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1/
#Maczek at his best, describing the Allied commanders pussyfooting around the question of whether the Poles would continue to fight against the Germans, given the betrayal of #Yalta...
"To begin with, General Crocker, commander of the British I Corps, invited me to dinner."
#Maczek at his best, describing the Allied commanders pussyfooting around the question of whether the Poles would continue to fight against the Germans, given the betrayal of #Yalta...
"To begin with, General Crocker, commander of the British I Corps, invited me to dinner."
2/
...Yalta made its appearance as the black coffee was served.
It was not the place of the military to concern themselves with political matters - the General stressed - but he wished to understand the extent of our disappointment...."
...Yalta made its appearance as the black coffee was served.
It was not the place of the military to concern themselves with political matters - the General stressed - but he wished to understand the extent of our disappointment...."
3/
"A few days later, another dinner invitation appeared. This time, it was General Crerar, commander of the Canadian army."
He expressed his "sincere regrets that politics at a high-level had placed the Poles (gallant Poles!) in such a difficult position."
"A few days later, another dinner invitation appeared. This time, it was General Crerar, commander of the Canadian army."
He expressed his "sincere regrets that politics at a high-level had placed the Poles (gallant Poles!) in such a difficult position."
4/
Two weeks later, it was Field Marshal Montgomery's turn to invite me.
It goes without saying that things with 'Monty' would go somewhat differently...
La mise en scène: before dinner, served on board his 'caravan', the presentation of his two small dogs, Stalin and Hitler.
Two weeks later, it was Field Marshal Montgomery's turn to invite me.
It goes without saying that things with 'Monty' would go somewhat differently...
La mise en scène: before dinner, served on board his 'caravan', the presentation of his two small dogs, Stalin and Hitler.
5/
During dinner, a free exchange of ideas about everything and nothing; with coffee, for the third time, the problem of Yalta.
I emphasised explicitly the heart of the problem, stressing that the majority of the armoured division's troops were originally from eastern Poland.
During dinner, a free exchange of ideas about everything and nothing; with coffee, for the third time, the problem of Yalta.
I emphasised explicitly the heart of the problem, stressing that the majority of the armoured division's troops were originally from eastern Poland.
6/
Was I not born in Lwów, a town which had never, even after the Partitions, been under Russian domination, which had now been ceded so arbitrarily.
Montgomery interrupted me, laughing: everything would work out for the best, he declared, you will become a Soviet general.
Was I not born in Lwów, a town which had never, even after the Partitions, been under Russian domination, which had now been ceded so arbitrarily.
Montgomery interrupted me, laughing: everything would work out for the best, he declared, you will become a Soviet general.
7/
That was too much. My reply was immediate.
What would the Field Marshal say if I offered him the rank of general within the US army?
We knew that a certain antagonism existed between Montgomery and the Americans, and that the British felt themselves superior to the US.
That was too much. My reply was immediate.
What would the Field Marshal say if I offered him the rank of general within the US army?
We knew that a certain antagonism existed between Montgomery and the Americans, and that the British felt themselves superior to the US.
8/
Monty turned red.
The political officer did not know what to do with his cup of coffee.
The Field Marshal finished by laughing and turning to pleasantries....
Monty turned red.
The political officer did not know what to do with his cup of coffee.
The Field Marshal finished by laughing and turning to pleasantries....
9/
The Americans did not bother with this system of interviews.
Without doubt they considered the temporary difficulty which had arisen among the Polish Armoured Division to be an internal matter for the British and her dominions.
The Americans did not bother with this system of interviews.
Without doubt they considered the temporary difficulty which had arisen among the Polish Armoured Division to be an internal matter for the British and her dominions.
