2013 - April Theme Read - Poland in WW2

[Kevin]

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Kevin, thanks very much for your comments on both books. I will be keen to hear your final views on the book Poland Betrayed as it might entice a few of us to grab a copy :)"

Just finished the book, you can check out my review.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Good review Kevin, thanks for letting us know your thoughts on the book.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Nice review Kevin.

[Caroline]

Geevee wrote: "Caroline that must have been a very interesting period listening and learning from Mr Davies. Your post prompted me to read his wikipedia entry ..."

It did feel like a privilege. I was at university in the early 1980s - the time of Solidarnosc - watching it all unfold.

I am enjoying No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II. Koskodan has an easy readable style and the book is clearly about a subject close to his heart.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

You are right there Caroline. Mr Koskodan is clearly passionate about the subject, and as one reads the book you get this real sense he wants his reader to really understand not just the story but his pride in the Polish nation.

[Kevin]

Just started White Eagle, Red Star: The Polish-Soviet War 1919-1920 and The Miracle on the Vistula


Not directly pertaining to WWII, but it did help set up the events 20 yrs later.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Sounds interesting Kevin and one I have on my TBR so will look forward to your thoughts.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Same here!

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I came across this today which looks good by Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Well spotted Geevee, sounds like a fascinating book.

[Caroline]

Geevee wrote: "I came across this today which looks good by Aleksandra Ziolkowska-Boehm"

It does sound worth reading.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Thanks Caroline and Rick - I found this review too which you both and others may find interesting: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/revi...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for that link Geevee, it does really sound like quite a good story.

[Charles]

Interesting story from Poland at the end of last month: Krakow is looking to raise some funds for a Wojtek the Bear statue!

http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/134...

Hope to post my review of No Greater Ally soon...

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Look forward to the review Charles.

[Jacek]

Hi all,

As a fresh Goodreader and Polish of origin it's nice to join on this topic. Good recommendations all over, I am a fan of Norman Davies's books on Polish history. He is well known and respected in Poland: and his books have been translated to Polish (which I think is a great recognition of his work).

In terms of additional recommendations, there is obviously a strong body of Polish-language books on the subject. One which in my view stands out is Kazimierz Moczarski's Conversations with an Executioner. There is actually an English translation available (see http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/94...), ISBN is 0-13-171918-1, but it does not show in the "add book" search. This is an amazing story of a Polish resitance fighter (the author), who was jailed after the war (by the new communist regime) and put into a cell with... Juergen Stroop (the Nazi who led the final "Grossaktion" against the Jewish Ghetto in Warsaw). Moczarski spent close to a year (I think) with Stroop, while being tortured by the communists, and having to cope with Stroop's talkative nature. All this is well written, and has been filmed twice in Poland.

[Mike, Assisting Moderator US Forces]

Moczarski is cited often as a source for Stroop's actions and thinking in

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

An excellent recommendation Jacek. This book sounds quite interesting.


by Kazimierz Moczarski

[Colin]

Of interest, I knew and interviewed SS Standartenfuehrer Johannes-Rudolf Muhlenkamp, 5th SS Division "Wking" commander during the 1944 General Uprising. He was second in command to Obergruppenfuehrer Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski. He actually saved the lives of the soldiers captured when the fighting was over. One was the father of news journalist Rita Cosby. Read her book about her father, his fight and captivity in Quiet Hero.

[Caroline]

Jacek wrote: "Hi all,

As a fresh Goodreader and Polish of origin it's nice to join on this topic. Good recommendations all over, I am a fan of Norman Davies's books on Polish history. He is well known and respected in Poland..."

Welcome Jacek. Lovely to have another fan of Norman Davies in the group.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Today is the 69th anniversary of the Polish Army capturing the summit of Monte Cassino: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mon...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for the link Geevee.

[Charles]

Reviewed at last!

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Caroline]

Thanks for the reminder of the significance of the date Geevee.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Great review Charles, totally agree with everything you said.

[Feliks]

I only know of Poland's fate during WWII from Shirer's book; but what i didn't know--and what I've been learning about lately--is how much erratic Polish politics were. Poland was seething with socialist activity since the late 1890s. At least since that date, constantly at odds with its neighbors; constant questions about its borders, rights, and boundaries.

I think that in any eventual conflict (whether it had been WWII or any other war) Poland would have been up for grabs. It was such a political football all along.

On the other paw: the same socialists who were agitating for an answer to the Polish question, also ran rampant in Germany during the Imperial period. They were seeking to foment revolution in both countries to match the rise of events in Russia.

This probably lent credence to the 'stab-in-the-back' theory of resentful Germans during the inter-war period. What a mess.