THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP discussion
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2013 - April Theme Read - Poland in WW2
![Jerome Otte | 716 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1330740421p1/7672919.jpg)
The Eagle Unbowed: Poland and the Poles in the Second World War
![The Eagle Unbowed Poland and the Poles in the Second World War by Halik Kochanski](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356249800s/15749132.jpg)
Synopsis
The Second World War gripped Poland as it did no other country in Europe. Invaded by both Germany and the Soviet Union, it remained under occupation by foreign armies from the first day of the war to the last. The conflict was brutal, as Polish armies battled the enemy on four different fronts. It was on Polish soil that the architects of the Final Solution assembled their most elaborate network of extermination camps, culminating in the deliberate destruction of millions of lives, including three million Polish Jews. In "The Eagle Unbowed," Halik Kochanski tells, for the first time, the story of Poland's war in its entirety, a story that captures both the diversity and the depth of the lives of those who endured its horrors.
Most histories of the European war focus on the Allies' determination to liberate the continent from the fascist onslaught. Yet the "good war" looks quite different when viewed from Lodz or Krakow than from London or Washington, D.C. Poland emerged from the war trapped behind the Iron Curtain, and it would be nearly a half-century until Poland gained the freedom that its partners had secured with the defeat of Hitler. Rescuing the stories of those who died and those who vanished, those who fought and those who escaped, Kochanski deftly reconstructs the world of wartime Poland in all its complexity-from collaboration to resistance, from expulsion to exile, from Warsaw to Treblinka. "The Eagle Unbowed" provides in a single volume the first truly comprehensive account of one of the most harrowing periods in modern history.
![Jerome Otte | 716 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1330740421p1/7672919.jpg)
No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II
![No Greater Ally The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391175s/5143423.jpg)
![Kenneth K. Koskodan](https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1316161104p2/4264605.jpg)
Synopsis
There is a chapter of World War II history that remains largely untold, the story of the fourth largest allied military of the war, the only nation to have fought in the battles of Leningrad, Arnhem, Tobruk and Normandy. The story of millions of young men and women who gave everything for freedom and in the final victory lost all. In a cruel twist of history the monumental struggles of an entire nation have been forgotten, and even intentionally obscured. This book redresses the balance, giving a comprehensive overview of Poland's participation in World War II. Following their valiant but doomed defense of Poland in 1939, members of the Polish armed forces fought with the Allies wherever and however they could. With previously unpublished first-hand accounts, information never before seen in English, and rare photographs, this title provides a detailed analysis of the devastation the war brought to Poland, and the final betrayal when, having fought for freedom for six long years, Poland was handed to the Soviet Union.
!['Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19434 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1515987158p1/2413336.jpg)
![The Eagle Unbowed Poland and the Poles in the Second World War by Halik Kochanski](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356249800s/15749132.jpg)
![No Greater Ally The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391175s/5143423.jpg)
![Isaac's Army The Jewish Resistance in Occupied Poland by Matthew Brzezinski](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344371385s/13531090.jpg)
![A Question of Honor The Kosciuszko Squadron Forgotten Heroes of World War II by Lynne Olson](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320502518s/2267634.jpg)
![The Forgotten Few The Polish Air Force in World War II by Adam Zamoyski](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1172097552s/138819.jpg)
Any other suggestions?
![Jerome Otte | 716 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1330740421p1/7672919.jpg)
There's also this:
Blitzkrieg Unleashed: The German Invasion of Poland 1939
![Blitzkrieg Unleashed The German Invasion of Poland 1939 by Richard Hargreaves](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348743060s/3385854.jpg)
Synopsis
At dawn on Friday 1 September 1939 the Germans launched their land, sea and air assault on Poland. The World became aware of the awesome power of Hitler's Third Reich and the limitless and ruthless nature of his ambition.The Blitzkrieg (Lightning War) attack, spearheaded by Panzers, took the German forces to the gates of Warsaw in a week. The vital port of Danzig fell, crushed by naval and air bombardment and land assaults. The Polish Air Force, out-numbered and out-gunned, were driven from the skies. In a month Warsaw fell amid great bloodshed and in six weeks the Poles were defeated.
The speed of the German conquest was matched by its brutality. Lives and property meant little to the invaders and civilians and POWs were summarily executed. Jews received particular attention and these atrocities were not just perpetrated by the SS but soldiers of the Wehrmacht.
Blitzkrieg Unleashed is told in the words of those who conquered Poland, thanks to the author's research into letters, diaries, unpublished accounts, official documents and histories and newspapers.
![Mike | 3456 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1329191662p1/545336.jpg)
![The Bravest Battle The Twenty-eight Days of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising by Dan Kurzman](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1203104193s/1120971.jpg)
![Geevee | 3803 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1701962983p1/5153787.jpg)
![No Greater Ally The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391175s/5143423.jpg)
![Mike | 3456 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1329191662p1/545336.jpg)
![No Greater Ally The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391175s/5143423.jpg)
That's the one I was thinking of getting too. Maybe we won't be reading different books...:)
!['Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19434 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1515987158p1/2413336.jpg)
![Isaac's Army The Jewish Resistance in Occupied Poland by Matthew Brzezinski](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1344371385s/13531090.jpg)
![Paul (paul_gephart) | 436 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1218596224p1/750164.jpg)
!['Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19434 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1515987158p1/2413336.jpg)
Your idea is a good one and it is intended that we have a theme month on Poland so members can read any book on the subject of Poland during WW2 and they can all talk about the various issues from their book offering a wide ranging discussion.
![Geevee | 3803 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1701962983p1/5153787.jpg)
LOL nice one :)
!['Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19434 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1515987158p1/2413336.jpg)
If this works I'd like to try it with other subjects - like books on WW2 Generals/leaders or any subject folks want to try - great battles/campaigns, great weapons, etc.
!['Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19434 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1515987158p1/2413336.jpg)
![Geevee | 3803 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1701962983p1/5153787.jpg)
![Paul (paul_gephart) | 436 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1218596224p1/750164.jpg)
![A.L. Sowards | 500 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1688011546p1/2048362.jpg)
I guess great minds think alike!
![Courtney (cstarfire26) | 17 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1342721140p1/11101111.jpg)
![Neighbors The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland by Jan Tomasz Gross](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1311648241s/73698.jpg)
![Colin Heaton (colin1962) | 2011 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442493670p1/6506778.jpg)
![Colin Heaton (colin1962) | 2011 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1442493670p1/6506778.jpg)
![Tami R Peterson (trpeterson) | 9 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1724772071p1/7041161.jpg)
![](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1309211236l/657624.jpg)
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65...
This is an excellent book about the resistance in Warsaw and the betrayal by the Soviets.
Also, I know there are a few good books on the Katyn Massacre (Stalin's annihilation of the Polish communists) but if anyone could recommend a specific title that would be great.
![Geevee | 3803 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1701962983p1/5153787.jpg)
![No Greater Ally The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II by Kenneth K. Koskodan](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320391175s/5143423.jpg)
![Helen (helenmarylesshankman) | 99 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1447305055p1/2429268.jpg)
I loved Mila 18! I had to read it before my Holocaust trip to Poland. Colin, you interviewed SS men? How extraordinary and chilling!
![Ireney Berezniak | 2 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1420159345p1/5197232.jpg)
Of the books mentioned in this thread, I've read Rising '44: The Battle for Warsaw, No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland's Forces in World War II, and A Question of Honor: The Kosciuszko Squadron: Forgotten Heroes of World War II. All worthwhile reads, in my opinion. I especially recommend Rising '44: The Battle for Warsaw, superbly written by a British historian specializing in Polish history.
For anyone interested, I've created a Polish history list a couple of years ago. You just may find some additional WWII material to add to your reading list >8)
ib.
![ᴀᴍɪᴛ (inbravo) | 2 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1587363724p1/4629312.jpg)
![Ireney Berezniak | 2 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1420159345p1/5197232.jpg)
![Katyn Stalin's Massacre and the Triumph of Truth by Allen Paul](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1328773957s/7913867.jpg)
I've purchased this, but haven't checked it out yet. Came recommended to me number of times. I will read it one day ... >8)
However, the Katyn massacre is not about annihilation of Polish communists. Quite the opposite. At the outset of WWII, Katyn was the site of mass execution of Polish nationals comprising primarily of Polish military officers captured during the initial partition of Poland by Germany and Soviet Russia, police officers, and intelligentsia ... members of Polish society who were deemed most resistant to the Soviet ideals.
ib.
![Singleton Mosby | 96 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1531086424p1/4745553.jpg)
![German Report Series The German Campaign in Poland (1939) by Robert M. Kenne Major Robert M. Kennedy](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347743028s/14473454.jpg)
Altough many of the other books mentioned here sound very interesting as well.
![Tami R Peterson (trpeterson) | 9 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1724772071p1/7041161.jpg)
[bookcover:Katyn:..."
Yes of course. I should have said the massacre of any potential opposition to the official CP that eventually took over the government at Stalin's behest. :)
![Geevee | 3803 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1701962983p1/5153787.jpg)
Thanks Amit this is a book I've not seen before.
!['Aussie Rick' (aussierick) | 19434 comments](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1515987158p1/2413336.jpg)
Books mentioned in this topic
Conversations with an Executioner (other topics)The Bravest Battle: The Twenty-eight Days of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (other topics)
Kaia, Heroine of the 1944 Warsaw Rising (other topics)
Kaia, Heroine of the 1944 Warsaw Rising (other topics)
White Eagle, Red Star: The Polish-Soviet War 1919 - 1920 and The Miracle on the Vistula (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kazimierz Moczarski (other topics)Norman Davies (other topics)
Aleksandra Ziółkowska-Boehm (other topics)
Robert M. Kennedy (other topics)
A.J.P. Taylor (other topics)
More...
This thread is open to discuss Poland's contribution to the Second World War with a theme month for reading books on the topic.