Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
This book covers the contributions of the Polish people in fighting Fascism during World War II, mostly by the actions of those men and women who served with the Allies on other fronts.
It shows how German propaganda made the Polish armed forces look inadequate in the defense of their country, leading to some myths which still persist today.
The highly trained Polish pilots escaped to join Britain's RAF and, despite initial reluctance to use them as they did not understand RAF fighting techniques, the RAF discovered the Polish squadrons contributed more than their fair share to the defense of freedom. The highest total of German planes shot down during the Battle of Britain was by one Polish squadron.
The author then proceeds to show how the Polish fighting men and women contributed so much to win the war, but were eventually betrayed by the Allies who wished to appease the Soviets.
Enigma (the breaking of the German code) was such an important reason why we beat the Germans it was kept a secret for decades after the war. Yet, it was the Poles who did it and then provided the French and British with the Enigma machine. There are many books since then which cover this topic, whereas this author merely mentions it briefly. Still, he gives many more reasons why we must credit the Poles for helping us defeat the Nazis.
Sadly, the Poles were cast aside as the war was ending, despite the efforts of their friends in high places, friends who did not include the American Presidents (Roosevelt and Truman) and the British Prime Ministers (Churchill and Atlee).
The abandonment of the Polish Home Front Army in Warsaw ranks as one of the great crimes of the war. More people died in this one city than in Dresden or either of the two Japanese cities atom bombed. More Poles died here than all the Americans killed during the war across the World.
Only lately has the world and Poland's former allies begun to express the appreciation this people should have received as their due in 1945. A sad story of politics valued more highly than valor with an ultimately happy ending---a free Poland exists today.
It shows how German propaganda made the Polish armed forces look inadequate in the defense of their country, leading to some myths which still persist today.
The highly trained Polish pilots escaped to join Britain's RAF and, despite initial reluctance to use them as they did not understand RAF fighting techniques, the RAF discovered the Polish squadrons contributed more than their fair share to the defense of freedom. The highest total of German planes shot down during the Battle of Britain was by one Polish squadron.
The author then proceeds to show how the Polish fighting men and women contributed so much to win the war, but were eventually betrayed by the Allies who wished to appease the Soviets.
Enigma (the breaking of the German code) was such an important reason why we beat the Germans it was kept a secret for decades after the war. Yet, it was the Poles who did it and then provided the French and British with the Enigma machine. There are many books since then which cover this topic, whereas this author merely mentions it briefly. Still, he gives many more reasons why we must credit the Poles for helping us defeat the Nazis.
Sadly, the Poles were cast aside as the war was ending, despite the efforts of their friends in high places, friends who did not include the American Presidents (Roosevelt and Truman) and the British Prime Ministers (Churchill and Atlee).
The abandonment of the Polish Home Front Army in Warsaw ranks as one of the great crimes of the war. More people died in this one city than in Dresden or either of the two Japanese cities atom bombed. More Poles died here than all the Americans killed during the war across the World.
Only lately has the world and Poland's former allies begun to express the appreciation this people should have received as their due in 1945. A sad story of politics valued more highly than valor with an ultimately happy ending---a free Poland exists today.
