The Grodynski Brigade

Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 led to genocide and massive devastation across Europe. For the Polish people re-building their country after the First World War, dreams of a better future for their children evaporated as the most powerful military machine ever assembled rolled across their Western border and the struggle for national survival began. Within weeks that struggle seemed forlorn as the Soviet army crossed Poland's Eastern border bringing death to many and loading others into trains destined for the infamous 'gulags' scattered across the Soviet Union to the far reaches of Siberia. This book tells the individual stories of one Polish family that overcame Russian brutality and German might, on land, sea and in the air, in fighting to liberate their country.Stanisaw, who was Governor of the Grudziadz District of North Western Poland in September 1939, escaped the clutches of the Germans by evacuating to Warszawa only to be captured later in Lwów by the invading Russians. Herded into freight wagons the month-long train journey was a nightmare for captives who knew nothing of what awaited them at the final destination of their forced exile but feared the worst. Despite the oppressive conditions then experienced in a Soviet forced labour camp, where their Russian guards dubbed the family group "The Grodynski Brigade", and despite the inhumane treatment encountered as they journeyed back across the Soviet Union to join up with the 'Allied Forces', the spirit of each member of this family remained undaunted.On reaching the relatively safe haven of Tehran, Halina, the wife of Stanisaw, joined the Military Nursing Corps and served as a hospital nurse/sister during assignments in Persia, Egypt and Italy. On exiting Russia, Stanisaw joined the Polish Army Infantry Division in Kazakhstan and served as a soldier/officer in a number of countries, including Italy where his Division fought in the attack on Monte Cassino. Marjan, the younger son of Halina and Stanisaw, was posted with Polish forces to Britain where he undertook naval training in Plymouth before joining the Polish Navy crew of the submarine ORP Soko (Falcon) in the Scottish port of Dundee. This submarine became famous in sinking many enemy ships during campaigns beneath the waters of the Mediterranean.Andrzej, elder brother of Marjan and author of this book, was sixteen and looking forward to higher education among the elite of the Officer Cadet Academy when his country was invaded. On escaping the control of the Soviet authorities Andrzej was shipped to the port of Glasgow in Scotland. His training to become an Air Force fighter pilot took him from St Andrews to Brighton from where he flew his first operational flights with 306 Squadron, initially hunting V-1 flying bombs. In the combat missions that followed his role was to shield RAF bombers, making hazardous raids on distant enemy targets, from hostile German aircraft.Their experiences and valiant escapades of their Polish comrades during the Second World War are central to the unique stories of each of 'The Grodynski Family', but the profound disappointment and sense of betrayal in learning of the decision of Churchill and Roosevelt to allow Stalin to take control of Poland following victory by 'The Allies' could not be expressed in words. Like many Poles who fought heroically along side British soldiers, sailors and airmen, they felt they could not return to a Poland under the control of a regime that had perpetrated despicable atrocities against their countrymen, although each one of this patriotic family deeply longed to return to their Homeland.The latter pages of this book convey that although this family surmounted obstacles confronting many 'foreigners' settling in Britain at the time, such as a lack of local qualifications or fluency in English when competing for jobs, they continued to be inspired by the vision shared with their ancestors of a free and independent Poland.