I take the liberty of trying to put things in their fairly true perspective. I was in a workshop as a helper and another helper was a Polish emmigrant called Gruza. I said in a friendly manner , to curry favour with him- "We British helped you in the war". He laughed and shouted something to the effect that "they never came, where where they?"
Now for the facts. Hitler had annexed territories four times. He had given his word that "the last territorial claim I shall make etc." Chamberlain was a gentleman. He thought that any leader of a nation would thus have principles. Hitler was a liar, of course.
What must be stated is the ultimatum given to Hitler by Chamberlain. He had his arm twisted by the now powerful figure of Churchill, with his pals, Cadogan and Vansittart et al.
Had Hitler had obeyed the ultimatum, we would not be discussing this war presumably. Since Hitler, like most bullies, had grown bolder and contemptuous, he did not even consider negotiations. Logistically, it was impossible for Britain to do anything. They had neutral countries in between them and Poland.
Where was from in England, the Polish airmen flew sorties out of Northolt. There is an impressive war memorial to them. A Polish manned bomber crashed next to my school, but it was on a Sunday. One little chap found a cap badge- all that was left. Cordially. PL.
Churchill was a gentleman? Tell it to the Irish.
And the Polish pilots originally were to be mechanics (read Zamoyski’s book), but the Brits didn’t have their own pilots, and certainly not experienced pilots
Pat’s book in part is to bring to life the real Churchill.