NAPOLEON WAS A HERO FOR POLES AS WELL

KRAKOW, Poland, Nov 28 (AFP) - Few people, apart from the French of course, have taken Napoleon Bonaparte as much to to their hearts as the Poles. He promised them their independence at a time when the country was partitioned among Austria, Prussia and Russia, and even though he never properly kept his word, the Poles flocked to his side. In 1812, no fewer than 100,000 Poles fought in Napoleon's Grand Army of half a million men -- the largest national contingent after the French. A new exhibition here coinciding with the bicentenary of Napoleon's first empire and entitled "Napoleon and the Poles" details this country's long attachment to the military genius who sought to become the master of all Europe. Tomasz Kusion, the curator of the exhibition, points out that Poland is the only country in the world to include a reference to Napoleon in its national anthem. Poles still sing that it was Napoleon "who showed us how to fight" for independence. Bonaparte gave the Poles their constitution in 1807 and bequeathed them the Napoleonic Code of civil law. His name is attached to a favorite Polish pastry, the Napoleonka, a confection of mille feuilles and custard. A popular brand of vodka is called Pani Walewski after Napoleon's Polish mistress Countess Marie Walewska, whom he met when his forces occupied Warsaw in 1807 and with whom he had a son, Alexandre, in 1810. She remained loyal to him until her death in Paris in 1817, and she was one of the few of his old acquaintances to visit him on Elba when he was in exile and disgrace. Given the subject matter, it is ironic that the exhibition here is being held in the palace of the Czartoryski Princes, for they belonged to a family that was noted as being anti-Napoleonic. Along with photo and picture displays of Napoleon's career, the exhibition -- which will remain in Krakow until Jan 16 before transferring to Warsaw -- contains such Bonaparte trivia as a lock of his hair, the pen with which he signed the Treaty of Amiens, a leather document case and even a weevil-drilled sea-biscuit that he cut in two while on the way to exile and death on Saint Helena in 1815. Kusion, a historian, said the Poles have a special affection for Napoleon because "he promised them that Poland would be reborn" and they responded by flocking to his colors. After defeating Prussia in 1807, Napoleon created the Duchy of Warsaw. "For the Poles, this meant the revival of a small part of their state," Kusion went on. "They were ready to continue fighting at the side of Napoleon, first against Austria, and then against Russia in 1812 to recover the rest of their territory." "The Poles were the only ones to want this war -- it was their war against Russia," Kusion said. "Even the French soldiers had had enough." The massive Polish contingent in the Grand Army was the best equipped to fight the Moscow campaign. The troops were well adapted to the harsh winter, and their horses were shod with cleats to avoid slipping on the ice. The French ignored such precautions and in consequence lost some 80,000 horses. Kucion said that after this, Napoleon was never able to reconstitute his cavalry. After Napoleon's defeat and grim retreat from Russia, the Duchy of Warsaw was again partitioned among Russia, Prussia and Austria, and it took Poland another century to recover its independence. But Polish troops remained loyal to Napoleon, who sent them to put down a rebellion in Santo Domingo, where most perished. Even though Napoleon pillaged Poland to equip his campaign against Moscow, and again to re-equip his shattered army,the loyalty of the Poles could not be shaken. "The Poles remained faithful to Napoleon right to the end, even when he had been abandoned by all the other nations," Kusion said.

NAPOLEON WAS A HERO FOR POLES AS WELL

Received Sunday, 28 November 2004 00:17:00 GMT

KRAKOW, Poland, Nov 28 (AFP) - Few people, apart from the French of course, have taken Napoleon Bonaparte as much to to their hearts as the Poles.

He promised them their independence at a time when the country was partitioned among Austria, Prussia and Russia, and even though he never properly kept his word, the Poles flocked to his side.

In 1812, no fewer than 100,000 Poles fought in Napoleon's Grand Army of half a million men -- the largest national contingent after the French.

A new exhibition here coinciding with the bicentenary of Napoleon's first empire and entitled "Napoleon and the Poles" details this country's long attachment to the military genius who sought to become the master of all Europe.

Tomasz Kusion, the curator of the exhibition, points out that Poland is the only country in the world to include a reference to Napoleon in its national anthem. Poles still sing that it was Napoleon "who showed us how to fight" for independence.

Bonaparte gave the Poles their constitution in 1807 and bequeathed them the Napoleonic Code of civil law. His name is attached to a favorite Polish pastry, the Napoleonka, a confection of mille feuilles and custard.

A popular brand of vodka is called Pani Walewski after Napoleon's Polish mistress Countess Marie Walewska, whom he met when his forces occupied Warsaw in 1807 and with whom he had a son, Alexandre, in 1810. She remained loyal to him until her death in Paris in 1817, and she was one of the few of his old acquaintances to visit him on Elba when he was in exile and disgrace.

Given the subject matter, it is ironic that the exhibition here is being held in the palace of the Czartoryski Princes, for they belonged to a family that was noted as being anti-Napoleonic.

Along with photo and picture displays of Napoleon's career, the exhibition -- which will remain in Krakow until Jan 16 before transferring to Warsaw -- contains such Bonaparte trivia as a lock of his hair, the pen with which he signed the Treaty of Amiens, a leather document case and even a weevil-drilled sea-biscuit that he cut in two while on the way to exile and death on Saint Helena in 1815.

Kusion, a historian, said the Poles have a special affection for Napoleon because "he promised them that Poland would be reborn" and they responded by flocking to his colors. After defeating Prussia in 1807, Napoleon created the Duchy of Warsaw.

"For the Poles, this meant the revival of a small part of their state," Kusion went on. "They were ready to continue fighting at the side of Napoleon, first against Austria, and then against Russia in 1812 to recover the rest of their territory."

"The Poles were the only ones to want this war -- it was their war against Russia," Kusion said. "Even the French soldiers had had enough."

The massive Polish contingent in the Grand Army was the best equipped to fight the Moscow campaign. The troops were well adapted to the harsh winter, and their horses were shod with cleats to avoid slipping on the ice.

The French ignored such precautions and in consequence lost some 80,000 horses. Kucion said that after this, Napoleon was never able to reconstitute his cavalry.

After Napoleon's defeat and grim retreat from Russia, the Duchy of Warsaw was again partitioned among Russia, Prussia and Austria, and it took Poland another century to recover its independence. But Polish troops remained loyal to Napoleon, who sent them to put down a rebellion in Santo Domingo, where most perished.

Even though Napoleon pillaged Poland to equip his campaign against Moscow, and again to re-equip his shattered army,the loyalty of the Poles could not be shaken.

"The Poles remained faithful to Napoleon right to the end, even when he had been abandoned by all the other nations," Kusion said.

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