Rawson, Andrew Poland's Struggle. Before, during and after the Second World War

Poland was re-created as an independent nation at the end of the First World War, but it soon faced problems as Nazi Germany set about expanding its control on Europe. The Wehrmacht's attack on 1 September 1939 was followed by a Red Army invasion two weeks later. The people of Poland were then subjected to a terrifying campaign of murder, imprisonment and enslavement which only increased as the war dragged on. Polish Catholics faced violence and deportation as they adapted to the draconian laws implemented by the German authorities. Meanwhile, the Polish Jews were forced into ghettos while the plans for the "Final Solution" were implemented. They then faced annihilation in the Holocaust, code named Operation "Reinhard". Despite the dangers, many Poles joined the underground war against their oppressors, while those who escaped sought to fight for their nation's freedom from abroad. They sent intelligence to the west, attacked German installations, carried out assassinations and rose up to confront their enemy, all against impossible odds. The advance of the Red Army brought new problems, as the Soviet's dreaded NKVD introduced its own form of terror, hunting down anyone who fought for an independent nation. The story concludes with Poland's experience behind the "Iron Curtain", ending with the return of democracy by 1991.

Polish Catholics were subjected to violence and deportation when they tried to conform to the draconian laws of the German authorities. At the same time, Polish Jews were forced into ghettos while the plans for the "Final Solution" were gradually realised. Under the code name "Aktion Reinhard", the extermination of Polish Jews was finally realised. Despite the dangers, many Poles joined the underground war against the German occupiers, while those who managed to escape fought alongside the Allies for the freedom of their country. They sent intelligence information to the West, attacked German facilities, carried out assassinations and rose up against the enemy, all with very little chance of success. The advance of the Red Army brought new problems as the dreaded NKVD brought Stalin's terror to the country and hunted down anyone who fought for an independent Poland. The account ends with Poland's experience behind the "Iron Curtain" and the return to democracy since 1991.