History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


This one was the most moving of all memorials in Warsaw. I often recall it when I remember my trips to the city. . In this place Germans executed 119 insurgents who mistakenly exited the sewer in the area occupied by the enemy. The insurgents were executed athough earlier the capitulation of Mokotów District had been signed and Germans had agreed to respect its rules. But they didn`t.

The plaque reads: To 119 insurgents from Mokotów District who were murderd by Nazis after the capitulation 27.09.1944. From regiment Tower`s brothers-of-arms.

Do you see that old lady in the wheelchair? She was staying there, looking at the monument. She could be around 80. In 2008, the Rising was 64 years before. She was probably 20 years old then. Whom did she lose at that site? A father, brother or a boyfriend? What did she think of the Rising? Didn`t she regret that it broke out?

I wanted to ask her those questions, but she was so occupied in thoughts that I didn`t dare. So, after I took photos, we were standing there together in silence, looking at the monument.

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History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


No, come on. Don`t make Poles such bloody mob murderers. What is your fekking intention? The only incident when Jaruzelski paid for his deeds was when he was signing books in the bookshop. A very old man who had been gravely persecuted by communists, came and hit Jaruzelski with a stone in the face. It happened in 1994.

read about the desperate man.
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_Helski

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


The news about the first victims of serial killers never appeared in the communist media, not until local people started getting scared shytless and spreading rumours which were even more horrifying than the truth. Then the communists usually lifted the censorship ban (but only for the local area) cause people knew anyway and sweeping the things under the carpet would only turn against them.

That is why certain people still believe today that a communist country was safe for little kids and women. No news, no problem. How simple.


The song about granny who wants to learn how the family prospers and they lie to her, hiding worrying truth about the members who either committed suicide, had an accident or landed behind bars.

youtu.be/0RoESGVCMzk

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


Thank you for offering us another myth of communist times.

Why do people still believe there were no sickos, perverts and pedophiles in communist countries? Because communist censorship didn`t allow to publish such news not to worry the society. As Młynarski once sang in his allusive song: Why should we worry granny, let her enjoy life....

But I remember two nasty events from my elementary school when pedophiles came to the toilet and pretended to be doctors who needed to examine girls. And they fekking did. It was older students who notified teachers and I witnessed how those guys were virtually pulled out by their ears by one strict female teacher. We didn`t like her because she used to scream at us, but as a school police she was just great. Two cases which happened within a year, as far as I remember.

Do you think it was on the evening news or in papers next day? Of course not.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


No, you, as an expat who left Poland many years ago, talk nonsense because you know nothing about Poles and this country. I said that together with Jaruzelski you should also shoot 18 million people who excuse Jaruzelski`s acts, e.g, martial law.

The poll results have been the same for many years: half Poles claim martial law was justified.

newsweek.pl/polska/sondaz-stan-wojenny-z-poparciem-wiekszosci-polakow/40q6ldq

Another myth about communism breaks down: it isn`t true that most people opposed the system, and only a few wretched guys worked in communist forces which oppressed the nation.

As you can see, it only looks so simple from a foreign perspective, but for people directly involved - Poles - it isn`t.


Sorry, I forgot.

However, the only way to execute Jaruzelski was to have a blood bath like in Romania. Did you really want that? If Poles had had a civil war, today you would critizise them and accuse of barbarism. You would present England as an example to follow:Look, we civilised English waged the last civil war in 17 th century and later we have had democracy. I know you. :):) Do you really imagine your wife or father in law taking their revenge on those communists who had wronged them? How would they have done it? At their homes? With axes? Knives? Throwing through windows? or public hanging on street lamps and trees?

BTW, don`t mention Romanian revolution as an example for Poles because it was a coup de etat organised by Ceacescu`s closest mates from communist government - they wanted to abolish the hardliners and keep mild communism. Today, the guys who had him courtmartialled and executed in 1989, are prospering as wealthy businessmen, owners, etc.

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


You were lucky. You could have died like a certain baby who slipped out of her mum`s arms and fell under the moving track because they were sitting on a tank, used a human shields. When she saw what happened, she started screaming like crazy so a German officer shot her because he couldn`t bear such noise.


Do not repeat those Kremlin stories, please, cause you discredit yourself. Also, you might raise justified suspicions of acting as a troll in this thread. The topic has been discussed in another thread. :):)

https://polishforums.com/history/poland-people-hate-germans-russians-19290/


Me too, for this year. I just need to present photos of two more sites and I am done.

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


Hmm..... you demand mission impossible from me. I can`t say how I would feel as an American who lost his American son in the Vietnam war. I can`t imagine being myself an American, it is utter abstraction to me, sth that goes beyond me.


Yes.


I couldn`t do it because in military terms, the Rising was insignificant for overall strategic results.


Who knows?

Past intertwines with present in Warsaw.

During the Rising, an insurgent hospital where Germans murdered civilians and wounded soldiers a few days before the end. Today, a school and kids have fun in the playing ground.

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History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


Very important word you said: now. :):)

Dougpol, why don`t you get acquainted with today`s poll results concerning martial law? :):)


Don`t you dare to judge what is Polish shame or isn`t. :):) You could do it if anybody of your family or even yourself were incancerated or persecuted by communists. As far as I know, you weren`t . You came to Poland in communist times, 1980s. Did you take up anticommunist underground activity right away? No, you prefered to keep silent for fear of being deported with eternal ban on coming back to Poland. So why are you so adamant about things which didn`t concern you?

All in all, be reasonable. If it had been so simple that by killing Jaruzelski Poland became a paradise free of communist trash and all problems arising from communist heritage disappeared, I would have gone and shot first. But it never works that way. As I said, you would have to kill 18 million Poles too. :):)

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


The US tried to stick to the doctrine of the containment of communism. They failed in case of Vietnam but at least they tried.


Directly: death, destruction, suffering., loss.

Indirectly: the knowledge of Polish ability to take impetuous irrational decisions could influence certain poilitical moves after WW2. Go back to my first post this year.

https://polishforums.com/history/warsaw-rising-national-disaster-triumph-spirit-53168/5/#msg1701511

The part of the prewar bank building has been kept as a permanent ruin..

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Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]

I am not sure what you mean with wishing for money. The usage of stick: It will cost you a stick. Give me a stick and we have a deal etc etc.

Yes, get a grip.

From another thread : To look for the wind in the field.

Before I forget - I just looked at sth in the countryside bathroom and thought:

sth functions (in different ways)on the word of honour.

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


Not really. I got a shock yesterday when I doscovered she was making a tunnel under the fence of her enclosure. I started destroying it and she defended it! She jumped at me twice and slightly hit my leg with her nose as if she wanted to bite me. :):) You mother....ing human, don`t you dare to destroy my hard work towards liberty! hahaha

Shyt, that means I will have to put a part of the whole fence into the ground cause she can dig a tunnel anywhere. If she completes it within the night, in the morning she will be gone and I will look for the wind in the field.

At least I am not going to be bored next year........


Personal satisfaction, good atmosphere and health benefits from keeping pets greatly surpass the suffering we feel when they die.

I love animals in the sense I can observe their fascinating behaviour. E.g., have you ever seen a snake kill and swallow a large rodent? Also, Cargo mentioned he prefers less responsibility in life and that is so human. I could be nuts because I have always loved to impose more and more responsibilities on me and some of them come from animals. I think I need to go to a specialist. :):)


It will be a big one. The problem is we executed a lot bottles and jars on the pile and glass is everywhere. I need to take care of it cause I know glass pieces tend to show up on the ground after wet days.

History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]

In that case, all communists from each government or Parliament in Poland after WW2 should be shot as traitors, as you and Dougpol advise, because thye all colluded with Soviets this way or another. As well as about 30% Poles who consciously supported the system, either as ordinary party members or members of militia, army officers, company directors etc etc. They also colluded. Even those ordinary Poles who enjoyed various bebefits and priviliges and gladly attended 1 May parades, waving flags. Attending such a parade was enough to collude in those times.

Roughly speaking, about 50% population. That would be 18 million people who were somehow involved in making communism go round for so many years.

If you want your dream to come true within your life, you would need to invent a more efficient method than Germans did for Holocaust.

Life / The climate for gardening in Poland [340]

Growing food would be great pleasure if not for weeds. I already said that I don`t want to use any chemicals so the only solution is to weed manually. Sometimes weeds get so abundant they cover veg cause before summer holidays I have no time to take care of the problem.

This year I scored two failures: corn and pumpkin. Nothing or so little I eventually pulled them out and sowed sth else instead. Hard to say why. Old seeds? Drought? It is all so unpredicable.

I grow our veg in several seperated patches behind the fence.

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History / Modern myths and legends about communist past in Poland [250]


Yes, the only shops which were always abundantly stocked were the ones with cosmetics. Polish cosmetics were exported to all communist countries where they were very popular.

Some had funny names. I remember using deodorant called Brutal. :):) Ladies certainly think nostalgically about Mrs Walewska series.

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Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]

Yes, pets pose serious responsibility. But adult people, especially males, shouldn`t fear facing it. :)

Each season I order a few dozen new plants - I can`t get rid of this planting spree, sort of. This year: blueberry, mini kiwi, and a lot of flowering perennials.

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News / Scandals, conflicts, tensions, arguments - real life examples from Poland [492]


The film has already caused a scandal: one of ex Defence Minister`s protegees, Mr Misiewicz, has taken a legal action against Vega because of homosexual allusions depicted in the film.

Language / Game - guess Polish idioms/sayings in direct English translation [1756]


Yes.


Stick in PRL times meant one thousand zlotys.

to take oneself into handful.

News / Poland's LBGT Seen as Dangerous Foreign Idea. [39]


hahaha Reminds me of the mob that goes to kill Frankenstein Monster.

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History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]

There was an important barricade in the Old Town which insurgents successfully defended for many days. Germans decided to use a remote controlled heavy explosive carrier to destroy the barricade. Insurgents immobilised it and took inside their area, believing it was a small tank. Germans, seeing it, halted their attack. One insurgent lifted the cover over the explosive material and initiated a detonation.

Now, I will ask you certain simple question: what do you think, who killed up to 500 people?

These concrete plaques are scattered all over the city. They inform when and how many civilians lost their lives (mostly executed) during the Rising.

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History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


Actually, all my posts, recent and earlier, prove one thing. :)


Isn`t it obvious? What does elementary logic suggest? E.g, what was a German explosive tank doing in Warsaw, Poland in 1944? Did Germans bring it for the EXPO exhibition to brag of their advanced technology which served the purpose of containing the harmful urban sprawl? :)

Another memorial to Wola Massacre.

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History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]

National Disaster series continued:

This plaque commemorates the place where a German heavy explosive tank, captured by insurgents, killed about 500 people.

You can see the massacre in City 44 film

youtu.be/CriudpuCy84

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History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]

The most horrific massacres took place in Wola district, just after Hitler`s direct order that nobody would be spared.

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Classifieds / I am selling my Polish money [22]

Yes, commemorative.

Classifieds / I am selling my Polish money [22]

There weren`t 100K coins, only notes.


100K is worth about 10$.

BTW, there is a special thread for such topics.

https://polishforums.com/law/old-money-banknotes-value-today-16349/

Off-Topic / DALMATIA - How much Poles love Dalmatia ? [123]


I see. So Dalmatia will be free. What if Dalmatians don`t want to be in Serbia and prefer to remain independent?

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]


Sorry, there will be no other answers. I have said everything and don`t expect any deeply hidden truths apart from this one we already discussed - those commanders of Warsaw AK who insisted on military solutions were insane megalomaniacs who perfectly realised the cost of the Rising and its terrible outcome to the city and its inhabitants, yet they ignored it as they wanted to "shatter the public opinion" with Polish sacrifice. There were also reasonable guys who hesitated. But finally hawks dominated pidgeons and the Rising broke out.

So far most of the photos I showed symbolised the Triumph of Spirit.

Let`s see National Disaster.

A memorial to hundreds of executed residents of Mokotów district.

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Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


I think I wanted to write: chip off.

Today I mowed the front and back garden within the fence. It took me exactly 1.5 hour. I use a strong push mower but it is still labourious cause I need to manouvre between dense trees and bushes - forward, back, around and up and down, too, a hundred times. That is one of the reasons I delay buying a riding mower - it would be a bit useless in the gardens. But one day I will buy one to cut the grass and weeds in the orchard behind the house.


You mean you make your wife carry such rubble in your construction sites? You are a sadist! hahaha

History / Warsaw Rising 1944 - National Disaster or Triumph of Spirit ? [515]

It is funny you are asking such questions like an American junior high school student who has just learnt that Poles made a Rising in Warsaw one day and they weren`t Jewishit wasn`t Ghetto Rising. Wow, really?? What were you doing during those 23 years when you still lived in Poland till mid 1960s and as you claim, you studied at the Politechnic College in Warsaw. Didn`t you talk to family or mates about those topics?

It is really surprising.

Never mind. The primary aim of the Rising was to throw Germans out of the city. What for? To liberate the capital of Poland. What for? Firstly, to avoid the Soviet destructive siege because Germans had planned to turn Warsaw into a fortress and to put up a stubborn resistance. Secondly, in liberated capital the Soviets would have to talk with the representatives of the Polish government. Poles b-e-l-i-e-v-e-d :):) that, backed by allies, they were able to negotiate a good deal with Soviets concerning Eastern territories.

Life / Owning a house in true countryside of Poland - stories [692]


I am afraid not, at least not at the very beginning.. :):) The grey cat would run away to my wife`s loggia on the right. The ginger one would attack your dog immediately and he can get really crazy in such moments. The rabbit would hide in her cage and stomp her back legs against the wooden floor, it is quite noisy, funny too. Only the tortoise would remain placid and relaxed.

You would have to leave your dog for a few weeks so that my pets get used to it or even become friends. Are you ready for such a sacrifice?

hahaha

Back to rural topics.


Yes, the hardest work of all is digging up and taking away old concrete foundation where minor farm buildings once stood. Each year I chop off a few pieces and take them to a rubble heap in the field. The work is drudgery although those foundation layers aren`t so thick (could be worse), I still have to break them into smaller plates to be able to lift them at all. Not to mention they are buried in the ground. I need to remove them cause they make the grass over them grow badly.

That debris pile will be a nice rockery one day.

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Life / Mishmash facts about Poland and Poles [187]

Polish car plates - the system

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Poland

Poland is divided into 16 voivodships, each has a letter ascribed. Voivodships are subdivided into powiats, or counties, with their own letters. Now, combine major with minor letters, add some numbers and random letters and you get a Polish registration plate.

Example:

PO means a car from Poznań.

POB means Oborniki county close to Poznań.

POS, Ostrów Wielkopolski county.

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