The Pilsudski Institute of America is one of the most outstanding Polish institutions outside of Poland. It has earned that designation through its invaluable collection of documents on the modern history of Poland, and its distinguished record of defending historical truth about Poland against successive adversaries: German occupiers during World War II (1939-1945) and subsequently during almost fifty years of communist rule imposed by the Soviet Union (1945-1989).This mission was undertaken in 1943 by a group of Polish diplomats, politicians, veterans of Polish Legions from World War I and associates of Marshal Jozef Pilsudski, himself a symbol of Polish independence since 1914.