Britain and Poland’s relationship developed in March 1939 when Czechoslovakia fell to Nazi Germany as soon as Poland was invaded that was when Britain declared war on Germany. Personally, I believe the role of Poland and the Polish roles has been diminished over time and I am pleased to see quite a comprehensive book on Poland’s War, through the complexities of their relationships with allies as well as their roles within the bigger battles of the war from Battle of Britain to Arnhem and Normandy and many others.

This book has been researched from Polish sources which allows a different perspective not normally perceived in British reports and research.

Tastes Through Time website

Certainly worth investing in a copy if you want to understand the history of Poland and its neighbours.

Royal Anglian News, April 2021

McGilvray does a good job interspersing overviews with specific details, particularly when discussing the internecine political squabbling among Polish exiles – including a literal coup within the Polish government-in exile while in London. He paints a vivid picture of people who fought throughout the war and who deserved a better fate than the one handed to them in 1945.

World at War #71 - reviewed by John D. Burtt

Evan McGilvray makes very good use of documentary sources, both British and Polish, and this provides a very strong foundation for his interpretation. This latter may be rather stark but it does provide a sound footing for a debate about what we see happening in modern-day Poland.

Historical Association, reviewed by Trevor James

The Second World War had different dates for different countries, starting first in China. The politicians of Britain and France proved unequal to the duplicity of Hitler and his Nazis with the real start date in Europe being the appeasement at Munich in 1938 – Highly Recommended.

Read the full review here

Firetrench

The compelling story of the invasion of Poland and the efforts of the Polish underground to undermine and frustrate the acts of cowardice and genocide of Hitler's invading troops. Some grim but essential reading in this fascinating book.

Books Monthly

This really is an excellent book, and not written by a bias historian of Polish descent such as me, but by an excellent military historian. McGilvray is an excellent researcher and writer who masters the subject he writes about. This is the beginning of putting further knowledge of the Polish response to war out to the general reader. An excellent book.

Read the full review here

GoodReads, Paul Diggett

The full story of Poland's part in World War II from the failure of pre-war diplomacy to betrayal by the Allies leading to civil war and Soviet occupation in the postwar years.

Bookseller Buyers Guide

This is a first class book, well researched and giving a comprehensive account of Poland between 1938 and 1948 that is delivered without obvious prejudice to post war politics. The narrative is well presented and reads well. As a general description of that country during that difficult time, written by a man with deep Polish connections, it cannot be bettered.

Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide

Michael McCarthy