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"Poles were liberating Poles!"
#OTD, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Oberlangen by Maczek's 1st Polish Armoured Division.
Koszutski, commander of the 2nd Armoured Regiment, received a report from local Dutchmen that a camp existed 10km away, in German territory.
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#OTD, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Oberlangen by Maczek's 1st Polish Armoured Division.
Koszutski, commander of the 2nd Armoured Regiment, received a report from local Dutchmen that a camp existed 10km away, in German territory.
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The Dutch were unable to say whether the prisoners were POWs or political prisoners, but there was a definite danger that the camp would be evacuated or liquidated before the Allies had advanced.
Koszutski himself led the reconnaissance patrol.
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Koszutski himself led the reconnaissance patrol.
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The patrol consisted of a tank, two scout cars carrying doctors, a motorcycle and a jeep carrying a war correspondent.
An unlikely passenger in the tank was Count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski - 2 metres tall and now with just 30-minutes of instruction on how to use a machine gun.
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An unlikely passenger in the tank was Count Emeryk Hutten-Czapski - 2 metres tall and now with just 30-minutes of instruction on how to use a machine gun.
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The tank somewhat crushed the gate of the camp and 12 Germans surrendered.
The dignity of proceedings was somewhat undermined by the Count getting stuck climbing out of the turret.
The prisoners were Polish female soldiers of the Home Army, and veterans of the Uprising.
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The dignity of proceedings was somewhat undermined by the Count getting stuck climbing out of the turret.
The prisoners were Polish female soldiers of the Home Army, and veterans of the Uprising.
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Lt Jadwiga Milewska presented her report to Koszutski: the camp contained 1716 women, with a further 20 in the infirmary - and 7 infants who had been born in the camp.
A Polish flag was raised, and reports sent through to Maczek at his HQ in Emmen.
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A Polish flag was raised, and reports sent through to Maczek at his HQ in Emmen.
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Maczek describes how Polish "cars, carriers, lorries and tanks" from the front, from HQ, from the reserves and communication lines descended on the camp.
Soldiers came to seek out their families, to find out the fates of loved ones, or to hear of the Uprising.
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Soldiers came to seek out their families, to find out the fates of loved ones, or to hear of the Uprising.
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"Cars loaded with everything you could need came over towards the camp. Everyone wanted to be useful.
Following the request of Lt Milewska, I gave the order to halt the provision of supplies because the camp stores were overflowing."
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Following the request of Lt Milewska, I gave the order to halt the provision of supplies because the camp stores were overflowing."
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The women and children came under the protection of the Division.
Diana Napier reported that the sick were transferred to a Dutch civilian hospital, and the Canadians then coordinated their transport to England.
The division itself, however, had to continue its advance.
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Diana Napier reported that the sick were transferred to a Dutch civilian hospital, and the Canadians then coordinated their transport to England.
The division itself, however, had to continue its advance.
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Families, husbands and wives had been reunited. Romances blossomed, including for Lt Barbarski, driver of one of the first scout cars.
Maczek:
"Oberlangen camp symbolised henceforth, for the soldier of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, a handful of liberated soil."
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Maczek:
"Oberlangen camp symbolised henceforth, for the soldier of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, a handful of liberated soil."
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Sorry - this is very much from the perspective of the 1PAD rather than the women, whose story is increasingly being shared.
Koszutski's account of the liberation is wonderful. Sections are translated on 'The Soldiers of General Maczek'.
Also: http://generalmaczek.pl
Koszutski's account of the liberation is wonderful. Sections are translated on 'The Soldiers of General Maczek'.
Also: http://generalmaczek.pl
