Rare eyewitness account of early, chaotic days of WWII - Nazi invasion of Poland, Siege of Warsaw and first months of Occupation - written by a young working mother. Rulka Langer's eye for detail and lively storytelling bring to life, from her unique vantage point, the opening chapter of the struggle between good and evil which ultimately engulfed the entire globe.

The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt: War Through a Woman's Eyes, 1939-1940

History

Langer, Rulka

Europe

Aquila Polonica

Rare eyewitness account of early, chaotic days of WWII - Nazi German invasion of Poland, Siege of Warsaw and first months of Occupation - written by a young working mother. Langer's eye for detail and lively storytelling bring to life, from her unique vantage, the opening chapter of the titanic struggle between good and evil which ultimately engulfed the entire globe.

The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt: War Through a Woman's Eyes 1939-1940

In a forgotten chapter of history, 1.5 million Polish civilians-arbitrarily arrested by Stalin as enemies of the people following the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939-were deported to slave labor camps throughout the most inhospitable forests and steppes of the Soviet Union. The Ice Road is the gripping story of young Stefan Waydenfeld and his family, deported by cattle car in 1940 to the frozen wastes of the Russian arctic north.

The Ice Road: An Epic Journey from the Stalinist Labor Camps to Freedom

Biographies & Memoirs

Waydenfeld, Stefan

Historical

In a forgotten chapter of history, 1.5 million Polish civilians―arbitrarily arrested by Stalin as enemies of the people following the Soviet invasion of Poland in September 1939―were deported to slave labor camps throughout the most inhospitable forests and steppes of the Soviet Union. The Ice Road is the gripping story of young Stefan Waydenfeld and his family, deported by cattle car in 1940 to the frozen wastes of the Russian arctic north.

The summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain―the darkestdays of World War II. France, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands,Luxembourg and Norway had all been crushed by the powerful Nazi German warmachine. Great Britain stood alone, fighting for its life. 303 Squadron is the thrilling storyof the celebrated squadron of Polish fighter pilots whose superb skill in theair helped save England during its most desperate hours. They were thehighest-scoring Allied fighter squadron in the Battle of Britain, downing threetimes the average RAF score while incurring only one-third the averagecasualties. Dashing and gallant 303 Squadron was lionized by the British press,congratulated by the King, and adored by the British public. With an immediacy that vividly brings to life those harrowing days, Fiedlerpaints the bravery, the poignancy, the breathtaking gambles with death riskeddaily by this exceptional group of young men far from home, who fought topreserve freedom for all. “Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polishsquadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcomeof the battle would have been the same.” ― British Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding Translated from the Polish; identifies the pilots by their real names for thefirst time in English. Nearly 200 black &amp; white photos, maps andillustrations; contextualizing historical material; nine appendices.

303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron

Fiedler, Arkady

The summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain―the darkestdays of World War II. France, Poland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands,Luxembourg and Norway had all been crushed by the powerful Nazi German warmachine. Great Britain stood alone, fighting for its life. 303 Squadron is the thrilling storyof the celebrated squadron of Polish fighter pilots whose superb skill in theair helped save England during its most desperate hours. They were thehighest-scoring Allied fighter squadron in the Battle of Britain, downing threetimes the average RAF score while incurring only one-third the averagecasualties. Dashing and gallant 303 Squadron was lionized by the British press,congratulated by the King, and adored by the British public. With an immediacy that vividly brings to life those harrowing days, Fiedlerpaints the bravery, the poignancy, the breathtaking gambles with death riskeddaily by this exceptional group of young men far from home, who fought topreserve freedom for all. “Had it not been for the magnificent material contributed by the Polishsquadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcomeof the battle would have been the same.” ― British Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding Translated from the Polish; identifies the pilots by their real names for thefirst time in English. Nearly 200 black &amp; white photos, maps andillustrations; contextualizing historical material; nine appendices.

Military

Siege: World War II Begins: Original Film Footage of the Seige of Warsaw, Poland, September 1939

Bryan, Julien

This stunning new novel is drawn from a little known chapter of World War II history - the brutal Soviet deportations of 1.5 million Polish civilians to forced labor camps in Siberia shortly after the Soviets occupied eastern Poland at the beginning of the war. Beautifully written, lyrical and poetic, Maps and Shadows explores the impacts of this shattering experience on a family from four points of view.

Maps and Shadows: A Novel

Literature & Fiction

Jopek, Krysia

Genre Fiction

This stunning new novel is drawn from a little known chapter of World War II history - the brutal Soviet deportations of 1.5 million Polish civilians to forced labor camps in Siberia shortly after the Soviets occupied eastern Poland at the beginning of the war. Beautifully written, lyrical and poetic, Maps and Shadows explores the impacts of this shattering experience on a family from four points of view.

Contemporary

The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery

In 1940, the Polish Underground wanted to know what was happening inside the recently opened Auschwitz concentration camp. Polish army officer Witold Pilecki volunteered to be arrested by the Germans and reported from inside the camp. His intelligence reports, smuggled out in 1941, were among the first eyewitness accounts of Auschwitz atrocities: the extermination of Soviet POWs, its function as a camp for Polish political prisoners, and the “final solution” for Jews. Pilecki received brutal treatment until he escaped in April 1943; soon after, he wrote a brief report. This book is the first English translation of a 1945 expanded version. In the foreword, Poland's chief rabbi states, “If heeded, Pilecki's early warnings might have changed the course of history.” Pilecki's story was suppressed for half a century after his 1948 arrest by the Polish Communist regime as a “Western spy.” He was executed and expunged from Polish history. Pilecki writes in staccato style but also interjects his observations on humankind's lack of progress: “We have strayed, my friends, we have strayed dreadfully... we are a whole level of hell worse than animals!” These remarkable revelations are amplified by 40 b&amp;w photos, illus., and maps.

Pilecki, Captain Witold

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Books by Aquila Polonica

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Aquila Polonica publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt: War Through a Woman's Eyes, 1939-1940

The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt: War Through a Woman's Eyes 1939-1940

The Ice Road: An Epic Journey from the Stalinist Labor Camps to Freedom

The Ice Road: An Epic Journey from the Stalinist Labor Camps to Freedom

303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron

303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron

Siege: World War II Begins: Original Film Footage of the Seige of Warsaw, Poland, September 1939

Maps and Shadows: A Novel

Maps and Shadows: A Novel

The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery