Poland's Struggle (Hardback)
Before, During and After the Second World War
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 212
Illustrations: 32
ISBN: 9781526743923
Published: 3rd July 2019
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Poland was re-created as an independent nation at the end of the First World War, but it soon faced problems as Nazi Germany set about expanding its control on Europe. The Wehrmacht’s attack on 1 September 1939 was followed by a Red Army invasion two weeks later.
The people of Poland were then subjected to a terrifying campaign of murder, imprisonment and enslavement which only increased as the war dragged on. Polish Catholics faced violence and deportation as they adapted to the draconian laws implemented by the German authorities. Meanwhile, the Polish Jews were forced into ghettos while the plans for the Final Solution were implemented. They then faced annihilation in the Holocaust, code named Operation Reinhard.
Despite the dangers, many Poles joined the underground war against their oppressors, while those who escaped sought to fight for their nation’s freedom from abroad. They sent intelligence to the west, attacked German installations, carried out assassinations and rose up to confront their enemy, all against impossible odds. The advance of the Red Army brought new problems, as the Soviet's dreaded NKVD introduced its own form of terror, hunting down anyone who fought for an independent nation.
The story concludes with Poland’s experience behind the Iron Curtain, ending with the return of democracy by 1991.
As featured on WW2 Today
WW2 Today
Article: 'A century of conflict in Poland' part of Sheffield Authors feature
Sheffield Star, 17th August 2019 - words by Julia Armstrong
This book quite sensibly does not go into the smallest details of the history, there are other books for that. This book, under various headings gives you an excellent brief history, and introduction, so the general reader is more enlightened about Poland. This is a book that has needed to be written for a long time, and not one written by some one with a Polish background. This is an open an honest history with no bias, and that is important.
GoodReads, Paul Diggett
Whoever decides to read this book will learn something form the pages within and will not be bored. An excellent short history.
Read the full review here
As featured on Argunners
Argunners
As feature onThe View From The Turret Vlog
The View From The Turret Vlog
Poland has suffered a turbulent history but recent history began in 1919 and turbulence continues. The author has provided a sympathetic review of recent Polish history that has not been covered in this way before in an English language publication – Very Highly Recommended
Firetrench
Read the full review here
Instagram review via @Chiznoids
Chiznoids
A good introduction to 20th Century Polish history that introduces some interesting thoughts about the almost inevitable difficulty of being located between two competing giants on the European stage. Dealing with this became a core feature of Polish thinking and responses and this book is very helpful in understanding the Polish dilemma.
Michael McCarthy
Michael McCarthy. Battlefield Guide
About Andrew Rawson
ANDREW RAWSON has over forty books to his name, including eight Pen and Sword ‘Battleground Europe’ travel books and three History Press ‘Handbook’ reference books. He has edited the minutes of the Second World War conferences and the top-secret correspondence between George C. Marshall and Dwight D. Eisenhower. He books include covering Poland’s struggle in the twentieth century, Auschwitz Extermination Camp and wartime Krakow. He has also written a ten-part series on the Western Front campaigns between 1914-18. He has a master’s degree with Birmingham University’s history department.
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