BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Dec 04 - 04:29 AM

I don't think that I'll ever get to the bottom of what happened with my Dads family. Both grandparents have died and my Dad, while always telling a good story, has been known to be a little spartan with the truth;-)

My Grandad was Russian, from Kropotkin I think. Grandma was Polish and I believe from Bialystok although the remaining family are now in Gdynia. They were in Russia when they were first married but lost there home to one of the purges on 'foreigners' and ended up back in Bielystok. The war came and with it the Germans and Russians. Now, even after the 'falling out' between Germany and Russia the Russians appear to have either stayed or moved into East Poland. Grandma and Grandad, having previous experience of the Russians, decided not to stay after the war and moved, eventualy, to England. How the family came to be re-united in Italy is a story for another day...

Now then, this is the bit I am not sure of, my Dad with his occasionaly skewed versions of history, tells us of the Ghettoes in and around Bialystok. He tells of Grandad, who became a Russian Orthodox priest when he came to England btw, being given important books for safe keeping by Jewish friends who were, for the obvious reason, later dispossed. He tells of the whole family risking life and limb to help various people in the ghettoes.

I have seen the mention of the freedom fighters, Jewish and Polish alike, around Bialystok but I would like to hear more about it. Anyone studied it? Anyone recommend a readable history of the place and period? The more I ask my Dad and his sister, my Aunt Irene now living in St Louis, the more confusing it becomes - They tend to contradict each other a lot!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: mack/misophist
Date: 24 Dec 04 - 12:29 AM

The Nazis weren't the only ones to persecute Jews. Remember the Dreyfus Affair. Pogrom comes from Russian roots. It was a wide spread custom. Polish governments encouraged people to riot in the ghettos and shtetles to distract them from their anger at their own government.

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:29 PM

They were probably about as prejudiced against Jews as other central Europeans were at that time...it wasn't just the Nazis who were down on Jews. Hitler picked an ideal scapegoat, given the climate of the time...and he also picked communists and gypsies to blame for things...two more ideal scapegoats.

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:08 PM

I wonder if they will mention all the help they gave the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto?

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:06 PM

Nice to finally see some recognition of the brave Polish people who fought the Nazis.

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: Bassic
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:34 PM

Could this be it?

Subject: RE: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: Peace
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:15 PM

Here's a site that might help.

http://stonebooks.com/archives/010916.shtml

Caroline,

Where are you that you heard the review? It might be possible to call the radio station and ask there. If you have anymore info--place of publication, etc., it would be helpful in locating the info you need. Anything at all.

Bruce

Subject: BS: Polish Armoured Corps, WW2
From: GUEST,Caroline Smith
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 03:05 PM

This is driving my friend nuts. He heard part of a review on the radio about a recently-published book on the Polish Armoured Corps. It's part fact/ part fiction and tells about their battles in WW2. Some ended up in internment camps, some were shot in France when they got separated from their comrades. He wants to get this book, as his father was in the Corps and survived the war although he was badly wounded. If anyone has any clues as to the title or author, I'd be grateful.