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First to Fight

Page 43

by Roger Moorhouse


  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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  Copyright © Roger Moorhouse 2019

  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.

  Roger Moorhouse has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  First published by The Bodley Head in 2019

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  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 9781473548220

  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.

 

 

 


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