Westerplatte – actual past – traces of independent fresh facts 2023

WESTERPLATTE – REAL past – INCOME
NEW FACTS 2023

The defence of Westerplatte by Polish soldiers became a legend of the September campaign. In the fall of 1925, Poles took over Westerplatte – ammunition depots in the Gdańsk port for their own use. The German threat caused the crew of the Component to be reinforced to 182 people. Major Henryk Sucharski assumed command of this tiny branch. Defenders had at their disposal a tiny area of land where they could defend themselves. They were equipped with 4 mortars and 3 cannons tiny caliber. erstwhile the German battleship "Schleswig-Holstein" began shelling Westerplatte on 1 September 1939 at 4:45 p.m., it symbolically gave emergence to planet War II. A fewer days earlier, he arrived in Gdańsk with a “curtuazi visit”.
The component thus became the first German target, despite the fact that the offensive started at respective border points respective minutes earlier. The 18th armadillo division remained silent only erstwhile it moved to another area to shoot Hel, much more crucial to the Germans. At the same time, they stormed land. The first point of opposition was the “Prom” facility led by Leon Pająk. Poles allowed Germans to approach as close as possible, then opened fire from their device guns.

Unprepared for specified an effective defence, Germany was forced to withdraw, leaving behind many dead and wounded. another facilities besides managed to last the first attack. "Schleswig-Holstein" now sailed just 500 metres distant and began to lash out the component with fire from its department. After 28 shots, the defender's cannon went silent. On September 1, the first losses were reported.

St. Sgt. Wojciech Najsarek, Bishop of Kowalczyk, St. leg. Ziemb and gunner Bronisław Uss died.
On this day, the Germans 3 times undertook an attack, but they all failed.
Initially, the facility was to last 12 hours until support arrived.
This was the plan of the Chief Command, which was inactive regarded as optimistic, given the deficiency of Westerplatte crew.
However, it was hoped that an auxiliary offensive could be carried out that would free the soldiers locked in the lap.
That was an utmost optimism.
The reality of the beginning of the war, which was definitely in favour of the Germans, forced Poles to stay in position much longer than the mentioned 12 hours.
As of September 2, Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski was in charge of Westerplatte, who, as a deputy of Sucharski, changed him to his position. The erstwhile commander suffered a severe tense breakdown, which made him incapable to lead the troops defending the facilities.
In time, he began to sow dangerous defetism among his colleagues, which active a past of the isolation of Sucharski from the remainder of the crew. On the same day, Germany resumes land strikes. Despite this, Polish soldiers withstand the attack.
The drama began around 5:00 p.m. erstwhile German bombers arrived at Westerplatte. The defenders heard a horrific whistle from respective twelve Luftwaffe aircraft, which dropped their deadly charge, turning into rubble Warden No. 5.
The losses that day were 9 killed and many wounded. In the evening, German troops effort again to enter the facility. And this time the top is the Polish crew.

Major Henryk Sucharski orders the demolition of papers stored on Westerplatte. The wounded come. The medical examiner, Captain Mieczysław Weak, has less and less resources to treat and save soldiers. Despite this, the Warsaw announcer continues to broadcast a message: "Westerplatte defends itself still".
In the following days, Germany is trying at all costs to get the facility. It irritates them that specified a weak force resists the attacks of the overwhelming enemy respective times.
On September 5, Sucharski convenes a gathering of the commanders, where it was decided to stay in positions (especially Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski was willing to fight).
According to any accounts, the sobbing Sucharski asked to surrender Westerplatte. It would be an act of exceptional defeatism in the ranks of defenders. Dąbrowski most likely threatened that if the major continued to persuade the soldiers to surrender, he would order him to be arrested.
Despite this, Sucharski continued to stay the actual commander of the defense, and thus the superior of Dąbrowski, who owed him obedience, regardless of the combat conditions. There are accounts that show that Sucharski was in fact briefly “under the key”, which was to be an action which was more combative defenders of the Ingredients. On the morning of September 7, a mad German storm reaches almost the center of the facility.
The heroism of the defenders one more time allows the Germans to be thrown back. Although soldiers are an organized force all the time, and effectively defy the more powerful opponent, their struggles must be completed.
As a consequence of the shortage of ammunition and the terrible wellness situation
Major Sucharski decides to surrender the facility.
Here, too, there are any differences concerning the submission of Westerplatte – possibly it was a voluntary initiative of Sucharski.
After the war, he was promoted to hero, and the story of the relentless commander survived for many years. It is only present that the character of Sucharski is de-brown, despite what communist propaganda said.

Poles took advantage of the anticipation of honorary surrender, it was not a credit on their honor. They fought as long as they could, further opposition would be certain of death. In designation of General Eberhardt, the leader of the German attack, allows Sucharski to hold an officer's saber, which is simply a symbol of the heroism of the Polish Army soldier.
Polish casualties are 15 killed and 50 wounded. The Germans lost about 400 killed, which was a immense feat of Polish defenders. They were to defend themselves 12 hours, held on for as long as 7 days, building around them the story of the tenacity and heroism of the Polish soldier.

They became a symbol of the Polish Army, which always fights to the end. The story of Poles on Westerplatte was rapidly spread. The Polish Radio broadcasts on an ongoing basis informing about events in the facility were of negligible importance in this field.
The second component of building the legend was a poem written by Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński, inactive during the September campaign. It is worth quoting his words, , the story went into the world, the story of Westerplatte soldiers, who “fours went to heaven.”

The daughter of Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski Elżbieta Dąbrowska – Hojka, gathered many evidence, It was Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski who commanded the defence of Westerplatte in September 1939.

"It is very old, most likely in the kind of the Duchy of Warsaw", he says, holding in his hand a tiny silver spoon – Elżbieta Dąbrowska – Hojka, daughter of Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski. It utilized to be gold-plated, but the gold's long gone. She didn't show up at our home until after the war, along with a full set of spoons, brooch, rings and another valuables. They all belonged to my grandmother, who was taken “somewhere” to the russian Union at the beginning of the war. Grandparents lived in Stanisławów, they were 1 of the most celebrated military families of the higher rank. In this beautiful border town, generals could be counted on the fingers of 1 hand, and there would most likely inactive be these fingers left. Grandad Romuald Brigadier General presented himself “at the awards”. The most crucial orders he “worked” after joining the Polish Army in 1920, on the fronts of the Polish-bolshevik War. He was then awarded the conflict Cross 4 times, and was besides knighted by the Silver Order of the Virtuti Military.
My grandfather's life communicative was printed in “The Armed Poland”.

When I look at the photograph of my grandma Elizabeth, or Elizabeth of Broulików, daughter of Leopold von Schwed, it's hard not to admit that specified a dignified presenting female could not neglect to pay attention to herself in all situation, well only erstwhile she went with her grandfather, on the left of his hand, so that the right 1 could respond to the saluters – continuously, as in the garrison city – military. It was not possible to read about what he looked like before the Stanisławów war in books or in school textbooks. The city was renamed Ivano-Frankivsk.

My father didn't talk much about his parents. possibly he didn't want me to brag about my grandpa in school, the pre-war general. And a grandma in a noble household born with this “von” before her name? Five-room grandparents' flat in Stanisławów? And it was when, in Krakow, our four-person household had a bathtub replaced by a bruised pelvis in the corner of the room... any books state that Grandpa died in 1938, but he was actually arrested by the NKVD in September 1939, which the authors were afraid to compose about. This inconspicuous spoon that miraculously returned from the shipment to Kazakhstan and the household ring, the same 1 that can be seen clearly on the father's finger in 1 of the photos from the Westerplatte surrender, is all that remained of the Dąbrowski property after the war.

After the war ended, many Westerners spoke to journalists, or writers. There were different opinions made by any colleagues about others. They criticized the deficiency of courage, pointed out leaving the injured man unassisted, but no even complained about the presence of 1 female in the barracks or at any of the facilities. So how to treat the information given on September 8, 1939 in "Danziger Neueste Nachrichten" by Fritz Jaenitzke about the prisoners – women among the surrendering Westerplatte crew? specified “ideas” to make books or articles attractive never lacked. The full confusion about the defence of Westerplatte was triggered by the book by Melchior Wańkowicz "Westerplatte", in which the author repeats a rumor told by prison guards in Gdańsk. They laughed at the “dog” of the Polish crew that she had raised the white flag, and erstwhile the German dignitaries had moved towards supposedly capitulating Poles, the flag disappeared and device guns played. Melchior Wańkowicz, although commenting on this information as unbelievable, forgets to add in his comment that for a akin “number” after the surrender, Polish soldiers would pay with their lives alternatively than sending to stalags or olags. Many Polish authors did not avoid mistakes and inventions. They were numbered by Melchior Wanakovich. In addition to the aforementioned “dogs” with the white flag, 30 others were included in his book. The criticized author refused to straighten them out, covering himself up that he had written what he had heard from Major Henryk Sucharski in Italy in 1945.

In a large edition of Hans Hagge's brochure "Westerplatte" published in the GDR, the author emphasizes that defenders complain about the Polish government and command, which did not decide to give consent to the Red Army which was attacked by the Nazis.

It is not disputed that the commandant, and so besides the commander of the WST (Military Transit Component) at Westerplatte was Major Henryk Sucharski, while the defence of the WST was commanded by Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski. But in fact it is Major Henryk Sucharski – as you can see in the photograph published repeatedly – went to surrender Westerplatte.

Who truly commanded the Westerplatte defence in September 1939?

– The defence was initiated by Major Henryk Sucharski, Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski took command on 2 September, who led the fight until 6 September – he said in an interview published in “The Polish Journal” in September 2008 Mariusz Borowiak, – Major Henryk Sucharski gave the mission on 7 September. Thus, according to historical truth, Major Henry Sucharski began and concluded the defence of Westerplatte.

– The change in command on September 2 occurred under dramatic circumstances...

On that evening the Germans organized a dense air raid on the peninsula. Nearly sixty aircraft bombed the depot for half an hour, destroying the guardhouse and barracks.

Under the influence of the raid and the losses he caused, Major Henryk Sucharski suffered a tense breakdown and felt that he should surrender. Gave orders to burn the papers and codes, then had the white flag hung on the barracks roof. erstwhile the deputy major Henryk Sucharski learned about this, Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski immediately ordered the flag to be removed, and the major reported that there was no question of surrender. Major Henryk Sucharski reacted with a immense agitation that turned into an attack of epilepsy. A doctor was called to Captain Weak's locker, who applied antiepileptics and sedatives to the commander and tied him to bed. From that minute on, the defence was directed by de facto Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski. Sucharski was apathetic, repeating repeatedly that the fight did not make sense and should be given up.

My editorial colleague Janusz Roszko, a Kraków journalist, revealed “Westerplatte mystery” – the communicative of the white flag in “Politics” in 1993. Around the article by Janusz Roszka, an authentic hell broke loose.

Roszka was attacked for violating holiness, accused of ignoring heroes, of wanting to decridize Major Henryk Sucharski in agreement with Captain Francis Dąbrowski. Insinuations went even further, the assessments were mixed, among which the most delicate were the words “speak” and “split”, “split bucket”. In the Kraków club, journalists “Pod Gruszka” innuendos at their address ed. Janusz Roszko received from the journalistic community during the spotting meeting. During this meeting, journalists Olgiard Jędrzejczyk and Zdzisław Dudzik, including me, performed in defence of the red, Janusz Roszka.
Drunk Bruno Miecugow argued his rations manually, and I received a punch in the face from him. He swerved at my table, broke my wig and threw it out the open window.
The article by ed. Janusz Roszka was called "the kernel of public opinion", or terms from the arsenal of communist propaganda, but printed in 1993.

"Interesting" discussion was held yesterday (July 24, 2020) on TVP.Info. – whether Westerplatte belongs to Poland? And is Gdańsk a Polish city?

I believe that specified a discussion with specified titles can be conducted in a cabaret or by ‘journalists’ with ‘full knowledge’.

Westerplatte – so apparent and known to everyone the symbol of Gdańsk, for us Poles carry a message on which we were raised. What is crucial and crucial to our generation does not always appeal to the youngest, being the grandpa of teenage grandchildren. The “education” of the next generations is thus the rule. shortly erstwhile asked about Poland's access to the sea, they will answer that they have already visited Kielce, but they have not seen any sea there.

So I explain that Westerplatte is simply a peninsula in Gdańsk, located in the north-eastern part of the city, between the Gulf of Gdańsk and the River Martwa Wisła. The width of the peninsula is estimated at about 200-500 m, the dimension is about 2 km. The name of the peninsula “Westerplatte” is simply a collection of 2 words of German “wester” – western and Platte origin, or album (in the sense of the island).

Between 1936 and 1939, a military transit depot operated here, and September

1939, he brought a crucial defence, which enrolled as a symbol of Poland's opposition against the Nazi invasion. Due to symbolism, this place was the only 1 in Gdańsk to hold a name that sounded in a abroad language.

Westerplatte is unique. It was here on September 1, 1939, at 4:45 pm, that the Nazi attack on our country began. The German school battleship Schleswig – Holstein, which reached Gdańsk on 25 August 1939 under the pretext of a courtesy visit, attacked our country. From the outside the battleship did not look state-of-the-art, but it was heavy armed and prepared to attack. Underboard he was carrying an assault company Kriegsmarine.

The defence of the peninsula from 1 to 2 September was commanded by Major Henryk Sucharski, and from 2 to 7 September was taken over by his deputy Captain Franciszek Dąbrowski. The garrison fought alone with overwhelmingly many and armed enemy forces. After the surrender was announced, German troops brought Polish prisoners to the peninsula on 10 October, who were expected to organize the area after earlier fighting.

In March 1940, a concentration camp in Stutthof was established on the Westerplatte subcamp (Abteilung Aussenstelle). His commandants were SS-Hauptsturmführer Franz Chffelristofel, SS Unterssturmführer Paul Ehle and SS Unterssturmführer Kurt Mathesius.

In May 1941, demolition work on Westerplatte (partial stripping of barracks) was completed by the last group of prisoners and the camp was dissolved.

Immediately after the end of the war in 1946, the mine-mining of the peninsula began. A symbolic cemetery was besides created. On the site of Sentinel No. 5 there was a cross and a plaque with names of the fallen. At the same time, the barracks detonated unexploded, contributing to the demolition of the facility.

On July 2, 1962, the cross was removed and placed in its place the 1945 T-34 tank. After the end of the 1966 war, Poles wanted to honor the heroes of Westerplatte erected a monument to the Coast Defenders at the entrance to the port. It's 23 meters tall. Its construction lasted 2 years, and was formed from 236 granite blocks and weighs 1150 tons. There is besides a customized that ships flying under abroad flags observe, entering the port worship our heroes with signals.

Westerplatte is simply a mandatory destination for tourists who visit the Tricity. There are places to see to realize how heroicly Poland's freedom was defended. The peninsula is visited from the marina of passenger ships. From here we have a view of the port canal, the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Monument of the Defenders of the Coast and the Fortress of Vislauście.

Then we head for the shelter and the Westerplatte reflection tower. The vault is from the 1950s.
The next steps will lead us to Fort, which is part of the conflict Field. This was the place where the anti-depressive defence center was located in 1939.
Westerplatte is simply a key point on the Polish war map, which must be saved from oblivion. We grandparents owe our grandchildren stories that make past alive.
The memory of the heroes of our country will not die as long as we talk about them and convey cognition to our successors.
I had the honor of taking part with my wife Alina de Croncos Borkowska – Szumańska in celebrations commemorating the heroism of Westerplatte Soldiers.

THE fact WILL TELL YOU

LIRIQUE OF THE CONSTANT GALCHIAN ILDEFONS
And the unrelented Shuman Aleksandra

SONG ON WESTERPLATTE SOLDIERS

When the days were fulfilled
and came to die in the summer,
They went consecutive to heaven in fours.
Westerplatte soldiers.

( And summertime was beautiful that year)

And so they sang: Ah, it's nothing,
That sore wounds,
How sweet to go now
These heavenly fields.

In Gdańsk we stood like a wall,
whistling at the Kraut cannon,
Now we emergence among the clouds,
Westerplatte soldiers.

And those who have good eyesight
And hearing, they heard,
Like the bumps in the clouds equal step
The Marine Battalion.



And the singing was heard like this:
sunny time to use,
We'll be warm on warm days
on the paradise moors.

But erstwhile the wind is cold,
And sorrow was all over the world,
In the mediate of Warsaw we will go down,
Westerplatte soldiers.

Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński

"The Song of Soldiers from Westerplatte" is simply a flagship example of war's work and most likely the most crucial part telling about the destiny of Polish soldiers during the 1939 Defence War.
The poem was born in the course of the September run and rapidly gained popularity and designation of Polish society loved in the heroic past of defenders of the peninsula.
The creator of the part was a soldier of the Polish Army, fought the Soviets in the 1939 defence War. A large patriot, but besides an outstanding author who could find himself in various literary conventions.
He was born on 23 January 1905 in Warsaw. He debuted in 1923, wrote in the Kwadryga group, published in interwar satirical writings.
In the 1930s, he worked in diplomacy. Mobilized after the outbreak of the Second planet War, he briefly fought the Red Army and went into russian captivity, from where he was “gived” to Germany.
Actually, he spent the full period of the business in POW camps.
After the war, he was not afraid to criticize the communist system. He did so in a way characteristic of his love – utilizing irony and sarcasm, which accompanied him, for example, in the creation of the sketches "Green Goose".

For expressing himself negatively about the cult of the russian Union he was subjected to harsh criticism by another poets, faithful to the totalitarian system.
In his accompaniment he had the mocking panegiric "Fallen Stalin" of 1953 written in the court propaganda convention of socialistism. He attacked another creators who submitted to communist power.
According to some, “The poem for the traitor” was to address Czesław Miłosz.
He died of a heart attack in 1953. Despite his highly rich work, he was remembered primarily as the creator of "Songs of Soldiers from Westerplatte".
His portrayal of the heroic defenders who went to heaven for 4 years was a symbol of the losing conflict to keep the guardhouse.
The communicative of defenders was possibly not as beautiful and picturesque as the poet Gałczyński would like to see.
It is worth reading the course of the fighting on Westerplatte, to realize how hard the situation of Polish soldiers was in reality, and what distractions they had to contend with. However, there is no uncertainty that they are 1 of the most crucial symbols of Polish tenacity and war heroism, and to establish specified a image – let us add that it is right – Gałczyński contributed a large deal.

Eye of the Polish: September, 1 of the most beautiful months. In the air there are fragments of women's summers, there is simply a gentle windstorm, a odor of early autumn, and the rebates charm with the colors of heathers. In specified a setting even death takes on a different form – heavenlyly beautiful. The apparent reason is that soldiers give their lives for the right cause. Not only here – on the ground – they become heroes. Even the heavens accept their parade. The announcement will appear erstwhile it is hard, I read as a divine plan: they will come back not only to set an example for the fighting. They will appear as good spirits, guardian angels, protecting, bringing hope and strength to last the nightmare of war. Gałczyński has a uncommon talent for telling about what is crucial in a light way, without unnecessary pathos. He immortalized the defenders of Westerplatte on a beautiful, literary painting and, imitating his prominent predecessors, built them a monument "longer than from the bronze".

WESTERPLATTE SOLDERS

SEPTEMBER SUN
Those days
It was already dying in the summer,
And they died with him.
Westerplatte soldiers.

The battleship spit fire in their face,
And they're a part of land
They held like a flower
Dying in shadows.

And each bullet returned
Despair of past – September date,
The last soldier was glowing with blood.
Soldier last Westerplatte.

They live and they live,
They opened the Polish gate,
The land was their homeland,
Polish groves, Polish saddles.

This is where their parent was born,
This is where they say their prayers,
Who do you believe in?
I believe in Poland.

In tact, the mazurka sang,
That's why my parent gave birth to me
I'm guilty of life.
At the ft of parent God's Son.

And we pray like all day,
Of these rivers, cities, villages,
O this 1 grin to die,
Polish Soldier,
Polish soldier.
Aleksander Szumański “Polish Photography”

Is specified a city of the Polish Earth
Which were turned into barracks,
There is simply a city of Polish land
In which millions were prayed.

First, they were bathed,
Then the orchestras played brass,
Then they were dressed again.
In striped outfits delighted.

You've got your hair done.
In the teeth of his mustache,
They were playing hide and seek
A man with a striped life.

But unusual was the fun,
Usually involving B-cyclone,
Who was out of the law
Living beings to Saron.




Like a boulder silent in its mind,
Like harvest ears that have been mowed,
The coffins were buried in another coffin,
Burned down, their bodies were prayed over.

First their sand was buried,
Later, trained dogs howled,
And then they would laughter and turn,
When the subhumans were frying.

Sometimes there was a interwoven,
One goi with a 3rd Jew,
There's a jump line playing,
Just a dance with Juden.

Then after many, many years,
The barracks stood as they stood,
They no longer thought of their executioners,
The museums have turned into museums.

And there were many, many people,
Some with stars, any with a cross,
And they were amazed that the redhead
The girl was besides a cross here.

They took a crap out of everything anyway.
In the foolishness of a man praying,
That the stars were crossed,
Or the another way around, just like they wanted.

First they were sprinkled with sand,
Then they prayed again,
Later, barracks were scattered
And they were turned into dumps.

Aleksander Szumański “Polish Photography”

CAT 2010

Freedom was trampled again
In the Smolensk black forest.
Inhuman hostile land
April was attempted.


No tribute was allowed,
A secret this morning.
This place is the back of the head,
On bloody September at dawn.

Mom, you were with me.
When the traitor shot.
And he grew Polish blood
A cruel land called.

Mother for Polish land
The blood spilled.
My eyes were dark,
Mom, it's time for anger.

It's been years again,
Again, the enemy at the gate.
Despair and anger are tied
The next “Polish miracle”.

So Polish open your eyes
The traitors of the homeland.
What on Inhuman Earth
She was shooting at the Polish temple.

Aleksander Szumański “Polish Photography”

STRONG NATURE OF YOUR FAVOUR
Desert sand spinning,
And then possibly he'll be free.
This Polish way of getting acquainted.

You don't remember anything erstwhile you're above
Reptilian was mastered and persistent
Sucking leeches on the Polish road,
And he'd be drunk in the pits.

You don't remember anything erstwhile you smoke
The orchestra turned into marches,
You don't remember anything erstwhile your conscience
The intelligent wilderness was trampling.




On the edge of his memory
Passed to Generations
Perhaps any hearts in the punishment
They're your forgetfulness today.

Maybe just in the movies.
You'll yawn bored of anxiety,
But in history, it won't go missing.
When the blood poured on Poland, it was a waste.

When they browned up
The hands of the flesh of the gibberish,
♪ erstwhile it's red ♪
Katyn crosses died.

And as the poet foretold,
That Poland has not died yet.
And as the poet told us,
Poland's been torn out.

The wolves were climbing into the grit,
Revenge can't halt anything.
And so they fucked out of their homeland,
Just to keep the puddles in your hands.

AND THE past OF YOUR FALI,
It's always the Independent.
It was God with the Polish Pope who made,
Enemies Poland has not succumbed!

Aleksander Szumański “Polish Photography”