Duszpasterstwo wojskowe w Armi Polskiej w ZSRR i w I Armi Wojska Polskiego

In the Soviet Union during World War II, the Polish army was formed twice. The first occasion occurred after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Moscow and the Polish London (London was the constitutional headquarters of the Polish government during wartime) in 1941 under General Anders. The second occasion occurred in 1943 after breaking the mutual relations – as the result of Soviet action (Lt. Col. Berling - the deserter from Anders’ army promoted by Stalin to the rank of genera). In both, the role of military chaplain was formed. In Ander’s formation, chaplains were subordinated to the Polish supreme authority – field bishop, Fr. Gen. Joseph Gawlina, who approved of the organization and pastoral activities and even visited Anders’ army in Russia. It was different with the pastoral care in the Berling’s army, where chaplains had to certify Polish identity in the formation co-created by the Soviets. This essay shows the differences in the organization and pastoral activities of the military chaplains of both formations.