Formation and organization of the Polish Military Special Unit in the Second United Nations Emergency Forces (UNEF-II) in the Middle East in the light of source government documents

Abstract

The Polish government received an invitation for a unit of the Polish Army to join the United Nations armed forces in the era of détente (1973). This was the first time that a contingent from Warsaw Pact countries took part in an international peacekeeping operation. The end of the war between the combined forces of Egypt and Syria and the state of Israel in October 1973, was forced by international intervention. This led to a cessation of hostilities and entry into peace talks. Poland was one of the countries invited to join the Second United Nations Emergency Forces (UNEF-II) in the Middle East. The government agreed to form the contingent by ordering the Minister of Defense to form the Polish Military Special Unit (PWJS). The entire operation took place in a hurry and in an area completely unknown to the Polish Army. The purpose of this article is to present the decision-making process for the establishment of the contingent and its organization based on archival documents found in the resources of the former Military Archives of the Ministry of Defense Central Institutions and now in the Central Military Archives.