YEAR OF ISSUE: 1988
ISSUER: KPN
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The Government Delegation for Poland (Polish: Delegatura Rządu
Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej na Kraj) was an agency of the Polish
Government in Exile during World War II. It was the highest
authority of the Polish Secret State in occupied Poland and was
headed by the Government Delegate for Poland, a de facto deputy
Polish Prime Minister. The Government Delegation for Poland was
intended as a provisional government of Poland until the Exiled
Polish Government could safely return to a liberated Poland.
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Initially there were two delegates: one for the Polish areas
annexed by Germany, and one for the General Gouvernment. A delegate
for the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union was never
appointed. From 1942, power was consolidated and there was only one
delegate, in the rank of deputy prime minister. He in turn had 6
deputies for each of the regions, whose responsibilities were
further delegated to county-level officers.
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In July 1944 the delegate´s three deputies were promoted to
ministers, and a Home Council of Ministers (Krajowa Rada Ministrów)
was created. The Home Council became the local counterpart of the
Polish Government in Exile.
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During the Warsaw Uprising, the central Government Delegation for
Poland likewise came out of hiding and began acting officially as
the Polish parliament in the liberated areas of Poland. After the
Uprising´s suppression, most of the Delegation´s members left
Warsaw with the civilian population and managed to evade the
Germans. However, contact with local branches in Soviet- and
German-occupied areas was broken.
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The Delegation´s activities encompassed all areas of organized
society. It comprised 12 branches, roughly corresponding to the
ministries of the Polish Government-in-Exile in London. Internal
Affairs Security of the Delegation Provisional Administration -
shadow administration to take over the administrational duties
after liberation or during an all-national uprising Państwowy
Korpus Bezpieczeństwa -underground police Council to Aid the
Jews preparing reports on the situation in occupied Poland
Information and Press providing the society with news from abroad
propaganda printing Rzeczpospolita, the official organ of the
Office Labour and Social Affairs cooperation with Polish Red Cross
and Central Welfare Council Education and Culture Organisation of
the Underground schools and universities Industry and Trade
Agriculture Justice Liquidation of the Effects of the War Public
Works and Reconstruction Treasury Post Offices and Telegraphs
Communications Near the end of the war, Departments of Foreign
Affairs and of War Matters were created, but they have not played
any significant role. Other notable units and bureaus included:
Bureau of the Newly Acquired Lands (Polish Biuro Ziem Nowych)
Established 1942. The Bureau´s main task was to document the Polish
claims on German lands east of the Oder river and the area of
Prussia as well as planning of their post-war development. Despite
the Allies agreement to grant Poland with the lands east of the
Oder-Neisse Line, the plans of the bureau were never fulfilled
since most of its workers were arrested by the NKVD and sent to
GULags across Russia (see, however, Recovered Territories).
Kierownictwo Walki Cywilnej (Directorate of Civil Resistance) (from
1941).
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THIS PROPAGANDA STAMP SET WAS ISSUED BY THE POLISH UNDERGROUND
SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT AS A DIVERSIFICATION STATEMENT AGAINST MARTIAL
LAW WHICH HAD BEEN DECLARED BY THE COMMUNIST AUTHORITIES IN POLAND.
IT IS A VERY RARE AND COLLECTABLE ITEM . THE UNDERGROUND MEMBERS
WHO ISSUED THIS STAMP RISKED A LOT, BECAUSE IF CAUGHT THEY WOULD
HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED WITHOUT TRIAL. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A
UNIQUE PIECE OF HISTORY. IT IS A MUST FOR EVERY SERIOUS HISTORIAN
AND COLLECTOR OF THIS PERIOD AND WILL MAKE AN INTERESTING ADDITION
TO YOUR COLLECTION.
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General Wojciech Jaruzelski announced the introduction of martial
law in a speech first broadcast on radio and television at 6:00 am
on December 13, 1981. In order to isolate members of the opposition
(from the Solidarity movement), 52 internment centers were created.
A total of 10,132 internment orders were issued against 9,736
people during the period of martial law.
