Posted on 08/01/2005 11:27:33 AM PDT by lizol
Warsaw Rising remembered
Poles are commemorating the 61st anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, a massive liberation drive against the overwhelming Nazi German forces. The Polish Resistance launched the rising on August 1 1944 with the hope of seizing Warsaw from the Nazis ahead of the Soviet army which was marching westwards, threatening to impose a communist system on Poland.
The outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising was recreated at an open air show with, among other things, fierce fighting for Nazi SS barracks in the Wola district. For most Poles, that doomed rising, which cost the lives of 200,000 Varsovians, is one of the most cherished parts of their history.
On Sunday, Poles gathered in the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo reacted with a great outburst of emotion when German-born Pope Benedict XVI, recalled the Warsaw Uprising.
'I extend my warm greetings to all the Poles present here – August, the month of your important anniversaries begins. Today, I commemorate the Warsaw Uprising with you. May God bring peace to this world. I bless you all. '
But until recently, few people in the West had heard about the rising and many confused it with the Jewish Ghetto Uprising in Warsaw. British historian Norman Davies, an honorary member of the Union of the Warsaw Insurgents, is one of those people thanks to whom the West heard about the rising with a force. His “Rising ’44. The Battle of Warsaw” has kindled the imagination of readers, while New York firefighters bestowed an honorary membership of their force on him when they learned that every day as many people were killed in the 63 day long Warsaw Uprising as in the attack on the World Trade Center. Books like this are undoing the several decades of communist past, when the Warsaw Uprising was described as a shameful event.
For many decades not only Westerners, but Poles themselves, were deprived of reliable information about the Warsaw Uprising, with a sad effect. Once brought out from oblivion, The Warsaw Uprising appeals equally strong to both old and young generations – a concert by post-punk group Lao Che about the rising attracted throngs of youths to the Warsaw Uprising Museum recently.
Ping
Witkiewicz!!!!!!Mrocek!!!!!
This looks like a good subject for a future project for Mel Gibson.
While it does nothing to diminish the sacrifice and heroism of the Polish people and the importance of the Warsaw uprising, the claim that Warsaw could have been the first Eoropean capital to be liberated is historically inaccurate. Rome was liberated on June 4, 1944, while Paris fell to the Allies on August 25, 1944. The Warsaw uprising, even if had been successful, didn't begin until August 1, 1944. Facts, people, facts.
Isn't the Warsaw uprising the one in which the Poles, certain of the advancing Russians' immenent liberation of the City, launched a revolt, after which the Russians held back their advance to ensure the Germans could slaughter any activist Poles in advance of the Communist takeover?
Go to link provided in #4, if you like to find out something more about the Uprisig.
Kudos to Pope Benedict XVI for his kind comments.
ping
"This looks like a good subject for a future project for Mel Gibson."
And Jim Caviezel can speak with an Eastern European accent (reference movie "I am David").
The Warsaw Uprising Aug 1st - Oct 2nd, 1944 - 63 Days
France had England as an active Ally plus Holland and Belgium fighting at the same time, they had a Navy, Army and Air Force with armor and heavy artillery.
Poland had no active Allies, no Air Force, no Army, no Navy, no armor or heavy artillery except what they could capture.
Some people are willing to fight for their Freedom rather than wait for someone else to do it for them.
Sam's dad (in white shirt), Warsaw, 1944
You are your father's son. The picture of you as a youngin' in Vietnam shows the resemblence to your dad in this picture. Skinny and proud to be fighting for your country. :-)
That's the one. I highly recommend Davies' book Rising 44. It's a long read, but it gives a good overview of Polish history to put the Uprising in context.
In "The Pianist," one actually sees very little of the uprising, but whenever I watch it, I feel as though in some small way I was there. Very harrowing and emotional stuff.
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