Poland At War Tours

27/01/2025

LESS-KNOWN FACTS

Operation “N” is one of the most unusual diversionary operations of the Home Army(AK), aimed at weakening the morale of the German occupiers through the use of propaganda. Launched in 1941, it lasted until 1944 and was carried out by a special cell of the Home Army, bringing together prominent intellectuals, writers, journalists and specialists in psychology and propaganda.

The purpose of Operation “N”
The aim of the operation was to sow chaos and uncertainty among German soldiers and the civilian population of the Third Reich. Through false communications, publications and leaflets, the Home Army tried to influence the mood of the occupying forces, create internal conflicts and discourage war.

How did it work?
Production of fake newspapers and leaflets:
Underground AK print shops produced German-language materials that looked like authentic publications issued by German authorities or organizations. The fake newspapers contained criticism of N**i policies, described defeats at the front and undermined confidence in Hi**er and the Wehrmacht command.

Information sabotage:
Published materials often contained false information about impending air raids or lost battles, which sowed panic among Germans. Humor and irony were also used to poke fun at Third Reich propaganda.

Distribution of materials:
Leaflets and newspapers were secretly delivered to German barracks, offices and even to the streets of German cities. This was done with the help of couriers, sometimes even hiding the materials in postal parcels.

27/01/2025

Today, at the Memorial to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes, POLIN Museum, Warsaw, the commemoration ceremony of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Never Forget!

24/01/2025

As early as 27 September 1943, the highest tiers of Polish Home Army command put in place plans for the continuation of conspiratorial actions should diplomatic relations not be normalised with the Soviet Union and should the Soviets take over Poland.

This conspiratorial group was to be enacted completely separately from the AK should the AK become untenable as an ongoing concern. At a given moment, this new group would begin to operate independently from the AK in a manner that not even AK members would know who was operating within the new conspiracy. Only a handful of Polish leaders knew of the existence of the plan for this new organisation.

The new organisation was to be called "Nie". For us non-Poles, "Nie" is short for niepodległość which translates to English as "Independence". Nie is also the Polish word for "no".

On 19 January 1945, The AK was formally dissolved which lead to the formal beginning of Nie under the legendary and much loved Polish General Emil "Nil" Fieldorf and General Leopold Okulicki.

Witold Pilecki was among the first members of Nie.

Sadly, Nie came to an end on 7 March 1945 when Gen. Fieldorf was arrested by chance by the NKVD. This arrest was followed by the arrest of Gen. Okulicki on 27 March 1945 that led to the "Trial of the 16" in Moscow.

At this point, formal conspiratorial work almost ceased to exist and was generally run ad hoc by the Polish Army in Exile.

Never Forget!

22/01/2025

27 January 2025, will be the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Being the symbolic centre of the Holocaust, the date of liberation of Auschwitz, 27 January 1945, The date Soviet Scouts rode into the camp, has for the last 20 years become the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

For those in Warsaw, a memorial service will be held at the Memorial to Warsaw Ghetto Heroes at the POLIN Museum at 1.00pm Monday 27 January 2025. I hope to see you there.

The Jewish community of Warsaw encourages people to put a candle in their window in the evening of this date.

Something I also learnt today is that from 1200 to 1800, an empty tram, with the Star of David, will move around Warsaw symbolising the loss of the Jewish population of Poland during the Holocaust.

Never Forget!

21/01/2025

20 January 1942 was the date of the infamous Wannsee Conference that took place in this stately home ina rich suburb of Berlin.

It is often thought that the Wannsee Conference was the place where the decision to enact the Final Solution took place, however this is not true.

What we now know as the Holocaust had well and truly kicked off prior to this conference. The Wannsee Conference was more about Reinhardt Heydrich firming up his credentials as the leader in the effort to exterminate the Jews and also to firm up much of the logistics that would be needed to enact the Holocaust.

What can be said about the Wannsee Conference in regards to the Final Solution however, is that the industrial nature of the Holocaust truly began after Wannsee. Not a single Jew in all of Occupied Europe was safe!

Never Forget!

20/01/2025

What is the Museum of Struggle for Poland and Freedom in Węgierska Górka❓❓

is a site that commemorates the heroic defense of this village in September 1939, known as the “Westerplatte of the South.” At that time, the 151st fortress company under the command of Capt. Tadeusz Semik resisted the overwhelming German forces for three days, delaying their march deep into Poland.

The museum is located in the “Wanderer” battle shelter, one of five built in 1939. The exhibition features photographs of soldiers fighting for Węgierska Górka, as well as elements of equipment and weaponry from that period.

By visiting this place, you can better understand the difficult history of the region and pay tribute to those who fought for Poland's freedom.

The museum is located in the “Wanderer” battle shelter, which is part of the defensive fortifications built in 1939. The shelter, surrounded by greenery, has been carefully restored and equipped with a historical exhibition.

Inside it one can see:

Reconstruction of military equipment, including weapons, uniforms and equipment used by the defenders.
Documents and photographs that provide insight into the history of the heroic defense of Węgierska Górka, known as the “Westerplatte of the South.”
Interactive elements that make it easier to understand the course of the war effort.

From the outside, the shelter has retained its original character - a massive concrete structure with shooting holes attracts attention and reminds us of the military significance of the place. The environment is peaceful, which encourages reflection on historical events.

You can read more about it : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_W%C4%99gierska_G%C3%B3rka

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18/01/2025

Please click below to read my latest Substack post about the books I read in 2024. Never Forget!

https://open.substack.com/pub/polandatwartours/p/the-books-i-read-in-2024?r=3zrjq6&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

15/01/2025

Did you know about it?⁉️

The Underground City of Osowka - this is part of a secret military complex that the Germans were building during World War II.

There are theories that it was supposed to be a weapons production site or research center, and part of the “Riese” project. Today it is open to tourists in the form of an underground museum.

Work began here in mid-1943. It led to the creation of a huge system of hollow corridors, fortifications and halls.

The purpose of the work was kept secret.
According to some, it was supposed to be Adolf Hi**er's secret quarters. Others claim that halls were being built for underground armament factories for the production of secret weapons.

The degree of progress of the work carried out here ranks these structures as the most completed underground of the “Riese” (German: giant) undertaking in the Owl Mountains.

09/01/2025

Gotham? Or the Palace of Culture & Science in Warsaw on a winters evening?

08/01/2025

Happy new year to all!🥳

For the next few weeks, we will publish for you unpopular places in Poland🇵🇱 with the history of World War 2.

Share in the comments if there are little-known places in your area with the history of these times?📲📩

05/01/2025

9 questions you probably don't know the answers!🔴🔴

Test your knowledge of history!📖
Write your answers in the comments!✅

05/01/2025

CNN has again listed a Polish city in its top 25 places to visit in 2025 for the second year in a row. This time it is Gdansk. In all the travels I do around Poland, it is always Gdansk that is every Poles favourite Polish city and vacation destination. I am currently putting together a week long tour for Gdansk that will likely go ahead in June or July 2025. I hope to see you on the tour.

From Kaçkar to Kansai, via rugged mountains, luxurious railways, cool cities and ancient footpaths, CNN Travel’s editors and contributors are spotlighting 25 destinations and experiences for anyone seeking vacation inspiration for the year ahead.

04/01/2025

Whilst some countries debate what assistance should be given to Ukraine, the realities of living in this part of the world are deadly serious. Poland has introduced mandatory fi****ms training for all children over 14 years of age. Both a necessity of modern times and a remnant of the past. Never Forget!

Poland has introduced mandatory Education for Safety lessons for children in schools, which include shooting training and basic first aid.

03/01/2025

Polish Food Pyramid!

31/12/2024

Dear friends around the World. Here’s wishing you all the very best for 2025. I hope all of your dreams and wishes come true. In Poland. NYE is known as “Sylwester” (Sylvester) after Saint Sylvester who was a Bishop of Rome who died in 335 A.D. and who was a patron of the last day of the year. Poland At War Tours

30/12/2024

Finally, beautiful Lodz getting its due recognition. I am trying to encourage more guests to visit. The city is a wonder of original pre-war architecture, very cheap for visitors, easily accessible by train, and incredible remembrance of the Jewish population who lived in Lodz before WWII. I highly recommend it as a travel destination.

Łódź has been named one of the most beautiful places in 2024 by the British travel section of The Independent. The city came fifth in a list of 14 locations, behind cities such as Marseille or the Greek...

29/12/2024

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29/12/2024

The Polonia Palace Hotel in Warsaw, was one of very few buildings not destroyed by the Germans after the 1944 Warsaw Uprising. As a result, 26 nations set up embassy’s in the hotel after the war. I was walking past last night and snapped this pic. It is a wonderful hotel to stay in.