Postwar Betrayal of Hero Allied Generals

Two of WW2's most famous Polish generals ended up living in poverty in postwar Britain, performing manual labour just to survive. Who were they, and how did this happen?
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS, FRSA, is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Credits: US National Archives; Library of Congress; Maciej Szczpanczyk; Paweł Tomaszk; Exiled Englishman; Family Sosabowski; Cezary Piwowarski; Medalmaniak; Skabiczewski
Thumbnail: Stefan Garwatowski

[@Zveebo]

The treatment of General Maczek was deeply shameful. As an Edinburgh resident I’m very pleased we now have a proper memorial to him in the city, one of a couple of prominent memorials to the Polish contribution to the Allied cause installed in our city in recent years.

[@williamyoung9401]

What a messed up crime of justice. You want to talk about betrayal, though? How about the homosexuals that were left to rot in prison for another twenty (20) years after the War ended just for being who they were, with war criminals released before they were? o_O Not to mention Alan Turing.

[@chiefslinginbeef3641]

Can't wait for your young leftists to rip it to pieces. Literally had democrats in America where I lived in 2020 break apart WW2 vets gravestones and memorial plaques. Sad day.

[@diooverheaven6561]

@@williamyoung9401 then perhaps let's talk about all Polish freedom fighters killed after war by comminists

[@Pfsif]

Too little and WAY too late.

[@aleksazunjic9672]

Poles were simply useful idiots for the West, cannon fodder. Interestingly enough, they are in the same position now, again too blind to see.

[@davidfaulds2960]

Not giving these brave officers a pension is a disgrace to the allies!

[@TheGrace020]

Many such Cases!

[@kebbitevoke-5319]

Yep.

[@emericdion]

Thankfully the dutch supported general Maczek.

[@bigmikeobamas69inch3rdlegpenis]

Not just a disgrace to allies but to all mankind, they gave everything to save the world

[@jesterofspades3903]

And a discrace on the soviets for denying them citizenship

[@Kazad22]

"The Polish soldier fights for the freedom of all nations, But he dies only for Poland.” General Stanisław Maczek. Thank you very much for this material, as a Pole, it is worth remembering about hundreds of thousands of Polish soldiers who, like these two famous generals, had no chance to return to free, independent Poland.

[@je-freenorman7787]

Actually, the soldiers kill people thats not freedom sorry The Army does not offer freedom they force you to convert or parish

[@cliveengel5744]

Yes and the Soviet Ukrainians pushed the Poles out of Polish Galicia in 1945 i.e. Lvov, Stanislav, Lutsk and yet you are supporting them

[@je-freenorman7787]

@@cliveengel5744 Ukraine is part of Russia Poland, Ukraine and Russia are all part of the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE so YOU are cOnFuSeD

[@bartoszwalkowiak6590]

​@@cliveengel5744 yes stanislaw maczek received proposal to return to the poland but he refused because as he said he dont have nowhere to go back to because lviv is not polish anymore[ lviv is his birthplace]

[@cliveengel5744]

@@bartoszwalkowiak6590 Thank you - Stanislaw Wladyslaw Maczek, the famous Polish Tank Commander that helped liberate France in the Great Patriotic war, was born on 31 March 1892 in the Lwów suburb of Szczerzec (now Ukrainian: Shchyrets) then in Austro-Hungarian Galicia. He could never return to Poland because the Soviet Ukrainians annexed Lwow and made it part of Ukraine and called it Lviv! Stanisław Sosabowski, the famous Polish General from the Great Patriotic War that took part in Operation Market Garden in Holland was born on 8 May 1892 in Stanislau (Polish: Stanisławów), in what was then Austria-Hungary and is now Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine. They could never return to Poland as the Cities and hometowns they came from were annexed by The Ukrainian SSR and became part of Western Ukraine. So now the Righteous Ukrainians are now up in arms complaining that the Russians are doing the same thing to them. However, as “Anna from Ukraine “ always points out that the Soviets made them do it - but who were the Soviets but the Ukrainian themselves. She loves to point out that the “ills of Ukraine fall on the shoulders of Russia” All these guys as we say in the US are just “Revisionist Historians” and apply “Wokeness” to their entire Historical being! They all flock to to the very cities they annexed themselves from the Poles and Hungarians to hide out from the Russians.

[@ceciliaflorencenapier4595]

The Polish soldiers in my hometown of Cardiff during WW2 were highly regarded by folk. Thank you Poland for your brave men. They deserved the best from us.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

And indeed they got the best we could afford to give them.

[@Janek43961]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 you mean betrayal by UK?

[@jokodihaynes419]

"The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies, it comes from those you trust the most"

[@peterdixon7975]

Well technically you can only be betrayed by someone you trust. You expect your enemies to treat you badly. However I know what you mean.

[@Rutherford_Inchworm_III]

....of course it does. That's what "betrayal" means. Your enemies can't "betray" you if you didn't trust them in the first place. "The saddest thing about crapping your pants is that it never happens when you're already sitting on the toilet."

[@barbararice6650]

Isn't it disgusting when your enemies betray you 😕

[@heatherporterfield7343]

That was said in the 1972 film "The ,Godfather."

[@alesollas76]

So very trud.

[@ComissarYarrick]

If you ever wondered why Poles are still salty about WW2, this one of the many reasons why.

[@AtheAetheling]

I am not sure drawing repeated attention to it (and thus the repeated flaming of comment sections with hateful remarks from both sides) is ideal really though. Yes Britain should have looked after these men better, and Monty shouldn't have blamed him for Market Garden when it was clearly the fault of different ground commanders (not saying which as its not the point) but I find the pendulum repeatedly swings the other way, and videos like this just sort of...increase the division instead of healing it. The Poles are aggressively salty and insecure, and the other Allies resent being called out on things like this, so all it ever does is cause issues.

[@johngalt6525]

Yes . Some would rather "move on to get along" .

[@johngalt6525]

@@AtheAetheling" I am not sure " you understand . Stick with toy soldiers.....

[@polairstream]

We’re not salty, we’re just don’t believe it allies..

[@stanisawmucha9805]

@@AtheAetheling your comment works in favour of division especially labeling someone as aggressive, also reading the vast majority of comments your argument about bringing division simply falls flat on its face

[@simontracey3920]

My step father fought in Monte Casino with Polish units and was always impressed with their courage and bravery.

[@LudiCrust.]

My grandfather did as well! He fought alongside the Poles in Italy & then Canadians under Montgomery. He hated Montgomery with a passion until the day he died bc he had a habit of attacking territories then retreating to resupply then re-attacking the same place costing a lot of lives. He also hated him for delaying attacks for the same reasons (usually supply issues). He believed a lot of the conspiracy theories around why Eisenhower continued to indulge Montgomery’s incompetence. Also according to my grandfather the senior British generals & admirals hated Montgomery more than anyone else including Patton & that it was Eisenhower who always backed him (supposedly at the request of Roosevelt & Churchill).

[@markmelvin299]

Thanks for this Professor. As the son of a Polish RAF pilot that flew 300 combat missions in WWII, I only wish that I knew more about this before my dad died. He never said much at the best of times, never anything about his feelings. His mum and dad were deported by the Soviets to the gulags in 1939/40 and his brothers murdered at Katyn and 'somewhere in eastern Poland' also by the Soviets. He never spoke about this. I only found out from my mum whom he had told at some point. I obtained his RAF records and one of the last entries (thankfully in English) was when he tried to stay on in the RAF as a mechanic. He was turned down. Luckily he was one of the 19 ex-RAF pilots that went to Pakistan after Partition to start up the Pakistani Air Force (before that all pilots were either British or Indian apparently) -- on half pre-war pay of course. It would be wonderful if you could manage to produce an episode on this subject if you have the opportunity. Thank you.

[@LethalJizzle]

On the subject of those RAF records (since you said you were grateful an entry was in English - If I've misinterpreted that and you can read Polish just fine then my apologies!) the Google translate app will let you point your phone camera at a document (or analyse a photo you've taken of it) and do it's best to translate what's written.

[@ronti2492]

Thanks Mark- you have done these two gentlemen proud. Poland was sold out badly by the Allies after 1945....and the exclusion of Polish soldiers from free, and not Communist , Poland, from the 1945 London Victory parade was a terrible insult and remembered to this day. I have been to Driel and the street named after Sosabowski. The Dutch have not forgotten.

[@mpetersen6]

The only way to make sure the Poles would not be under Soviet control and occupation much less the rest of Eastern Europe was to fight another war. Something the public in the UK, US and Western Europe had no desire for. Poland unfortunately has long been a victim of its geography.

[@rommel17pl]

@@memememeson3994 WTF you talking about.

[@triplexinaz]

@@mpetersen6 LOL since when did public opinion matter? The US population didn't want to enter either world war, but suddenly it's convenient to use them as a scapegoat over Poland

[@obelic71]

@@rommel17pl I presume due to his avatar a made up fantasy due to exposure to lots of vodka and propagandistic made up Russian history.

[@radwelliii4076]

@@rommel17pl i am fairly sure he is reffering to Russian propaganda which mentions something similar to this. It portrays Poland as weak and Poles as stupid. It is completly untrue and ridiculous

[@HerbertDuckshort]

My father told me of when he was an apprentice bus mechanic in Manchester in the late 50s. He struggled a little with his maths but was helped with his homework by one of the bus depot’s cleaners, a former WW2 Polish soldier known to all as “General Joe”. He’d studied Maths at Warsaw University before the war and had been in the Polish Army. My father asked him how he got his nickname “General Joe”. He explained that he had actually been a Brigadier General in the Polish Cavalry and brought in to work a photograph of himself with his regiment. I never found out his full name but the fact that a Brigadier General was reduced to sweeping the floor in a Manchester bus depot for a living was always a source of profound amazement to me.

[@barbararice6650]

Perhaps the polish military over promoted him and maybe why poland only lasted three weeks in ww2👈😑

[@Homer-fc5fm]

@@barbararice6650 tell me you know nothing about the start of WW2 without telling me you know nothing about the start of WW2 xD

[@wojtekwesolowski1950]

@@Homer-fc5fm The barbara rice is a troll -empty anonymous account on YT , created two days ago

[@Homer-fc5fm]

@@wojtekwesolowski1950 well,i got baited

[@robertklimczak5630]

WE LOST THE WAR, POLAND WAS GIVEN TO RUSSIA.

[@Qompany]

Polish heroes are not forgotten in Poland and never will be. Your video is one of many contributions to memory and commemoration of them and Polish history. As a Pole and a grandson of Warsaw Uprising fighter and AK fighter I just want to say thank you. And of course big thank you the lovely Dutch people who also remembered and still remember our heroes.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

What about the 450,000 UK citizens who died opposing the militarism that enslaved Poland?

[@arturgrodzicki1209]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 They're war heroes for sure and glory to them, however can't see how their deaths benefitted Poland in particular. Said enslavement did not end up in 1945 which is the reason why those two generals couldn't return to fatherland.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

​@@arturgrodzicki1209 Look at the international situation in 1939, Artur. The 3 "major world powers" at the time were the USA, USSR & the British Empire. USSR - Stabbed Poland in the back to steal half of the country, whilst also supplying nazi Germany with millions of tons of raw materials and fuel which enabled her to conquer the rest of continental Europe. USA - Happily sat on the "sidelines" profitting from BOTH sides of the conflict at the same time as the nazis were setting about the destruction and murder of the Polish nation. British Empire (& France) - declared war on nazi Germany to symbolically support Poland, and to oppose (and reverse) nazi military expansion in Europe, (Then likely set about the "soviet problem" after that had been achieved). NO ONE else in the "international community" had lifted a finger to oppose the nazi/soviet occupation of Poland at the time. No one can deny that the British and French as it turned out were caught with their pants down, and were FAR from being fully mobilised militarily, therefore unable to actually assist the Poles in their 6 week struggle.... except indirectly by the blockade of the North sea by the RN thereby putting economic pressure in Germany while they readied their armies. BUT the flame had been lit by the British and French. IF they had not declared war in Sept 1939, or IF they had "stood down" after the conquest of Poland, or IF Britain had sued for peace with the nazis after the fall of France, instead of seeing the conflict through til the end, then its almost certain that nazi death camps which as events happened had been put of action by 1944 / 45, would have instead been operating on Polish (and ultimately European and Soviet soil until the 1950s & 60s or even beyond. The British Empire and France collectively sacrificed over 1 million of their citizens and completely bankrupted themselves to see that it did NOT turn out like that. Unfortunately after the apocalyptic bloodshed of WW2 NO-ONE could liberate eastern & central Europe from the terrible yoke of communism after WW2, without further millions of deaths. Its very easy to look at the course of history as it happened and pick fault with the decisions that were made, and the outcomes that came to pass, but its a lot harder to see how events would have turned out if different decisions had been taken. All the best, Artur.

[@arturgrodzicki1209]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 I'm not sure why you're presenting Britain and France declaring war on Third Reich as some selfless gesture. They were fulfilling their own pledge given to Poland earlier same year. Hitler's decision to attack Poland instead of France only came after British guarantees were given. British diplomacy had worked hard to deter Polish from the alliance with Germany and they succeeded but at the cost of making Poland Germany's next target. In fact in 30s Poland had good relations with Germany and some form of alliance wasn't off the table. Hitler was great admirer of Piłsudski. Ultimately it's only Polish who are too blame for choosing "honor" as minister Beck said over practicalities. Taking British guarantees was likely a mistake. If Poland had joined in with Germany we would have been way better off. As for Germany and their alliance that would be extra 1-2 million soldiers, 500 tanks and few hundred aircrafts with added ability to produce more. So as you see, we can do those IFs both ways. Had Polish politicians listened to Piłsudski, then even after his death they would keep the Germans happy

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

@@arturgrodzicki1209 So you would have preferred an "alliance" with nazi Germany, Artur? You do realise the geopolitical situation at that time don't you? Germany's number 1 national priority was the establishment of an empire of COLONIES (and not power sharing allies) in the east as was outlined in the traditional German policy of "Drang nach osten" or as Hitler described it "lebensraum" which had existed since the 19th century. Do you honestly think it was Germany's intention to treat Poland "as an equal"? See how the nazis operated after the "Sudetenland Crisis" in 1938? After Britain and France had signed an agreement to not declare war on Germany after international scrutiny had shown that the Sudetenland openly wanted to join Germany... What happened next? After Czechoslovakia had been left without her "shield" of defensive border fortifications, months later Germany after having diplomatically "coerced" the weakened rump Slovak govt, simply drove in and occupied the rest of the "Czechoslovak protectorate", and then ruled Bohemia-Moravia as a nazi "puppet" with murderous intent.... THAT was the sort of trustworthy regime that you're suggesting Poland should have allied with. Britain and France declared war with the wishful intention of preventing that happening to Poland and to attempt to maintain (or restore) a balance of independent nations across Europe and not allow an all powerful German empire to hold sway over the rest of Europe.

[@-Kidzin]

As a Pole I can't express my gratitude enough for making videos such as this, spreading historical knowledge to people all around the world. So many don't realize how dirty Poland was dealt not just due to WW2 itself but afterwards as well.

[@Gecko....]

The Poles get away with the fact they invaded and annexed parts of Czechoslovakia in 1938 right after the Germans, when it was at its weakest. So when they complain the Brits and French didn't do enough to help them then I bring this up, they love to act so innocently. The Czechoslovaks were the real victims of the war.

[@-Kidzin]

@@Gecko.... Ah yes, tiny Zaolzie, historically polish land which was also ethnically polish. Maybe 10 people died, truly comparable scale of an invasion. Regardless being just for people living there then it was diplomatic blunder that gets brought up here and there like you do.

[@dukedematteo1995]

Well obviously they were behind the Iron Curtain and were turned communist...... But are you referring to losses of territory to Belarus and the Ukraine

[@hinaynihorvath3926]

☹

[@chrisoz4929]

This story is very close to my wife’s family’s history. Her grandfather was a Polish solider during the war, but unlike many of his contemporaries, he chose to return to Poland to find the woman he loved. After the invasion of Poland, he left staff college to fight, was captured and escaped. He too found himself part of the Polish army being assisted by the British. He fought in Africa and Italy and ended the war as a General. On his return to Poland he was considered a traitor by the communist regime. His animals were killed and his house and land taken. Forced to move to Gdansk and given a menial role as a clerk in the shipyards there, he constantly faced intimidation. However, he found his fiancée and lived a good life. He once told me that the Germans he had fought were the bravest and well trained soldiers he’d ever faced. His attitude to Russians however, was rather different. I remember how happy he was when communism finally ended and he finally received the pension he so deserved. He was never as important as the men in this video, but he’s the only hero I’ve ever met.

[@oddballsok]

so...the commies sent all the westernized poles to the Shipyards in Gdansk...the one where Lech Walensa organized his rebellion ?!?!

[@billfarley9167]

Great post. My Dad was with a Canadian Armoured Regiment in Europe and talked about a Polish Armoured Regiment that was attached to their unit from the D Day landings to Germany. Perhaps he knew your grandfather. I'm now 90 years old. Everyone dead and gone.

[@flamingdonut9456]

Don't be so quick to label him as not as important as these men in the video. He did reach general, after all. I'm sure these heroes would consider anyone fighting under them as important for the fight for European freedom, and heroes themselves. I personally thank him.

[@kazansky22]

Your grandfather was a badass. A badass that surpasses most people alive today. The one thing I have a hard time understanding as an American Marine Corps veteran is I just can't fathom ever stopping the fight if my country was under occupation, even for a significant other. It's just a completely alien idea, if you're alive and you have the ability to resist, you resist, until the occupation is over, or you no longer have the capability to resist (death). I must be a product of 1980s culture + 2000s Marine Corps training + a mature adult who sees what happens when you decide to let evil win.

[@halthammerzeit]

My grandpa had similar experience. He escaped transport to Syberia, with help of Lithuanian nurse. Came back to grandma, she barely recognized him. Before war he was at some point one of Piłsudski's bodyguards.

[@andrandr6763]

General Sosabowski is a tragic example of how heroes are treated by "grateful allies" when it's over

[@heijimikata7181]

Yes. I found lots of examples of Chinese generals (both PRC and ROC) being repressed by their own leaders after WWII out of paranoia.

[@mmkuyt]

the dutch government secretely granted him a general's pension since 1951.

[@barbararice6650]

Why should we pay some guy who fought with the Huns a war pension exactly 👈😑

[@fishsmiddy1048]

@@barbararice6650 you really need to get your facts straight… he fought AGANST the Germans…

[@barbararice6650]

@@fishsmiddy1048 Look at felton winding up the half educated against Britian, well I say thank god for the civil service looking into these foreign bozos service record and deciding not to pay out high command pensions ✌️😑

[@falfill2096]

As a fellow Pole who grew up in the UK from a very young age this means a lot. I feel many from my youth group wouldn’t know about the war and especially the Polish sacrifices throughout the length of the conflict, especially from abroad living in another country. General Maczek holds a very special place in my heart, for not only his courage but his personality, there is a reason why his soldiers nicknamed him the “father of the troops,” and i personally couldn’t agree more.

[@je-freenorman7787]

What is " A Pole"?

[@khuddadadchoudhrey5850]

I don't know why the descendents of the poles have not looked into their history and betrayal and seek the truth instead of helping with cover up

[@misiakamisia1328]

​​@@je-freenorman7787 Polak to narodowość tak jak twoja brytyjczyk

[@GlasgowCelticChampionsagain]

Glory to polski

[@crusaderkaiser2000]

Hearing how respectful the Dutch are to all their liberators always chokes me up. They care for our graves, our living, and even our country as if we liberated them just yesterday. I love the Netherlands.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

You've obviously never been to a UK remembrance day parade, there you'll see wreaths laid to the Polish service personnel EVERY year, even at local ceremonies. The 3 Polish airmen's graves (From 302 Sqd flying out of RAF Woodvale) a couple of miles from where I live are also always well tended. Don't be fooled by the devious driving of a wedge between Britain and Poland. Lefties love to cuase discontent wherever they can. They call it "agitprop".

[@Zer0.-_]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Yeah, pretty sure it is modern day conservatives who are to blame for all of the hatred and anger on most issues these days.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

@@Zer0.-_ Unburden yourself of the old outdated labels of "conservatives" "labour" "left" & "right". They're ALL just "brand names" now to keep the old arguments going while the TRUE power behind those labels, that is corporate globalism which finances ALL mainstream political parties in the west, continue to pull their puppet party's strings to keep the unthinkers enthralled while THEY continue to consolidate their grasp on the levers of power. THEY are the ones responsible for the setting of one country against another and for the instigation of the agendas which now cause so much disharmony and inflammation between the nations of the world.

[@booradley6832]

Respectful is a good word, since it implies only giving things that have no financial value.

[@siyacer]

​@@Zer0.-_ yeah righg

[@ricban1950]

I met General Maczek. He was my fathers commander. My father took me to meet him when I was about 10 years old. He was working as a barman. I couldn't understand why he didn't have a better job.

[@lampionmancz]

I don't think it's easier to understand when you're older. That kind of stuff should just never happen.

[@misiekkania]

WOW could you elaborate on your story how the general behave what he was like?

[@walterweiss7124]

great, he lived 100 years, as far as I remember

[@MsLuki777]

It was a bar run by his subordinate, a former Polish soldier. Allegedly, he treated the general badly.

[@fordwk]

Britain was already strapped for cash in 1945.

[@crouserm]

I am grieved at this story, but inured to it, as an American hospital chaplain who witnesses the indignities suffered by our veterans to this day. May these brave Poles, and all their sisters and brothers, rest in peace and rise in glory.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

ALL the veterans indeed.

[@booradley6832]

I talk about this all the time. Our military members give us the best years of their youth with the chance to come back physically or mentally broken, if they come back at all. We have an obligation to take care of them.

[@lamacorn6852]

Thanks for sharing this story. I live in a little village near Arnhem called Driel. It was de village where general stanislaw sosabowski was dropt during market garden. To this day, Sosabowski and his men are honderd by the citizens of Driel for what they did. The bust of him, as you talked about at the end of the video, there are only two of those in existence. One in Warsaw (as you mentioned) and one in the village of Driel.

[@joannab7403]

That is very honourable of the people of Driel! Big thanks

[@GazalAlShaqab]

THANKS to You and to all Dutch people who remember!!

[@charlessaint7926]

Witold Pilecki, was a Polish officer who allowed himself to be taken prisoner, under an assumed name, and was taken to Auschwitz. There he started a resistance movement and smuggled out detailed reports about the camp's true nature. In April 1943, he and two other men broke out of the prison. They escaped. Pilecki made it to Warsaw and took part in the 1944 Uprising, hiding his rank for some time before the loss of other leaders prompted him to reveal himself. The Uprising failed. As part of the conditions of surrender, the Poles were considered prisoners-of-war and not taken to concentration camps. After the war, Pilecki continued as an intelligence officer in the now Communist-occupied Poland. He was accused of treason and arrested. In a show trial, the then-Polish prime minister, Józef Cyrankiewicz presented evidence against Pilecki. This was cruelly ironic as Cyrankiewicz himself was a survivor of Auschwitz, a person Pilecki tried to free. Despite all efforts, Pilecki was executed. Pilecki was a man who assumed many identities for his duty. One of the names he hid behind was Auschwitz prisoner #4859.

[@jankubiak3218]

A co to ma do rzeczy?

[@charlessaint7926]

@@jankubiak3218 Another victim. He was charged and convicted by the new, Communist-backed, Polish government. Instead of being declared 'stateless' he was simply executed because of his dealings with the West.

[@akaddemirdag]

I know this story. This man is the biggest hero ever lived. It saddens me that society takes to lightly on these few good men that have lived to do so imaginable much good.

[@JesusMagicPanties]

@@jankubiak3218 Fakt. Prawactwo zrobiło z Pileckiego czarnosecińca.

[@PalmettoNDN]

This is an amazing story I didn’t know. Thank you!

[@marcingodzik7121]

You have no idea, Mark, How much respect you have earned from us, Polish People, for pointing out in your videos all the Polish contribution to the war efforts of the Allies, and A Great and Special THANK YOU for this video in particular, we truly appreciate and owe You a lot for your outstanding historical productions 🥇♥️🇵🇱

[@AlbertComelles1970]

❤

[@marcingodzik7121]

Thanks, man 🙂🇵🇱👍

[@SpeccyMan]

As a kid in the 1970's I was fascinated by the film Battle of Britain. So much so that later in life I decided to learn more about the real battle and the vitally important role played by the Polish and Czech squadrons. I, for one, know that it wasn't a battle we won entirely by ourselves. Without those brave Polish and Czech pilots we would most surely have lost.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Dziękuję bardzo. Mój dziadek służył pod Monte Cassino i wiele razy opowiadał mi, kiedy byłem chłopcem, o męstwie polskich żołnierzy, którzy w końcu je zdobyli. Pamiętam jego słowa. Pamiętam też jako dziecko, że polscy weterani w średnim wieku nadal pracowali na budowach w Wielkiej Brytanii, nie mogąc wrócić do domu. Staram się zrobić wszystko, co w mojej mocy, aby uhonorować dług, jaki mój kraj ma wobec was podczas II wojny światowej.

[@craigbeaumont414]

Hi, as a Brit ill always be thankful to Poland and its gallant soldiers for what they did during WWII. I'll always be thankful and never forget xx

[@tommygun333]

As a Pole, many thanks for the material. Most of us here have heard about how they were treated but you're the voice for English speaking viewers around the world.

[@je-freenorman7787]

what is " A pole"? what are you?

[@tommygun333]

@@je-freenorman7787 Polish person

[@stanisawpobog362]

Thank you for this wonderful material about two outstanding Polish generals who are practically unknown in the west and almost forgotten in Poland. I would like to add that General Stanisław Maczek was one of the two commanders of large units in 1939, which not only were successful in fighting the Germans, but also, due to the Soviet invasion of Poland on September 17, 1939, passed over to Hungary without being broken up . The son of General Stanisław Sosabowski fought in the Warsaw Uprising in which he lost his sight, medical help came too late, only after the war. Stasinek, son of General Sosabowski, graduated from medicine in Great Britain after the war. There were other generals who had a similar or worse life after the war. Gen. Janusz Gąsiorowski before the war was the chief of the General Staff, and in 1939 he commanded the Infantry Division, after the war he was a postman in Paris, where he died of a heart attack while delivering letters, Gen. Kazimierz Wiśniowski was the chief of staff of the 2nd Polish Corps in the Battle of Monte Cassino died in a homeless shelter in London after the war. Admiral Józef Unrug, a heroic defender of the Polish coast, in 1939, after the war, he worked physically on cutters in Morocco, and then, as an 80-year-old man, he was a truck driver in France. There were also cases of uninteresting types who did well after the war, who are now wrongly considered heroes.

[@MsMiklosa]

I wonder if Churchill had not hidden from the Polish Government in London the fact that he and Roosevelt sold Poland to Stalin in Tehran in November 1943 - would our Polish soldiers have kept fighting on the side of Allies or would they have turned away and march to Poland. The Polish soldiers who fought at Monte Casino had mostly lived in the Eastern part of Poland that was to become Soviet Union now, they have been prisoners in Soviet Gulags for years, their families murdered or starved in Kazakhstan- weak, sick , many died underway yet they fought, fought for their loved ones and for their homeland. I wonder what would have happened if our generals, if gen.Anders had known of British betrayal of the first ally.

[@johnkingeef855]

Deep respect for these men. Disgrace how governments treated them. Thanks Dr. Felton.

[@jesseray9944]

i agree

[@barbararice6650]

Yeah well the kaiser and the ArchDuke were shysters 👈😕

[@eoincaomhanach1983]

@@barbararice6650 I fail to see how the deposed Kaiser and the Archduke of Austro-Hungary have anything to do with how Poland and the United Kingdom treated these two men after the Second World War as one died in early June 1941 and the other in late June 1914!

[@DarkShroom]

@@eoincaomhanach1983 i fail to see how you think we misstreated these people?

[@eoincaomhanach1983]

@@DarkShroom of course you do, the darker side of your countries history has always escaped you Brits.

[@mac2626]

My Grandfather served under Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski as a member of the 1st. Independent Polish Parachute Brigade. 🇵🇱🇬🇧

[@AlbertComelles1970]

❤

[@chrisjones2816]

I flew to Krakow the day after watching this video coincidentally. I had written my dissertation on Operation Market Garden 12 years ago and touched on Sosabowskis input. However, i wasn't aware this was how things ended for him. While in Krakow I told as many people as would listen about his story, and then went to visit his statue in Jordan Park in tribute to the man.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

When you return home to the UK Chris, you can visit the HUNDREDS of memorials and grave stones dedicated to the Polish war service personnel who served and died in the west after 1939. I wonder how many memorials to the >1.1 million British and French citizens who gave their lives to see the evils of nazism (that had previously conquered, enslaved and murdered Poland) destroyed. My guess is less than 10, if ANY at all.

[@ThePaszczaq]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 all those were put, after people realised how badly was their memory treated. Poland wasn't even invited to the victory parade. That's just a cover up for this grave injustice. Poland didn't even receive war reparations due to soviet occupation after the war.

[@ypabloworld]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 I don't really get it what's your point? That British and French don't have enough grave stones and somehow this is Polish fault or what?

[@florida_drone_dude]

@@ypabloworld he is a shill looking for attention as I have seen some of his other comments. I think the point he is trying to make (which makes no sense actually) is that there are many memorials to honor Polish troops in France and the UK while in Poland there are no memorials honoring British, Commonwealth nor French troops. I do not know if this is factual or not but it would make sense as no British, Commonwealth or French forces fought on Polish soil during WW2 while the Poles fought heavily on French and British soil. Likewise there are many memorials to U.S. soldiers in France as many Americans fought in France and probably none in the U.S. honoring French soldiers from WW2 as no French soldiers fought on U.S. soil (obviously). So really his point makes very little logic. After all thats why his screenname is Kronkite's left shoe. Perhaps if his knick was Kronkite's right shoe he would make slightly better arguments.

[@okropniak]

My uncle fought at Tobruk and Monte Cassino in Anders' army. He died in Argentina with no chance of returning to a free country. I will never forget the betrayal committed by the Allies.

[@booradley6832]

I can assure you most people from Allied nations are not okay with stabbing them in the back either. Even from the United States, I dont know why we didnt step in and, if worried about making people upset internationally by upstaging them, at least offer the free Poles the ability to immigrate and a pension of a lower rank. Its quite literally the very least we could do. Though I do have to wonder why a larger press campaign wasn't made out of it? Its not that hard to get governments to buckle when they are made to look bad very publicly. Just another way people failed them, I guess. But I guess we havent changed. We just stabbed the Kurds in the back after they fought ISIS for us. That angers me to no end, I cant change things that happened before I was born, but this just happened.

[@paulholman2841]

​@@booradley6832 I wholeheartedly disagree with your notion that these men should've been allowed to live in our country. It is my home, and it is also your home. Just like Poland is HIS home. His nation has my sympathy for the betrayal that Great Britain disserviced them with, because the very war in Europe itself, was started to defend Poland from foreign aggression. In essence, Great Britain completely compromised, and betrayed the virtues that originally brought Great Britain to war in Europe . . . the same war that she subsequently dragged the world into as a result of a military alliance with Poland, and alliance she betrayed when it was no longer convenient to be friends with the enemies, of the enemies of Great Britain.

[@tomg8054]

As a Pole, thank you very much Mark for bringing this to light.

[@barbararice6650]

Hey pay your military generals their pensions and don't expect other people to cheapskates 👈😕

[@parufka7830]

@@barbararice6650 our allies unfortunately failed and we had no country to pay them.

[@swinki33]

Chwała bohaterom!

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

Hi Mark: One fact you left out about Sosabowski was that his fellow coworkers at CAV Electrics were unaware of his World War II accomplishment and exploits his rank and decorations till his funeral when they discovered this from his former subordinates and family and what medals he got when his eulogy was read despite the fact he was active in the polish community in Britain after the war . I bet when they found out needless to say they were dumbfounded their coworker was a recipient of a CBE and a former general in the polish army. Must have been one surreal experience.

[@jerryrenn346]

I was almost in tears by the end of this video. Thanks Mark for another fascinating, though heartbreaking, lesson.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

The fate of MILLIONS of ordinary service men and women was no less tragic.

[@jerryrenn346]

@@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684 Sadly all to true.

[@je-freenorman7787]

You would probably never handle the truth then? Its really gross

[@jerryrenn346]

@@je-freenorman7787 Yeah well I've been learning about the death camps, genocide, betrayals and general inhumanity of one group of people to another. That is throughout human history, not just WW2. As far as handling the truth. I just accept it and go on.

[@je-freenorman7787]

@@jerryrenn346 World War 2 was a phony war. Set up by the Royal families for their own wealth tne rule.

[@RemoBongo530]

Best bartender ever! Some good stories must have been told in there during happy hour! Rest in prestige dear generals…and thanks again Mark.

[@theprofessional155]

Thank you for this Mark a lot of Poles felt like they had no country to go back to after the war . A lot of Poles had difficulty settling into the west. Many of the Polish pilots had similar experiences.

[@wills4615]

You are the last person I expected to see here but fair enough have a good day

[@FGH9G]

"Hello KZbin, how's everyone doing, it's Professional here." 😂😂 But seriously though, welcome! Never thought I'd see you here but I'm nonetheless glad!

[@bryansmith1920]

I'm a Brit in 1975 I married and relocated from London to Peterborough Cambs when I arrived it had three large ethnic groups Asian Polish Italian The Asian were from Uganda(Thanks to Idi Amin)the Polish I had assumed a RAF bomber station because the East coast was the floating Airfield that Britain was in WW2 And the Italians because their was a POW camp close to the city

[@highpath4776]

my newsagent married a polish airman after her first husband had died

[@nickjohnson710]

We had lots of poles after the war and now in my home town, and lot's of Ukrainians from ww2, they worked at a local asbestos factory TBA, my grandparents worked there, my grandad told me that there guys who had been in the Ukrainian SS, and escaped the wrath of the soviets

[@Jendrass1939]

As a Ph.D historian and a longtime fan of MF Productions YT channel, I`d like to thank You very much for this film. Although the biographies of gen. Maczek and gen. Sosabowski are very sad and embarrassing for the British and Dutch it was a real pleasure to watch a non-polish-made film about them, especially on such a recognized channel. Please accept my sincere appreciation and thanks for the work you have done.

[@matomato4964]

from my grand parents and other people heard they fought brave against the germans sometimes against all odds

[@MrDagren]

Might be a slight relief to know that gen. Maczek did receive a general's pension from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1951 onwards. Though for a long time this had to be kept secret due to how sensitive this was diplomatically.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@MrDagren Seems that Dr Felton wasn't aware of this at the time of his video or perhaps is still unaware.

[@TomaszRakowski]

It should also be noted it is embarrassing for us, the Poles, that our own government, puppet or not, treated them and others so badly.

[@marcwood2741]

I get that they were treated poorly in comparison to other men of similar rank- but it seems a little overblown- I'm sure that most Europeans behind the iron curtain had an even more dismal post war experience- and there is something romantic about returning to a modest civilian life- like a roman general retiring to be farmer- I think there is a quiet and humble dignity about it and it makes me respect these men even more

[@copferthat]

I went to school in the 50's and 60's with the lads of three Polish families. who's fathers stayed after the war and married English girls. They were our best mates and of course we called them by our English version of their name because we couldn't pronounce the real version. Their fathers were scary in a nice way, hard, tough men who taught us lots of woodland skills from their homeland, like how to make whistles with willow and how to scavenge for wild mushrooms etc etc. 60 years later I still visit one of them on a regular basis. Salt of the earth people.

[@raymondtonns2521]

keep visiting them!

[@peterrhodes5663]

I am another one of them, with a Polish ( ex- free forces ) mother, hence my English name. Moved to NZ, still scavenging at age 69, and corrupted my Hong Kong Chinese wife to do the same, be self sufficient, and not paying all the time, for everything. Hate going back to plastic HK. We learned about WW2 from the Polish side, first hand, and it's different from what the 'English' kids were taught.

[@ipodman1910]

@@peterrhodes5663 bless all of you! Greetings from (almost) free Poland!

[@peterrhodes5663]

@@ipodman1910 Dzięki.

[@helloxyz]

Catholic churches were always full of Poles, in Portswood they even had their own social club. Most I knew were air force.

[@ghost01221]

As a Polish I thank You Mark for this video. You just did more for Polish WW2 heros than any British did before. Hope one day You will get reward for this. We, Polish will never forget about Polish heros and about You Mark. Thank You again.

[@marijn181188]

As a person that grown up in Driel (close to arnhem), thank you for making this video, General Sosabowski luckily gets now his recognition. many of the people of driel made it there life project to get the general his recognition.

[@basxd4168]

As a citizen of the city of Breda and as a Dutchmen I feel the highest honor for the Polish liberators. I also would like to thank you Mark for highlighting this forgotton history. Visiting the Maczek Memorial in Breda is recommended to anyone! Dziekujemy wam Polacy!

[@narratorpl7511]

Thank you for your respect towards our Heroes - it means very much to every true Pole who knows his history.

[@mediacenter7568]

Bohaterowie!!

[@albertobernal2537]

Ik zal altijd respect hebben voor Nederland en Nederlanders. We maken alleemaal domme fouten, maar jullie leunen ietsjes meer aan de kant "gezond verstand". Helaas ben ik niet Pools om dankbaarheid te kunnen uiten. I will always have respect for the Netherlands and the Dutch people. We all make stupid mistakes, but you lean a little more on the "common sense" side. Unfortunately I am not Polish to express gratitude.

[@barbararice6650]

You wanna watch out or they'll ask you for money 👈😑

[@mathsinmarathibyanillimaye3083]

He is Hero of not only of poles but all those who fought against Nazies in the defence of democracies of the world. EVEN the Reds.

[@davebarrow8277]

When I was 19 years old I had a job repairing wheelchairs. I meet an old man ( to me at the time) in a old people's home. Turned out he was from Poland and flew in the battle of Britain. I asked why he was still in London and not back in Poland. He told me that as he fought for the UK he wasn't allowed to go home. He seemed bitter and upset telling an ignorant younge man who should have know this. I didn't. To this day I feel ashamed. Not just for my ignorance as we were never told about this in school but for the actions of my country after the war.

[@marcinbazucki6919]

So You can add killing gen Sikorski at Gibraltar. His plane was sabotage because he wanted to release information about Katyń massacre by Soviets but during that time Britain had alliance with CCCP so it was very unpleasant that those information could be review to public and they simply just sabotage plane. So yeah "alliance" but for who? We are been rape in the ass. Even Britain confiscated Polish National gold for "using British tank and plane to protect British sky and Europe's lands". Even Orwell would be confused.

[@adamlewandowski3794]

United States and British Empire betrayed Poland. They gave Poland to Stalin. Stalin murdered several MILLIONS polish patriots. Also Poland LOST part of main lands as a country which was fighting against 3rd reich from the beginning to the end, and was in victorous alliance. Some of those lands were polish core lands from one thousand year and they were taken from Poland and they were given to soviet.

[@grahammarshall3970]

Thank you Mark Felton. My Father (Yorkshireman) battled the Germans at Monte Casino and he never had a bad word against the Polish Soldiers who finished the buggars at the top of that Mountain.

[@stefanschutz5166]

Polish soldiers joined the Dutch army after the war. In 1966 my driving instructor in Breda was a Pole named Gross. 43 Tank Batallion in which I served was commanded by lieutenant colonel Kohutnicki, who was also of Polish descent.

[@maciekskrzynski782]

en nu jullie hebben geen respect for ons..

[@themightiestofbooshes9443]

Hearing that the Polish soldiers going for a pint would salute General Maczek brings tears to my eyes. I'm glad he lived over 100 years and chose to be buried among the men he once commanded. I've said on another video it is a great honor to be buried among your brothers in arms. He didn't deserve the treatment from the governments that had forsaken him.

[@r2d2aa]

Poland, from its own gold reserves that were saved in 1939, paid for planes and military equipment used by Polish soldiers in the air battle for Britain... And after the war they could not take part in the Victory Parade in London. Strange because even Czechoslovak soldiers took part in it. The sad truth.

[@messagesystem333]

Disgusting.

[@truthseeker9454]

​@@r2d2aa A sad testament to the folly of appeasement. Giving in to the demands of Stalinist USSR only brought us to the day where the West is once again threatened by a RuZZian dictator. I hope this generation has learned from the mistakes of the past.

[@raymondtonns2521]

such good men treated so poorly a shameful thing

[@ipodman1910]

@@r2d2aa nope - the ‚debt’ was cancelled later on and Poland didn’t have to pay…

[@primkup]

In the end, Maczek outlived both the "thousand years reich" and the Soviet Union, seeing Poland restored. Bittersweet victory.

[@pcmmulders]

I was born and raised in Breda. We grew up with the stories about our liberators, the polish heroes of general maczek. Till this day the people of Breda have a close bond with the poles and the remembrance part of daily life.

[@je-freenorman7787]

I was born in a hospital.

[@PolakInHolland]

@@je-freenorman7787 Are you mentally ill? You seem to want to leave irrelevant comments everywhere.

[@je-freenorman7787]

@@PolakInHolland What are you confused about? I dont normally teach people that throw around insults

[@peterhagen8908]

@@je-freenorman7787... and you are in a psychiatric inpatient ward to this day I believe

[@bartoszdenkiewicz5930]

I was born in 1987. When I visited Belgium and Netherlands. I couldnt hold my tears when I realised how they are still remembering general Maczek. Im greatfull for that as well as for your video.

[@ianeveritt3326]

I worked in childcare back in the 1990's - one of the parents of the nursery was called Sosabowski. Dr Hal Sosabowski was a senior lecturer of Chemistry at the University. He was the Grandson of the General and so, in my nursery, was the great Grandson of Stanisław Sosabowski. But I never made the connection until Hal mentioned it, having come to know of my interest in military history. I think I was thrown by the appalling prounciation of the name by Gene Hackman! Hal presented me with a book all about the General as a gift for caring for his son. I still have it and always remember grandson and great grandson when I see it on the shelf.

[@marvintrqczykulla9168]

Great story

[@kleverich]

Great personal story, thank you for sharing it.

[@RealVE7KFM]

Was the title of that book by any chance "Freely I Served"? FYI It was one of the 1st books in English I read -- w/ the aid of a dictionary -- after immigrating to Canada. Well done, Dr. FELTON.

[@paulusradomski]

It is really something special, when we have an opportunity to meet the people involved in history.

[@halsosabowski2400]

What a lovely comment Ian. I remember youwell. Oliver is 22 now.

[@colinvos4443]

A fellow workmate of mine, a Polish gentleman fought with the British 8th Army. He told me of some of his exploits. He fought in North Africa. When he passed away and at the funeral home he had on his chest the Tobruk Medal. RIP Walter Tyzecki.

[@luxmea]

Thank you

[@MrMessiah44]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@narratorpl7511]

Thank you.

[@janteekens4678]

As a dutchy it has always bothered me the Poles took great risks to secure places like Breda intact, only to get robbed by the people he liberated. Thank you Mark, thank you Poland.

[@DarkShroom]

he got robber? how?.... of what?

[@nuraby_9228]

Just look at France. Their white soldiers surrendered and joined the Nazis, so the Free French was mostly black Africans, and then the French refused to allowed them to liberate Paris so they made up fake white regiments instead. And then after the war and to this day France thanked those African troops by robbing their homelands blind.

[@Przem112207]

@@DarkShroom Allies sell us to USSR

[@je-freenorman7787]

You are definitley not a dutchy, if that's what you are trying to imply. A Dutchy is an area ruled by a duke or a duchess. Nobody was ever liberated. You all got more government

[@piotrkijak1774]

@@je-freenorman7787 he meant he is dutch not duchy ...

[@newhomes2023]

Hats off to Mr Felton for reminding this important part of history. Those heroes deserved proper recognition and a lots has been done over the last two decades to keep their memory alive. Recently visited battle of Britain memorial at Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone and spend an hour finding ALL names on memorial war. Both squadrons 302 and 303 had also their dedicated plates at pilot statue.

[@PanPuchacki]

Dziękujemy za pamięć Dr. Felton.

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Przynajmniej tyle mogę zrobić.

[@newera1892]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Mark, oglądem Cię od dawna, dziękuję za dobrą robote!!!

[@secrets461]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Your audience in Poland appreciates it, Mark. Thank you.

[@mcfs1701]

Thank you dr Felton!

[@danielm81]

@@MarkFeltonProductions I didn't know any of that... Thank you!

[@pawelbinczak6233]

The story of those two generals is a summary of the difficult path of the Polish nation during and after WWII. I'm glad that a British historian has raised such a subject. Those and many other Polish veterans should not be forgotten.

[@thunderwarrior2459]

I’m appalled that our government did not support this man with something as little as a pension when he gave the blood to save our country im genuinely ashamed at this

[@NihonDream]

Thank you Mark. Gen. Sosabowski is my favourite WWII hero. I also respect Gen. Maczek not less. It was because of Gen. Sosabowski and Polish paratroopers I decided to jump with a parachute. To be like they. I had a pleasure to exchange a short mail years ago with James Anthony Hibbert who wrote that it was a shame on British Army to treat Gen. Sosabowski the way Gen. Urquhart did. It was very painful. The fact that you brought the history of Gen. Sosabowski to a big audience fulfil me with a hope. Thank you.

[@OnlyGrafting]

What I find interesting is that nowadays you'd never know. The monuments and plaques in appreciation to the exiled forces that resided or aided local areas never give off the impression that there was such history behind it. The Exiled Norwegian mine clearers and their dog up along the North coast of Scotland is one I remember damn well. The town they operated from had put up plaques and a statue by the sea. Just a few miles down the road another town with a town hall which held a carving specifically commemorating the Dutch exiled forces that garrisoned the town during the war. Local areas absolutely adored these foreign war heroes, that despite facing crushing defeats continued to put aside their desires for home and kept fighting and aiding our causes, whether it was as directly as these two Polish generals or indirectly by simply standing guard for some small town by the coast.

[@barkingstarz4730]

Dr. Felton, as a Englishman, I’m sure it pains you in the shoddy treatment of these two generals. Yet, as a historian, you honestly do not shrink from uncovering such dishonor! Bravo sir! A major reason your channel is far superior to other KZbin history channels!

[@R2R1966]

Thank You Dr Felton for doing this video! A deeply touching story that is not known outside of Poland but we as Poles learned about it even under the communist boot. As a grandson of a Polish 2 Corps officer that fought at Monte Cassino and fell during the Ancona battle, I greatly appreciate every bit of information that you are able to share with your audience - about Polish effort in the WWII.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Nice to see a comment from an honourable Pole, not for once shitting over the sacrifices made by the UK both in people and gold to see nazism wiped from the face of Europe. Thank you.

[@floriandanzinger6027]

I like this channel for Mark Felton's unbiased quest to reveal interesting stories of gallantry and bravery and also displaying injustice. He really is an exemplary historian and watching his episodes is never a waste of time.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

Unbiased? Hmmm why has Mark failed to research or include VERY relevant information regarding the "1947 UK Polish resttlement act" that gave full UK citizenship and residency rights to nearly 300,000 Polish ex-service personnel and their families?

[@bronsonperich9430]

“Must remain a stain on the honour of Britain.” I think this is Mark’s way of saving, “This is a disgrace, Britain should be ashamed.”

[@barbararice6650]

A general didn't get a pension 😁

[@jonathandantonio649]

@ Barbara Rice You share that shame now. Congratulations.

[@johnsm100]

@@barbararice6650 that is a disgraceful comment

[@trappenweisseguy27]

More so for the treatment they gave to Alan Turing.

[@bronsonperich9430]

@@trappenweisseguy27 damn right. I love reminding homophobes about him. “You owe your computer and your freedom to a gay guy and his team.”

[@KaasSchaaf666]

in Breda (the Netherlands) many descendants of the Polish soldiers who liberated the city still live. We are forever grateful to them. 🇵🇱🇳🇱

[@equalizer7543]

Brilliantly put together, i was taken to Edinburgh by my father and introduced to Maczeck, i dont remember much, but he was very kind and thankful for recognition. My father was a Military Policemen tasked with guarding crash sites, POWS and shot down enemy air crews, this brother was a pilot and flew Hurricanes.

[@HGmusiclist]

As a Dutchman, with a hudge respect and gratitude for these men and the Polish soldiers, I loved this episode. Thank you for shinning the spotlight on the Poles, the often forgotten heroes.

[@baryka2015]

British f....rs

[@HGmusiclist]

@@baryka2015 No, not the Britisch, the Britisch government. As always, it are the gevernments, not the people itself.

[@fredjansen2659]

@@HGmusiclist you put them in power, so it is the people..

[@glenbailey5576]

And as always the Dutch lead the world in properly remembering those who helped them in their hour of need. Lovely people

[@HGmusiclist]

@@fredjansen2659 What if Idid not and it is the other party who won? And my point is, that the common people and politicians are often quite difderent in opinions about many things.

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

When I was a kid in the 1970s there was a Polish chap who lived along our road. I was too young to understand the significance or know what his story was. He married an English girl and settled and had a family. My parents were of the WW2 generation and had nothing but respect for the Polish people in my part of the UK. It is something that I have carried over into my life, The UK has much to thank Polish people for their WW2 service in helping defend the UK and fighting as part of the Allied war effort.

[@jamesanthonyclarke9418]

I am the Detachment Commander of the Army Cadet Force in Acton, West London. My partner is Polish as is many of my cadets. I will play this to my cadets. Is there a memorial to him in London? Thank you Mark.

[@sochaoracza1506]

Thank you for keeping the memory of those who give everything and received nothing.

[@Krekka200]

Grew up in Arnhem and every September we'd attend a commemoration in Driel and study Sosabowski and how he was wronged.

[@johnshepherd9676]

My father-in-law was a Polish officer captured by the Germans. His ability to speak both fluent English and German got him placed with British POWs as a go-between. It saved his life because he ended the war in the American Zone and eventually made it to the US. He warned several of his friends not to go back but they didn't listen. They were never heard from against. While not as distinguished as the two generals he ended up not as well off as his defeated German opponents despite his university education.

[@MarbelCube]

Brother of my greatgrandfather was Liberated by Americans in Alps. He decided to cameback, not knowing borders of the country have changed, and rest of family being transported towards west by soviets. He was interogated by NKVD imedietly after crossing border checkpoint and sent to serve in Red Army unity for two years, in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. Could be easly shot if they had any suspicious about espoinage. He eventually came back to Poland and rejoined with family. The most depressing thing about this is, he was captive by Germans as forced labour man for 5 years.

[@raymondtonns2521]

@@MarbelCube may your great grand uncle rest in in Peace with God

[@peace-now]

@@MarbelCube Interesting stories! Although being liberated by Americans could be dangerous. They tended to be trigger happy.

[@DerpyMackerel]

The treatment of the Polish armed forces in the west by the western allies post war was an embarrassment.

[@hegemon4109]

hopefully an embarrassment that will never be repeated

[@earlpipe9713]

The treatment of the Polish people and their nation as a whole post war. Why have them go to war over one part of their territory, if you're just going to hand em over entirely to another different hostile foreign invaders? Poland would've been much better off if they were allied with Germany instead of England & France post WWI

[@neinnein9306]

The assistance contract of GB and FRA for PL only included assistance in the event of a German attack. You can see that the two countries were not concerned with the existence and security of Poland, but only with getting a reason for war against Germany.y.

[@gawelszczytkowski1991]

@@earlpipe9713 It doesn't matter...such ideas of being allied to Nazi-Germany were complete nonsense...the slavic poles were seen as "Untermenschen". In case of alliance and attack on the Soviet Union the polish army would be just used as a meat shield and later on the country and its people would be exterminated like they planned it to do with all (opposing) slavic people et cetera...

[@gawelszczytkowski1991]

In general the idea of attacking Germany after the Hitler became chancellor and later on "Führer" (one could say after the death of Hindenburg) would be a much better idea... Maybe Mark Felton can find some hints or documents about it, since that plan could only be carried out with (at least) the help of France from the West. (Should be around the timeframe of 1933-35 while Piłsudski was still alive.)

[@BAG3Lmk07]

Great video. My paternal grandparents were both Polish, my grandmother was liberated by the Brits (Bergen Belsen) my grandfather by the Reds (Plaszow) They met in Belsen in 1947, got married and emigrated to Israel in 1948; where my dad was born in 58!

[@michakadubowski6900]

As a viewer from Poland, thank you for this great material.

[@stanisawkaczmarczyk5312]

Dziękuje Panu za pamięć o naszych bohaterach

[@MarkFeltonProductions]

Przynajmniej tyle mogę zrobić.

[@stanisawkaczmarczyk5312]

@@MarkFeltonProductions dziękuje jeszcze raz

[@DarkWraithKevin]

The sacrifice of your people will *never* be forgotten.

[@BRITTGYPSY]

Deplorable!!!

[@biggusdickus5604]

@@MarkFeltonProductions Dziękujemy Panu !

[@Roundymooney]

It's almost unbelievable-thank you Mark. I'll be sure to seek out that bronze memorial to General Maczek when next in Edinburgh.

[@matt5042]

You'll find it just off the royal mile. In the corner of the square right behind the unknown soldiers tomb, outside City Chambers.

[@Roundymooney]

@@matt5042 You're very kind-thank you-hopefully visiting this Autumn.

[@vector409]

just wow ... these lessons should never be forgotten

[@lisacarnehl4859]

Incredible to think some of these Polish warriors had fought in the Battles of Poland (1939), France (1940), Normandy (1944), and Netherlands (1944-45). Amazing heroes!

[@szymonmaraszewski1514]

Plus defence of norway, Atlantic, Arctic and mediterrean convoys, african and Italian campaigns, also eastern front.

[@bartoszdenkiewicz5930]

and before that they held Bolsheviks in 1920

[@teundebruin5934]

If you ever find yourself in the Breda area, I can highly recommend you visit the Polish Cemetery and the Maczek Memorial. Alongside the cemetery, you'll find a small yet beautiful museum dedicated to Maczek and the men who fought along with him. It tells their incredible story of how most of them had to travel throughout all of Europe in order to continue the fight, as well as the hardships they had to face after the war. The museum itself is entirely run by volunteers, a majority of whom are descendants of Polish soldiers who stayed here after the war. A fact which makes the place and experience even more beautiful and humbling than it already is.

[@barbararice6650]

Does it say anything about his service in the tyrolean jaegers during the first world war 👈😑 Edelweiss, Edelweiss how lovely it is to shoot you 😕 Pure and nice Edelweiss blah blah I've forgotten the rest if indeed I ever knew it, 👀

[@FoodLaneAdventures]

I've been going through Solzhenitsyn's The Gulag Archipelago and learning of several such betrayals of former Soviets who fought for the Allies but did not wish to return to Russia after the end of the war. They were disarmed and forced back to Russia as part of the agreement with Stalin, and mostly thrown into prison.

[@marcinkorzeb8523]

Thank you Mark for picking this story. Very well done!

[@piotrtrypus]

Thank you Dr. Felton for remembering our heroes.

[@wouterbikkel8276]

A local football club in Driel, the Netherlands, are dressed in red and white as a honour to the Polish parachute brigade! They even have a parachute in their club logo. In Driel landed the brave Polish soldiers during the battle of Arnhem.

[@fergalfoley6718]

Once again, Outstanding Documentry by Mark Felton 👏

[@marianwachow6482]

Great job! Thank you for posting this sad story of these heroes! Many people in the west think that Poland surrendered in 1939 and that was the end of the war for us. But they don't see how many Polish soldiers escaped from German and Russian occupation, and fought all over the world.

[@battlejitney2197]

I knew of these Polish generals but not their post-war fates. It is indeed a stain on not just Britain but all the allied nations. Thanks for bringing this to light, Dr. Felton.

[@barbararice6650]

Fucking hell the poles had to work for a living, My God the humanity 😕 My grandfather lost scores of fingers taking supplies to ungrateful eastern europeans, his merchant navy pension didn't cover his bus ticket into work, horrible world isn't it 👈😑

[@thunderbird1921]

As an American, the more I read about how FDR threw Eastern Europe under the bus, I become absolutely sick to my stomach. I actually dread to think what might have happened to western European nations if he hadn't died and Truman taken over before war's end.

[@simonainscough619]

No England to be precise is to blame all to protect montys inadequecies

[@rommel17pl]

@@thunderbird1921 FDR is one of the worst.

[@222jakub]

Poland isnt only one with impoverished generals...czechoslovakia and many others too...viz= Gen. Jan Syrový, only Air marshall Karel Janoušek......

[@macdacsky2701]

From all unknown hero’s ….big thank you Mark for this sad but yet interesting documentary about two polish WW2 hero’s 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Cheers mate…

[@je-freenorman7787]

there is no Hero and No villain

[@biggtrux]

"They fill his chest with medals while he's across the foam And they spread the crimson carpet when he comes marching home The next day someone hollers when he comes into view "Here comes the general" and they all say "General who?" They're delighted that he came But they can't recall his name"

[@ColinH1973]

'It's Tommy this, and Tommy that, And Tommy bye and bye, But it's good old Tommy Atkins, When the bullets start to fly.'

[@captainamerica6525]

Wow! How very true.

[@phlogistanjones2722]

What Can You Do With a General, Irving Berlin, Bing Crosby

[@peterh7594]

Perhaps less eloquent, Kipling's "Tommy".

[@ColinH1973]

@@peterh7594 See above.

[@colinbryant5598]

My father served in the army during WW2. Not an easy man to give compliments but his respect for the Polish army was unswerving and he never ceased praising them. Respect to Poland. The land of strong fighting forces.

[@je-freenorman7787]

Poland has strong forces? Their airforce has hair under the wings lol

[@hungusthefungus3461]

@@je-freenorman7787 The Point is that the Poles fought Valiantly with the little that they had. Their sacrifice will Never be forgotten.

[@je-freenorman7787]

@@hungusthefungus3461 what ever. The Polish nobility were all nazis they set their own people up Its all part of the Holy Roman Empire

[@hungusthefungus3461]

@@je-freenorman7787 The Poles were Stabbed in the Back by the Russians. They had divided Poland with the Nazis.

[@glabgrg]

Thank you for this video. For me as a history enthusiast from Poland it means a lot

[@sslord9220]

I loved this episode. Thank you for shinning the spotlight on the Poles, the often forgotten heroes.

[@scottfoster2639]

You are correct Mark. This shameful treatment of valuable men is truly a stain on the honor of Britain.

[@kakitakenzo5013]

As a Pole in some part - thank you Mark for mentioning the tragic fate of the Polish generals-heroes of WW2 that happened to them after the end of the war. It is also worth mentioning general Władysław Anders, commander of the entire 2nd Polish Corps that fought alongside the British 8th Army in Italy, famous for the capture of Monte Cassino, Ancona, Loreto and Bologna. His fate was similar to that of both generals mentioned in the movie. Also my great-grandfather fought in 1939 in the September Campaign as a pilot in the 2nd Aviation Regiment in Krakow, continued to fight in France in 1940, in the Battle of Britain and until the end of WW2 in Europe as a pilot in the RAF and PSP (Polish Air Force) in 300 and 301 Squadron. In 1947 he repartied to Poland occupied by the communist Soviets because his wife, my great-grandmother and her 3 sons, including my grandfather live there and miraculously survived the German occupation in their homeland, thanks to the incredible bravery of my great-grandmother, despite her poverty (refusal of receiving any food rations by the Germans, because she could not for fear of persecution, reveal the fate of her husband, who was fighting from England against Germany), she miraculously kept her 3 sons alive on the verge of starvation, making a living as a seamstress. Unfortunately, after returning to communist Poland my great-grandfather was arrested, interrogated, beaten and humiliated many times by the communist occupiers for his participation in the fight alongside the Western Allies as an "unwanted Western element", his merits in the war for the liberation of Europe under German occupation were not recognized and he was refused proper pensions, so he was forced to work hard physically in the printing house to keep the family. Many of his Polish airmen colleagues returning to Poland after the war met a similar or even worse fate - many years of imprisonment, torture and being sentenced to death as an "enemy of the communist regime"... just to mention the fate of General Stanisław Skalski the highest scoring and the most experienced ace of the Polish Air Force during WW2. The fate of Poland or Czechoslovakia after WW2 is a tragic page of history, heroes fighting for freedom against the greatest evil of the twentieth century - was then recognized as "traitors and enemies" by the communist forces that occupied their country for nearly 50 years... May such history never be repeated! And I would like to thank all the British, French, Belgians, Italians and the Dutch for their kindness and the memory of Polish soldiers who fought bravely and gave their lives in the fight for the freedom of their countries. Politicians are treacherous opportunists, but ordinary people remember in their hearts. This selflessness no matter where you are from makes us all brothers. :)

[@bronwynjewell9810]

Thank you for your valuable information. The history from 'ordinary people' is very important and must be told, written down and passed on to generations following. This history is the truest information, told with heart 💜

[@Wuestenkarsten]

This is to often forgotten....I as a German are very sure about ONE Thing: Poland RESCUED Europe already 2 Times, first against the Turks in Vienna and then against our imported Austrian jobless Painter. And as I see it, in the Political Situation today, POLAND is a LEADING Government again in the Fight against Putin. The most Volunteers inside the Ukraine Army Foreign Legion from Europe are POLES!!! So, they do it again, even again under a different Government Leader Situation. In WW2 it was UK, now it´s Ukraine. So they do it a THIRD Time. And you know what is most SHAMEFUL at all??? No One realizing it!!! Especially not my " Wanne Be Government" in Berlin which is a HUGE FARCE in Comparison to Warsaw!!! THANK YOU POLAND!! LONG LIVE THE WHOLY POLAND!!!! (And SHAME to my WOKE German Wannebee Government which still refuses to send the "correct Aid" to Kiev!!!)

[@peace-now]

I know. My dad fought in Cyrenaica with the 8th too. Don't forget to mention the South Africans, Rhodesians and Ghurkas also who accompanied the Poles.

[@johnkidd1226]

The local Legion president in the 60's was an army barber who never left Canada. A Polish man applied to join and was initially denied until my father and his friend spoke up for him. They had fought with Poles in Italy and admired their courage. He became a good Legion member and a valued addition to the community. I delivered his weekend newspaper and he would practice his English with me while I ate his wife's delicious cookies.

[@joannab7403]

Thank you!

[@zakolascage5808]

You’re a good man John, thank You and God bless.

[@cozyandahalle]

A related history that might be interesting to know more about is the history of the German town of Haren. Its inhabitants were expelled and it became a Polish enclave for a time after the war, housing liberated prisoners from the Emsland labor camps. Haren was renamed Maczkow during this time. In honor of General Maczek.

[@joegordon5117]

I remember visiting Arnhem and Nijmegen in the late 1980s, and noticing many hotel bars were festooned with regimental emblems, from the numerous veterans who came over to visit. Our Dutch friends told us these veterans were still held in the highest regard by the locals, who had not forgotten their fight to liberate the Netherlands. I found this extremely touching that they remembered and honoured those men from decades before.

[@billfarley9167]

My uncle is buried in Nijmegen. He was a member of the 1st Canadian Parachute Regiment and was killed during the drop at Arnhem.

[@philgiglio7922]

Talk to a Vietnam veteran and ask how they were treated in Australia on liberty. Most never bought more than their first drink

[@I_Don_t_want_a_handle]

Yes, now visit France ...

[@garywagner2466]

The Dutch people still honour the countries that fought to liberate them. The schoolchildren are taught, in great detail, what happened between 1939 and 1945. Their museums and memorials are well kept. In general, the Dutch people know more about the liberation effort than the people in the countries that liberated them do. The Dutch government, sadly, not so much. Politicians are unfamiliar with the concept of honour.

[@damirpacek]

Yes, I was there 3 years ago. In the Airborne museum at Hartenstein, Oosterbeek. Almost every single house in the city has a blue Pegasus amblem flag, along with Union Jack. Amazing, very nice and touchy...

[@WhatIsYourMalfunction]

Thank you for bringing both the tragic story of these two Poles and the gallantry of Polish warriors of that era to the public. A professor of mine in the late 1980's at Boston College was a lieutenant in the Polish Army in 1939. He fought and then escaped to Spain on his journey to England when captured and put in a concentration camp by the Spanish. He got out after a year or so and made his way to England to fight on. Eventually going to the University of London and taking his Ph.D. in psychology. He emigrated to the USA when repatriation to Poland was impossible, and raised a family and had a long career. He wrote a biography as an old man and I'm proud to have a signed copy with the message "To my dear friend..." He was a kind and gentle soul despite all he had been put through. They should be remembered.

[@marcinkrol7984]

Could you please share the name of this guy (and the title of his biography if you remember)?

[@blatherskite9601]

I worked at University with a Pole who had been dropped into Poland several times during the War. He was the janitor, and the kindest, gentlest man you could ever hope to meet, and a very great Pole. When he retired, there were so many there to say Goodbye... many more than when the Professor retired.

[@solowali10]

made me tear up honestly. So many forgotten titans. these are the type of men who should be elevated to highest ranks of society. unfortunately only corrupt and immoral people get to live comfy.

[@je-freenorman7787]

Actually the titans were deities and there were 12 Did you forget? People are not deities and deties do not exist. So, are you still confused? Religion is the immoral behavior Government is the result The army makes people slaves. Thats about it

[@oguzhancebe9833]

These two stories brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing their stories.

[@alansmithee9015]

As an undergrad in the last 1980s - before the fall of the USSR - I took three courses in political science from Dr. Edward Rozek (1918-2009) - a Polish patriot and D-Day veteran and professor at the University of Colorado/Boulder. I wish now I'd gotten to know him better. His classes were tough and unforgiving - he'd assign 5-6 books to read and a typical exam question would be "Summarize Chaper 7 of "Victims of Yalta". His unit in WWII captured an SS colonel at one point - they shot him. There's a scene in "Fury" with an SS officer that reminds me of that story. I think there was always a sadness in his character because he (rightly) felt Poland was betrayed by the Western Allies. At least he lived to see Poland freed from Soviet control.

[@je-freenorman7787]

What ever they told you in University was a false narrative World War 2 was dubbed a "phony war" becasue, many people knew it was set up, by the Royals and their Jews

[@krisbham]

MARK! AS A POLE MYSELF, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU FOR THIS EPISODE AND REMINDING THE WORLD ABOUT BETRAYAL THAT HAS CHANGED THE POST-WAR POLAND FOR DECADES! Your amazing summary is showing massive unfairness against the polish people - and the Poland itself that took place during - and just after the war. Polish people tryully appreciating you for this fantastic episode!!!

[@daverbenson4834]

My father was RAF & was Honoured to fight along with The Polish 303 Squadron They put him in Hospital after one evenings drinking after Hours!😂😂 He said to me that they never regarded the Training Manual & closed up to Shoot The Germans down nearly Point Blank I do believe they hold The biggest Shoot Down Record of The RAF Maybe until this Day Proud Folk I'm happy to have met several Old Men Who were bloody Lethal in a war bird I don't condone War & Violence to my Fellow Humans ..I did it as a Teenager It's not Glory It's Nasty & Brutal You can wash off the blood But that experience stains your Soul forever

[@obiwan88]

First, you need to learn how to type in proper case: i) All CAPS is rude ii) polish -> Polish I'm sure it's the same in Polish so don't use English is not your Native language as an excuse, because it's neither mine.

[@lexxuzz]

@@obiwan88 First of all you need to learn how to spell: 1), 2) instead of i) and ii). Dont be so shure about polish luangage because apparently you know noting about it, its rules and how complex it is.....

[@valcommander7981]

@@obiwan88 Chill out, jesus

[@dhowe5180]

@@obiwan88 Relax pal. Also, your grammar is atrocious.

[@Bluesman125]

In my opinion, the Poles are the bravest distinctive People in the world. As far as I’m concerned “Valorous” is a synonym of “Polish”. My admiration of their martial record down through the centuries is bottomless.

[@je-freenorman7787]

No wonder opinions are worthless

[@satanwithinternet2753]

@@je-freenorman7787 BRO U KiLLED HIM LAMO 💀

[@joannab7403]

Thank on behalf of the heroes of Poland such as the Sosaboski and Maczek, Witold Pilecki (he is my greatest hero of all times) and so on.

[@je-freenorman7787]

@@joannab7403 Poland is a nazi country in the Holy Roman Empire The Polish nobles wet their own people up in WW2 government is a religious cult

[@je-freenorman7787]

@@joannab7403 Poland used to be an Aryan Pagan nation. The Trezub is a pagan symbol, now used by the Romans after they converted everyone. We all have an Aryan heritage and a Pagan ethnicity

[@jeighteen8297]

I grew up in Edinburgh living in Marchmont in a flat above General Maczek and his wife in the late 1980s. At this stage he was well in his 90s but still a very interesting man. He was very much let down post war and deserved far more. He may be gone, but certainly not forgotten as the people of Breda will always attest.

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

He surely did deserve more, just as the hundreds of thousands of returning British troops EQUALLY deserved more, but having been financially bled white by the US during WW2, the UK as a nation was in 1945 the world's biggest debtor and was in NO position to lavish money on its people.... though of course the 0.1% stayed rich.

[@cgross82]

I served alongside Polish troops in Paktika Province, Afghanistan in 2007. I gained a great respect for their professionalism, bravery and combat proficiency! The Polish Soldiers and Airmen were treated very badly indeed after WWII!

[@bartomiejzakrzewski7220]

mercenaries of USA defending their country 10000 miles far from home

[@Przem112207]

@@bartomiejzakrzewski7220 11 września 2001 pamiętasz kto zaczął? każdy ma prawo do obrony. Ale Irak to był błąd

[@doge7906]

@@Przem112207 Bin Laden started it who fleed to Afghanistan but usa didn't try diplomacy with the Afghans and attacked

[@Przem112207]

@@doge7906 They give Taliban ultimatum 'give us Bin Laden to wednesday', Taliban rejected it

[@doge7906]

@@Przem112207you are wrong they accused them of hidding terrorist but they didn't offer any proof of that and and when the afghans asked for proof of bin Laden being responsible the usa just attacked

[@Arthur_Pint]

In addition to what Mark said in his typically brilliant video, to their great credit the Scottish people also recently honoured Gen. Maczek by naming a walkway, that is located close to where he lived in Edinburgh, ‘General Maczek Walk’. Incidentally, My parents who themselveswere post WW2 Polish exiles living in UK met General Maczek several times in the UK, and I’m pretty sure I met him once in Cardiff in 1964, when the General was the guest of honour at a Polish veterans 20th anniversary of the D-Day landings, an event which my parents were actively involved in. Unfortunately, being only six at the time, and as my parents have both passed away, I can’t be certain of that. However, I do have a copy of the programme for the event which includes the names of both the General and my mother. At the risk of ‘going on’, personally, I think it’s very important to say that ordinary people in England, Scotland and Wales were incredibly supportive of my Polish parents and other family members as they adjusted to life in the UK as post WW2 ‘displaced’ Polish persons.

[@nemeczek67]

In the late 1990s I was a post-doc at Sheffield University where I met General Maczek's son, who was a chemistry professor there.

[@danielskrobot4910]

In my hometown lived man who survived capturing by Soviets in 1939 and made his way with Second Core under Anders. He fought in battle of Monte Cassino, Blogone, Ankona. He received VIrtuti Military the greatest Polish medal after the Battle of Bologne.

[@TomaszDadek]

Iam Polish, my grandfather fight under Gen Maczek, was wounded three times. Liberate with General Maczek Belgium, Holand(Breda), and they end war, as mention, in Wilhelmshaven. My grandfather die in 2000. Iam very graetful for this material. Was great, and thanks for restore a true about polish soldiers, and theirs sad history after wotld war II. My grandfather told me, that he was in many capital citys, during wwII, but never Was in Warsaw...

[@AlbertComelles1970]

❤