with Romania for Poland’s international activities.

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