 In 1917 , as a result of the October Revolution , Russia became a communist state . In the aftermath of World War I , Poland reemerged as an independent country in the following year . From 1919 to 1921 , the two states fought the Polish – Soviet War which was concluded with the Peace of Riga . Article 11 of the peace treaty required that the Soviet side return all culturally significant collections and items that had been removed from Poland since the First Partition in 1772 . A special bilateral committee was set up to carry out the restitution of cultural goods . In 1928 , the committee 's efforts resulted in the return to Poland of , among other national treasures , Szczerbiec , which , after 133 years , was deposited back in the Wawel Castle . 
