By Nicholas Kinloch.    - Â
Before reading this book, I was expecting a cross between a Commando comic and Sven Hassel novel – and whilst there are similarities – the book captures the ‘daring do’ of the Commando comics and the brutality of war portrayed in the Sven Hassel novels - it is much more compelling than fiction. The first few chapters describe Stanislaw or Stanley’s youth in rural Poland as a child and teenager. Once war is declared by Germany - Stanislaw and his brother muse about joining the Polish Army, however Stanislaw is too young and is left home to tend the farm and look after younger siblings. Without notice, Soviet tanks appear on the horizon to the east and Stanislaw’s troubles really begin.
Soon the family farm, and all the surrounding farms are requisitioned by the Soviets. Stanislaw and his family are forcibly relocated to Siberia to work on a logging camp as slave labour for the Soviet Union. The horrific conditions and descriptions of the internee’s treatment – such as being quartered in freezing single room huts with multiple families or having their food allowance docked if ‘quotas’ were not met brings to life the fear and confusion the family must have felt during this time. It is here however that Stanislaw’s positive and stoic attitude shines through. Eventually Stanislaw, his father and older brother are moved to work in a blacksmith’s shop, however his mother and two younger siblings remain at the logging camp, with tragic consequences.Â
Events take a more hopeful turn when the Soviet authorities grant permission for the internees to leave the Gulags and join the Polish Army in exile. The second third of the book, and easily the most compelling, see’s our protagonist and his brother leave what remains of the family to join the Polish Army. I won’t spoil what to me was the best bit of the book as the boys make their way south, but the journey took over six months and was absolutely hair raising. The book depicts scenes of utter chaos within the USSR, as Stalin’s regime desperately relocates factories and personnel away from the front line.
Eventually, Stanislaw finds the Polish Army and joins before being posted to Iraq, then Scotland where he is effectively pressganged into joining the Polish Parachute Brigade. Following his training he is deployed on Operation Market Garden. By the time the Polish Parachute Brigade jumps into Arnhem, the British forces have been forced back to defending a river head, against a massive SS onslaught. The Polish soldiers bravely cross the river under withering enemy fire and help sustain the defence. Eventually, a retreat across the river is called and Stanislaw misses the last boat. What follows is a hair-raising escape aided by the Dutch underground back to British lines.
This book is in effect the story of a boy caught up in the chaos of a pivotal moment in history, who does his best to survive and ‘do his bit’ all the while experiencing a level of hardship that would be difficult to comprehend today. The book paints a very human and relatable face onto the narrative of the Second World War and reiterated to me the strategic importance of countries such as Poland and Ukraine in the geo-political landscape of Europe. I read this book in a single sitting and it has earned a place on my bookshelf between Beever’s Stalingrad and my Stephen Ambrose collection – Highly recommended.
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SSgt (FofS) Oliver Mason                   Â
Published by Pen & Sword Military, 256 pages,ISBN 978-1399045919 .       Â