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On the first day of World War II, September 1, 1939, elements of the Polish 18th Uhlans Cavalry regiment attacked German infantry in a delaying action. In this they succeeded, but they soon encountered German armored cars, which hit the Polish cavalrymen with machine gun fire. About a third of the cavalrymen were killed or wounded before they could retreat. This story was exaggerated in the press to the effect that the cavalrymen had attacked German tanks (not armored cars) with their sabers and lances. This was an exaggeration, but still: Polish cavalrymen were no match for German armor.Though these cavalrymen have been ridiculed throughout the years, I have nothing but the profoundest respect for them. Two things stand out. First, they realized they were in the presence of vast evil. Second, even though they were unable to turn back that evil tide, they proved for all time — many of them at the cost of their lives — exactly where they stood. This was not true of everyone who lived in lands invaded by the Germans.
This week I completed my career as a youth minister at the Bella Vista church of Christ. For the past seven years, it has been my job to keep teenagers out of alcohol, drugs and sex, and to keep them in the church. It has been a near-hopeless task. I can identify with those Polish cavalrymen.
Though I have largely failed as a youth minister, I am comforted by two thoughts. I realized evil forces were at work trying to destroy the teenagers I love. And, though I was unable to keep these teens from making terrible decisions — they knew exactly where I stood.
5 comments:
Don't be too hard on yourself. Youth ministry has always been a tough job and it is only getting harder. Don't discount the seeds that you may have planted that could bloom in these kids' lives in unexpected ways.
Jared, you have changed so many lives, including the one typing right now.
Same basic facts, different interpretation, and opposite conclusion.
Basic Facts:
You are correct that horse against tank reports were false. As your wikipedia reference states, Polish calvery units did not attack tanks with horses or swords, the Polish units had and used their anti-tank weapons. The Polish units were defeated, however, and the nation was defeated and occupied.
But look further into those black days in September 1939 and their aftermath. For example, the Polish fought tenaciously to the bitter end. In the additional references set out below is a quote from the official German history of the campaign in which the courage and willingness to die for their country was recognized by the Germans.
And although the Polish military was defeated on the battlefield of armies in September 1939 — that is not the only place and time a people can choose to fight and resist and never yield. For example, "Hitler, .... failed to establish meaningful advantages in Poland. No political party accepted German rule and no pro-Nazi government was ever formed, in contrast to all the other occupied countries of Europe.... The terror and persecution which prevailed from the beginning in both parts of divided Poland produced uncompromising opposition drawn from a broad cross-section of the population."
Above from
Here.
Different Interpretation:
Looking at the entire Polish effort and their resistance throughout the war, we should hope that any group with which we are associated shows the same Polish determination against overwhelming forces.
Opposite Conclusion:
On August 15, 1966 Primate Stefan Wyszynski met with worshipers to celebrate 1,000 years of the Polish state. A picture of the event is
Here.
Please note: contrary to the same German propaganda that belittled the Polish calvary, there is no 1000-year Reich in the picture, it’s a celebration of a 1,000 years of the Polish state.
But I will bet that in the crowd shown in the picture there are many who remember the darkness of September 1939.
Forty years from now, if we could see all the teenagers whose lives you have touched, I am sure we will see joyful souls in Christ who look back and say not only that they knew where you stood, but they will also thank you for being there in their darkest of days.
Additional References:
Step by step the Poles were pulling back towards Oksywie, around which the Germans were tightening their encirclement. On 11 and 12 September the fights near Mechlinki transformed into an incessant 2-days battle, after which Polish troops had to retreat. On 14 September the Germans entered Gdynia. The fights for Oksywie started on 16 September with a heavy German air and artillery bombardment, against which the Polish defence was helpless. Then rushed the German infantry. On 18 and 19 September only the port and a tiny scrap of land remained in Polish hands. Yet nobody thought about capitulation. With the last shot there Colonel Dbek took his own life. The heroism of the Polish troops instilled even the Nazis with admiration. The official German history of the Polish campaign includes the following account of the battle for Oksywie:
Polish soldiers fought gallantly, and they did not spare blood. The area of Gdynia and Danzig was defended by the nlite of the Polish armed forces. Those were young and inspired units of the navy and army, which fought admirably. On the plateau of Oxhuft we found trenches filled with dead Polish soldiers, who fell by hundreds where they fought, with the rifles still in their hands. It was apparent, that they fought to the bitter end.
Above from Here.
One of Poland's greatest gifts towards the war effort was to have captured an Ultra machine (Stafford, 1997) early in the conflict. The true value of this encryption machine was instantly recognised by Polish and French code-breakers. Unfortunately, true recognition of its significance came later and the thanks given to the Poles hardly covers couple of sentences in either archives or in historical text.
Daylong fighting produced at times, scenes of sheer heroism. The Pomorska Cavalry Brigade had been in contacts with the German 20th Motorized Infantry Division. Colonel Masterlarz had half the unit mount up and attempted a surprise attack from the rear. Catching an infantry battalion by surprise in a woodland clearing, the sabre attack wiped them out. Legends and myths were borne of cavalry units taking on armoured vehicles. However, what is forgotten, is that the cavalry units carried anti-tank weapons for rapid deployment (Zaloga and Madej, 1991).
Above from Here.
+Peace in Christ,
John
Your worthy goals make any degree of perceived failure on your part insignificant. You have the right attitude. Soldier on!
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