The state of Poland didn't exist but Poles as a people, as a group with a distinct culture, language, and idea of themselves as a group did. So when they were a

The state of Poland didn't exist but Poles as a people, as a group with a distinct culture, language, and idea of themselves as a group did. So when they were able to, the Polish people re-constituted a state in which to live. That doesn't mean that the state of Poland existed in those years. Agreed that governments in exile are a better example.