THE POLES ON THE FRONT LINES OF WWII

The most important features of the Polish contribution to the defeat of Germany are determination and perseverance. Despite the severe defeat in 1939, the Poles formed five more armies, including four in exile: in France in 1939, in the United Kingdom in the summer of 1940 (after the defeat and capitulation of France), and twice in the USSR in 1941. These were the army of Gen. Anders that fought later in the South of Europe, and the one that emerged in 1943 and later fought at the Red Army’s side. The fifth Polish army, created at the end of September of 1939 was the conspiratorial armed force in the occupied territory. For the entire period of the war there also existed the very important “silent front” – the intelligence. Probably up to 2 millions Poles served since September 1st, 1939 to May 8th, 1945 in all the Polish military formations – regular armies, partisan troops and underground forces. In the final stage of war the Polish troops on all the European fronts amounted to some 600 000 soldiers (infantry, armored troops, aircraft and navy). In the summer of 1944, while commencing regular military struggle against the retreating Germans, the armed underground numbered more than 300 thousands sworn soldiers. It can be concluded that Poland put in the field the fourth greatest Allied army.

LukaszThreads: 73 Posts: 2,396 Joined: Sep 1, 07	Edited by: Administrator Oct 8, 07, 15:34 / #
The most important features of the Polish contribution to the defeat of Germany are determination and perseverance. Despite the severe defeat in 1939, the Poles formed five more armies, including four in exile: in France in 1939, in the United Kingdom in the summer of 1940 (after the defeat and capitulation of France), and twice in the USSR in 1941. These were the army of Gen. Anders that fought later in the South of Europe, and the one that emerged in 1943 and later fought at the Red Army’s side. The fifth Polish army, created at the end of September of 1939 was the conspiratorial armed force in the occupied territory. For the entire period of the war there also existed the very important “silent front” – the intelligence. Probably up to 2 millions Poles served since September 1st, 1939 to May 8th, 1945 in all the Polish military formations – regular armies, partisan troops and underground forces. In the final stage of war the Polish troops on all the European fronts amounted to some 600 000 soldiers (infantry, armored troops, aircraft and navy). In the summer of 1944, while commencing regular military struggle against the retreating Germans, the armed underground numbered more than 300 thousands sworn soldiers. It can be concluded that Poland put in the field the fourth greatest Allied army. very interesting web side http://www.ww2.pl/

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Oct 8, 07, 16:49 / #
Cracking site Lukasz,thanks,added to fav's a couple more,on the Uprising; Warsaw Uprising Museum in Warsaw (http://www.1944.pl) Warsaw Uprising 1944 (http://www.warsawuprising.com) Warsaw Rising: The Forgotten Soldiers of World War II. Educator Guide (http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2004/fyi/news/06/03/cnnpce.warsaw.risin g) Extensive information on Warsaw Uprising in Polish (http://www.whatfor.prv.pl/) Photographs of the Warsaw Uprising (http://www.ipn.gov.pl/aktual_powst_war.html) The Warsaw Rising (http://www.polandinexile.com/rising.htm) The Warsaw Uprising - 1.VIII.1944 (http://wings.buffalo.edu/info-poland/exhib/warsaw/index.html) Quoting: Lukasz fourth greatest Allied army Fourth largest!!!!! second greatest ! :) (well,come on,Ive got to be a little patriotic :) )

Wroclaw Boy	Jan 15, 08, 03:32 / #
Lukasz wrote: It can be concluded that Poland put in the field the fourth greatest Allied army. It can also be concluded that it only usually takes one nations army to win a war. You dont get nothing for being fourth.

KrzysztofThreads: 2 Posts: 1,146 Joined: Jul 26, 07	Jan 15, 08, 04:52 / #
Wroclaw Boy wrote: You dont get nothing for being fourth. Poland didn't participate in that war for the gold medal, so take your retarded remark elsewhere

PeterThreads: 5 Posts: 296 Joined: Mar 31, 07	Jan 15, 08, 05:35 / #
I think it is acknowledged that Poland put out the 4th largest Allied Army.

djfThreads: 23 Posts: 204 Joined: Dec 18, 07	Jan 15, 08, 06:36 / #
Is there any information available about the Polish people who joined/formed regiments in the German army during WW2?

DobaThreads: 1 Posts: 77 Joined: Jan 9, 08	Jan 15, 08, 06:38 / #
Ive got a few of my grandfathers medals at home from WW2, I like them

Wroclaw Boy	Jan 15, 08, 06:42 / #
djf wrote: Is there any information available about the Polish people who joined/formed regiments in the German army during WW2? Extremely interesting point.

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Jan 15, 08, 07:29 / #
Lukasz wrote: but you would be great Paul Alford. watch your back You'd better pray he doesnt so much as stub a toe now mate,Id advise you to ask admin to delete these last couple of posts.Or print a retraction. even if he does come out with retarded statements like this; Wroclaw Boy wrote: It can also be concluded that it only usually takes one nations army to win a war. Which nation would that be the?

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Jan 15, 08, 07:36 / #
celinski wrote: This is the first time I've ever heard or seen anywhere, news or TV where Poland was given any credit for WWII battles or victories. have they had their head buried in sand then?

celinskiThreads: 83 Posts: 2,800 Joined: Nov 14, 07	Jan 15, 08, 07:40 / #
isthatu wrote: have they had their head buried in sand then? No, in fact this is what happens when a country is silenced for so long. Lets face it others that feel shame for not helping Poland are not going to push for the truth.If Polish don't insist history report their part, it won't be done.

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Edited by: isthatu Jan 15, 08, 07:44 / #
no,I think it is more symptomatic of US centered history programes.Try finding reference to ANY other allied nation in 80 % of US made documentries is like looking for the proverbial needle ,in a stack of needles. Battle of Britain (the movie,loads of scenes with the Polish Pilots,in Polish,every school kid pretending to be one of them the next day in the school yard) Bridge too far(movie) all the Gene Hackman scenes. Every British made documentry on Cassino,Polish veterens interviewed,british vets' talking about the brave/heroic Poles. Oh,and My new Avatar,Micheal Caine as a Polish para(well sorta ;) )

celinskiThreads: 83 Posts: 2,800 Joined: Nov 14, 07	Jan 15, 08, 08:01 / #
celinski wrote: involved Monte Cassino isthatu wrote: Micheal Caine as a Polish para Yes, I wanted to compliment you on this avatar. I wrote to Monte Cassino and asked about the tour, I have not gotten a reply.

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 [Moderator]	Jan 15, 08, 08:14 / #
isthatu wrote: Oh,and My new Avatar,Micheal Caine as a Polish para(well sorta ;) ) The Eagle Has Landed. Good movie.

djfThreads: 23 Posts: 204 Joined: Dec 18, 07	Edited by: djf Jan 15, 08, 08:20 / #
Lukasz wrote: how about your researches of Jewis gold robbed by nazists have you found any From what i remember a program called "Hitler a warning from history" which is always on UKTV history, had an episode about Poland. In it there were several accounts of Polish nationals who had joined the forces of the occupying German army and were seeking out Jews and other minorities (gypsies, gays) and sending them to concentration camps and stealing their belongings. It is an interesting incite into the way the human mind works. Altruism is a strange thing. Best war film has to go to Where Eagles Dare. Superb

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Jan 15, 08, 13:42 / #
Broadsword calling Danny boy..... Re Polish nationals in the German forces; Defining "Polish " at this time is complicated.Many who served with the German forces may indead have been born/raised in Poland,even having Polish passports birth certificates etc but were seen as "German" by themselves and subsequently the nazis . One whole area of Poland was designated practically overnight as being part of greater germany and all its non jewish citizens were either suddenly "german" or forced out to the general govt/conscripted into labour service in the reich. These are the two main groups of "Poles" who would find themselves in the german army,one group willing volunteers for the fatherland,the other group forced by the fact of families being to all intents hostages of the german occupiers. Would you refuse to join up with a wife ,children and parents to worry about? The war service of these groups is variable,many will have indead fought for the wrong side,many more took the first oppertunity to desert and the large Free Polish armed forces on record at the end of hostilities had a high proportion of men who had worn grey before khaki. Anyone in Britain who has spoken to Polish veterens will have met at least one or two that served in 3 or four armies,first in 39 the Polish army,then the german forces,deserting on the eastern front and serving with red army forces before finding a way to the Free Poles in the west. The other part,re "joining in hunting for jews..." well,lets just say the Polish Police dont have a great record in this situation,but remember,even the nice British Bobbys in the Channel Islands readily handed over lists of the islands jews and turned up at the arrests. And,if your talking about Ghetto clearances and such like some of the nazis most efficient "jew hunters" were other jews,either spies working for the gestapo/SD or the Jewish Ghetto Police .

celinskiThreads: 83 Posts: 2,800 Joined: Nov 14, 07	Jan 15, 08, 17:51 / #
Lukasz wrote: very interesting web side Thank you http://oneagleswings0.tripod.com/

celinskiThreads: 83 Posts: 2,800 Joined: Nov 14, 07	Jan 16, 08, 01:57 / #
We have to remember the Polish military killed in "Katyn" and the reserve that were sent to Siberia and this was under Stalins orders. Without further ado, Battlefield whit Polish Soldiers during World War 2

PeterThreads: 5 Posts: 296 Joined: Mar 31, 07	Jan 16, 08, 05:47 / #
I think the Poles who served under German colours were forcibly conscripted as opposed to volunteered. The issue came up during the Allied advance into Europe when (I think) both the 1st Polish Armoured Division and Ander's 2 Coprs made good their losses by assimilating Poles captured by the Allies.

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Jan 16, 08, 12:02 / #
No Peter,not all,there were some 1500 Gorale volenteers to name just one unit. But probably the smallest amount of the occupied nations.

PeterThreads: 5 Posts: 296 Joined: Mar 31, 07	Jan 16, 08, 12:21 / #
In that case it's one of the best kept secrets! You have a link or any info on them?

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Jan 16, 08, 12:27 / #
Peter wrote: In that case it's one of the best kept secrets! Well according to another thread it verges on ilegal to say that poles served the germans willingly so maybe it is hushed up a bit in poland,after all ,they dont exactly teach about the BFK in british schools. It apeared in the Polish press late last year so its not some "polonophobe" rumour or slander as some on here may try to claim,just a fact of history.

kaliszerThreads: - Posts: 100 Joined: Dec 19, 07	Jan 19, 08, 12:22 / #
I read recently about the Lemko and their forced removal from the carpathians to western poland after the war. This is all new to me, so I'd appreciate some background on this subject -- who they are ethnically, what their role (or fate) was in WWII, and what their current situation is. Do they have anything to do with the gorale? (I realize I'm showing my ignorance here, but bear with me.)

kalisherThreads: - Posts: 3 Joined: Jan 23, 08	Jan 23, 08, 16:18 / #
My post here has nothing to do with your message. You can see my name is Kalisher but my father spelled it Kaliszer. I assume that is your name. My father and his family were from Plotzk. I was born in a DP camp in W. Germany near Leipheim. I recently discovered 25 relatives in Israel. I also have relatives in Tel Aviv on my mother's side. Perhaps we are related. If you would like, we can discuss this in private. Let me know how and when. Thank you. M. Kalisher

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Jan 23, 08, 16:30 / #
isthatu wrote: 1500 Gorale volenteers to name just one unit. 1500 could be the whole number of those, who joined "Goralenvolk", the number of volunteers to the military unit was 200 and after a few feeks most of them deserted and the rest was sent to Germany as forced laborers. So much for your next Polonophobic attempt. kaliszer wrote: Do they have anything to do with the gorale? No. Some Lemkos see themselves as a separate ethnic group but most as a subgroup of Ukrainians.

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Edited by: isthatu Jan 23, 08, 16:41 / #
dont be a tosser all your life G',take a day of every now and again you paranoid gayboy in denial...... Grzegorz_ wrote: So much for your next Polonophobic attempt. like i say,tosser, i got the info from the Polish press p iss and moan to them......

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Jan 23, 08, 16:44 / #
isthatu wrote: in denial...... Show any fact from my post which isn't true or shut up.

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Edited by: isthatu Jan 23, 08, 16:46 / #
yawn... your in denial of your homosexuality G'.....thats all,your posts "facts" may very well be true,if a little rose tinted....

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06	Edited by: Grzegorz_ Jan 23, 08, 16:48 / #
isthatu wrote: yawn... No yawn. You write crap again and when I correct you then "I'm in denial"... I can write that 100 thousand British served in Wehrmacht and say that you are in denial If you said that It wasn't so. Would that be so cool ? isthatu wrote: your in denial of your homosexuality G "Your" a clown...

isthatuThreads: 4 Posts: 1,627 Joined: Jun 8, 07	Jan 23, 08, 16:52 / #
no,you just be spouting your usual crap,it was 62 British and commenwealth who served,not in the whermacht but in the wSS.the British Free Corps,only 6 of those ever came close to front line service....how many Poles served with the germans?thousands buddy,thousands.