Benoit Douville wrote:Liluh,
That's a very interesting and tragic story. What do you think about that Battle? Do you think it was necessary?
I think the Poles fought bravely and I have a lot respect for them to fight against the occupied Germans. If they had won the Battle, they would have been in better postion to negotiate with the Soviets.
Regards
It was very sad (although beautifull from its plain bravery and heroism) and tragic in its outcome, it also weakened polish opposition during late 40`s.
I don`t think it was necessary (even though the basic assumptions were correct), even more, I think it was quite foolish, badly planned and hastily made.
First of all, the uprising was a direct outcome of modified plan "Burza" (The Storm). This plan intended to:
- take land after, or from, retreating german troops
- disarm these troops or/and gather all the military stuff they left behind leaving in haste
- estabilish local goverment under the control of Polish gov. in exile
- estabilish administration, togheter with creating police units which would bring law and order on the shattered battle grounds
- reopen and start factory facalities
- defend polish civilians from Ukrainians
- finally, recreate AK as an Polish Army in full meaning of this word
The plan covered all terrains which before the war were called the II Republic of Poland. It was prepared in late 1942. Soviets were still considered as more or less friendly (even though the invasion on 17th sept. 1939). Polish HQ expected Germans to loose in Russia, and while German forces would back up, the uprising would be initiated in several sectors starting from the east and finally rising in whole country.
Then, in 1943 luck wasn`t at polish side. Gen. "Grot" (Rowecki) had been arrested by Gestapo and in an airplane accident (sources are not clear what really happend) High Command gen. Sikorski got killed. It was a heavy strike to the polish command. Both of them were very intelligent and charismatic characters. Both had a good grip on the reality and if anyone, they were right men to lead "Burza" to victory. Those who took over weren`t that keen, neither they had a deep insight on the world policy and situation, therefore, loosing the grip on reality. More over, Germans found massive graves in Katyn and accused Russians. Relations between Poles and Soviets became even more cold.
Now, as the basic plan had a good chance of succeding - AK counted even 500.000 members (!) at the best time - it had been modified by head gen. Komorowski "Bor", which as a hardened cavarlyman knew how to charge with a batalion of horsmen, but had no idea about guerilla warfare. There`s more on that, as he was a weak man and often agreed for the mad plans of his second rate officers. Let`s leave that now though.
"Burza" launched in early 1944. AK liberated Wilno, Lwow (quite big cities) and even cooperated with Soviets. Only that just after liberating all AK members were arrested and put before a choice: either, they`ll join Berling Army, or they`ll be sent to Siberia. Now everyone knew the real intentions of Soviets.
"Bor" decided to include Warsaw in the uprising ("Grot" never intended that, he knew the real value of the capitol and didn`t want to weaken it in any way. More over, he knew urban warfare was a difficult task where AK wouldn`t have much chance - in comparision to forest fighting where it had genuine advantage over Germans). He thought that Warsaw, as the heart of Poland, shouldn`t fall into Soviet hands becouse if it will, all efforts to estabilish polish government would fail. He was partially right. Both Hitler and Stalin hated that city. It was the main base of the high command and all guerilla efforts. Still, "Bor" planned to use Soviet assualt as a help to deal with Germans. He guessed, large polish force in the capitol couldn`t be quietly removed like the liberators of Wilno or Lwow. The way for negotiations would be open.
Plan to liberate Warsaw was created in great haste. There were not enough units in the area and their equippment was unpropriate for the tasks they were given. Neither they were told how to fight in the city (so, obviously, first troops ran in long lines through the open streets like they would run between trees and bushes in a forest until they got slaughterned with machine gun fire). "Grot" Rowecki knew all that, but heck, he was already dead by then.
AK failed to accomplish most important tasks of the first days of uprising. They didn`t hold the bridge (4 of them actually, later all were blown by Germans preventing Soviet crossing), railway depot (which bringed german reinf and supplies considerably quicklym and home base of train artillery), airplane base (where Ju-88 planes had its base) and more, succeding only in some minor attacks. Even then it wasn`t too late to retreat, but "Bor" was a stubborn men. More and more units were pulled into the city. Even though heroic efforts of those men, we know the end of this history. If all of them had the experience in the first days, they had in the end of uprising, they would propably succed in majority of efforts.
After the death of Warsaw whole "Burza" plan had been suspended. AK was heavily damaged in its structures. "Bor" not only (not directly or on purpose of course) destroyed Warsaw, but also put some ground with a shovel upon it`s country coiff. The more tragic history it is.