WWII - Battle of Britain and Poles

The Germans knew after the massive faliuer of the battle of Britain that they would fail. I mean inferior weapons have only one way to go. The Germans were massively inferior in the technology department. Just look at their radar capabilities. What a joke.....

we'd have been stuffed without Polish airmen & Soldiers, not just the battle of Britain but North Africa, Italy, Arnhem, you name it.

with all the recent war commemorations, i really wanted to say thank you, since the media usually ignore Polands role,
and since i don't know any Polish ex-combatants this forum will have to do!

at the imperial war museum north Polands contribution wasn't even mentioned, the trend now seems to be to emphasise the role of commonwealth troops for reasons of political correctness. at least David Reynolds film "1942" mentioned Poles as :"by far the most recklessly brave allied fighters" and gave Montecassino good coverage.

so you saved our arses , and what happened after the war is too tragic for words, and yes our governments actions were shamefull in the extreme at times

but the contribution to British lives of the Polish Refugees who couldn't go home is amazing.

My Mum used to work for this Exiled Polish Author


hokus-pokus.pl/autor/30/index.html
and i used to spend my holidays at her large country house while mum worked, the family spoiled me every xmas and they were some of the happiest times of my life playing with the dogs, exploring the house and garden. i'm really glad to read that she lived to see her book published in Poland in 2009

(the family moved north so we lost contact)
the house was often visited by famous people and i got the autograph of the late great actor Phillip Maddoc, i remember sitting on his knee

so anyway this rambling post is my grossly inadequate attempt to say Thank you Poland

The Poles absolutely LOVE their 303 Squadron. Talking about it at any opportunity.

Quite funny to be honest.

Over 16,000,000 Allied dead people and the Poles keep banging on about about 100 Polish pilots who helped in the BoB alongside the British and other nationalities :D

Laughable really. Talking about these men as if they're some kind of demi-gods who won the war for everyone disrespects them and yourselves.

you've got to admit there's something a bit demi-god-ish about the soldiers who walked from Siberia to India to Join the British army ;-)

i totally take your point but it seems from recent documentaries like "Bloody Foreigners" on channel 4 that the Polish contribution to BoB was considered important by the top brass, we were losing a lot of pilots and needed the fresh blood

Sure, everyone was important!

The Poles were not fighting for Britain, they ran away from Poland, wanted revenge and we gave them planes.
Win Win scenario.

I'd have more respect for the Americans and Canadian volunteers that came across the Atlantic to help.

Really? Well, at least now you know it existed :)))


Of course, they weren't. They were fighting for Poland.


Are you Russian by any chance? :)))


Of course, your anti-Polish bias and prejudice is quite visible in your comments throughout the forum.


Poles and the British fought for a common goal - to defeat the Nazis. Britain was the last stand point in the West. Poles always respected and liked your country for not giving up and standing up to the Nazis for all this time. So - thank you Britain :)

It's not only them who supported British forces, hudsonhicks. Learn history first!

very good post pretty much sums up what Poles sound like to the rest of the World. :o)

harry is that you? ;)

North East.

well you know who had the highest kill rate of any Battle of Britain squadron don't you?
Poland could probably have held out over winter in the Romania Bridgehead if it wasn't for the Soviets, they managed to Defend Lwow from the Germans despite being overwhelmingly outnumbered, i guess when you've only had your state back for 21 years you value it enough to fight like Lions.

if i wore a hat i'd take it off to you guys

Very good.


You are, indeed, the Voice of Reason.

Merged: RAF Polish Battle of Britain pilots

Trying to trace RAF Polish pilots who entered the UK not later than the first week of September 1939, or even was already living in the UK.

Have been trying for years, all I have in mind is a set of letters, its a matter of putting them in the right order to produce the right name.

I had one, trouble was he entered the UK in January 1940.
Quite possibly Polish/Jewish?

I'm sorry I can't help with details of your request for info. I can say that both my parents served on stations with hurricane pilots and were in awe at the bravery of the Polish pilots, who were legendary in firing at the hun until the bullets ran dry and, even ramming the German bombers to bring them down. Respect!