Battle of Britain - Untold Story
Discussion
I knew about the Polish contribution in the Battle of Britain, and I was fully aware that without them we would not have won the Battle.
I did not however know how they were then treated at the end of the war, and I have to say I am utterly disgusted by it. I am ashamed that my country did this.
I did not however know how they were then treated at the end of the war, and I have to say I am utterly disgusted by it. I am ashamed that my country did this.
Brought a serious lump to my throat, this documentary. We were so bloody stuffy in the 40s...Top night for TV tonight with that prog and 'Love The Beast' just starting. I also flicked back over to BBC One to catch Mark Lawrenson's film about how the Kop at Anfield came to be named after a hill in South Africa. I knew the basics of the story but this piece did it proper justice. A visit has now been added to the bucket list.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
PimpmyHotwheels said:
Churchill sold the poles out.
I think you will find it was more Roosevelt/Eisenhower.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_betrayal
Churchill was complicit with the Americans in mstreating the Poles to avoid upsetting Stalin
the Polish fighter pilots are just part of the greater tragedy of how a war that ostensibly started to defend Poland ended with Poland being utterly destroyed by our 'allies'
I read a book about 303 "Kościuszko" Squadron, i can't remember the name of it - something to do with their motto? for our future and yours or something?
fantastic book but desperately sad
the Polish fighter pilots are just part of the greater tragedy of how a war that ostensibly started to defend Poland ended with Poland being utterly destroyed by our 'allies'
I read a book about 303 "Kościuszko" Squadron, i can't remember the name of it - something to do with their motto? for our future and yours or something?
fantastic book but desperately sad
Jasandjules said:
I did not however know how they were then treated at the end of the war, and I have to say I am utterly disgusted by it. I am ashamed that my country did this.
Me too.Disgusted.
Secret history and all that.
Seems we owe them a lot more than jobs as plumbers and plasterers.
Hugo a Gogo said:
Churchill was complicit with the Americans in mistreating the Poles to avoid upsetting Stalin
Complicit is rather a strong word. I would suggest he was over-ruled by the Americans who saw themselves as the 'conquering heroes', wanting a 'Pax Americana'. In much the same way that the UK has been dictated to by the US since WWII (with the possible exception of the Falklands Conflict) - remember Suez?It is a fact that Churchill wanted the 'Second Front' to be opened up using Italy and the Balkans as a springboard thus 'lancing into the soft Underbelly of Europe'. Had this been the case, then the War may well have been shorter and, certainly, Eastern Europe would not have been subject to the Soviet jackboot in the way it was. Unfortunately the 'cousins' saw more benefit in liberating France (whom they saw as an European 'player') early, with the concomitant losses on D-Day and later in the Bocage.
The upshot was the 'Falling of an Iron Curtain across Europe', the division of Berlin, the formation of the Warsaw Pact, the atrocities in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the loss of Polish freedom, and a Cold War that lasted for over 40 years.
Oh, and don't forget what the Soviets did at Katyn...
mattikake said:
Just watched this on 4OD. Great story that really is worthy of the Hollywood treatment, if only because Hollywood over-exaggeration would be an achievement!
I knew of the Poles in the RAF too. A squardon of Mavericks!
There's a 2001 Czech film, Dark Blue World, which tells a similar story of Czech pilots during the Battle of Britain. Mixes 1969 Battle of Britain dogfight footage with contemporary footage. Well worth checking out!I knew of the Poles in the RAF too. A squardon of Mavericks!
People forget about the Czech Sqns. They were:
No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign CALLA. Aircraft lettered: NN
No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign SILVO. Aircraft lettered: DU
The Polish Sqns were:
302 (City of Poznan) Squadron. Callsign CALEB. Aircraft lettered: WX
303 (Warsaw - Kosciuszko) Squadron. Callsign APANY. Aircraft lettered: RF
People also forget the 127 New Zealanders, 83 Canadians, 100 Australians, 20 South Africans, several Americans, 12 Irishmen (including my Father) and 1 (Jewish) Palestinian who fought in the Battle.
I believe there were some 'Free french' as well.
No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign CALLA. Aircraft lettered: NN
No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign SILVO. Aircraft lettered: DU
The Polish Sqns were:
302 (City of Poznan) Squadron. Callsign CALEB. Aircraft lettered: WX
303 (Warsaw - Kosciuszko) Squadron. Callsign APANY. Aircraft lettered: RF
People also forget the 127 New Zealanders, 83 Canadians, 100 Australians, 20 South Africans, several Americans, 12 Irishmen (including my Father) and 1 (Jewish) Palestinian who fought in the Battle.
I believe there were some 'Free french' as well.
You forgot 307 a night fighter squadron and 306 squadron
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._307_Polish_Night_...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoERWmZdZ8
Skip to the end of this and it'll have a list of the pilots and nationality's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._307_Polish_Night_...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYoERWmZdZ8
Skip to the end of this and it'll have a list of the pilots and nationality's
Edited by PimpmyHotwheels on Wednesday 30th June 01:16
Don't also forget the Polish and Czech squadrons in Bomber Command and Coastal Command.
There were quite a few Irish airmen in the RAF (from neutral Eire). At one point the leading Fighter Command ace was Dubliner Brendan "Paddy" Finucane (who's dad had been in the IRA in the 1920s).
Finucane was awarded the DFC but was killed in action when he ditched in the channel following a fighter sweep over France.
I also learned only very recently that veteran Irish TV presenter Cathal O'Shannon was a pilot ion the RAF during the war. Irishmen who fought in the British Armed Forces tended not to shout too much about it when they got home so up until fairly recently they were not really properly honoured in their homeland. At least 50,000 voluntarilly joined up.
There were quite a few Irish airmen in the RAF (from neutral Eire). At one point the leading Fighter Command ace was Dubliner Brendan "Paddy" Finucane (who's dad had been in the IRA in the 1920s).
Finucane was awarded the DFC but was killed in action when he ditched in the channel following a fighter sweep over France.
I also learned only very recently that veteran Irish TV presenter Cathal O'Shannon was a pilot ion the RAF during the war. Irishmen who fought in the British Armed Forces tended not to shout too much about it when they got home so up until fairly recently they were not really properly honoured in their homeland. At least 50,000 voluntarilly joined up.
the propaganda against the Poles from the Nazis and then the Soviets, combined with the physical destruction of the infrastructure and society was utterly successful
people still believe the Nazi tales of horses charging tanks, and the image of Poles as simple folk
the Germans and the Russians had tried unsuccessfully for a hundred years to wipe out Poland, and succeeded in not only doing so, but even erasing their history to a great extent
people still believe the Nazi tales of horses charging tanks, and the image of Poles as simple folk
the Germans and the Russians had tried unsuccessfully for a hundred years to wipe out Poland, and succeeded in not only doing so, but even erasing their history to a great extent
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
People forget about the Czech Sqns. They were:
No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign CALLA. Aircraft lettered: NN
No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign SILVO. Aircraft lettered: DU
The Polish Sqns were:
302 (City of Poznan) Squadron. Callsign CALEB. Aircraft lettered: WX
303 (Warsaw - Kosciuszko) Squadron. Callsign APANY. Aircraft lettered: RF
People also forget the 127 New Zealanders, 83 Canadians, 100 Australians, 20 South Africans, several Americans, 12 Irishmen (including my Father) and 1 (Jewish) Palestinian who fought in the Battle.
I believe there were some 'Free french' as well.
I'm not sure people do forget. Anyone with even a passing interest in the BoB would be fully aware. No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign CALLA. Aircraft lettered: NN
No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Callsign SILVO. Aircraft lettered: DU
The Polish Sqns were:
302 (City of Poznan) Squadron. Callsign CALEB. Aircraft lettered: WX
303 (Warsaw - Kosciuszko) Squadron. Callsign APANY. Aircraft lettered: RF
People also forget the 127 New Zealanders, 83 Canadians, 100 Australians, 20 South Africans, several Americans, 12 Irishmen (including my Father) and 1 (Jewish) Palestinian who fought in the Battle.
I believe there were some 'Free french' as well.
A good programme but the political bit at the end is a more complex subject and deserves its own airing. I thought it a misjudged ending.
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