"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 context of World War II and the geopolitical shifts affecting Eastern Europe. The book starts with the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 and the subsequent forced deportation of Polish citizens to Siberian gulags. After the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Sikorski - Mayski agreement allowed for the formation of a Polish army on Soviet soil, led by General Władysław Anders. This army then made a remarkable journey through the Middle East and North Africa to join the Allied forces in Italy, where they famously participated in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Professor Davies emphasises the personal experiences of the individuals who were part of the Anders Army. Through diaries, letters, photographs, and interviews, he brings to life the harrowing experiences of the soldiers and civilians—men, women, and children—who endured hardship, loss, and displacement. These personal stories highlight the resilience and determination of the Polish people in the face of adversity.

A central theme of 'Trail of Hope' is the perseverance and hope of the Polish people despite the immense challenges they faced. Davies also explores the concept of memory, particularly how the story of the Anders Army has been remembered and commemorated in Polish and global history. He examines the legacy of these soldiers and civilians, reflecting on the broader implications of their journey for understanding displacement, war, and the human spirit.

As with his other works, Professor Davies' research for 'Trail of Hope' was exhaustive, the book is richly illustrated with photographs, maps, and documents, many of which are sourced from private collections or have rarely been seen before. These visual aids complement the narrative and help the reader to better understand the scale and impact of the Anders Army's journey.

I spoke to Professor Norman Davies online, from his home in Poland, summer 2024. This podcast was published February 2025 marking the 85th anniversary of the forced mass deportations of Polish citizens to Siberia and far reaching parts of the Soviet Union.

Professor Davies is UNESCO Professor at the Jagiellonian University, Professor Emeritus University College London, a visiting professor at College d'Europe, an Honorary Fellow of Clare Hall and St Antony’s College, Oxford. He is Professor Emeritus of UCL School of Slavic and East European Studies.

'Trail of Hope' is available https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/trail-of-hope-9781472816047/

Audible https://www.audible.co.uk/author/Norman-Davies/B000AQ4KQO

Further Reading https://www.booknotification.com/authors/norman-davies/

A Ognisko Polskie Podcast in collaboration with #MyLondyn and supported by Polish Cultural Institute, London

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 on to the Theatre of Operations in Italy between February 1944 and 4th March 1945: On the rivers Sangro and Rapido for Monte Cassino, The Gustav-Hitler Line Adriatic Coast, Ancona, The Gothic Line, Northern Appenines on the River Senio. I was gripped by Pani Tola’s stories of her service and humbled by the selfless dedication that these young women showed.

In Italy 317 transport’s primary task was to supply the 2nd Corps Base from the ports, it was used to bring in ammunition and stores to the 2nd Corps' second supply line. The 317th PWSK Transport Company organised 203 transport columns carrying out more than 12,210 missions across 1,622,500 miles, and delivering just over 113,000 tons of supplies.

We talk about Pani Tola’s story and about the reverberations of her experiences across 2 generations of women, through memory, Polish language, patriotism and culture. Pani Tola loved dancing, she danced in the Polish folk groups during WW2 and a wonderful photograph of her standing in the desert in front of her tent dressed in the Krakowski Stroj - Polish national costume - that she had sewed. In London Pani Tola continued to sew Polish dance costumes for Mazury Polish Dance Company, Nuna her daughter was part of the troupe for 30 years and her grandaughter continues to promote Polish folk dance.

Medals and Awards

Polish Army Medal

British: 1939-45 Star

Italy Star

Defence Medal

The War Medal 1939-45

Pani Tola opened my eyes to the overlooked Polish Women warriors of World War 2, when she took me through her annotated and much-loved copy of In Their Country’s service Women Soldiers of the 2nd Polish corps 1941 – 1946 this commemorative book was published in Italy by The Headquarters of the Polish Women’s Auxillary Corps 2nd Corps.

"We spoke about" Links:

Theodora (Tola) Styraniec - by Nuna Staniszek https://artandmemory.uk/force-of-memory

https://www.facebook.com/PolishForgottenForce/posts/681754709066695/?_rdr

In Their Country’s service Women Soldiers of the 2nd Polish corps 1941 – 1946. Published in Italy by The Headquarters of the Polish Women’s Auxillary Corps 2nd Corps.

https://www.polishexilesofww2.org/photo-books-and-publications

Mazury Dance Company of the Polish YMCA

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-2R2GSQ5c-lH0aBdN613LQ

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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Not only was Zdzisław Łukasiewicz the 4th volunteer in the Polish Army under General Anders that formed in the USSR after the Sikorski Mayski Agreement, he was given the job of travelling across USSR to muster Poles who had been incarcerated in gulags and prisons.

In this episode of Monte Cassino 80, we meet Konrad “Radders” Harandon, the grandson of Zdzisław Łukasiewicz member of the Polish 4th “Skorpion” and then 2nd Armoured Brigade who became the editor of “Taran,” the newspaper of 2nd “Warsaw” Armoured Division. Prior to Cassino, Zdzisław Łukasiewicz was transferred to Brigade HQ, and the Referatura Kultury i Prasy / Culture and Press Department.

In this podcast we follow his incredible journey from his childhood as a defender of Lwow, his student life at Jan Kazimierz University, his family links to the Armia Krajowa / Home Army and the Warsaw Uprising. we learn about Zdzislaw's and his wife’s arrest and their forced deportation to the USSR. We hear how Zdzislaw was saved by his artistic skills and how he became a key person in General Ander’s mustering of Poles to the Polish army after the Sikorski Mayski Agreement.

With Konrad we follow his grandfather’s incredible and well documented journey across the battlefields of Italy: Monte Cassino, onwards through Piedimonte and on to victory at Ancona in July 1944.

Follow Konrad "Radders" Harandon's fantastic Twitter feed where he describes himself as an Anglo-Polish history lover. Polish 2nd Armoured Brigade/Division during the Second World War. On his feed, Konrad features some of the amazing photos from his father's archives as well as sharing detailed and fascinating insights into the 2nd Armoured Brigade.

"We spoke about" Links:

Konrad “Radders” Harandon X (Twitter) @konnie83

Tadeusz Szumanski https://twitter.com/konnie83/status/1723648876849078371

Hubal film https://youtu.be/5rbuWiC5iGY?si=JMc-W5OxTzpE1p8O

Stanisław Tabisz („Piotrowski”) https://www.1944.pl/powstancze-biogramy/stanislaw-tabisz,45565.html

Gliwa https://www.foto.karta.org.pl/nasze-zbiory/fotografowie/s-gliwa,63633,zdjecie.htm

http://fototekst.pl/bitwa-o-monte-cassino-najdluzszy-polski-fotoreportaz/

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

Connect with Ognisko Polskie

X : @ognisko_polskie

Instagram: @ognisko_polskie

Facebook: OgniskoPolskieUK

Website: http://www.ogniskopolskie.org.uk/

Ognisko Polskie

Princes Gate,

55, Exhibition Road,

London,

United Kingdom

Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss an episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.