Objects

The membership card of Związek Patriotów Polskich (the Union of Polish Patriots in the USSR; no. 1209; about ZPP see: https://sztetl.org.pl/en/glossary/zwiazek-patriotow-polskich) is one of the few mementoes of Bolesław Pacanowski's stay in the Soviet Union. The Union of Polish Patriots was formed in 1943 on the initiative of Polish communists in order to represent Poles in the USSR, although de facto it was a tool of Joseph Stalin's policy on the Polish question. The ZPP prepared conditions for taking power by communists in post-war Poland. It developed its full activity after the USSR authorities broke off (in April 1943) diplomatic relations with the government of the Republic of Poland in exile (https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/;4002372, accessed on 8.11.2021). In 1944-1946, the ZPP organised the resettlement of Polish citizens from the USSR to Poland. The membership card of the Union of Polish Patriots in the USSR for Bolesław Pacanowski, number 1209, was issued on 27 July 1945 and was probably related to repatriation to Poland.

Renata Piątkowska