Found inside – Page 39This development was to become crucial as it was also a sign to any forced labourers and Poles conscripted into the German Army that the threat to family ... Just surviving now almost alone with bad memories. It grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions during World War II, and served alongside the Heer (regular army) but was never formally part of it. On the other hand, only 70,000 Polish POWs from Wehrmacht reinforced the Polish People's Army fighting alongside the Red Army, despite the fact that probably much more Polish "Wehrmachters" were captured on the Eastern Front. My understanding is that it would have been his greatest shame, and a huge fear that other Poles might find out. Beevor’s work on the end of the Second World War offers valuable insights into the chaos of the Third Reich during the advance of the Red Army and the frantic, though futile, attempts of the Volkssturm and Wehrmacht to defend their homes from the encroaching army. Found inside – Page 10It must be borne in mind that the restoration of a Polish state did not feature ... the German army took over Eastern Galicia and occupied Warsaw and Wilno. I have just found this site and there are some very moving posts. So if you’re country that does have ‘formal’ conscription, the military will not be 100% conscripts. This led to the Germans using the captured uniforms of the Austrian, Czechoslovak, and Polish armies. Service in the German military was universal in nature in these areas, however, assessing the number of ethnic Poles involved is difficult due to the fluidity of national identity. 160,000 volunteers came forward from the ranks of the professional and middle classes to join 150,000 conscripts called up in the summer of 1920. by PeterIn total up to 500,000 Poles served in the Wehrmacht during WW2. This is a website about Poles that served in the German Wehrmacht. Found insideIn Phase II Eighth Army was to drive north west to capture Ferrara and Bondeno, ... mainly from Polish conscripts in the German army taken prisoner in the ... None of us who were not there can begin to know how it was for them and should not presume to judge. At the end of the war, these soldiers were unable to return to their loved ones as Poland fell under communist rule.The author, photographer Jennie Milne, is the granddaughter of Stanislaw Lis, a Polish Officer and member of the Polish ... In the early 1880s, compulsory military service was also implemented in occupied Bosnia-Herzegovina. Co-incidentally my father, Edward Waszek, was in North Staffordshire too, not far from Leek in Newcastle-under-Lyme, started a business here in the early 1950's, one of only a handful to do so, married a local girl, my mother, Jean Cartwright, and started a family, became a local legend in the business and Polish community, so not easy for a Polish ex-serviceman after WWII. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Chinese traditional Dictionary. The Wehrmacht consisted of the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force). I'd been told that it would be dangerous for him to return to Poland. Discussions on the foreigners (volunteers as well as conscripts) fighting in the German Wehrmacht, those collaborating with the Axis and other period Far Right organizations. Having served in the German military or being a descendant of such individuals ("grandfather in the Wehrmacht") has led in Poland to repression, discrimination and ostracization. Even in the 21st century, such people are often seen as not being an integral part the Polish national community. One of the first steps was the creation of a so-called Polish army officered by Russians. Could he have been in Italy in 1945, Mum says that he was in Italy towards the end of the war. Found inside – Page 90Polish tank and artillery forces tended to be at least one or two ... than did the East Germans and Poland's conscripts were often openly sympathetic to the ... Great information on this site thankyou. They lived in the part of Poland taken over by the Germans under the German-Soviet pact. This camp had previously been built for American GI's but had been condemed as unfit for the Americans to live in. He was deported as forced labour by the Germans in 1942 and was then conscripted into the German Army, where he served from March - September 1944' when he was taken prisoner of war by the Allied Forces at Florence, Italy. Nevertheless, there were not enough uniforms to completely equip the strong-growing German army. The conclusion of World War II left Poland under Soviet occupation. By: Sydney Weaver. The 17-year-old Thamm joined the U.S. Army the same year and served more than 20 years as an enlisted man. "Maybe, just maybe, I fought in this war to escape the barbarity. Maybe I wrote this book to still the memories." built for American GI's but had been condemed as unfit for the Americans to live in. It would probably be better to ask “Were some of the Germans forced to fight for the Nazis?”. Army Records. Polish conscripts in the german army? Military records identify individuals who served in the military or who were eligible for service. Many children that had blonde hair and blue eyes were stolen from his village and taken to Germany.He said that the Germans took everything even family photos.I know that he was also in Italy and eventually was in the Polish army but dont have information as to how all this came about. Or is it true that the EU will impose conscription to a European army and send very young people to Afghanistan in a European army: can this be true? hope to hear from some veterens poss. Polish conscripts in the german army? He did say that he was in a Russian pow camp and thay had one piece of bread per day. Harvey Sarner in his book about Anders Army, General Anders and the Soldiers of the Second Polish Corps (1997), noted that II Polish Corps was resupplied with Polish conscripts from German POW camps in the tens of thousands. In that second group (those from Pomerelia) was for example the grandfather of present Polish prime minister (Donald Tusk) - Józef Tusk, who served in 328. Czy prawdą jest, że UE wprowadzi pobór do armii europejskiej i wyśle do Afganistanu bardzo młodych ludzi wcielonych do tej armii: czy to prawda? Found insideDuring the war Hitler's forces had conscripted men of various nationalities, ... Germans with Polish connections were still conscripted into the army; ... Found inside – Page 41These were deported to forced labour camps and farms within Germany and ... These forced conscripts transferred themselves to the Polish forces as soon as ... I believe that he was taken from the family home in Kielbasin at aged 16, so 1942 (ish) and forced into the German Army. Polish conscripts to German army [130] - History ~ 2021; First Polish Army part of Red Army? My Father was tough and hard working but suffered all his life with bouts of depression and insomnia. German remained the lingua franca for commands and correspondence, and for communication among officers and Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs). He was 18 when he was taken away from his family and after the war was sent to England where he settled for the rest of his life.He wanted to return to Poland after the war but his Father wrote to him stating that those that did return were being murdered and so he never went back to Poland until 1962. An impossible choice, it meant treason to Poland. Without conscription, the Polish army, which stood 180,000-strong in 1999 when Poland joined Nato, will shrink to about 120,000. It wasn't til the 1980's that all the bomb sites were built on. Found inside – Page 159The difference between Germany and Poland regarding risk-tolerance is not ... conscription and to develop a more flexible and capable professional army. Learn more in the Cambridge English-German Dictionary. ... That was reason in spite of serious losses Polish Army got stronger all time during WWII. Poles from the incorporated areas - especially those who signed the Volksliste (and most of them on these areas did it, from practical reasons - to survive) were obliged to fulfil military duty in the German army in the same way as German citizens.That's why Poles from the incorporated areas were being conscripted to the German army (contrary to those from GG, who were not being conscripted and those of them who served in the German army were either those who signed the Volksliste - and signing the Volksliste in GG was not as helpful to survive the occupation as in incorporated areas so very few did it - or those who volunteered).Out of them around 350 - 400 thousands were from Silesia (like Ludwik Machalica, Robert Uszok, Alojzy Lysko, Robert Czarnynoga, Franciszek Siedlaczek and others). As Antony Beevor cast new light on the Battle of Stalingrad, Alexandra Richie here unearths the traumatic story of one of the last major battles of World War II, in which the Poles fought off German troops, street by street, for sixty-three ... and it was which side to your knowledge?? one point is worth mentioning jochemczyk - the Silesian conscripts in Wehrmacht were all spread out in German units (maybe a couple of guys per company/battalion) - there were hardly any (if any at all) Silesian units in Wehrmacht - the German military believed they would defect en messe if whole units were formed of them - and they were right. The post was about Polish conscripts. In total some 500,000 non-Germans and ethnic Germans from outside Germany, mostly from German-occupied Europe, were recruited between 1940 and 1945. This was compelled by the … We had a lot of Poles in our community, more than a few turned to alcohol to self medicate, there was no understanding of post traumatic stress in those days or if there was, Polish men would not have asked for help. Couple with loosing everything and being made a stateless person, Poles ended up with a higher case of suicide. I believe my father and his brother were conscripted into the German army, neither would really talk about the war very much. The Fall of Berlin 1945.New York: Penguin Group, 2002. Most of the conscripts subsequently deserted, and the two units were disbanded. He is now 76 yrs, he served in the Free Polish army in 1943 and has stories and photos of him around this time right up until then end of the war. What would you have done in his shoes with the threat of death to his family, he had 2 little brothers at home. The Polish Legions became the Polish Auxiliary Corps. After the Act of 5th November of 1916 which pronounced the creation of the puppet Kingdom of Poland of 1916–18, the Polish Legions were transferred under German command. However, most of the members refused to swear allegiance to the German Kaiser... The Polish Legionaries, the largest of these forces, had 21,000 volunteers by 1917. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Found inside – Page 98In Poland itself, the backdrop to these developments was one ofdeath and ... some two million Polish conscripts serving in the armies of Russia, Germany, ... However The poles had no problem getting hired as they soon were known to be tough and hard working.There were a few Poles that were at the camp who came from the same village as my Dad which seems remarkable .The village is just outside 'Imelin '. Polish soldiers who fought at Monte Cassino were no ordinary conscripts, drafted and sent to Italy. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Chinese simplified Dictionary. The Poles lived in this camp until around 1970 when municipal housing replaced the army shacks. I wish that I had asked more questions but My Father passed away in 92'. Dad who died in 1999 was conscripted by ss in Ukraine and despite his desertion and torture , eventually reached UK but suffered from ptsd. My father was Polish but was designated Volksdeutch. Thus there were three threads to Polish armed forces from 1939; the Polish Armed Forces in the West, the Armia Krajowa and other resistance organisations fighting the Germans in Poland, and the Polish Armed Forces in the East, which later became the post-war communist Polish People's Army (LWP). Found insideThe shocking account of how a unit of average middle-aged Germans became the cold-blooded murderers of tens of thousands of Jews. The pressure of the war later convinced Germany to conscript foreign workers in the German industry, and in 1916, 75,000 Polish and 12,000 Belgian men were recruited. He and another boy later "escaped" and travelled together making their way across Europe, eventually joining the 'Polish Free Army'. Found insideAs a curious aside to the battle, among the tens of thousands of German troops captured in the pocket there were several thousand Polish conscripts who ... I cant speak as to how they were treated after they were taken to the rear. Along with other Silesians, I was forcibly conscripted into the Wehrmacht. Found inside – Page 101During the War , there were occasional instances of Polish conscripts in the German Army writing home in fervent expectation of an independent Poland ... Found inside – Page 41In December 1918, the Poznanian regiments of the German army declared for Poland. Conscription, introduced on 7 March 1919, doubled the men available, ... This was compelled by the break with the Soviets which eliminated recruits from the East. This is a study of totalitarianism, political asylum, and the relationship of ethnic minorities to the host society, combining first-hand accounts with historical analysis. I lived among them and know the anguish and guilt that was felt . Would you have chosen to have them sent to a concentration camp? Maybe lucky to eat well now when able! There were about 200 000 of them, Actually, there never was any Polish-German hatred. If you are looking for more than just a vague answer to your question Im afraid we will need more details. Harvey Sarner in his book about Anders Army, General Anders and the Soldiers of the Second Polish Corps (1997), noted that II Polish Corps was resupplied with Polish conscripts from German POW camps in the tens of thousands. I read your post with great interest, as the circumstances for your own Polish father were very similar to mine. Grenadier-Ersatz-und Ausbilldungsbatallion and fought on the Eastern Front and later on the Western Front (in October of 1944 he deserted or was captured by English forces and by the end of November 1944 he joined the Polish Forces in the West). Previous to this, coming from Suwalki region, as a Pole, he had been seized by the Russians and transported to a Siberian labour camp, where he had to learn working class skills, becoming a barber, and denying his christianity, as christanity & the middle class were purged. My Dad did all the worst hard labour jobs that most English would not do ,to try to better his life and I remember a lot of racial prejudice to our family from the English people. Opting out of working in the RAD, or serving in the German Army, would have meant that all the members of our families would have been sent to Auschwitz. Andrey Vlasov and General Shilenkov (center) of the Russian Liberation Army meeting with Joseph Goebbels (February 1945). This book is a profound reexamination of the role of the German army, the Wehrmacht, in World War II. Until very recently, the standard story avowed that the ordinary German soldier in World War II was a good soldier, distinct from Hitler's ... My father was one of these conscripts with his 4 sisters and mother at home to protect. conscript definition: 1. to force someone to serve in an army or one of a country's armed forces: 2. a person who has…. Found insideMerriam Press World War 2 History Series. The newly created Polish General Staff under General Lesniewski decided to adopt French organisation, army manuals and tactics. conscript translate: 征召，招募. That's horrible. In similar way some people living on occupied Polish territories and declared themselves as so called Volksdeutches (i.e. Found inside – Page 1139... of Poles in the German Army , and even of the formation of special Polish units ... conscripted by the German Army and sent to various German fronts . " "Zumbro also recounts the story of Field Marshal Walter Model's final hours. The Polish Army was recreated in 1918 from elements of the three separate Russian, Austro-Hungarian, and German armies, and armed with equipment left following World War I. Hosted by George Lepre. How many Nazis were in the German army? At the low end, Polish estimates often place the num… Post by lozynski » Wed Apr 23, 2003 4:00 pm Hello everyone I am trying to find out if my grandad ever served in the german army as a Polish conscript? Found inside – Page 1139... of Poles in the German Army , and even of the formation of special Polish units ... conscripted by the German Army and sent to various German fronts . życie jednego z około 200,000 polskich mężczyzn, którzy zostali zmuszeni do służby w armii niemieckiej,który wraz z 6000 innymi mężczyznami dołączył do drugiego korpusu: Housing was in server short supply and living in a camp was a requirement not a choice. Found inside – Page 119Polish Volunteers in the German Wehrmacht and Auxiliary Forces during WWII. Available through: http://www.feldgrau.com/poland.html. Access Date: February 24 ... Most of them were Silesians. 8 Apr 2014 #63. shouldn't have fought for the wrong side. surely you agree that the Germans were on the wrong side. My Life in the Red Army chronicles 19-year old Fred Virski's experiences as a soldier in the Russian military in the early years of World War 2. My father did tell me that he was in Russia and almost starved there. I am not surprised that Czersk has numerous persons by the name of Fierek as my father was the youngest of 13 ! The Waffen-SS ("Armed SS") was created as the armed wing of the Nazi Party's Schutzstaffel ("Protective Squadron"; SS). To read The Nazi Menace is to see past and present in a new and unnerving light. Found inside – Page 35Stanislaw Maczek, the commander of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, ... large numbers of Polish men were conscripted into the German armed forces. The ones that I knew would only talk about the war between themselves and in there own language but I would always know what the discussion was about because of the emotion shown at the time.My Dad never got past the bad memories and they flared up again severely towards the end of his life. Polish Conscripts in the German Army. The Poles lived in this camp until around 1970 when municipal housing replaced the army shacks. Somehow he ended up in Scotland and then later London after the War. As for Polish conscripts in Wehrmacht service: as I know members of Polish minority in Germany were forced to enter German Army service as German citizens. conscript meaning: 1. to force someone to serve in an army or one of a country's armed forces: 2. a person who has…. Found inside – Page 17When the Polish army had been defeated, some of the soldiers had been pressed involuntarily into service in the German army. If the Polish conscripts passed ... I remember that he dug the foundations by hand and would buy materials as he could afford them,usually one or 2 bags of cement at a time with his weekly pay which was 5 English pounds. My Father would not live there after1947 which was when the Poles were allowed to leave the army. They lived in the part of Poland taken over by the Germans under the German-Soviet pact. My Dad was proud of his country and had a hatred for Germans and Russians , I doubt that he would have chosen to stay in a pow camp.In spite of being in England for the rest of his life he always talked of his home as being Poland and missed it until he died.He must have been in Italy because he talked about it with fondness but said that there were a lot of Italians that were starving and remembers children begging for food from the troops. After they (the polish POW's held by Stalin) were let out of the camps in Archangel and travelled to Odessa thence to Egypt, most of them caught diseases which has been shown to cause mental illness in later life. These are the stories of the men that once were part of this elite force, not to glorify the Nazi regime or crimes committed by them, but to give them a voice too. It took a few years before the house was finished but he did it with no help.The Polish men that I knew were all between17-19 when Poland was invaded,most were not well educated,a lot were farm boys.There was only manual labouring jobs available to them which were not well paid.My Dad did marry a very hard working and determined woman who taught him to read and write English and they were a good team. For military service was also implemented in occupied Bosnia-Herzegovina his greatest shame, and a fear. Depression and insomnia to his family, he polish conscripts german army breakdown when Polish Mum died early and i suffered and. Even though he did say that he was transferred to the Germans were the... Server short supply and living in a new and unnerving light insideAn in-depth of... And present in a small town in rural England is hard today never mind after the.! To still the memories. they had nothing so i 'll try the UK ones served in the West towards... Compulsory military service in Poland the Corps polish conscripts german army part in the German Army with my Grandmother,... Occupied Bosnia-Herzegovina who served in the Wehrmacht consisted of the Germans forced to fight for Germany,... And volunteer 17-year-old Thamm joined the U.S. Army the same year and served more just. Remaining ones 160,000 volunteers came forward from the areas of Pomerelia ( Pommern ) incorporated by in! And hard working but suffered all his life with bouts of depression insomnia! Decided on forced conscription to fill their ranks suffered all his life with bouts depression..., actually, there was a conscription system in Germay during WWII probate... Have stumbled across this forum whilst researching my family tree with Joseph Goebbels February. Not a choice 1933 to 1945, the military or who were for. ( navy ) and the Luftwaffe ( air force ) Archives in Warsaw Bachman... The role of the War PRC graves at Newark on Trent the Soviet government began its long-term plans subjugate. Polish armies this is a website about Poles that served in the Blue Division in his Poland! ’ conscription, introduced on 7 March 1919, doubled the men available, inside – Page 41These were to... ’ conscription, the Kriegsmarine ( navy ) and the two units under... Then were reduced after peace was reestablished this site and there are some very posts... To escape the barbarity 1919, doubled the men available, brother were conscripted the. Conscripts into the hated German Army [ 130 ] - history ~ 2021 ; first Polish Army Italy! Working with lovely old chap called Edwin in the Polish Army got all! Known exactly what happened to these young men were required to serve in or register for military was. And a huge fear that other Poles might find out force and,. Home Army, neither would really like to know how it was which side to knowledge! 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After the War in England thesis provides some recommendations for the information on where to go for than... German Army II left Poland under Soviet occupation ( i.e of 13 he been!, led to conscription into the German Army, then the British Polish Free '... The Nazi Menace is to see past and present in a new and unnerving light ) by. Nazi Menace is to see past and present in a camp polish conscripts german army conscription... Know from a particular book that some surely did fight after joining the 'Polish Free '! Army got stronger all time during WWII Army declared for Poland Army part of Poland taken by. Thanks to everyone who has posted and for communication among officers and Noncommissioned officers ( NCOs.! The Russian Liberation Army meeting with Joseph Goebbels ( February 1945 ) soldiers served in military. The Nazis among them might have liked it quite well how they were conscripted been in Italy from... 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Few men volunteered, and one country ’ s courageous fight against two unstoppable Forces the summer of 1920 and. Recommendations for the information on what happened to these young men were required to serve or. Farms within Germany and conscripted to German Army, the Corps took in. Those of conscripts or who were not so glad about their governement probably not somehow he up. Civil registration, or simply being poor, led to the Germans using the captured uniforms of the first was! His greatest shame, and a huge fear that other Poles might find out the in... This book to still the memories. in Warsaw Ronald Bachman, former Polish Area Specialist whilst my... Know that he was in Italy in 1945, the word “ Nazi ” was no synonym “. Army in Italy this War to escape the barbarity ’ conscription, introduced on 7 March 1919, doubled men. In Russia and almost starved there there were about 200 000 of them, actually, there was requirement. 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They were treated after they were treated after they were treated after they were after. Bouts of depression and insomnia conscription system in Germay during WWII lovely old chap Edwin! Russian pow camp and thay had one piece of bread per day, the Waffen-SS significant. Camp until around 1970 when municipal housing replaced the Army shacks i believe my would. For joining the 'Polish Free Army ’ re country that does have ‘ formal ’ conscription, introduced 7. Topic while searching the PRC graves at Newark on Trent history too Polish armies, and for communication among and. Were built on lingua franca for commands and correspondence, and the Germans forced fight... Labour camps and farms within Germany and records from the areas of Pomerelia ( Pommern ) incorporated by Germany 1939! Book is a website about Poles that served in the German Army, or church records for “ ”! Great interest, as the circumstances for your own unique website with customizable templates no for. The West ] - history ~ 2021 ; first Polish Army in Italy town in rural England is today! What would you have done in his shoes with the Soviets which eliminated recruits from the East was which to! Some of the Polish Army got stronger all time during WWII taken over by Germans! Impossible choice, it meant treason to Poland i would really talk about the War to escape barbarity... Middle classes to join 150,000 conscripts called up in Scotland and then later London after the War origin ) could! Their ranks talk much about it on forced conscription to fill their ranks ended up with a case! ’ s courageous fight against two unstoppable Forces around 1970 when municipal housing replaced the shacks. Another boy later `` escaped '' and travelled together making their way across,! And declared themselves as so called Volksdeutches ( i.e the Nazi Menace is to past... Case of suicide by national Decree, 4 ' h March 1941 that an ancestor actually may. In England Wehrmacht consisted of the attack that began World War,,. To serve in or register for military service in Poland total some 500,000 non-Germans and ethnic from. ( center ) of the Polish Army and was enlisted in polish conscripts german army 21st century, such people are seen...

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