Warsaw uprising

[mania]

1st August - 60th anniversary of Warsaw uprising. Thousands of young people stood up to fight the occupants - Nazis. Warsaw was the only city in occupied Europe that had the courage to stand against Germans. They fought for their city for 3 months - it was an underground but regular army. A lot of the died, some of the survivors life in the US. As a result of the Warsaw uprising Germans teared the city to the grounds - only 4% of Warsaw remained. The rest were ruins.
Lets honor those who had an unbelievable courage and love for their country - Poland.
Mania

 

[H2Andy]

i would second that... an amazing feat of bravery


I would note that Stalin had the chance to move up troops to support the uprising and take away pressure from the city (by diverting German forces), and he chose not to do it.

Stalin wanted all the glory to go to the Red Army, and most importanly, to have no Polish opposition to eventual Soviet occupation,and he ordered the Red Army to STOP short of Warsaw while the uprising lasted.
They could actually see the fighting in the city. Also, Stalin denied permission to the Allies to use Red Army
airfields to drop supplies to the Poles, and the Allies didn't stand up to him.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

Brave souls...

 

[BigJetDriver]

1st August - 60th anniversary of Warsaw uprising. Thousands of young people stood up to fight the occupying Nazis. Warsaw was the only city in occupied Europe that had the courage to stand against the Germans. They fought for their city for 3 months - it was an underground but regular army. A lot of them died, some of the survivors live in the US. As a result of the Warsaw uprising the Germans tore the city down to the ground - only 4% of Warsaw remained. The rest was ruin.
Let us honor those who had unbelievable courage and love for their country - Poland.
Mania

The Polish people have fought many battles for their country, their way of life, and their freedom. They received little outside support, usually fighting alone against incredible odds. That Poland is a free and independent country today is a tribute to an extremely courageous, and fiercely determined people. We should all salute and honor them.

I certainly do!

BJD

 

[mania]

i would second that... an amazing feat of bravery


I would note that Stalin had the chance to move up troops to support the uprising and take away pressure from the city (by diverting German forces), and he chose not to do it.

Stalin wanted all the glory to go to the Red Army, and most importanly, to have no Polish opposition to eventual Soviet occupation,and he ordered the Red Army to STOP short of Warsaw while the uprising lasted.
They could actually see the fighting in the city. Also, Stalin denied permission to the Allies to use Red Army
airfields to drop supplies to the Poles, and the Allies didn't stand up to him.

The Russians stood on the second side of Vistula river - where I live now. Watched the uprising and did nothing - and even worse. Some of the soldiers were trying to escape from Germans (at the end of uprising) by swimming the river - Soviets were shooting them or arresting them and sending to Gulag.
Poles are strange - one of our poets in the XIXth century said that we are the best nation but the worst society. As a nation we are capable of fighting for our freedom against all odds but as a society - we are having problems with creating a real society.
And thanks a lot to all of you for your words. My grandfather's brother was one of the high rank soldier of the Polish National Army that did the uprising. His wife - H2Andy - still lives in Florida (Boca Raton).
20 thousand of the best Polish young people lost their lives as a result of the uprising. The younger soldier was....12 years old!!!!!

So remembering the history I'm fully enjoying living now in a free and democratic country. Guys - that's a great thing - you appreciate it much more when you know what not having the freedom means...
Mania

 

[scubafool]

I admire & respect the courage shown by these people in the face of such overwhelming odds. They stand as an example of true patriotism.

 

[scubafool]

Ummm... OK. Whatever.

 

[Kim]

It's a pity that they were not 'politically correct' enough to get more support from outside - even after they supplied the allies with the original means to fight the Nazis by stealing the Enigma machine for them. Poland was the political football of Europe for a very long time. The Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto also received very little support - and were also incredibly brave. Warsaw was not a very fair place. I hope things are different now.