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kathleenguthriewoods's review against another edition
5.0
I put off reading this after a friend first made the recommendation, thinking it would be dry history book. Wrong! The story and the history are compelling. There is so much I didn't know about Poland's glorious history and its people's military achievements during WWII. What they suffered is horrifying, and that they were subjected to further mistreatment by their allies is disturbing.
Several times, when I shared tidbits with my husband, he asked why I continued to read it since it clearly was upsetting me. "Because it's important. Because we need to know about this. Because I now feel so compelled to honor the memories of these heroes."
Helps, too, that the writing is excellent. It's a big book and a slow read (lot of info to take in), but a page-turner. Well worth the investment of your time.
Several times, when I shared tidbits with my husband, he asked why I continued to read it since it clearly was upsetting me. "Because it's important. Because we need to know about this. Because I now feel so compelled to honor the memories of these heroes."
Helps, too, that the writing is excellent. It's a big book and a slow read (lot of info to take in), but a page-turner. Well worth the investment of your time.
joabroda's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
In 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, thousands of Poles escaped. Many of those Polish citizens were military men, intent on fighting with the French and British to stop Hitler. This is the story of one squad from the Polish Air Force who ended up in England and were attached to The Royal Air Force. The British forces were not too happy about it.
All I knew about the Polish Air Force was that it had only lasted about three days against the Luftwaffe, and I had no reason to suppose it would shine any more brightly operating from England
It took no time at all for the Poles to make that gentlemen eat his words. The Polish Air Force was one of the finest in the world, and these men had fire in their belly. Their only intent was to reclaim their country, no matter what it took. Without the Polish squads, chances are the Battle of Britain would have been lost.
The author gives insight into the Tehran and Yalta conferences . What was said, what was promised to Stalin, behind closed doors. The public persona of these two leaders was something quite different. From the very beginning both of these leaders praised the Polish, promising them that they would not be forsaken or forgotten. That every person, every country had the right to freedom. All the while, behind those closed doors, chopping up Eastern Europe to please Stalin and keep him in the fight.
When the Poles stood up to Germany in 1939, when they poured out of Poland to fight on, when they tried to defend France, and when they flew against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, they could have never imagined that their country would be disposed of-by their allies-in so casual and callous a way
Olson is a fabulous writer, her research impeccable. Highly recommended for history fans.
All I knew about the Polish Air Force was that it had only lasted about three days against the Luftwaffe, and I had no reason to suppose it would shine any more brightly operating from England
It took no time at all for the Poles to make that gentlemen eat his words. The Polish Air Force was one of the finest in the world, and these men had fire in their belly. Their only intent was to reclaim their country, no matter what it took. Without the Polish squads, chances are the Battle of Britain would have been lost.
The author gives insight into the Tehran and Yalta conferences . What was said, what was promised to Stalin, behind closed doors. The public persona of these two leaders was something quite different. From the very beginning both of these leaders praised the Polish, promising them that they would not be forsaken or forgotten. That every person, every country had the right to freedom. All the while, behind those closed doors, chopping up Eastern Europe to please Stalin and keep him in the fight.
When the Poles stood up to Germany in 1939, when they poured out of Poland to fight on, when they tried to defend France, and when they flew against the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, they could have never imagined that their country would be disposed of-by their allies-in so casual and callous a way
Olson is a fabulous writer, her research impeccable. Highly recommended for history fans.
bookluver1's review against another edition
4.0
This book tells a story that truly needs to be told - that of Polish pilots fighting side-by-side with the British. Poles get so little credit for their war efforts, and due to politics, and Britain's and the U.S. alliance with Jozef Stalin, Poland continued to receive no credit under three generations of Russian communism that prohibited honoring and Polish heroes. I got about three-quarters of the way through. I found the level of detail a little tedious, as it went into every mission, every flight, every statistic. The book reflects a tremendous amount of research and factual detail. The effort is worthy, the story a must-read, but if you skim through each battle scene, you'll get into more of the character of the Poles.
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