Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Previous section
Why have Polish people come to Britain?

Stanislaw's Journey: Fighting with the Allies

Black and white image with Lola on the left, Stansilaw on the right and their young toddler daughter, Barbara in the centre
Stanislaw and Lola with their Daughter in the 1950s

 

How did the outbreak of the Second World War affect Poland?

The Second World War began in September 1939 when Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany. The Polish army fought hard but it was ill-equipped and outnumbered. On 17 September, as a result of a secret pre-war non-aggression pact with Germany, the Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east and the country was forced to surrender.

 

Stanislaw wears a police uniform and looks very smart.  His hair is swept back.
Stanislaw as a Young Policeman before World War 2

What happened to the Polish government?

With all of Poland under the control of occupying armies, members of the Polish government fled south to Romania, where they were imprisoned. The government transferred its powers to a group of Polish leaders at liberty in France. General Sikorski became Prime Minister and commander-in-chief. His task was to assemble a new Polish army out of refugees and Poles living in France.

 

How was Stanislaw involved?

Stanislaw joined the Polish army when Germany invaded and was one of thousands of Polish soldiers who escaped to Romania and Hungary once Poland was defeated. After treatment in a Hungarian hospital he was due to be sent back to occupied Poland. But he had heard that the Polish army was reassembling in France and so he travelled to join them.

 

Elderly Polish man Stanislaw wearing his war medals in 2009
Polish Stanislaw at Home in Yorkshire

What happened to the exiled Poles when Germany invaded France?

In May 1940 German troops overran France and the Polish government in exile was forced to move to London where they remained for the rest of the war. Stanislaw was evacuated to England. He was among 27,500 Polish servicemen who managed to reach Britain and made a great contribution to defeating Germany. After training in Scotland, Stanislaw worked with the Polish Panzer Division which took part in the D-Day landings and the liberation of Europe.

 

The Allied troops are smiling and there are men women and children on the pavement watching them go by.  The bystanders look quite happy.
Allied Troops Enter Breda, Holland, During World War 2

Download Stanislaw's personal testimony (three-page Word document).