Sjömansbiblioteket

‘Authentic, dramatically realistic, showing the tragedy of a generation thrown into a hopeless battle. A priceless treasure against which other memoirs pale in comparison.’ Lech Dzikiewicz

‘The Author has described the scenes of fighting so vividly … almost impossible to believe he had come out unscathed’ Kultura

‘An exceptionally valuable document – great historical and literary value’. Dziennik Polski

This remarkable Journal, written shortly after the event, describes not only the author’s own experiences of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising but the wider picture. With the Soviet Army’s arrival imminent, the Polish Underground fighters decided to wage open warfare against the hated Nazi occupiers. This courageous decision was taken despite the Poles’ chronic shortage of arms, ammunition and medical support. They fully expected the Soviets to relieve them gratefully for hastening the defeat of the Germans. With cruel and calculated cynicism, the Soviets halted their offensive and let the uneven match be settled without their involvement. The outcome was inevitable – Warsaw was largely destroyed, the Polish men, women and children fighters crushed and the Nazis weakened. The Soviets then moved in.

This journal is a unique record of the bitter fighting when neither side was prepared to give quarter.