Abstract
The aim of the study was to describe physical activity of Polish soldiers in the field of skiing, mountaineering and mountain tourism during their internment in Switzerland between 1940–1945. Method of research. The following source materials were analysed: archival sources, the papers of the “Goniec Obozowy” [“The Camp Messenger”] published by the interned soldiers, relations of the interned soldiers and literature. Results. The Polish 2nd Rifle Division was formed in France from November 1939 until May 1940. In June 1940, the division, as a part of the 45th Corps of the 8th French Army, was sent into battle against the German Army near the Belfort district. After running out of ammunition in the exhausting battle, most of the soldiers of the division managed to break through to Switzerland, where they were interned. During the internment the soldiers were engaged to do many different kinds of work. In designated internment camps, they were allowed to continue their education which they began before the outbreak of the Second World War. In their free time, soldier took up different kinds of physical activity. The most popular were skiing and table tennis. Mountain tourism and mountaineering were common as well and Polish soldiers were quite successful in that field. Polish soldiers gained significant support from the Young Men's Christian Association, which provided them with sports equipment. Conclusion. Despite difficult living condition, Polish soldiers interned in Switzerland in the years 1940–1945, they went in for skiing, mountaineering and mountain touring.
