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[Moved from]: BBC Radio archives: Hear the news of 1 September 1939
BBC reports about Hitler's 16-point proposal to "resolve" the Polish "Question," the commencement of the invasion, and the memories of William Forrest, a British newspaper reporter based in Warszawa. Nothing like hearing the radio broadcasts of the day:
Although when listening to the report about the 16-point proposal, one should probably remember that Hitler had already ordered the invasion of Poland before the proposal was announced.
Poland commemorates 75 years since invasion - dawn ceremony
bbc.com/news/world-europe-29009120
Poland has marked the 75th anniversary of the start of World War Two with a wreath-laying ceremony at Gdansk port.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk commemorated the dead of the war's first battle.
Nazi Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, shelling a Polish garrison at Gdansk. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later.
On this day 75 years ago, at 04:45, the German cruiser Schleswig-Holstein, which was docked on a friendship visit in the free city of Danzig, now Gdansk, opened fire on the small Polish garrison on the Westerplatte peninsula. Simultaneously thousands of German troops crossed over the Polish border
The game that takes on the Nazis: 'I wanted to show Poland's heroism' Seven Days of Westerplatte is a passion project highlighting Polish resistance in the second world war - despite its creator being born 44 years after it finished
For the small Polish garrison, the odds seemed overwhelming. Just 209 men found themselves besieged by over 3,000 German troops. But the Poles weren't about to give up without a fight. In the face of artillery bombardments, infantry assaults and terrifying dive-bombing raids, they held their ground for a week and provided a powerful symbol of resistance to millions of their compatriots. This story of heroism, defiance and desperation fascinated £ukasz Woźniak, a 25-year-old board game designer from Poznan in west central Poland. (...)
Unfortunately, the choice of location for the ceremony was rather poor - it should have been held in Wieluń. This would have placed more emphasis on the barbarism of a regime like Nazi Germany (carefully planned and executed air raid on defenceless civilian population which destroyed the city in 75%) and what's more important cruelty of any war in general. As it happened, we got more of the same ideology stemming from PRL...
And even fewer to explain to what extent Poland brought it upon itself and could have minimized the destruction, as such subjects, analysis and conclusions are taboos. Unfortunately, Poland is not unique in this distaste to look inward.
such subjects, analysis and conclusions are taboos
Dougpol in agrees completely with Rich Mazur shocker!! PIS are busy rewriting all history to show that all Poles acted with the highest valour - at ALL times. Complete nonsense of course. There is nothing especially historic about the Polish nation as a whole that sets it at the top of some imaginary "Bravery" table, as the evidence shows. Meanwhile PIS carry on with their censorship, and it is up to the old to educate their families about the truth.
All ruling elites re-write history to cover their blunders and not to be forced to explain why so many died needlessly. It's a bit*ch to tell the parents that their son died for nothing. It's so easy to recite poems, erect monuments, and hope that those will prevent annoying questions. Like, why fight if by the end week one it was clear the "allies" were not marching in to the rescue. Delivering a piece of paper to the Germans was not rescue.
All ruling elites re-write history to cover their blunders
My family were not "ruling elites", they told me as it was, the good and the bad. The Polish history I have read in the last 40 years backs them up. That history was not written by ruling elites, in fact,some of it wasn't even written by Poles. Ever heard of Norman Davies? Read his history of Poland.
81 years ago humanity said: «No!» to National-Socialism. Poland being first on the frontline remembers it's finest heroes who layed down their lives for the cause of freedom.
81 years ago humanity said: «No!» to National-Socialism.
There were plenty of those who said "yes". Italy, Japan, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia officially supported Hitler. If Nazis would be clever they would attract many more supporters among occupied Slavic territories. Many people just tired of Stalin and other rulers.
Of course, you should know that Polish cavalry purposefully charging against German tanks is a malicious myth invented by German propagandists. If such charges took place, they were accidental when the cavalry charged against infantry and suddenly tanks appeared from behind.
@pawian Very true Polish cavalry at the time (the one on horseback) was mounted infantry. Most of military units at the time consisted of regular infantry (German forces included)
Real Polish cavalry was lead by Gen. Maczek with his tanks, didn't lose a single battle during ww2 if I recall. (They were able to retreat through Hungary and fought on western allies side later on)
Well, Pawian, my understanding, with the help of an actual cavalry member(Rustejko, like me), they run into terrified German foot soldiers and the German tanks run into them. The tragic end of the story.
In summer 1939 Polish Foreign Minister Beck commented on Hitler`s plans for Poland:
We in Poland do not recognize the conception of "peace at any price." There is only one thing in the life of men, nations and states which is without price, and that is honour.
In winter 2025, Polish FM Sikorski comments on MASA Golden Cow gangster Musk`s plans for Starlink system:
"Starlink services for Ukraine are paid for by the Polish Digitization Ministry at the cost of about $50 million per year. The ethics of threatening the victim of aggression apart, if SpaceX proves to be an unreliable provider we will be forced to look for other suppliers,"
It is amasing how history repeats itself as parody.
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