fruits of the battle of warsaw and the normandy invasion

8/13/2019 Fruits of the Battle of Warsaw and the Normandy Invasion

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fruits-of-the-battle-of-warsaw-and-the-normandy-invasion 1/21

Dr. Robert Hickson 11 December 2013 Pope Saint Damasus I (d. 384)

Fruits of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw and the 1944 Normandy Invasion

(Insights of General !F!"! Fuller and G!#! "hesterton$

%&igra&h'

!ne ot"er memor# $o% m# &pri'a# 1*2+ ,isit to Po'and- I i'' add "ere. I

made t"e ac/uaintance o% a #oun $Po'is"- ount "ose "ue and cost'# pa'ace

o% a countr# "ouse..."ad been burned and recked and 'e%t in ruins b# t"eretreat o% t"e Red &rm# a%ter t"e att'e o% arsa $in t"e summer o%

1*20-....ut $in response to t"is- t"e #oun man $t"e ount- "o as ,er#

#oun in a'' "is estures s"rued "is s"ou'ders and 'au"ed at the same

time looing very sad. 5!" I don5t b'ame t"em %or t"at5 "e said. 5I have )een

a soldier myself* and in the same +am&aign $in t"e Po'is"o's"e,ik ar

a%ter or'd ar I-6 and I now the tem&tations. I kno "at a %e''o %ee'sdroppin it" %atiue and %ree7in it" co'd "en "e asks "imse'% "at some

ot"er %e''o5s armc"airs and curtains can matter i% "e can on'# "a,e %ue' %or t"e

ni"t. !n t"e one side or t"e ot"er e ere a'' so'diers6 and it is a "ard and

"orrib'e 'i%e. I don5t resent at a'' "at t"e# did "ere $it" m# "ouse-. ,here is

only one thing that I really resent! I will show you .5 &nd "e 'ed us out into a

'on a,enue 'ined it" pop'ars6 and at the end of it was a statue of the

Blessed -irgin. with the head and hands shot off . But the hands had )een

lifted6 and it is a strane t"in t"at the very mutilation $o% ar#- seemed to

give more meaning to the attitude of inter+ession. asing mer+y for the

mer+iless ra+e of men. (9.:. "esterton The Autobiography of G.K.Chesterton (;e <ork= S"eed > ard 1*3?) pp. 32*330@m# emp"asis

added.)

AAA

$Bar'ier- I as dri,in it" a /olish lady $some time in a# o% 1*2+ durinm# ,isit t"ere- "o as very witty and wella+uainted with the whole

+hara+ter of %uro&e* and also of %ngland ...6 and $t"en-..."er tone c"aned

$sudden'#- i% an#t"in to a sort o% coo'ness as we sto&&ed outside an

ar+hway 'eadin to a sidestreet and s"e said 5e can5t dri,e cars in "ere.5...&s

e a'ked under t"e arc" s"e said in t"e same co'our'ess tone6 5<ou take #our

"at o%% "ere.5 &nd t"en I sa the o&en street. It as filled with a vast +rowd*

all fa+ing me. and all on their nees on the ground .....I %aced round and sain t"e centre o% t"e $e'e,ated- arc" reat indos standin open unsealing a

+ham)er %u'' o% o'd and co'ours6 t"ere as a picture be"ind6 but &arts of the

whole &i+ture were moving...6 and t"en I rea'ised t"at %rom t"ose s"i%tinroups there shone and sounded the an+ient magnifi+en+e of the ass .

(9.:. "esterton The Autobiography of G.K. Chesterton (1*3?) p. 32*@m#

emp"asis added.)

1



AAA

C"e imp'ications o% t"is s'ips"od s'oan $i.e. unconditiona' surrender made pub'ic at t"e asab'anca on%erence in anuar# o% 1*43- ere e,en more %ata'

to t"e %uture o% t"e estern or'd t"an oodro i'son5s $nationa'- 5se'%

determination5 $in or'd ar I-....Eirst'# "at unconditiona' surrender imp'iedas t"at ar as no longer to be considered as an instrument o% creati,e

po'ic#@t"e estab'is"ment o% a pro%itab'e and stab'e peace@but t"at it as to be an instrument o% pure destruction. From "asa)lan+a a vulture was

unleashed to )atten on the entrails of %uro&e. (.E.. Eu''er A Military

History of the Western World Fo'ume III 1*G+ p. G08@m# emp"asis added.)

AAA

"i'e recent'# readin some o% 9.:. "esterton5s ritten re%'ections in 1*2+ 1 s"ort'# a%ter "is

return %rom "is in,ited &pri'a# ,isit to Po'and and t"en a'so some o% "is more abidin insi"ts

about t"e p'i"t and c"aracter o% Po'and a'most a decade 'ater in "is post"umous'# pub'is"ed

autobiorap"# in 1*3? I t"ou"t to brin to t"e %urt"er appreciation o% a modern audience b# a# o%

soberin counterpoint "at aor 9enera' .E.. Eu''er a'so "as ritten about t"e decisi,e att'e o%

arsa 1*20@and t"en a'so about some o% t"e %ruits o% t"e 1*44 ;ormand# In,asion and t"e

,ene%u' 1*4G conc'usion o% or'd ar II "ic" %urt"er imp'emented "at "ad been pub'ic'# stated in

anuar# o% 1*43 at t"e time o% t"e decisi,e att'e o% Sta'inrad ("ic" conc'uded on 2 Eebruar# 1*43)=

name'# t"e %ate%u' Dec'aration o% nconditiona' Surrender at asab'anca in ;ort" &%rica (b# .

"urc"i'' and E.D. Roose,e't).

&s e approac" t"e #ear o% 2014 and t"e "undredt" anni,ersar# o% t"e inception o% or'd ar

I e ma# a'so 'earn some t"ins about t"e meanin o% t"e 1*20 att'e o% arsa and about "o

t"ins ere to be a /uarter o% a centur# 'ater "en t"e same o's"e,iks "o ere ear'ier de%eated b#

t"e Po'es no occupied muc" o% Bastern and entra' Burope and not on'# Po'and "o "ad aain been

betra#ed b# "er a''ies and t"is time a'so mi'itari'# o,er"e'med and de%eated b# "er open enem#.

1 9.:. "esterton The Illustrated London News !"#$%!"#& (Fo'ume JJJIF o% G.K. Chesterton' Colle(ted Wor)s) (San

Erancisco= Inatius Press 1**1)@see t"e artic'es= & rucia' Hour %or Po'and (une 2G 1*2+)6 C"e Po'is" Idea'

(u'# 2 1*2+)6 and C"e #stica' ities o% Po'and (u'# * 1*2+) paes 32*333 33333+ 33+341 respecti,e'#. C"e

Po'is" Idea' an especia''# bri''iant and enerous"earted piece as 'ater repub'is"ed under anot"er tit'e Co ords

%rom Po'and and put into 9.:. "esterton5s ant"o'o# Generally *pea)ing (;e <ork= Dodd ead > ompan# 1*2* @%irst pub'is"ed in Kondon in 1*28) pp. 4*GG.

2



In order to capture our attention and e,en per"aps to stun us "o'esome'# at t"e outset@and

de'iberate'# so be%ore e s"a'' be considerin t"e momentous e,ents and imp'ications o% 1*20@'et us

consider no "at 9enera' Eu''er trenc"ant'# sa#s about t"e true %ruits o% t"e 1*44 att'e o%

;ormand#. it" "is e''knon 'ucidit# and mora' %orce "e i'' prepare us it" some %undamenta'

%acts and t"en conc'ude "is c"apter it" one especia''# acute and memorab'e pararap". C"at is to sa#

"is on e''considered summar# ,ie as o% 1*G+ is compact'# stated in on'# one pararap" comin

%rom one o% "is masterpieces A Military History of the Western World Fo'ume III.2 Eirst "is

preparator# %acts=

C"e doom "ic" since t"e $une 1*44- a''ied 'andins in ;ormand# "ad

t"reatened Hit'er 'ike t"e open as o% some monster c'osed it" a snap. !n

&pri' 2* $1*4G- 9enera' Heinric" ,on Fietin"o%% in command o% t"e 9erman%orces in Ita'# it" near'# one mi''ion men surrendered unconditiona''# to

$ritis"- Eie'dars"a' &'eLander. &t 3=30 P.. on t"e %o''oin da# Hit'er

s"ot "imse'% and on ay 2* the 3ussians esta)lished themselves in Berlin.Co da#s 'ater &dmira' Eriedebur and ot"er representati,es o% t"e 9erman

Hi" ommand at $ritis" Eie'dars"a'- ontomer#5s tactica' "ead/uarters

on $in- t"e KMneburer Heide $in ;ort"ern 9erman#- "ere in 1*3G Hit'er "ad"e'd "is %irst manoeu,res sined an armistice pro,idin %or t"e surrender o% t"e

9erman %orces in nort"est 9erman# Denmark and Ho''and. C"ree da#s 'ater

$+ a#- t"e instrument o% t"e e"rmac"t5s unconditiona' surrender as sined

b# od' and Eriedebur at Bisen"oer5s "ead/uarters in R"eims6 at midni"ta# 8* $1*4G- hostilities +eased si+5* and on ay 9 the 3ussians mar+hed

into /rague. (G8+G8*)

&%ter presentin t"ese %undamenta' %acts a'on it" some mature'# discip'ined iron# 9enera'

Eu''er i'' no come out e,en more %ort"ri"t'# it" some o% t"e imp'ications %or Burope o% t"at

purported cessation o% "osti'ities=

Eor t"e nited States and 9reat ritain the fruits of the )attle of Normandy

were a&&les of 6odom* whi+h turned to ashes as soon as they were &lu+ed .

Hit'er and "is 'eions ere destro#ed and in their stead stood 6talin and his

7siati+ hordes. ecause Fictor#@,ictor# at a'' costs $inston "urc"i''5srepeated ords especia''# a%ter 22 une 1*41- "ad been t"e estern a''ies5 aim

and because o% t"eir insistence t"at 5it as to be t"e de%eat ruin and s'au"ter

2 .E.. Eu''er A Military History of the Western World Fo'ume III o% t"ree ,o'umes (;e <ork= Da apo Press

Paperback 1**2@an unabrided ,ersion o% t"e oriina' 1*G+ edition b# Ruters ni,ersit# Press) p. G8*. Eu''er

dedicated "is t"ree ,o'umes to Erancis ;ei'son t"e aut"or on How +iplo,ats Ma)e War (1*1G). !n paes G8+G8* "e

prepares us %or "is %ina' summar# pararap" a'on it" presentin us on pae G88 it" an "istorica' map o% Burope

comparin t"e Bastern Erontier o% "ar'emane5s Bmpire it" t"e ne 1*4G estern Erontier o% t"e Russian Bmpire.

Hence%ort" a'' emp"asis in t"e cited teLts %rom 9enera' Eu''er5s book i'' "a,e been added b# t"e current riter un'essot"erise indicated. C"e pae re%erences to t"e cited teLts i'' be p'aced in parent"eses in t"e main bod# o% t"is essa#.

3



o% Hit'er to the e8+lusion of all other &ur&oses* loyalties and aims5 $."urc"i''5s on ords o%trepeated and maniaca''# so- 6talin* the su&reme

realist* whose military5 strategy and grand strategy5 had throughout e&t

in ste& with his &oli+y "ad been a)le to im&ose his messiani+ +ult upon

Bstonia Kat,ia Kit"uania part o% Ein'and Po'and eastern and centra'9erman# a t"ird o% &ustria 7ec"os'o,akia <uos'a,ia Hunar# Rumania

and u'aria. Fienna Praue and er'in the verte)rae of %uro&e ere "is

eLcept %or &t"ens so as e,er# capita' cit# in eastern Burope. ,he western

frontier of 3ussia "ad been ad,anced %rom t"e Pripet ars"es to t"e

C"urinera'd a distance o% +G0 mi'es and as in the days of "harlemagne*

the 6lavs stood on the %l)e and the Bhmerwald. 7 thousand years of

%uro&ean history had )een rolled )a+ . 6u+h were the fruits of the )attle

of Normandy* fru+tified )y ine&t strategy and a &oli+y of &ure destru+tion .

(G8*)

9enera' Eu''er 'ater %ormu'ated on t"e ,er# 'ast pae o% "is 'ast ,o'ume in 1*G+ (Fo'ume III)

t"e %o''oin c"a''ene in t"e %orm o% interroation=

,he su&reme uestion set )y the 6e+ond World War is= "ic" $banner- i''

be "au'ed don $t"e Stars and Stripes or t"e Hammer and Sick'e@ i.e.no t"at as o% 1*G+ t"e nion ack t"e banner o% t"e -a /ritanni(a "as

no been %ur'ed (?3?)-N Is t"e %uture to see a -a A,eri(ana or a -a

Tartari(aN (?3?)

In "is brie% and cautious anser to "is on /uestion 9enera' Eu''er makes a rep'# and t"en

adds a conc'udin /uestion "ic" reminds us o% to o% t"is ritis" enera'5s on &merican

contemporaries "ittaker "ambers and ames urn"am=

e "a7ard to suest t"at t"e anser i'' be %ound not in t"e contendin

military strent"s o% t"e nited States and t"e So,iet nion but in t"eirantagonisti+ po'itica' socia' economic and +ultural s#stems. "ic" o% t"eto is the more fitted to so',e t"e crucia' prob'em set to mankind b# t"e

Industria' Re,o'ution@ the status of man "is o,ernment and way of life in a

%u''# mec"ani7ed $and no t"e e'ectronic or e,en a more %u''# te+hnetroni+(O. r7e7inski)- or'dN

ecause o% t"e decisi,e indeed turninpoint batt'e o% Sta'inrad ('ate 1*422 Eebruar# 1*43)

9enera' Eu''er i'' a'so %ittin'# "e'p our understandin o% t"e conse/uent mora' p'i"t o% t"e 9erman

mi'itar# (and ci,i'ian) resistance to Hit'er@especia''# a%ter t"e "ars" aim o% unconditiona' surrender

as pub'ic'# announced at t"e anuar# 1*43 asab'anca on%erence and t"e 9erman resistance soon

'earned o% it and "ad to dea' it" t"is ne %act i,en t"eir 'i,in memories o% t"e Creat# o% Fersai''es

4



(toet"er it" t"e Creat# o% Crianon) "ic" as a'on it" t"e one#ear postar b'ockade and

unmistakab'# merci'ess and ,ene%u' art"ainian Peace=

Sta'inrad as a se+ond /oltava $"ere Peter t"e 9reat o% Russia surprised

and de%eated t"e poer%u' Sedes- in "ic" Hit'er as as muc" o% t"e

arc"itect o% "is on ruin as as "ar'es JII $t"e Sedis" :in- in 1+0*. Intot"e minds o% a "undred mi''ion usco,ites flashed the myth of 6oviet

invin+i)ility* and it forged them into the ,urs of the North . I% t"e# cou'do,ercome t"e 'eions o% Hit'er "at "ad t"e# to %ear %rom t"e nations "e "ad

tramp'ed in t"e dustN C"e 9erman ,ictories "ad t"ron Burope into c"aos and

so "ad b'a7ed a trai' %or t"e C"ird Rome $ i.e. osco-. ,his de+isive vi+tory

$at Sta'inrad- "ic" came on t"e "ee's o% B' &'amein and at t"e moment"en in $strateic- Cunisia t"e Eascist cause "ad reac"ed its nadir ins&ired

&ro&agandainto8i+ated &eo&les of the west. Sta'inrad eLa'ted Sta'in into

t"e c"ampion o% a'' %or "ic" t"e# $t"e est- so ardent'# #earned. Craica''#t"e# ere to be disi''usioned. (G38)

;o 9enera' Eu''er i'' 'ead us to a consideration o% "# t"e ar as not ended soon a%ter 2

Eebruar# 1*43 but as to o on and so destructi,e'# %or more t"at to more #ears=

In spite o% t"e ,astness o% t"e 9erman de%eat Sta'inrad as on'# t"e sina' o%

Hit'er5s ruin@it as not its cause. C"is as described in "apter 11 $C"e

att'es %or osco- as because in "is b'ind arroance he had failed to

differentiate beteen potentia' %riends amon t"e subuated peop'es o% t"e

.S.S.R. and "is acti,e enemies. &'so 9reat ritain and t"e nited States

+ommitted the same )lunder when they did not distinguish beteen t"e

;a7i and anti;a7i %actions in 9erman# and did not esta)lish a se+ond front

$pre%erab'# an inner %ront- t"e# ere seekin within instead of outside t"e

%rontiers o% t"e C"ird Reic". :ad they done so "i'e sti'' supportin $sic-

Russia t"e 9erman d0b1(le at Sta'inrad ou'd "a,e o&ened to t"em the road

whi+h almost +ertainly would have led to the end of the war in the s&ring

or summer of 194;. (G38)

;o "at about t"e 9erman mi'itar# resistance to Hit'er at t"e beinnin o% 1*43 especia''#

%rom some o% t"e senior o%%icersN 9enera' Eu''er in "is combined researc" and mora' ana'#sis i''

s"ed %urt"er 'i"t upon t"is important matter I be'ie,e=

ecause o% t"e point'ess sacri%ice o% t"e $9erman- SiLt" &rm# $at Sta'inrad-ne,er at an# time durin t"e ar as re,o't aainst Hit'er nearer to success

t"an in anuar# 1*43. 9enera's eck and Oeit7'er and most o% t"e %ie'd

mars"a's ere in,o',ed )ut without some assuran+e of British and

7meri+an su&&ort t"e# "ad not"in to o%%er t"e 'are midd'e roup o% o%%icers

"o a,ered. &%ter t"e ar one o% t"e conspirators said to r. Erancis Russe''=

G



!ur conspirac# as a reat traed#. We might have ended the war a year

and a half earlier if your government had given us some

en+ouragement....e "ad our intermediaries in Seden6 e anted to kno

"at the 7nglo7meri+an +onditions ou'd be what terms they would give

a ne $9erman- o,ernment if e succeeded in doin aa# it" Hit'er. C"e#took our memorandum it as i,en to Bden $t"e ritis" minister and Eorein

Secretar# &nt"on# Bden-@but there was never a re&ly. (G38G3*)

ore speci%ica''# no e s"ou'd %urt"er consider "o t"e asab'anca on%erence a%%ected

t"e 9erman Resistance "ic" e,en durin t"eir on nation5s ar anted %or t"e reater common

ood to rep'ace &do'% Hit'er=

!n anuar# 22 $1*43- the two main re)el fa+tions @t"ose "o anted

%orcib'# to remove Hit'er "ic" cou'd on'# mean assassination and t"ose "o

anted to su)<e+t "im to t"e 9enera' Sta%%@ met in t"e "ouse o% ount Peter

,on artenbur in er'inKic"ter%e'de to suare their differen+es. C"en on

t"e %o''oin da# $23 anuar#- be%ore t"e# "ad arri,ed at a decisionRoose,e't5s and "urc"i''5s proc'amation o% unconditiona' surrender came %rom

asab'anca6 a %ormu'a "ic" 9r'it7 dec'ares gave the death )low to any

ho&e t"at ma# "a,e been entertained eit"er b# t"e 5s"ado o,ernment5 or b#

oppositiona' e'ements in t"e 9enera' Sta%% t"at t"eir enemies ou'd neotiate

it" a 5respectab'e5 o,ernment. (G3*)

Ha,in ust /uoted t"e 1*G3 book entit'ed The Ger,an General *taff "e adds anot"er

insi"t%u' /uote %rom t"e book The *truggle for 2urope b# "ester i'mot "o rote=

"en t"e &''ies proc'aimed t"eir demand %or nconditiona' Surrender e,en$9erman- commanders 'ike ,on :'ue and $e,en- ,on $sic- anstein "o

%oresa "ere Hit'er5s po'ic# as 'eadin $and "o as "imse'% as an o%%icer

especia''# be'o,ed b# a'' "is men- refused to a+t against him. Since it seemed

t"at t"e &''ies ere determined to destro# t"e 9erman mi'itar# caste.... (G3*)

"at ra,e conse/uences came out o% t"is true traed# immediate'# and radua''# and

cumu'ati,e'#Q Ho man# 'i,es cou'd "a,e been spared and "o man# countries cou'd "a,e been

spared o% t"e "ea,# #oke o% ommunist oppression i% 9erman# ou'd "a,e (and cou'd "a,e) made a

ust peace it" t"e est t"en@per"aps it" t"e mora''# %orce%u' (as distinct %rom in,ertebrate)

inter,ention o% t"e Papac#.

?



&ccordin to B''iot Roose,e't (in "is on 1*4? book As He *aw It ) t"e .S. President5s son

"o as present it" "is %at"er at a sma'' pri,ate meetin in asab'anca on 23 anuar# 1*43 it"

"urc"i'' and Harr# Hopkins "is %at"er "ad said about t"eir p"rase unconditiona' surrender as

%o''os= =f +ourse it>s <ust the thing for the 3ussians! ,hey +ouldn>t want anything )etter!

?n+onditional surrender@ ?n+le oe might have made it u& himself . (G0?G0+)

In response to t"is 'ike'# re'iab'e report 9enera' Eu''er5s researc" s"os ot"erise=

&s to nc'e oe though he never had any other intention t"an t"e

unconditiona' surrender o% 9erman# he was not su+h a sim&leton to inform

his enemy of it. & true discip'e o% Kenin on Eebruar# 23 1*43 "e pub'ic'#said= It ou'd be ridicu'ous to identi%# Hit'er5s c'i/ue it" t"e 9erman peop'e

and t"e 9erman state. &nd t"at it was a stu&id lie and senseless slander to

proc'aim as t"e %orein press did t"at t"e aim o% t"e Red &rm# as to

eLterminate t"e 9erman peop'e and destro# t"e 9erman state. (G0+)

Co add to t"e mora' %orce%u'ness o% "is on commentar# 9enera' Eu''er s"os "o 9oebbe's

made some o% "is on rea'istic comments 'ike Sta'in about t"e imp'ications o% t"at anuar# 1*43

Proc'amation o% nconditiona' Surrender and ear'ier ana'oous ps#c"o'oica' t"emes or s'oans=

9oebbe's@a pastmaster in propaanda@must "a,e been o,ero#ed. !n

arc" 2+ 1*42 "e "ad entered in "is diar#= I% I ere on t"e enem# side Is"ou'd %rom t"e ,er# %irst da# "a,e adopted t"e s'oan o% %i"tin aainst

;a7ism )ut not aainst t"e 9erman peop'e. C"at is how Neville5

"ham)erlain )egan on t"e %irst da#s o% t"e ar but t"ank 9od t"e Bn'is"didn5t pursue t"is 'ine. &nd on &pri' 12 1*43 $9oebbe's rote-= ut a%ter

a'' t"e Bn'is" are maing the same mistae* no dou)t at Winston5

"hur+hill>s instigation. C"e# re%rain %rom sa#in an#t"in tangi)le about

t"eir war aims. I can on'# t"ank 9od6 %or i% t"e# ere to put up a peace proramme $t"e peace aims- on t"e 'ine o% $oodro- i'son5s Eourteen

Points t"e# ou'd undoubted'# create reat di%%icu'ties %or us. (G0+)

;onet"e'ess 9enera' Eu''er 'ea,es t"e 'ast comment on t"e nature and e%%ects o% asab'anca5s

Dec'aration to a senior and e''p'aced Bn'is" o%%icia' Kord Hanke# %irst sa#in about "im and "is

'on eLperience t"at= Since 1*0? Kord Hanke# as successi,e'# 'erk o% t"e Pri,# ounci' Secretar#

o% t"e abinet and ommittee o% Imperia' De%ense and member o% t"e ar abinet. (G0*) Indeed

sa#s Eu''er and %ittin'# no /uotin Kord Hanke# at 'ent"=

+



=f all the <udgments "ic" "a,e been passed on this monstrous and

momentous slogan $unconditiona' surrender- t"e most poer%u' is t"e one

made b# a statesman the )est ualified to mae it. In "is book -oliti(s Trials

and 2rrors $pub'is"ed in 1*G0- Kord Hanke# rites= It embittered t"e ar

$and its a%termat" o% course- rendered ine,itab'e a %i"t to t"e %inis" banedt"e door on an# possibi'it# o% eit"er side o%%erin terms or openin up

neotiations a,e t"e 9ermans and apanese t"e courae o% despair

strent"ened Hit'er5s position as 9erman#5s 5on'# "ope5 aided 9oebbe's5 propaanda and made ine,itab'e t"e ;ormand# 'andin and t"e subse/uent

terrib'# eL"austin and destructi,e ad,ance t"rou" ;ort" Erance e'ium

KuLembur Ho''and and 9erman#. ,he lengthening of the war ena)led

6talin to o++u&y the whole of eastern %uro&e to rin don t"e iron curtain

and so to rea'i7e at one soop a 'are insta''ment o% his avowed aims aainst

soca''ed +a&italism $and %urt"er to manipu'ate and pro%it %rom t"e ar o% ri,a'capita'ismsQ- in "ic" "e in+ludes so+ial demo+ra+y. # disposin o% a'' t"e

more competent administrators in 9erman# and apan t"is po'ic# made treat#

makin impossib'e a%ter t"e ar and retarded reco,er# and reconstruction not

on'# in 9erman# and apan but e,er#"ere e'se. It ma# a'so pro,e to "a,e poisoned our %uture re'ations it" eLenem# countries $in suc" an em)ittered

aftermath o% t"e ar-. ;ot on'# t"e enem# countries but near'# a'' countries

ere b'ed "ite b# t"is po'ic# $o% unconditiona' surrender- "ic" "as 'e%t usa'' eLcept t"e nited States o% &merica impo,eris"ed and in dire straits.

n%ortunate'# a'so these &oli+ies* so +ontrary to the s&irit of the 6ermon on

the ount did not"in to strent"en the moral &osition of the 7llies $"ic"rerettab'# it" t"e permission o% Pope Pius JII inc'uded t"e .S.S.R.-. (G0*)

In "is 'ater brie% summar# o% t"e momentous #ear o% 1*43 9enera' Eu''er 'est e missed "is

point aain trenc"ant'# sa#s=

C"e #ear 1*43 as one o% decisi,e po'itica' c"anes t"at s"aped t"e outcome o%

t"e ar and radica''# in%'uenced t"e course o% "istor#. It opened it" t"e

proc'amation o% unconditiona' surrender at asab'anca and b# its em&hasis on

a ar o% anni"i'ation )ereft t"e western a''ies5 cause of a sane aim a decision"ic" Sta'in as not s'o to capita'i7e. Sta'in sou"t $%or eLamp'e- to eLp'oit

t"e est5s ent"usiasm o,er t"e So,iet ,ictor# at Sta'inrad and resorted to

Kenin5s maLim= one step back to ain to steps %orard. !n a# 22 $1*43-"e announ+ed t"e disso'ution o% t"e omintern $t"e ommunist C"ird

Internationa' "ic" Kenin "ad %ounded in arc" 1*1*- and so deluded the

British and 7meri+an &eo&les and governments into a )elief t"at t"e:rem'in "ad abandoned %or e,er its po'ic# o% inter%erence in t"e interna' a%%airs

o% ot"er countries....(G43)

I% e no re%'ecti,e'# return a /uarter o% a centur# to "at t"e Po'es "ad to %ace in 1*20

aainst t"e o's"e,iks o% t"e time e ma# come to appreciate "at Burope as spared %rom and "at

t"e Po'is" ,ictor# o,er t"e o's"e,iks b'ocked %or a'most tent# #ears= unti' t"e So,iet nion in,aded

8



Po'and on 1+ September 1*3* 'ess t"an t"ree eek a%ter t"e 9erman attack. In one a# t"e Po'is"

,ictor# at t"e att'e o% arsa 1*20 as a pre,enti,e ar. Eor it pre,ented t"e o's"e,ik arm# under

ikai' Cuk"ac"e,ski %rom mo,in on to 9erman#. Some sc"o'ars are no con,inced t"at t"e 9erman

attack into t"e So,iet nion "ic" bean some tent# #ears 'ater on 22 une 1*41 as a'so a

pre,enti,e attack "ic" a'so preempted "at t"e So,iet 'eions in o%%ensi,e %ormations ere about

to 'aunc" more broad'# aainst a arear# and eL"austed Burope intendin to reac" e,en %urt"er t"an

"ere t"e# %ina''# did in 1*4G. ut because t"is obecti,e matter dea's it" 9erman# it is sti''

ideo'oica''# and o%ten unust'# acrimonious and eLp'osi,e. Sometimes t"e topic seems to be so tabu

t"at #ou cannot e,en sa# t"at t"e topic is tabuQ So muc" %or discip'ine and obecti,e "istorica' researc"

"ic" seeks to rasp t"e trut" o% t"e past in proper proportion and not to read "istor# backards as it

ere.

;o to return to Po'and in 1*20 'ess t"an to #ears a%ter t"e &rmistice o% ;o,ember 1*18

and its on eL"austin and embittered a%termat" it" t"e disso'ution o% se,era' 'onstandin empires.

In 1*?1 in one o% "is 'ast books@a book "ic" man# t"ink is "is best@aor9enera' .E..

Eu''er reca''s to us t"e settin on t"e eastern %rontier o% Po'and in 1*206 and "is mature ords in 1*?1

are ort" our deep consideration be%ore e return to "is 'oner and ear'ier 1*G?1*G+ Military History

of the Western World . In 9enera' Eu''er5s 'ater book The Condu(t of War !3&"%!"$!' A *tudy of the

I,pa(t of the 4ren(h Industrial and 5ussian 5e6olutions on War and Its Condu(t 3 "e sa#s=

C"e ci,i' ar $in Russia- reac"ed its c'imaL in t"e autumn o% 1*1* and t"e

inter o% 1*206 one b# one t"e "ite Russian enera's ere de%eated in part b# o's"e,ik propaanda in part b# t"e Red &rm# but in t"e main because

t"eir aim $i.e. t"e aim o% t"e "ite Russian enera's and admira's- as to

restore t"e o'd reime and t"is 'ost to t"em t"e support o% t"e peasants "o%eared t"at t"eir recent'# ained 'ands ou'd be restored to t"eir %ormer

oners. &s t"e ci,i' ar petered out t"e $mu'tinationa' %orein-

inter,entionist %orces $a tota' o% near'# 300000 men b# t"e end o% 1*18- ereit"dran but Russia5s troub'es ere not ended. !n 2Gt" &pri' 1*20 t"e Po'es

under ars"a' osep" Pi'sudski $18?+1*3G- ad,anced on :ie, $in t"e

kraine-6 ere driven )a+ to Warsaw where )etween 1Ath and 2th 7ugust

19205* the young and fier+e5 Bolshevi general iail ,uha+hevsi

1C9219;D5 was sur&rised and5 routed and +entral %uro&e saved from a

6oviet invasion. (1*G1*?)

3 .E.. Eu''er The Condu(t of War !3&"%!"$! (Kondon= B#re > Spottisoode 1*?1)@it as soon reprinted in 1*?2 and

a'so o%ten t"erea%ter inc'udin in t"e nited States b# Da apo Press. C"is book is tru'# a c'assic and one ma# notencourae its c'ose readin and sa,orin o%ten enou" I be'ie,e.

*



9enera' Eu''er a%ter %irst re%errin to Cuk"ac"e,ski5s on estimate o% t"is decisi,e batt'e and

"is admitted de%eat oes on to summari7e "at Po'and b# its uneLpected mi'itar# ,ictor# speci%ica''#

did and protected6 and "e a'so "onors t"e ritis" ambassador Kord D5&bernon and "is on 1*31 book=

Kord $Bdar Fincent- D5&bernon $18G+1*41- ritis" ambassador to 9erman#

beteen 1*201*2? entit'ed "is "istor# o% t"e campain The 2ighteenth +e(isi6e /attle in the World $1*31- "ic" in no way e8aggerates its

im&ortan+e %or "ad Po'and succumbed $in t"e 'oner Po'is"o's"e,ik ar-t"ere as not"in to pre,ent Cuk"ac"e,ski5s horde %rom penetratin into

9erman#. Kenin5s comment s"os t"at this as "is u'timate aim "e sa#s= #

attackin Po'and e are attackin t"e &''ies6 b# destro#in t"e Po'is" &rm#e are destro#in t"e Fersai''es Peace upon "ic" rests t"e "o'e s#stem o%

present internationa' re'ations. Had Po'and become so,ieti7ed...t"e Fersai''es

Peace $a hundred times more humiliating and ra&a+ious than our Brest

/ea+e $i.e. t"e restKito,sk Creat# o% ; ar+h 191C it" t"e ne o's"e,ik

o,ernment and 9erman#-- ou'd "a,e been terminated and t"e s#stem bui't

on t"e ,ictor# o,er 9erman# ou'd "a,e been destro#ed 'ikeise. (1*?)

&%ter t"ese ords b# D5&bernon and b# Kenin "o a'a#s considered 9erman# to be the

strategi+al +entre of gravity of %uro&e (33G)4 9enera' Eu''er speaks in summar# o% t"e a%termat" o%

t"e att'e o% arsa 1*20=

!n 12 !ctober 1*20 $a%ter t"e desperate e,en panicked retreat o% t"e

o's"e,iks it" t"eir main Kines o% ommunication "a,in been surprisin'#

cut b# Pi'sudski and "is troops- an armisti+e as areed beteen Po'and and

Russia and on 18t" arc" $1*21- t"e %o''oin #ear &ea+e as sined at Ria$in Kat,ia- and the ho&ed for &roletarian world revolution was &ut into

+old storage. (1*?)

In "is Military History of the Western World (Fo'ume III) 9enera' Eu''er "ad a'so said=

Erom t"e ear'iest da#s o% t"e re,o'ution t"ere as one assumption upon "ic"

a'' o% t"e o's"e,ik 'eaders ere areed6 the revolution +ould not survive

unless it )e+ame worldwide. It c"a''ened t"e eListin order o% societ#socia''# po'itica''# and economica''#. It not on'# o%%ered t"e or'd a ne a#

o% 'i%e but its ad"erents "e'd t"at it cou'd not be estab'is"ed permanent'# until

t"e o'd a# as destro#ed. &s ear'# as &pri' 14 1*1+ Kenin "ad proc'aimed

4 In "is Fo'ume III o% "is Military History of the Western World 9enera' Eu''er eLpresses t"is important strateic matter

more %u''#= Germany was the hu) o% t"e or'd re,o'ution %or Kenin and Crotsk# because she was the strategi+al

+entre of gravity of %uro&e. !nce s"e as on t"e rest o% Burope ou'd become untenab'e $or at 'east Ein'andi7ed-

and cou'd be con/uered. &nd "en %uro&e as redu+ed to a &osition of a 6oviet satra&y t"e editerranean ou'd

a'so become untenab'e and t"e idd'e Bast cou'd be o's"e,i7ed and &%rica sub,erted. Eina''# "en t"e "o'e o% t"e

!'d or'd as so,ieti7ed the &sy+hologi+al +onuest o% t"e ;e or'd cou'd be undertaken and t"e So,iet Repub'ico% t"e or'd estab'is"ed. (33G33?)

10



t"at or'd Imperia'ism cannot 'i,e side b# side it" a ,ictorious So,ietRe,o'ution. (334) $Kenin "imse'% as to die 'ess t"an se,en #ears 'ater on 21

anuar# 1*24 t"ree #ears a%ter t"e conc'usion o% t"e Po'is"o's"e,ik ar.-

e ma# 'impse "o some o% t"e estern Buropean countries e%%ecti,e'# p'a#ed into Kenin5s

"ands a%ter t"e "ars" cessation o% or'd ar I and its &rmistice o% ;o,ember 1*18=

In order to mae this revolutionary5 su)versive war worldwide in arc"

1*1* $i.e. 'ess t"an a #ear be%ore t"e decisi,e 1*20 att'e o% arsa- Kenin

%ounded t"e C"ird Internationa' or "omintern. an instrument to unite all

+ommunist &arties outside 3ussia in the struggle for world revolution* and

its first tas was to esta)lish a +ommunist rEgime in Germany. !n t"e

insisten+e o% Poincar 'emenceau Eoc" $N- and :'ot7 in Erance and ot"ersin 9reat ritain Germany was still under )lo+ade $and star,in it" man#

innocent c"i'dren merci'ess'# d#in durin t"is crue' #ear- and out of

des&eration many Germans had turned to Bolshevism. 6o +om&letely did

the /aris &ea+emaers &lay into enin>s hands t"at in "is on ords "is p'an as Co unite t"e pro'etariat o% industria' 9erman# &ustria and

7ec"os'o,akia it" t"e pro'etariat o% Russia and t"ereb# +reate a mighty

ararian and industria' +om)ination %rom F'adi,ostok to t"e R"ine %rom t"eEinnis" 9u'% to t"e b'ue aters o% t"e Danube capab'e o% %eedin itse'% and

con%rontin t"e reactionar# capita'ism o% ritain it" a $o's"e,i7ed

So,ieti7ed- revolutionary giant "ic" it" one "and ou'd disturb t"etran/ui'it# o% t"e Bast $&siaN- and it" t"e ot"er )eat )a+ the &irate

+a&italism of 7nglo6a8on +ountries. If t"ere is an#t"in t"at cou'd compe'

the %nglish whale to dan+e it ou'd be the union of revolutionary 3ussia

with a revolutionary "entral %uro&e $"ence 9erman# as e'' as Po'and-.

(33433G)

e%ore 9enera' Eu''er i'' ,i,id'# introduce us to t"e Cartar'ike ikai' Cuk"ac"e,ski "e

ants to recapitu'ate Kenin5s strateic oa' and conse/uent re,o'utionar# met"ods o% conductin ar=

ecause or'd re,o'ution as enin>s strategi+al goal "is ta+ti+s a'so "ad to

be re,o'utionar#. ,heir aim was not to persuade t"e enem# to c"ane "is mind b# %orce o% arms )ut )y for+e of ideasin other words to rot him internally

and )ring him to destroy himself . e%ore t"e Creat# o% restKito,sk $3

arc" 1*18- "e "ad said et us give way in s&a+e* )ut gain time because

"e sa t"at once re,o'ution as kind'ed in t"e est it ou'd i,e back toRussia the s&a+e she had )artered and without a %i"t. (33G)

e aain in t"is 'i"t s"ou'd consider t"e resu'ts to be seen in Burope in 1*4G some tent#

#ears a%ter Kenin5s deat" and a%ter t"e Second or'd ar seemin'# ended in Burope. e ma# e''

contemp'ate t"e So,ieti7edCartari7ed "ordes as t"e# ere t"en strateica''# in p'ace in Burope "i'e

11



t"e nited States in some dire straits soon "ad to return %u''# to &sia and to t"e ar aainst t"e

tenacious and ,a'orous apanese.

9enera' Eu''er i'' no "e'p us consider "at t"e Po'es temporari'# sa,ed us %rom "at "e

ca''s t"e &siatic side o% o's"e,ism (33*) and "at one mi"t eLpect %rom a ne 9en"is :"an5s

mi'itari7ed Horde (?28) and its -a Tartari(a (?3?)=

C"e ci,i' ar in Russia t"re up a remarkab'e enera'@ikai' Cuk"ac"e,ski$18*21*3+-. &n ab'e so'dier his outloo on ci,i'i7ation so +losely refle+ted

the 7siati+ side of Bolshevism t"at to understand t"e %uture trend o% t"e

Russian Re,o'ution it is ort""i'e to eLamine it. orn in 18*2 o% a nob'e%ami'# "ic" traced its descent back to t"e ounts o% E'anders a't"ou" "is

mot"er as Ita'ian in +hara+ter he was ,artar. Erom "er "e in"erited "is

Katin 'ooks b'ack "air and the ui+ wit whi+h ena)led him to &ro)e the

3ussian within him and the ,artar within the 3ussian. In 1*14 "e as

a7etted a sub'ieutenant in t"e Imperia' 9uard and in t"e %o''oin #ear astaken prisoner b# t"e 9ermans $and incarcerated in Ino'stadt in Koer

a,aria-. (33*)

asin "is on assessment o% a c'ose 1*28 stud# b# Pierre Eer,ac/ue a %e''o prisoner it"

"im in 9erman# entit'ed Le (hef de l7ar,0e rouge Mi)ail Tu)a(he6s)i 9enera' Eu''er 'eads us into a

deeper depiction o% t"is Cartari7ed Russian=

# instinct "e as a romantic barbarian "o a)horred western +iviliHation.

He "ad the soul of Genghis #han* of =gdai and of Batu. &utocraticsuperstitious romantic and rut"'ess "e 'o,ed t"e open p'ains and t"e t"ud o% at"ousand "oo%s and he loathed and feared the unromanti+ orderliness of

+iviliHation. :e hated "hristianity and "hristian +ulture because t"e# "ad

ob'iterated paanism and barbarism and "ad depri,ed "is %e''o countr#men o%t"e ecstas# o% t"e od o% ar and t"e 'amour o% t"e carni,a' o% deat". &'so

"e 'oat"ed t"e es because t"e# "e'ped inocu'ate t"e Russian it" t"e pest o%

ci,i'i7ation and t"e mora'e o% capita'ism. He said= C"e e is a do son o%a do "o sos %'eas in e,er# 'and.....He said to Eer,ac/ue a %e''o

prisoner= & demon or a od animates our race. e s"a'' make ourse',es drunk

)e+ause we +annot yet mae the world drun! ,hat will +ome .....Do not

'au" rep'ied Cuk"ac"e,ski I "a,e to'd #ou t"at the 6lavs are in want of a

new religion! ,hey are )eing given ar8ism6 )ut as&e+ts of that theology

are too modern and too +iviliHed. It is possib'e to mitiate t"at disareeab'e

state b# returnin to our S'a, ods $Dasc"bo Stribo o'os and a'soPierum t"e od o% ar and 'i"tnin- "o ere depri,ed o% t"eir preroati,e

and strent"6 ne,ert"e'ess t"e# can soon reain t"em....Eor 'on I "a,e

"esitated to c"oose m# particu'ar od6 but a%ter re%'ection I "a,e accepted

12



Pierum $as o% 1*1G- because on+e arLism is t"rust upon Russia t"e mostde,astatin ars i'' be 'et 'oose....e s"a'' enter c"aos and e s"a'' not 'ea,e

it $c"aos- unti' ci,i'i7ation is reduced to tota' ruin. (33*340)

C"is depiction reminds one o% "a,in read &'eLander So'7"enits#n5s Lenin in 8uri(h9 t"ereb#

a'so ettin inside t"e mind o% a destructi,e re,o'utionar# as one once did too in t"e no,e's o%

Dostoie,ski.

9enera' Eu''er continues it" "is mani%o'd'# re,ea'in commentar# on Cuk"ac"e,ski t"is

strane ,o'canic man "ose sou' as in re,o't it" ci,i'i7ation (340) and "o as destined to cross

sords it" Pi'sudski "o as as ,io'ent'# antiRussian as "e as antiBuropean $especia''# anti

9erman-. (340) oncernin Cuk"ac"e,ski Eu''er sa#s=

In "is e#es destruction usti%ied e,er#t"in because it un'ocked t"e door "ic"

'ed to t"e road back to Se'uk $t"e 1113 t" centur# Curkis" D#nast# in entra'&sia- Cartar and Hun. Serious'# "e said it ou'd be ood %or "umanit#

ere a'' books burnt so t"at e cou'd bat"e in t"e %res" sprin o% inorance. I

e,en t"ink it is t"e so'e means o% pre,entin "umankind becomin steri'e."at "e #earned %or as a return to I,an t"e Cerrib'e $1G301G84-6 t"en

osco i'' become t"e centre o% t"e or'd o% barbarians. Had ;ic"o'as II

$18?81+ u'# 1*1+- but $more autocratica''#- %o''oed in t"e %ootsteps o% Peter

t"e 9reat and at"erine II "o doci'e t"e Russians ou'd "a,e been for they

love a des&ot. I% Kenin is a)le to disen+um)er Russia %rom t"e o'd scrap

iron o% preudices and dewesterniHe her I i'' %o''o "im. But he must raHe

all to the ground and de'iberate'# "ur' us back into barbarism. (340)

"at a ra,e inar# eapon Po'and and t"e est ou'd "a,e "ad to %ace in t"is manic

combination o% Kenin and Cuk"ac"e,ski. ut Cuk"ac"e,ski did not 'on sur,i,e Kenin5s deat"@

t"irteen #ears 'ater t"e barbarian enera' ou'd a'so die at %ort#%i,e #ears o% ae. Eor it is so t"at In

19;D 6talin shot him and in ood'# compan#6 %or it" boro,itc" Primoko, Putna and ot"ers he

returned to his god7nnihilation. (340)

In part as is %ittin Cuk"ac"e,ski "ad to cross sords it" anot"er man o% enius and

stron c"aracter osep" Pi'sudski "o it" "is surprise maneu,er aainst "im across t"e Fistu'a

Ri,er sa,ed Burope %rom o's"e,ism in 1*20. &bout Pi'sudski "imse'% ("o died in 1*3G to #ears

be%ore Cuk"ac"e,ski) &mbassador Kord D5&bernon "o "ad eLceptiona' kno'ede o% "im (340)

sa#s t"e %o''oin as /uoted b# Eu''er=

G &'eLander So'7"enits#n Lenin in 8uri(h (;e <ork= Earrar Straus and 9irouL 1*+?)

13



&n ardent patriot and a man of immense +ourage and for+e of +hara+ter . & pronounced sceptic about ort"odoL met"ods "et"er app'ied to mi'itar# a%%airs

or po'itics6 he loves danger "is pu'se on'# beatin at a norma' rate "en "e is

in imminent persona' peri'....;eLt to daner "e is said to 'o,e intriue@a

re,o'utionar# b# temperament and circumstances his ingrained &ro+livity is

to the se+ret and indire+t. It as t"ese c"aracteristics@courae

unort"odoL# and secrec#@coup'ed it" success "ic" made Pi'sudski a

'eendar# %iure. (340341)

9enera' Eu''er5s entire 32pae treatment (3313?3) o% t"e backround to and t"e batt'e o%

arsa s"ou'd be c'ose'# studied and reread@bot" "is "ronic'e * (C"e Russian Re,o'ution) and its

se/ue' "apter * (C"e att'e o% arsa 1*20). He t"en makes some conc'udin remarks=

B,entua''# on &uust 2G $1*20- t"e remnants o% t"e So,iet &rm# o% t"e est

reac"ed t"e 'ine 9rodno@ east of Brestitovs @'odaa where the

/olish5 &ursuit ended....In spite o% t"is reat ,ictor# $in t"e att'e o% arsa-

the +am&aign was not ended and to separate operations %o''oed one in t"esout" and t"e ot"er in t"e nort"....C"e second $to t"e nort"- as 'ed b#

Pi'sudski "o after a i.e!* another@5 masterful manoeuvre attackedCuk"ac"e,ski on 20 September destro#ed t"e So,iet C"ird &rm# in t"e batt'e

o% ;iemen....C"is ,ictor# as %o''oed b# t"e batt'e o% t"e S"ara (S7c7ara) in

"ic" t"e remnants o% t"e So,iet &rmies ere driven )a+ to ins $300mi'es distant %rom arsa and t"e p'ace o% Cuk"ac"e,ski5s on main

campain Head/uarters-. In t"ese to batt'es $a'one- Pi'sudski took G0000

prisoners and 1?0 uns. !n !ctober 10 $1*20- an armistice as areed and on

ar+h 1C* 1921* )y the ,reaty of 3iga $t"e capita' o% Kat,ia- the eastern

frontier of /oland was fi8ed as it stood until 19;9. (3?0)

C"at is to sa# a%ter a'' o% t"is %i"tin t"e eastern %rontier stood on'# %or s'i"t'# more t"an

ei"teen #ears unti' 1+ September 1*3* and t"e return So,iet in,asion "ic" a'so tareted arsa.

;onet"e'ess t"is Peace Creat# o% Ria en"anced Po'is" mora'e and con%idence and at 'east

pro,ided a temporar# stabi'it# o% boundaries6 and more broad'# in mi'itar# "istor# sa#s Eu''er=

C"is marked t"e end o% a remarkab'e campain fought )etween im&rovised

armies of limited siHe in a vast theatre of war . It as a +am&aign of

mo)ility and sur&rise* totally different from most of those fought duringthe World War 1914191C5. It as a contest beteen armies led mostly )y

young generals and in whi+h +avalry Nota Bene* es&e+ially the /olish

+avalry@5 &layed an im&ortant &art and %ie'd trenc"es no part at a'' and

a)ove all it was a war in whi+h men were more im&ortant than ,at0riel and generals more im&ortant than their staffs. (3?0)

14



&s e dra %ittin'# to our conc'usion e must care%u''# consider t"e "onest and re,e'ator#

itness o% to important persons a'on it" t"e ise commentar# o% 9enera' Eu''er "imse'% %rom

"om e sti'' "a,e so muc" to 'earn and "o no sa#s=

,he influen+e of this de+isive vi+tory $in t"e att'e o% arsa 1*20- as

%u''# appreciated b# Cuk"ac"e,ski who lost it and b# Kord D5&bernon whowat+hed it. et* strange to say* its im&ortan+e was little gras&ed )y western

%uro&e* and sin+e has remained little noti+ed. (3?03?1)

Eirst e consider t"e candid and "onest Cartari7ed arbarian 9enera' Cuk"ac"e,ski "o

soon a%ter "is de%eat rote as %o''os "en "e as not /uite t"irt# #ears o% ae=

In a'' Buropean countries apita'ism as staerin6 t"e orkers ere 'i%tint"eir "ead and rus"in to arms. C"ere is not t"e s'i"test doubt t"at had we

)een vi+torious on the -istula t"e re,o'ution ou'd "a,e set 'i"t to t"e

entire continent o% Burope....BLported re,o'ution is possib'e...and had it not)een for our strategi+al mistaes and our defeat on the field of )attle

per"aps t"e Po'is" ar ou'd "a,e been t"e 'ink "ic" ou'd "a,e united t"e

re,o'ution o% !ctober $1*1+- to t"e re,o'ution o% estern Burope.....C"erecannot be t"e s'i"test doubt t"at had we su++eeded in disruptin t"e Po'is"

&rm# o% boureois and 'ords t"e re,o'ution o% t"e Po'is" c'ass orkers ou'd

"a,e been a fait a((o,pli and the +onflagration would not have halted on

the /olish frontiers. Kike an o,er"e'min torrent it ou'd "a,e sept intoestern Burope. ,he 3ed 7rmy will never forget this $%ai'ed- e8&eriment in

e8&orted revolution and if ever t"e boureoisie o% Burope invites us to ne

stru'es t"e Red &rm# will succeed in destro#in it and $in- %omentin

re,o'ution in Burope. (3?1)

Kater and one #ear be%ore "e pub'is"ed "is on book ? on t"e att'e o% arsa in an artic'e

pub'is"ed in t"e Ga:eta -ols)a o% &uust 1+ 1*30 Kord D5&bernon set don "is udment as %o''os

(3?1)=

C"e "istor# o% contemporar# ci,i'i7ation knos no e,ent o% reater

importance t"an t"e att'e o% arsa 1*20 and none o% "ic" t"esini%icance is 'ess appreciated. C"e daner menacin Burope at t"at moment

as &arried and t"e "o'e episode forgotten. Had t"e batt'e been a o's"e,ik

,ictor# it ou'd "a,e been a turnin point in Buropean "istor# %or t"ere is nodoubt at a'' t"at t"e "o'e o% entra' Burope ou'd at t"at moment "a,e been

opened to t"e in%'uence o% ommunist propaanda and a So,iet in,asion

? Kord Bdar Fincent D5&bernon The 2ighteenth +e(isi6e /attle of the World' Warsaw !"#; (Kondon= Hodder and

Stou"ton 1*31) 1+8 paes. D5&bernon5s oriina' 1*31 teLt as 'ater reprinted in t"e nited States in 1*++ b# t"eH#perion Press o% estport onnecticut.

1G



"ic" it cou'd it" di%%icu't# "a,e resisted .C"e e,ents o% 1*20 a'so deser,eattention %or anot"er reason= ,ictor# as attained abo,e a'' t"anks to t"e

strateica' enius o% one man $osep" Pi'sudski- and t"anks to t"e carr#in

t"rou" o% a manoeuvre so dangerous as to necessitate not only genius* )ut

heroism....It s"ou'd be t"e task o% po'itica' riters to eLp'ain to Buropeanopinion t"at /oland saved %uro&e in 1920 and t"at it is necessar# to keep

Po'and poer%u' and in "armonious re'ations it" estern Buropean

ci,i'i7ation for /oland is the )arrier to the everlasting &eril of an 7siati+

invasion $to inc'ude the 7siati+ side of Bolshevism (33*)-.+ (3?1)

&ddin a brie% supportin comment to Kord D5&bernon5s acute udment 9enera' Eu''er adds=

Eurt"er b# shielding entra' Burope %rom the full )last of ar8ist

+ontagion t"e batt'e o% arsa set )a+ the Bolshevi +lo+ . It de&rived

Russia o% t"e p'under s"e bad'# needed to stem "er desperate economic crisis

and dammed the outward flow of dis+ontent and almost droned t"e

o's"e,ik eLperiment. In 1*20 'i%e in t"e .S.S.R. "ad reac"ed )edro+ $i.e.

proLimate destitution-....!n !ctober 1+ 1*21 Kenin open'# admitted "is%ai'ure....!n anuar# 21 1*24 Kenin died at 9ork# near osco and &ower

&assed to 6talin (osep" D7"uas",i'i 18+*1*G3) "o )e+ause of his

un)ridled )rutality "ad been made secretar#enera' o% t"e $ommunist-

Part# b# Kenin. "at remained o% arLism as grafted )y him to the

3ussian 7siati+ByHantine tradition tota'itarian State apita'ism as rapid'#de,e'oped $a'on it" t"e ,arious and specious ;.B.P.s@;e Bconomic

Po'icies- and e,er#one $a'most- reduced to a pro'etarian 'e,e'. C"e Po'itica'

ureau became di+tator* with the se+ret &oli+e as its instrument of rule and

t"e evergrowing bureaucrac# emered as the new middle +lass....&sCuk"ac"e,ski "ad %oreseen arLism $eLcept per"aps %or its %oundationa'

Historica' and Dia'ectica' ateria'ism indeed t"e Doma o% 5DI&&C5-as %ound to be a theology too modern and too +iviliHed %or t"e Russians anda return as made to t"eir o'd S'a, ods. C"e .S.S.R. reverted to t"e "istoric

$cu'tic 'are'# messianic- Russia o% the ,hird 3ome $purportin to rep'ace

but on a basis o% immanentistsecu'ar poer bot" sacred Rome and sacredonstantinop'e-.... (3?23?3)

C"ese compact insi"ts %u'' o% man# trut"s in ust proportion i'' "e'p us no to reca'' "at

e "a,e a'read# it" t"e "e'p o% 9enera' Eu''er come to see about t"e resu'ts o% or'd ar II in 1*4G

and t"e ad,ance o% bruta' part'# &siatic o's"e,ism into t"e "eart o% Burope= t"e %ruits o% t"e batt'e o%

;ormand# (G8*)@t"e app'es o% Sodom "ic" turned to as"es as soon as t"e# ere p'ucked. (G8*)

+ Eor a t"ou"t%u' and e''di%%erentiated consideration o% t"e &siatic (ono' et a'.) in%'uence and stamp on Russian

cu'ture and crue't# see ames H. i''inton5s The I(on and the Ae' An Interpreti6e History of 5ussian Culture (;e<ork= Random HouseFintae ooks 1*+0@%irst pub'is"ed in 1*??).

1?



9enera' Eu''er5s conc'udin insi"ts i'' 'ike'# a'so inc'ine a trut"seekin student o% "istor#

to read Kord D5&bernon5s 1*31 book The 2ighteenth +e(isi6e /attle of the World' Warsaw !"#;.

&'t"ou" 'ess t"an to #ears 'ater in anuar# o% 1*33 bot" Erank'in De'ano Roose,e't %irst %ate%u''#

became t"e .S. President and immediately re+ogniHed the 6oviet ?nion6 and &do'% Hit'er s'i"t'#

'ater %irst came to poer in 9erman# )y a&&ointment (not yet )y ele+tion$ it is doubt%u' t"at eit"er

man read Kord D5&bernon5s important and cautionar# book. ut I am not sure and it no seems t"at I

"a,e no a# o% knoin t"at %act nor its possib'e in%'uence on t"em i% t"e# actua''# read it or ere

in%ormed about it.

oreo,er somet"in t"at t"e Bn'is" strateicminded mi'itar# "istorian .H. Kidde'' Hart

@a %riend o% 9enera' Eu''er@'ater rote in 1*G4 (and aain in 1*?+) teases us and e,en i,es us a "int

o% t"e possib'e pro,ocation and ana'oous source %or D5&bernon5s on trenc"ant tit'e about t"e 18 t"

Decisi,e att'e o% t"e or'd. Eor in "is 1*G4 Pre%ace to "is c'assic book *trategy .H. Kidde'' Hart

rote=

# oriina' stud# o% t"e strate# o% t"e indirect approac" as pub'is"ed in

1*2*@under t"e tit'e The +e(isi6e /attles of History. C"e present book$mere'# entit'ed *trategy- embodies t"e resu'ts o% tent#%i,e #ears %urt"er

researc" and re%'ection toet"er it" an ana'#sis o% t"e 'essons o% or'd ar II

@in strate# and rand strate#.8

Hoe,er "at Kidde'' Hart does not sa# in t"is "istorica' and bib'iorap"ica' commentar# is

t"at neit"er in "is oriina' book nor in its eLpansions and re,isions does "e at a'' mention t"e att'e o%

arsa 1*20 muc" 'ess ca'' it a decisi,e batt'e o% "istor#. C"is %act s"ou'd make us %urt"er t"ank%u'

%or 9enera' Eu''er5s on supp'ementar# strateic re%'ections.

&not"er strateicminded mi'itar# "istorian admired b# Kidde'' Hart and Eu''er is C"eodore

Ropp "o rote t"e %o''oin in "is War in the Modern World (1*G* re,. 1*?2) about t"e mora' and

spiritua' ,acuum in Burope after or'd ar I especia''# in estern Burope. It comes ust be%ore "is

on "apter * entit'ed C"e Kon &rmistice (1*1*1*3*)=

8 .H. Kidde'' Hart *trategy (;e <ork= ;e &merican Kibrar#@& eridian ook 1**1)@t"e Second Re,ised Bdition

as pre,ious'# pub'is"ed in ;e <ork b# Praeer in 1*?+ itse'% a second re,ision o% t"e a'read# re,ised 1*2* book%irst pub'is"ed in 1*G4.

1+



& more t"ou"t%u' comment "ad been made t"irteen #ears be%ore $in +isen(hant,ent (Kondon 1*22) pp. 1*G1*+- b# the great <ournalist .B.

ontaue "o at fortyseven "ad d#ed "is re# "air to en'ist as a &rivate. He

sa these attitudes of mingled horror and disgust $%rom t"e protracted

trenc" ar%are and %uti'e combat o% 1*141*18- mi"t make it %ar moredi%%icu't to preser,e t"e peace $sic- "ic" "ad been won with su+h suffering.

"iviliHation itself $"e rote-...wears a strange new air of &re+ariousness.

B,en be%ore t"e ar a series o% me'anc"o'# pub'ic misad,entures "ad onesome a# to awae the disuieting notion that +iviliHation* the whole

ordered* fruitful <oint a+tion of a nation a continent or t"e "o'e or'd

was only a )luff . "en t"e or'd is at peace and %ares e'' t"e part# o% orderand decenc# ustice and merc# and se'%contro' is rea''# )luffing a mu+h

larger &arty of egoism and greed t"at ou'd )ully and gra) it $soca''ed

ci,i'i7ation- if it dared $'ike Cuk"ac"e,ski-....C"e bad men are not "e'd don b# %orce6 t"e# are on'# b'u%%ed b# t"e presence o% it $ci,i'i7ation-. ,hey have

got the ti& now....C"e p'ain man so %ar as I kno "im is neither a"ast nor

'ee%u' at t"is re,e'ation. Eor t"e most part he loos somewhat listlessly

on....7 sense of moral horror does not +ome easily when #ou "a,e supped%u'' o% "orrors on most o% t"e da#s o% t"ree or %our #ears....6ome new god* or

devil o% course ma# enter at an# time into this disfurnished soul. 9enius in

some 'eader mi"t either possess it it" an anarc"ic passion $as inCuk"ac"e,ski- to smas"... a'' t"e o'd institutions or %ire it it" a ne cra,in to

'i%t itse'% c'ear o% t"e rack $and ruin-....For either a enin or a 6t! Fran+is

there is a wide field to till as in the /ara)le of the 6ower5* +leared* )ut of

&retty stiff +lay.* (2+32+4)

e ma# no better imaine "at mi"t "a,e "appened "ad t"e o's"e,ik "ordes de%eated t"e

Po'es in 1*20 and mo,ed into t"is ,er# mora' and spiritua' ,acuum in Postor'd ar I entra' and

estern Burope.

"at mi"t "a,e "appened i% Sta'in5s "ordes in seemin o%%ensi,e %ormations "ad carried out

t"eir strateic p'an operationa''# in 1*41 instead o% a%ter Sta'inrad in Eebruar# o% 1*43 or in 1*4GN

e mi"t at 'east be more i''in no to read t"e ,arious books o% Fiktor Su,oro, (t"e pen name o%

F'adimir Re7un b. 1*4+) not on'# "is I(ebrea)er' Who *tarted the *e(ond World War< (1**0) and

The Chief Culprit' *talin7s Grand +esign to *tart World War II (2008) !;6 but a'so t"e 9erman sc"o'ar

oac"im Ho%%mann5s on conscientious book *talin7s War of 2ter,ination !"=!%!"=9' -lanning

5eali:ation and +o(u,entation (1*** in 9erman6 2001 in t"e %irst Bn'is" edition).11

* C"eodore Ropp War in the Modern World (;e Re,ised Bdition) (;e <ork= o''ier ooks@acmi''an Pub'is"in

ompan# 1*?2) 404 paes o% teLt@%irst pub'is"ed in 1*G* and t"en aain as a re,ised edition in 1*?2 b# Duke

ni,ersit# Press o% Dur"am ;ort" aro'ina. Pro%essor Ropp tau"t %or man# #ears at Duke ni,ersit# in t"e Histor#

Department and as a racious and eLce''ent teac"er.

10 See Fiktor Su,oro, The 5eal Culprit (&nnapo'is ar#'and= ;a,a' Institute Press 2008).11 C"e re,ised and supp'emented 9erman edition as pub'is"ed in 1*** in unic" 9erman#. C"e %irst Bn'is" edition

18



In an# case e "a,e seen in t"e documentation o% t"is essa# "at some o% t"e resu'ts ere in

entra' and Bastern Burope in 1*4G. &nd t"is o,era'' resu't as (and sti'' is) considered ,ictor#N It

certain'# did not 'ook t"at a# to t"e Po'es and t"e ot"ers "o ere e%%ecti,e'# "anded o,er to t"e

So,iet #oke man# countries o% "ic" ere o% at"o'ic "eritae and cu'ture at 'east in 'are part.

Eor man# #ears e "a,e ondered "at t"e at"o'ic "urc"5s popes "a,e t"ou"t and ritten

and done about t"is mani%o'd situation especia''# Pope Pius JII and t"e eLtent to "ic" t"e# 'ater a'so

re,ised t"eir ear'ier udments and strateic po'icies (at 'east pri,ate'# or secret'# i% not it" contrite

and correcti,e pub'ic action).

it" 9.:. "esterton5s keen percepti,eness and deep %ait" 'et us reca'' t"e statue o% t"e

'essed Firin "e sa in t"e countr#side o% Po'and it" t"e "ead and "ands s"ot o%% b# t"e

o's"e,ik mi'itar# and "er ,er# "ands "ad been 'i%ted in suc" a esture t"at t"e ,er# muti'ation $o%ar#5s statue- seemed to i,e more meanin to $"er- attitude o% intercession6 $t"e 'essed ot"er

"erse'%- asing mer+y for the mer+iless ra+e of men.

C"e spirit o% ad,enture and c"i,a'r# o% t"e Po'is" ca,a'r# "ic" "esterton sa and admired

ou'd "a,e e'' understood t"e merc# o% !ur Kad# and t"at %ait"%u' "eart o% t"eir mananimous and

compassionate Bn'is" ,isitor.12

"=J7

ardina' Ratti "o de'iberate'# and couraeous'# remained in arsa durin t"e decisi,e

batt'e o% 1*20 aainst t"e o's"e,iks as 'ess t"an to #ears 'ater e'ected as Pope takin t"e name

Pius JI. He certain'# kne about t"e nature and daners o% o's"e,ismommunism and toard

as pub'is"ed in &'abama b# C"eses > Dissertations Press P.!. oL ?4 aps"a &'abama 3G+42. C"e aut"or Dr.

oac"im Ho%%mann as born in 1*30 in :nisber Bast Prussia6 and "e is a pro%essiona' "istorian "a,in orked %or

t"e 9erman mi'itar# beteen 1*?01**G in its Researc" Department %or i'itar# Histor#.12 &nt"on# S. Eraser o% Scot'and recent'# sent to t"e riter an eLce''ent brie% but substantia' artic'e on t"e abidin spirit

and resource%u'ness o% t"e Po'is" ca,a'r# especia''# in September!ctober o% 1*3*. It as pub'is"ed oriina''# in The

-olish%A,eri(an >ournal in u'# o% 2008 and entit'ed So',in t"e #t"= Po'is" a,a'r# "are &ainst 9erman

Canks especia''# near a t"reatened ke# rai'road unction in t"e ,i''ae o% :roant# about %our mi'es nort"east o%

"onice...in t"e Cuc"o'a Eorest a)out 1A miles northwest of Warsaw. C"e artic'e race%u''# co,ers man# re'ated

matters to inc'ude t"e 9ermans5 on use o% ca,a'r# as e'' as o% "orsedran 'oistics aons e,en in t"e So,iet

nion 'ater. C"e 'ue Kink t"at m# co''eaue and %riend sent is= "t tp=TT.po'is"site.usTindeL.p"pT"istor#and peop'eTmodern"istor#T3*Gso',int"em#t"po'is"ca,a'r#c"areaainstermantanks."tm'

1*

http://www.polishsite.us/index.php/history-and-people/modern-history/395-solving-the-myth-polish-cavalry-charge-against-german-tanks.html








t"e midpoint o% t"e intense'# destructi,e Spanis" i,i' ar (Eebruar# 1*3?Eebruar# 1*3*) "e rote

+i6ini 5ede,ptoris (!n &t"eistic ommunism) and promu'ated t"at %orce%u' Bnc#c'ica' on 1* arc"

1*3+. He said t"erein t"at under no circumstances s"ou'd at"o'ics@or t"e "urc"@at a''

co''aborate it" ommunism. ut in or'd ar II especia''# a%ter 22 une 1*41 t"at %irm princip'e

as seemin'# abandoned under reat pressure %rom Roose,e't5s &merica and "urc"i''5s ritain (and

ot"ers) and a ne po'ic# o% compromise as radua''# adopted under t"e preteLt o% eLpedienc#.

Pope Pius JII as t"en t"e pope. He not on'# ac/uiesced but pub'ic'# supported t"e %orin o% a

strateic a''iance it" Sta'inist Russia.

Hoe,er "at did Pope Pius JII ear'ier sa# about t"e 1+ September 1*3* So,iet in,asion o%

Po'andN "at o% t"e concurrent and onoin So,iet in,asions o% t"e a'tic States and Ein'andN

"at did Pius JII sa# about ritain5s Dec'aration o% ar aainst "eroic 'itt'e Ein'and (and itscouraeous 'eader ars"a' anner"eim) on ? December 1*41 (one da# be%ore t"e apanese attack on

Pear' Harbor)N C"at atrocious dec'aration o% ar moreo,er as soon %o''oed (and pub'ic'#

supported) b# a'' t"e ritis" ommonea't" ;ations (&ustra'ia ;e Oea'and Sout" &%rica and

anada) but did t"e Pope e,en t"en "a,e an# pri,ate dip'omatic or pub'ic responseN "at do t"e

sc"o'ars te'' us about Pius JII5s ,ies and actions in ,ie o% t"e dec'ared "osti'ities "ere aainst a

countr# %i"tin a ust de%ensi,e ar aainst t"e o's"e,iks our ne &''#N

"at did Pius JII sa# %rom t"e outset and 'ater about t"e &''ied Strateic ombin@to

inc'ude terrormora'e bombin aainst ci,i'ians@"ic" started in ritain under "urc"i'' in une

o% 1*40 a%ter "urc"i'' "imse'% "ad ust come %ina''# back to poer6 and t"en "at did Pius JII a #ear

and a "a'% 'ater sa# and do (or not do) a%ter t"e momentous Dec'aration o% nconditiona' Surrender at

t"e anuar# 1*43 asab'anca on%erenceN

S"ou'd not %ait"%u' 'o#a' at"o'ics no kno@or soon 'earn@t"e ansers to t"ese /uestions

@instead o% ust aain and aain "earin a seemin'# distractin repetition about t"e su%%icienc# o%

Pius JII5s re'ations it" es o% a'' kindsN

20



C"e e,idence o% t"is essa# s"ou'd at 'east i,e trut"seekin students an arra# o% trenc"ant but

reasonab'e /uestions to pose to bot" "urc" Historians and sc"o'ars o% pub'ic and secret Fatican

Dip'omac# and to strateicminded i'itar# Historians as e''.

Einis

U 2013 Robert D. Hickson

21

fruits of the battle of warsaw and the normandy invasion

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