The Polish Soldiers' Grit, Determination and Fearlessness in Battle PART 1

The Polish Soldiers' Grit, Determination and Fearlessness in Battle PART 1

Author: Ognisko Polskie July 21, 2024 Duration: 39:00

In this episode of Monte Cassino 80, we meet Marek Mrozek. Across 2 podcasts we will be talking about the historical and social journey of the Polish men and women of the 2nd Corp, Drugi Korpus led by General Anders. We will explore why and how they volunteered to fight and why they were ready for the victory at the Battle for Monte Cassino.


Marek is a volunteer at Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, London and the curator of the highly successful exhibition Polish Armed Forces on the Front Lines 1944 Polskie Siły Zbrojne na Frontach Wojny 1944.


In part one Marek Mrozek takes us through the invasion of Poland in September 1939, the fate of the Polish army captured by Soviets, the forced deportation of civilians in the eastern Polish borderlands to Siberia. We discuss how and why young and old volunteered for the Polish Army after the Sikorski Majski Agreement, and the journey of these Polish men and women took to form a resilient and determined fighting force.


Thanks to Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, London (PISM) - the largest archival and museum institution in Western Europe that is focused on Polish history, predominantly covering the first half of the 20th century. From its foundation in 1945 until the fall of communism in 1989, the Institute was one of the main exiled institutions where Poland’s true history was presented to the public.

You can explore at https://pism.org.uk/

Or visit at

20 Prince’s Gate

London SW7 1PT

Tue – Fri : 9.30am - 4pm


NOTE from the podcast:

Orlęta - Young Eagles / Eaglets a youth organisation operating in Poland from 1933 part of Strzelec - Riflemen's Association - also active in the underground movement during World War II. https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orl%C4%99ta_(organizacja)


Ognisko Polskie’s Monte Cassino 80 podcast is presented by Jola Piesakowska

Supported by the Polish Cultural Institute

Produced by Salt and Pepper Productions in association with #MyLondyn


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Marking the eightieth anniversary of one of the Second World War's most brutal and consequential clashes, MONTE CASSINO 80 is a reflective audio series from Ognisko Polskie. This podcast moves beyond a simple military chronicle to explore the deep layers of history, memory, and human experience surrounding the Polish contribution to the battle and the wider Italian Campaign. Each episode serves as a thoughtful examination, piecing together how the events of 1944 continue to echo through the decades. We delve into the strategic decisions and the grim reality of the fighting, but with equal weight given to the cultural and emotional legacy left in its wake. The series considers the personal stories of soldiers, the geopolitical complexities that placed them there, and the enduring symbols-from song to sentiment-that the name Monte Cassino evokes within Polish identity and beyond. Supported by the Polish Cultural Institute, this is a nuanced journey for anyone interested in how history is lived, fought, and remembered. Listen to this podcast for a multifaceted exploration that connects past sacrifice to present understanding, asking what it means to commemorate such a pivotal moment eight decades later.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 10

MONTE CASSINO 80
Podcast Episodes
In conversation with Prof Norman Davies author of Trail of Hope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
"I get more correspondence from" Trail of Hope "than anything else... Lots of books about Monte Cassino but not very much about the whole Odyssey".'Trail of Hope' situates the Anders Army's journey within the broader con…
Polish Women Warriors of 317 Transport - Tola Styraniec [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:49
In this podcast we meet Nuna Staniaszek whose mother Tola Turska, nee Styraniec was a volunteer with 317 General transport 2nd Polish Corps. Her service as listed in her Military records began in the Middle East and then…
How to Find Your Polish Roots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:29
In this episode of Monte Cassino 80, with thanks to Kresy Family Polish WWII History Group, we meet Jan Zajaczkowski. Jan is a volunteer at Kresy Family who has become an authority on navigating the available archives as…
Porucznik Danuta Gradosielska PSK 316 Transport Company [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
"I realise now, that at 18, I was too young to understand just how dangerous this was." Danuta (Mączka) Gradosielska was 18 years old when she saw active service at Monte Cassino and the Italian Campaign as a driver with…
Corporal Waleria Sawicka PSK Signals 2 Corps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:17
"...because Polish people are actually very brave and they fight well... even the women"Marking the 80th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino in May 2024, Pani Sawicka spoke to me for this podcast at her home in So…