Sikorski, Władysław (vlädĭ`swäf shēkôr`skē), 1881–1943, Polish general and politician. He fought in World War I and later (1922–25) held various cabinet posts. Premier Piłsudski Piłsudski, Joseph (pĭls

d`skē), Pol.
..... Click the link for more information. dismissed him from public service in 1928, but after the German conquest of Poland, Sikorski became (1939) premier of the Polish government in exile. He also was commander in chief of the Polish forces that continued to fight alongside the Allies in World War II. Sikorski restored (1941) diplomatic relations with the USSR, but after he requested International Red Cross investigation of the Katyn Katyn (kətĭn`), village, W central European Russia, 12 mi (19 km) W of Smolensk.
..... Click the link for more information. incident, relations were again broken off (Apr., 1943). Sikorski died in an airplane crash near Gibraltar.

Sikorski, Wladyslaw (Eugeniusz)

(born May 20, 1881, Tuszów Narodowy, Pol., Austria-Hungary—died July 4, 1943, Gibraltar) Polish general and politician. He served in the Austrian army and in World War I was head of the Polish Legion, which joined with Austria against Russia. He served as prime minister of Poland (1923–24) and as minister of military affairs (1924–25). From 1928 he joined the opposition to the government controlled by Józef Pilsudski. After the German invasion of Poland (1939), he became prime minister of the Polish government-in-exile. When he asked Joseph Stalin to allow the Red Cross to investigate the Katyn Massacre, Stalin broke off Soviet-Polish diplomatic contact. Sikorski died in an airplane crash several months later.