Disinfo: Poland and Nazi Germany were in close alliance

Summary

The alliance relations between Poland and Nazi Germany were so close that Hitler ordered the organization of a religious service in Berlin after Pilsudski’s death, and Hitler was personally present at that service.

Disproof

This message is a recurring pro-Kremlin historical revisionist narrative and an attempt to erode the disastrous historical role of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by stating that Poland was a Nazi ally, so it should blame itself. While it is true that Hitler organized a religious service after Piłsudski's death, and while it is also true that the latter's rule was authoritarian, none of this is evidence that there was an alliance between Poland and Nazi Germany.

Before WWII, Poland had tense political relations with Nazi Germany, which expressed open territorial claims to Poland (revision of the status of the Free City of Danzig and control over the “Polish Corridor”). Despite intense political pressure from Hitler, Poland consistently refused to become part of the Nazi block.

After Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Piłsudski was only compelled to accept Hitler’s suggestion of a 10-year German-Polish non-aggression agreement signed in 1934. To show that this was not a sign of alliance with Hitler, Poland prolonged the existing non-aggression treaty with the Soviet Union until December 31, 1945. Hitler repeatedly sought a German-Polish alliance against the Soviet Union, but Piłsudski had consistently denied such offer; he also declined to meet with Hitler. Piłsudski's objective was to gain time, believing that Poland should be ready to fight Nazi Germany when the necessity arose. Those were the last instructions he gave to his confidants before his death in 1935. Piłsudski was also renowned for his tolerance towards religious minorities, particularly towards the Jews.

Read similar examples of the Russian historical revisionism concerning Poland - Poland posed a military threat to the USSR in 1938-1939, Nazi Germany considered Poland its best ally, If Poland realized a rational policy in 1939, Moscow would have had a different approach towards it and Poland re-writes the history of the Warsaw uprising accusing the USSR of its failure.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 183
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 29/01/2020
  • Outlet language(s) Arabic
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: USSR, Poland, Germany
  • Keywords: Historical revisionism, WWII, Adolf Hitler
see more

Disinfo: The coronavirus is a biological weapon created by the UK

The coronavirus 2019-nCoV is a biological weapon developed by the British, even if they pursued scientific goals.

On June 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice granted scientists at the Pirbright Institute (formerly Animal Health Institute, England) the patent No. 10.130.701 for the invention of a “live attenuated coronavirus”. So, molecular biologists saw structural details similar to the 2019-nCoV on the electron microscope image of the “British invention”.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. This is a pro-Kremlin narrative about the coronavirus and the "Anglo-Saxons".

In response to the outbreak of the corona virus the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction.

Disinfo: Coronavirus targets exclusively one race

The China coronavirus is a genetic weapon, designed to target exclusively Mongoloids. The events in China are beneficial for the current US Administration, which seeks to bring Beijing to its knees. In a strange way, the start of the epidemic coincided with the final part of the negotiations between China and the United States on a trade agreement.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. This is a pro-Kremlin narrative about the China coronavirus. In response to the outbreak of the corona virus the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction. The conspiracy theory also refers the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about US military biological labs circling Russia. See disinformation examples related to the Lugar lab in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Disinfo: Poland ran out of EU money; Poland's demands for reparations is just a tacky attempt to get money

This has become a global tradition. It all began with Ukraine, and has now passed to Poland. Ukraine started it all, dreaming up this concept of “Holodomor”, a genocide against the Ukrainian people. The Jews got reparations for the genocide, now we want it too… Poland had to go further. Poland’s out of EU money, so it is now demanding reparations from Russia and Germany. It all is based on a despicable, greedy attempt to make profits from what happened in Poland during WWII.

Disproof

A collection of unfounded pro-Kremlin narratives on historical revisionism, questioning the Holodomor and Poland's role in WWII. Poland has not demanded any reparations from Russia; the German reparations are an issue in the public debate, and a few parliament members support this idea, but it is definitely not an official Polish position.