Re: Polish Wartime Maps

George wrote:
On 11 Mar, 10:55, "Fat Sam" <samandjanetk...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Periander wrote:
Kim Bolton <nos...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:6mj7v21sjlu84s1n2qn0bsq4gbf7rphovn@xxxxxxx:

Kim Bolton wrote:

More interestingly, they show the Polish appreciation of the
German strengths and dispositions ranged against them. WWII
started at 4:45am the next day, when the German Battleship
Schleswig-Holstein, on a goodwill visit to Danzig, opened fire on
the Polish garrison at Westplatte.

Bad form etc.

That should have been "Westerplatte"; it's on the map!

Using an online Polish-English dictionary, which is a bit tedious,
a very rough translation might read

"Sketch No 1

Forecast
Defensive (Groups?) In Poland on the 28 August 1939
and known situation in Poland on the 31 August 1939"

Which would indicate that these are the Polish High Command's
appreciation of the situation on the very eve of the war, and
suggest that their appreciation of the German dispositions is
about two to three days in arrears. Historically, this could be
quite a find.

Abbreviations like "mot panc" suggest "Motorised Panzer" (lorried
infantry); "SS" is obvious; but many items are referred to by
initials ("d.p.") which would need expert assessment.

They are divisions, cavalry and infantry. I'm just going through my
Nafziger to try and identify the German ones.

What is unclear to me though is the status of the Polish units.
Certainly the assembly areas, concentration, defensive areas and so
forth are shown but I gain the impression that the map also
describes the staus of the Polish units - whether they are fit for
battle, still forming, in training entrenched and so forth and for
that we need a Polish speaker.

Now as it happens the daughter of the last Admiral of the Polish
Fleet prior to "liberation" by the Russians lives in the inns of
court up in London. A very nice lady she is to, very well spoken
and of course an excellent translator/interpretor - indeed some of
the legal bods who post here may even have retained her servicies
she does a lot of legal work. Anyway, long story short, I'll print
out the maps and when I next see her I'll ask her opinion. Consider
my curiosity piqued.

Or if you can get to East Anglia, there's a signifigant Polish
community here, and they're quite a friendly bunch. I'm sure a few
drinks in one of their local bars, and you'd have them swarming
round you, poring over the maps, translating things for you.- Hide
quoted text -

- Show quoted text -




Following the interest shown, I talked to my mother, who still lives
in Suffolk where I was born. She told me that there were a lot of
Polish Airmen at Leiston, where there was an airfield during the war
and she said they were a very agreeable crowd. Some were of high rank.

As there was no public collection of rubbish, the village, (Benhall)
used a crater called The Pit to dump all their rubbish and I spent a
many enjoyable hours discovering all sorts of interesting stuff there.
About this time I remember finding and bringing home inside my shirt,
a rat, that was probably of the verge of expiration, due to having
been poisoned. She made me take it back!

I have sent an email to the Imperial War Museum with a few quotes from
you gentlemen and we will see what they have to say. If these maps
should prove to be of the historical interest that seems suggested,
what would be my best course? As they are from 1939 then are they in
the public domain. So, although I would take every care of them as
having this historical interest, I assume I am not likely to be forced
to donate them to the National Archives, etc. Copies to the I.W.
Museum, with Cert. of Authenticity, originals to Ebay?

What do you think?

Regards George.

p.s. How do you find Polish Pubs in East Anglia, Fat Sam? I am near
Norwich, where are you?

I'm out by Kings Lynn.
I wouldn't have a clue how to find them, but you might want to try looking
in places like Dereham or Swaffham where there's quite a large number of
them living.


.

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