The centenary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw: "Everything at stake" - Instytut Pileckiego
The centenary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw: "Everything at stake"
Precisely 100 years ago something most unlikely and surprising has occurred: Polish Army troops have defeated the Red Army in the outskirts of Warsaw. It was the decisive battle, the battle for everything: independence, liberty and even life.
Had the Soviets won, not only the contemporary Poland, but the whole Europe would have been changed forever. According to Edgar d'Abernon, the British diplomat it was “The eighteenth decisive battle of the world: Warsaw, 1920”.
Historians agree that apart from the Battle of Grunwald and the Battle of Vienna it was one of the greatest and most prolific victory in the history of Polish Nation. You are kindly invited to the first part of trilogy entitled "Everything at stake" starring with renowned scholars and experts: prof. Mariusz Wołos, prof. Wiesław Wysocki, prof. Janusz Odziemkowski, prof. Zbigniew Wawer, Adam Zamoyski and prof. Norman Davies.

However the spectre of communism and world revolution was haunting Western Europe, there was an enormous amount of wishful thinking about the Soviet paradise, which survived throughout the interwar period. But the Red Army was nothing of the sort. Soviet soldiers set fire to buildings, engaged in plunder, rape and other crimes. The Poles took up arms – many volunteers were middle school students, women’s units were established as well. The people rallied, knowing that everything was at stake. We kindly invite you to the second part of trilogy about the Polish-Soviet War 1919-1921.

The Polish victory was a huge surprise. “That was the first reaction, followed by concern. Politicians and military elites worried about the Poles going too far towards the East. That Poland's further actions would permanently exclude Russia from commercial exchange, hindering economic profits for Europe”, Professor Janusz Odziemkowski said. Nowadays the awareness among historians about the importance of Polish-Soviet War is very low. According to Professor Norman Davies, “People simply haven't learned about it, it's not in their textbooks, and we continue to suffer from this, as it were, black hole of non-awareness”. That is why we strongly recommend you watch the third part of trilogy entitled “Everything at Stake”.

See also
- Join the team of the Center for Totalitarian Studies!
News
Join the team of the Center for Totalitarian Studies!
The Center for Totalitarian Studies has announced competitions for positions in the humanities. We are looking for professors, adjuncts and assistants.
- Competition for the Post of Professor or Professor of the Institute in the Humanities (OBNT/003/1/2025)
News
Competition for the Post of Professor or Professor of the Institute in the Humanities (OBNT/003/1/2025)
- Competition for the post of Assistant in the Humanities (OBNT/003/2/2025)
News
Competition for the post of Assistant in the Humanities (OBNT/003/2/2025)
- Competition for the Post of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/3/2025)
News
Competition for the Post of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/3/2025)
- Competition for the Post of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/4/2025)
News
Competition for the Post of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/4/2025)
- Competition for two available Posts of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/5/2025)
News
Competition for two available Posts of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/5/2025)
- Competition for the Post of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/6/2025)
News
Competition for the Post of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/6/2025)
- Competition for three available Posts of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/7/2025)
News
Competition for three available Posts of Adjunct in the Humanities (OBNT/003/7/2025)
- Conference "Taming the Revolution: The Experiences of the Societies of Poland and Central Europe in the Years 1945–1989" | CALL FOR PAPERS
News
Conference "Taming the Revolution: The Experiences of the Societies of Poland and Central Europe in the Years 1945–1989" | CALL FOR PAPERS
We are pleased to invite you to participate in the academic conference “Taming the Revolution: The Experiences of the Societies of Poland and Central Europe in the Years 1945–1989”, which will be held on October 17–18, 2025, in Warsaw.
- Apply by July 31 | The Witold Pilecki International Book Award. Fifth edition (2025)
News
Apply by July 31 | The Witold Pilecki International Book Award. Fifth edition (2025)
- Polish flag over the Berlin Victory Column on May 2, 1945
News
Polish flag over the Berlin Victory Column on May 2, 1945
- “We do not attack civilians…” The Green Corridor in Lypivka as a trap set by the Russian occupying forces
News
“We do not attack civilians…” The Green Corridor in Lypivka as a trap set by the Russian occupying forces
A report documenting witness accounts of the Russian attack on a civilian evacuation column from the village of Lypivka in the Kyiv region of Ukraine on 12 March 2022.