On the eve of the Soviet invasion of Poland, in 1920, Felix Dzerzhinsky, an upper class Pole who had moved to Russia and ascended the Bolshevik ranks to lead the infamous butchers of the Cheka, told Lenin:
It would have been good to mention that the C-in-C of Germany’s armed forces was supplying intelligence to the Bolsheviks and had agreed lines of demarcation in a newly-partitioned Poland, with Russia and Germany going half-half. The Germans were in an uneasy, unofficial alliance with the Bolsheviks until autumn 1941 — though there was a brief cooling period in 1933-34 while both sides reassessed the new situation. Then, as now, anti-Polish sentiment united them (compare German acquiescence with Putin blowing up Polish President Lech Kaczynski in 2010 — the UK MoD scientists found high explosives residue on the wreckage of the plane that broke up in mid-air; Tusk’s investigation ruled “human error”).
To someone who knows little of modern Polish history and wished to learn more, what are some dependable works you would recommend? I am familiar with Oskar Halecki, but don't think I have any other Polish historians on my personal shelf. Anyway, any suggestions you have would be welcome. Enjoyed reading about the Battle of Warsaw very much.
It would have been good to mention that the C-in-C of Germany’s armed forces was supplying intelligence to the Bolsheviks and had agreed lines of demarcation in a newly-partitioned Poland, with Russia and Germany going half-half. The Germans were in an uneasy, unofficial alliance with the Bolsheviks until autumn 1941 — though there was a brief cooling period in 1933-34 while both sides reassessed the new situation. Then, as now, anti-Polish sentiment united them (compare German acquiescence with Putin blowing up Polish President Lech Kaczynski in 2010 — the UK MoD scientists found high explosives residue on the wreckage of the plane that broke up in mid-air; Tusk’s investigation ruled “human error”).
Mr. Sixsmith,
To someone who knows little of modern Polish history and wished to learn more, what are some dependable works you would recommend? I am familiar with Oskar Halecki, but don't think I have any other Polish historians on my personal shelf. Anyway, any suggestions you have would be welcome. Enjoyed reading about the Battle of Warsaw very much.
Best,
Thomas