Texan Reacts to Sabaton History's 40:1

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Күн бұрын

The background to the initial invasion of Poland by the Germans in World War 2, specifically focusing in around the Battle of Wizna.
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@melkor3496 2 жыл бұрын

The REAL polish defense was glorious compared to the propaganda about it from the allies I’m gonna be honest even without the Soviets attacking Poland would have lost since France and the UK weren’t helping out their ally and Poland was being pushed back but the polish people were truly badasses to be completely honest.

@kingseb2252 7 күн бұрын

Yeah poland would have lost either way but if the soviets didn't invade the german invasion wouhave lasted alot longer maybe a week or 2

@agnieszkazuk 2 жыл бұрын

I'm glad to hear that you had a good history teacher. In Poland the history books were written in a comunism way not to glorify the Polish resistant too much. There is one battle all students know about - the first ww2 battle of Westerplatte and the heroic Polish soldiers there. Let me use some history data: On September 1, 1939, at 4.45 am, the German cruiser "Schleswig-Holstein" unexpectedly began shelling Westerplatte from its main guns. This unit arrived in Gdańsk a few days earlier under the guise of participating in diplomatic ceremonies. For many people, the attack of the cruiser on Westerplatte is a symbolic beginning of World War II, despite the fact that shots on the Polish border had already been fired several minutes earlier. At the same time, Westerplatte was attacked by an assault company of the marines and the SS company "Danziger-Heimwehr" mobilized in Gdańsk. Despite the overwhelming advantage of the enemy (about 3,400 German soldiers participated in the fights for Westerplatte in total), the crew of the depot, 182 people, using the previously prepared fortifications, managed to repel constant enemy attacks for 7 days. The defenders had only 4 mortars and 3 small caliber guns. The wounded arrives. The physician of the facility, Capt. Mieczysław Siwy has fewer and fewer resources to heal and save soldiers. Nevertheless, the Warsaw radio announcer continues to broadcast a message that reaches all of Poland: "Westerplatte is still defending itself". It was undoubtedly a symbol that kept Poles on their spirits - as long as Westerplatte lasted, the fight was possible. In the following days, the Germans are trying to get the post at all costs. It irritates them that such a weak unit repels the attacks of the enemy several times overwhelming. Eventually, Westerplatte capitulated on September 7 at 10:15 am. Polish losses amounted to 15 killed and 50 wounded and injured. It is worth emphasizing that the German command was very impressed with the defense of Westerplatte and agreed to surrender on honorary terms. However, this did not protect the defenders from repressions, both from the German side and the later communist authorities. When you were at school and had a trip to the seaside it was a necessity to visit Westerplatte. I remember a huge note: Nigdy więcej wojny - No more war.

@Jonsson474 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been to Gdańsk and Westerplatte several times. It a fascinating story of true bravery and heroism and it’s cool that the bunkers and ruins are still there. The city of Gdańsk, or Danzig as it was called back then, was however not polish but a free state mostly populated by a German speaking population. Westerplatte was by Danzig sanctioned territory used by Poland as a military transit depot, as Poland lacked of sizeable harbours. The ethnic cleansing of the German speaking population in Danzig after the was was however a very dark chapter. 290.800 German speaking citizens of Danzig were after the war expelled, killed, was forced to flee or were put in reused German concentration camps. The city had in 1938 a population of 410.000 of which 98% was German, 1% polish and 1% of other nationalities. Many Polish speaking civilians tried to help or hide German speakers, protecting them from soviet atrocities, mostly rapes and murders, but often there was no distinction made and polish speakers got the same treatment. Today there are only a few German speaking elderly people left in Gdańsk. It was the same thing in former German territories east of Oder-Neisse and in Poland, who in all had some 11.000.000 German speaking civilians before the outbreak of the war. Of those 11 million, 8 million had been expelled, fled or imprisoned by 1950. It’s estimated that in 1945, 5.500.000 German speaking civilians were still left in territories given to Poland. In 1945, NKVD ordered all German civilian men between 17 and 50 living in Soviet controlled areas to be mobilised into forced labour, many of which were sent to the Soviet Union. It’s estimated that up to 500.000 people were forced into labour of which 200.000 perished. Most of those sent to the Soviet Union never came back. These German speaking civilians are not to be confused with the Germans who came with the invasion. The number of Germans staying in Poland as part of the invasion were 500.000.

@DF-wh7nm 6 ай бұрын

Mayby You don't know, but Schleswig-Holstein was in the crosshairs polish submarine and could be sunked before fired shots, but Poles didn't get permission to fire torpedoes. Command/order of allys, from London, than polish submarines was interned to GB. Poles knew what is going on, it wasn't such unexpectable, it was a provocation. Just after first bombs felld in Wieluń from stukas (luftwaffe). Almoust in the same time. Remember in Gdańsk was lot of german citizens (free city). Hitler wanted to blame Poles of starting war, like alleged atack in Gliwice, german troops dressed in Polish uniforms atacked German radio station. Or, what i like the most today's narration, telling that the german army had to step in to Polad to protect Judes against AK (Amia Krojowa), when AK didn't already exist, AK was created in1942. Or about polish death camps... Yeah, sure, german camps buit on polish land, to murder on an industrial scale Poles, as both Jews and Christians. Yes in Polad was a lot of Poles Jewish denomination. We were one multicultural nation. German were murdering Poles in german's death camps built on Polish territory, after military conquer. Extermination try, not first time in history, the first german reich did better in czech republic with exterminating people.

@krzysztofsaa2997 2 жыл бұрын

Polish Catholic Church was part of Polish resistance during all wars. Thus it is "Fighting Church " as it is named. Polish priests often were in first line of defence in trunches and many of them died during all opresions and wars. That is why Polish Catholic Church is a keeper of Polish history and part of any Polish strugle starting from 966 and ending with today.

@corneliusantonius3108 2 жыл бұрын

I think many Polish people settled in the states after the war and told their stories? In The Netherlands I just recentley (a few years past) learned that we did better than I was taught in school.

@rayceofhistory 2 жыл бұрын

That’s been something I’ve been very interested in since starting the channel. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of people find this channel that are from other countries, and I’ve been extremely curious how everybody’s history is taught to them in each place.

@Natka505 2 жыл бұрын

If you want you can react to "IPNtv: The Unconquered" - riveting story of Poland in WW2 narrated by Sean Bean.

@rayceofhistory 2 жыл бұрын

I’ll add it to my list!

@agnieszkazuk 2 жыл бұрын

@@rayceofhistory Definitelly!

@dorlonelliott9368 2 жыл бұрын

The Germans reorganized their Panzer Divisions as a result of this - they replaced 2 PZ Battalions with Infantry Bns in each PZ Division. One of several lessons learned...

@cogitationescaecae1125 Жыл бұрын

In 1939 Panzer I was Germany's main tank (with armor thickness up to 13mm) And - YES... 7.92mm ap rifles and 37mm Bofors cannons would lay obliteration upon Panzer I and II. However Poland was wiped out of maps for over 200 years and just didn't have enough time to create strategy of use for those weapons because after 20 years of existence that shit happened.

@Pavel-Geleznov 6 ай бұрын

USSR stavka heads were "buried in sand" "Germany will not attack, we have treaty" they said "screw treaty" Germany said if we would prepared for war, would be much less casualties at least not 27 millions

@jawiowo5188 2 жыл бұрын

I don't know. When I was at HS in NYC in a school year 1994-5 my world history teacher, mr.Fallon, said that "Poland didn't fight in WWII because never existed before WWII...

@DF-wh7nm 6 ай бұрын

Just before WWII Polad existed, but not much earlier indeed not. Poland dissapiere from europe map for 123 years, regained independence in 1918, in 1920 in the Battle of Warsaw defeat russian army marching against europe. Poles had around 20 years to build country again, after 123 years nonexistence, during that 123 years Poland existed only in Poles hearts, but survived to face opponents against whom it was impossible to win alone in 1939.