First to Fight
Page 43
Reibig, Willi, 33–4
Reichenau, General Walther von, 136
Reinhardt, General Georg-Hans, 34
Rejewski, Marian, 227–8
Rejtan, Tadeusz, 38
resistance movement, 244, 250
Ribbentrop, Joachim von: and British declaration of war, 68, 77–8, 79; in Danzig with Hitler, 184; and pact with Soviet Union, 52, 54–7, 251–3; and Soviet invasion of Poland, 160, 162, 251–3
Ribbentrop–Molotov Pact see Nazi–Soviet Pact
Riefenstahl, Leni, 136–7
Riess, Stanisław, 244
Ritter von Leeb, General Wilhelm, 123, 124
Romania, 182
Rómmel, General Juliusz: and German invasion, 110, 111; and Warsaw’s defence, 120, 159, 197; and Warsaw’s surrender, 242–4, 249
Rosenberg, Alfred, 52
Roth, Joseph, 205
Rotterdam, 238
Rowecki, Colonel Stefan, 230–2
Równe, 168
Royal Navy, 69
Różycki, Jerzy, 227–8
Rudnicki, Colonel Klemens, 196
Ruhr, 126
Russia, 37, 38–9, 40–2; see also Soviet Union
Rzęgnowo, 28
Saarland, French invasion of (1939), 123–6, 160, 162
Sądowa Wisznia (Sudova Vyshnya), 210
Sadowski, Józef, 35
Saint Domingue (Haiti), 39
Sambor (Sambir), 207
Samosierra, Battle of (1808), 39
San river, 207
Sanacja regime, 45
Sanniki, 149
Sarny Fortified Area, 165, 166–7
Schellenberg, SS-Major Walter, 251
Schlesien (cruiser), 189, 256
Schleswig-Holstein (battleship): and attack on Westerplatte, 10–11, 12–13, 102, 103; background, 9; and Hel peninsula, 189, 190, 256; Hitler visits, 188; and Oksywie, 187
Schmidt, Paul, 68, 77–8, 189
Schmundt, Colonel Rudolf, 63
Schörner, Colonel Ferdinand, 207
Schulenberg, Count Friedrich-Werner von der, 160, 162
Schwedenhöhe see Szwederowo
Second World War (1939–45): build-up, 2–8, 49–64; Hitler’s desire for, 2–3; Polish War as foreshadower of conduct of, 263–6; start date, xvii
Seeckt, General Hans von, 44
Semik, Captain Tadeusz, 27
Serok, 34
Serokomla, 259
Shaposhnikov, Marshal Boris, 218
Shatsk see Szack
Shirer, William, 18, 147
Shirnyuk, Raisa, 223–4
Siegfried Line, 124
Simon, Sir John, 73
Simonsdorf (Szymankowo), 35
Skierniewice, 144
Składkowski, Felicjan Sławoj, 118
Śladów massacre, 148–9
Śliwiński, Artur, 240
Służba Zwycięstwu Polski (SZP; ‘Service for Poland’s Victory’), 250
Śmiały (train), 33–4, 214–15
Śmierć (train), 154, 194
Śmigły-Rydz, Marshal Eduard: background and character, 42–3, 58; and evacuation of Warsaw, 118, 119–20; flight to Romania, 227; and French declaration of war, 84; and German invasion, 112, 140, 142–3; and outbreak of war, 19; role in military communications, 110; rumours about, 237; share in blame for defeat, 267; and Soviet invasion, 166; and Warsaw’s surrender, 243–4
Sochaczew, 144
Sokole-Kuźnica, 91
Sopot see Zoppot
Sosabowski, Colonel Stanisław, 86, 151, 158–9, 248, 249
Sosnkowski, General Kazimierz, 210, 211–12, 213, 215
Soviet Union: alliance with Germany, 52–7, 219–20, 251–4; atrocities, 172–8, 218–19, 235, 245–7, 265; attitude to Polish War, xx; attitude to start date of Second World War, xvii; class war incited by, 176–7; division of Poland with Germany, xv, 55–7, 251–4; historical relations with Poland, 42–3, 43–4, 45, 48; international reaction to invasion, 178–83; invasion and occupation of Poland, xiii, xv, 160–78, 205, 213–25, 234–5, 245–7, 257–8, 267–9; misinformation spread in Poland by, 167–70; myth of Soviet neutrality, 268–9; see also Russia
Speer, Albert, 16
SS: Einsatzgruppen, 130–1, 208–9, 249–50; and Gleiwitz Incident, 2, 4–8; SS-Deutschland Regiment, 28, 255; SS-Germania Division, 211; SS-Heimwehr Danzig, 13, 14, 186–8; SS-Leibstandarte, 110–11, 115–16, 144–5, 148, 195
Stalin, Joseph: alliance with Germany, 52–7, 252–3; attitude to Munich Conference, 50, 52; attitude to Poland, 43; and myth of Soviet neutrality, 268; negotiates division of Poland, 252–3; and Soviet invasion of Poland, 162
Stanek, Lieutenant-Colonel, 133
Stanisław August Poniatowski, King of Poland, 38
Stanisławów, 177, 209
Starobelsk (Starobilsk) prison camp, 175
Starzyński, Stefan, 120, 155, 157, 203–4, 243, 249–50
Stauffenberg, Claus Schenk von, 137–8
Stodoły see Hochlinden
Strauss, General Adolf, 256
Stryj (Stryi), 177
Stutthof (Sztutowo) camp, 191–3
submarines, 20
Sucharski, Major Henryk, 13, 102, 103–4
Sudova Vyshnya see Sądowa Wisznia
Sulejów, 109–10
Sulejówek, 114, 247
Świecie, 93
Świętochowski, Zbigniew, 18
Świętokrzyskie (‘Holy Cross’) Mountains, 258
Świrski, Rear-Admiral Jerzy, 228
Szack (Shatsk), Battle of (1939), 246
Szczepaniak, Lieutenant Czesław, 146
Szewczykówna, Niusia, 84
SZP see Służba Zwycięstwu Polski
Szpilman, Władysław: on British declaration of war, 82; on German bombings, 18–19, 21, 156; on Warsaw siege, 155, 156, 158, 201, 242, 250–1
Sztutowo camp see Stutthof camp
Szwederowo (Schwedenhöhe), 129–31
Szylling, General Antoni, 231
tactics see doctrine and tactics
tanks: British, 69; French, 70; German, 19, 32, 47, 224; Polish, 46–7, 108; Soviet, 164–5, 224; tank battles, 108, 229–32
Tarnawatka, 231
Tarnopol (Ternopil), 168, 177, 218
Tarnów, 3–4
Tczew, 21–2, 35
Terajewicz, Walerian, 135
Thommée, Brigadier-General Wiktor, 111, 154, 194, 255, 256
Timoshenko, Marshal Semyon, 163, 169, 218
Tomaszewski, Colonel Tadeusz, 240
Tomaszów Lubelski, Battle of (1939), 229–33
Topolno, 93, 94
Torwid see Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski, General Michał
Torzeniec, 35
trains see armoured trains
Tuchola Forest, Battle of (1939), 29–30
Turkey, 182
Tuszyny, 90
Ukraine, 42, 43, 175
Ukrainians in Poland: as excuse for Soviet invasion, 161, 162, 163, 185, 268; statistics, 44; support given to Soviets, 175–6, 176–7, 205, 209, 217
Umiastowski, Colonel Roman, 120–1
Uniejów, 114
Unrug, Rear-Admiral Józef, 187, 189, 257
Uss, Rifleman Bronisław, 13
Verdier, Archbishop Cardinal Jean, 106
Versailles, Treaty of (1919), 2, 9–10, 14, 16, 43, 80
Vilnius see Wilno
Vinkt massacre, 265
Vistula river, 21–2, 90, 91–4
Voroshilov, Marshal Kliment, 54, 164
Vyshnivchyk see Wiśniowczyk
Wąbrzeźno, 87
Wahl, Gauleiter Karl, 16
Warlimont, General Walter, 63, 188–9
Warsaw: attitude to outbreak of war, 18–19; defence, 120–2; description, 151; evacuation, 118–20, 198–9; expectation of help from British and French, 182–3; German advance, 104–18, 131–50; German bombing, 21, 23–4, 81, 155–60, 194, 200–4, 237, 238–41; history, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45; Hitler visits, 259–60; reaction to British declaration of war, 82–3; resi
stance movement, 244, 250; siege, xiv, 151–60, 193–204, 236–42; surrender, 242–5, 247–50; surrender terms, 247, 248
Warsaw State Police, 234–5
Warta river, 104–6
Wąsik, Józef, 15
weapons and equipment: Bofors guns, 32; Bren light machine guns, 69; British, 69; German superiority, 19–21; Polish, 32, 33, 46; Vis pistols, 46; wz.35 anti-tank guns (‘Uruguays’), 32, 33, 46; wz.1928 machine guns, 46
Webb, Beatrice, 179
Węgierska Górka, 26–8, 88
Weizsäcker, Lieutenant Heinrich von, 90–1
Weizsäcker, Richard von, 90–1
Wessel, Colonel Walter, 113
Westerplatte, Battle of (1939), 9–13, 101–4, 192
Wicher, ORP, 20, 257
Wielka Klonia, 29
Wielkopolska, 40, 42, 49, 140
Wieluń, 22–3
Wilhelmshaven, 126
Wilk, ORP, 20
Wilno (Vilnius), 39, 164, 170–1
Winniki, 216
Winnykamień, Fryderyk, 112
Wirth, Joseph, 44
Wiśniowczyk (Vyshnivchyk), 176
Witkiewicz (Witkacy), Stanisław, 178
Witkowice, 145
Wizna, Battle of (1939), 131–3, 134–5
Władysławowo, 189
Włodawa, 245
Wola Krzysztoporska, 108
Wólka Węglowa, Battle of (1939), 196–7
Wood, Sir Kingsley, 72, 127
The World at War (TV series), xx
Wormhoudt massacre, 265
Wschowa see Fraustadt
Wylazłow, 114
Wyszanów, 35
Wyszków, 24
Wytyczno, 246–7
Zablocki, Father Mateusz, 135
Zakroczym, 254, 255–6
Zakrzewski, Colonel Adam, 91, 93
Zaolzie, 49–50
Zastówska, 234
Zhdanov, Andrei, 161
Zimnowoda, 35
Złoczew, 115–16
Złoczów (Zolochiv), 168
Zoppot (Sopot), 26, 184, 189, 257
Zygalski, Henryk, 227–8
Żyliński, Lieutenant Andrzej, 152–3
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Cover photographs: Pre-war military manoeuvres of Polish Army units, 7th Uhlans regiment and 11th armored battalion (experimental) from the Armor Weapon Training Center in Modlin. August 1939. Author of photographs Henryk Poddebski. Collections of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, Poland.
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Footnotes
9 To End on a Battlefield
1 Interestingly, had this original agreement been maintained, Warsaw itself would have straddled the German–Soviet frontier, as it is bisected by the river Vistula.