Ivan Maisky
In 1941, after Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, Maisky was responsible for normalising relations with Western Allies. He signed, among others, the Sikorski -Maisky Agreement of 1941. Among others, it normalised relations between the Soviet Union and the Polish exile government and allowed the release of hundreds of thousands of deported Poles from Soviet camps from among whom an army was subsequently created under the leadership of Gen. Anders. Maisky also pressed for Great Britain to open a second front against the Germans in northern France and maintained close contact with Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. In 1953, shortly before Stalin’s death, he was arrested and sentenced to six years imprisonment for alleged espionage. In 1955, he was cleared of charges and fully rehabilitated.
Was a treaty between the Soviet Union and Poland, signed in London on 30 July 1941. Its name is taken from its two most notable signatories: Polish Prime Minister Władysław Sikorski and Soviet Ambassador to the United Kingdom Ivan Mayski.
The President of the Republic of Poland, Władysław Raczkiewicz, refused to sign the Sikorski-Majski agreement, which remained the same as the usual protocol.
In view of the ambiguous provisions of the agreement (not confirming the expressis verbis of the Polish-Soviet border established in the Riga Treaty), almost half of the Polish government in exile spoke out against its conclusion, which led to a cabinet crisis combined with resignations of ministers.