Comments on the 1944 Warsaw Air Bridge

Comments on the 1944 Warsaw Air Bridge

Quotations referring to the attempts to supply the Poles in Warsaw with armaments.

Two typewritten sheets

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MAutonJ[Ser#-DoB]-170119-030001,
MAutonJ[Ser#-DoB]-170119-030002

[underlined] COMMENT ON THE 1944 WARSAW AIR BRIDGE [/underlined]
The ill-fated uprising lasted 63 days and on 23 occasions our airmen struggled through fierce opposition and violent storms to deliver a few tons of supplies to the heroic insurgents.
Auton . 1986.
It is a time which none of us who had connections with the fate of this city can bear to recount.
Sue Ryder. 1986.
The city of Warsaw and its entire population must be eradicated.
Hitler. 1st aug 1944.
All poles in Warsaw are to be shot, regardless of age and gender. No prisoners are to be taken.
Himmler. 1st Aug. 1944.
The soldiers and the population of the capital look hopelessly at the skies, expecting help from the allies.
Warsaw Radio. August 1944.
Save the women and children of Warsaw and the honour of Britain.
S. Duns. August 1944

A tragedy is being enacted before an insufficiently attentive world.
Vansittart. 14 August 1944
Burning the houses is the most effective way to deprive the insurgents of protective cover.
Hans Frank. 5 August 1944.
The Warsaw action represents a reckless and terrible adventure.
Stalin. 16th August 1944.
The British aircraft over Warsaw on the night of 13/14 August were greeted by the population with enthusiastic cries, ‘They are ours. They are British’. One aircraft dropped a wreath with the inscription ‘to our fighting comrades of the Polish Army’.
j. Ward. Warsaw Radio. August 1944.
The crews return in aircraft holed like sieves, - their parachutes shot to pieces.
General Rayski. August 1944.
Holy Father, no one is helping us. The Russian armies at the gates of Warsaw have not advanced. The aid from Great Britain is insufficient. The world is ignorant of our struggle. God alone is with us.
Appeal from the women of Warsaw. August1944.
Planes with South African, British and Polish crews flew over the city at low altitude and carried out their task with courage and skill that filled us with the deepest admiration.
General Bor – Komorowski.
Warsaw in Arms sends the gallant airmen words of thanks. We bow our heads to those who have fallen.
A.K. H.Q. Warsaw 16 August 1944.
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Since the beginning of August, British, South African and Polish crews of Liberators and Halifaxes have been making a round trip of 1700 miles through an area strongly defended by German fighters. To drop supplies accurately, they had to come down low and fly at slow speed, thus presenting very suitable targets to the ground gunners. Over a hundred aircraft have been sent. More than half have successfully fought their way through all hazards. Twenty one aircraft have so far been lost. The courage and endurance of the crews will rank with the outstanding acts of heroism of this war.
British Official Wireless Despatch. August 1944.
Two squadrons have lost 25% of their strength in two nights and it is obvious that we can not go on at this rate.
Slessor. 15th August. 1944.
The Polish airmen are begging to be allowed to fly to Warsaw. The B.B.C. hardly ever mentions the Warsaw struggle.
Sir Richard Wells. August 1944.
This is the second occasion in three nights on which about 30% of the force despatched has failed to return. I can not possibly go on at this rate.
Slessor. 17th August 1944.
We salute the heroes of Warsaw – accord them our deep admiration and trust that even at this late date the allied leaders will give them the help that stands between victory and destruction so near their hour of liberation.
Tribune 11th August 1944.
His Majesties Government are doing everything in their power to send them help.
Anthony Eden. August 1944.
The gallant attempts of the RAF with Polish, British and Dominion crews, to fly aid to the aid of Warsaw from Italian bases are both forlorn and inadequate.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
It is my belief that history will rank them (Warsaw fighters) as some of the finest and most daring feats of this or any other war.
Maj. Gen. Venter.
When the final Allied victory is achieved, the epic of Warsaw will not be forgotten. It will remain a deathless memory for Poland and for the friends of freedom all over the world.
Winston Churchill. October 1944.
The Warsaw Air Bridge remains one of the great uncommemorated feats of arms of World War 2.
Robert Maxwell. June 1989.
The Warsaw Uprising has now been finally put down. Long live the Fuehrer.
Gen. Von Luttwitze. 3rd October 1944.
Warsaw will remain forever a testimonial to the invincible strength of the Polish nation and its unyielding will to independent life.
Mikolajczyk . October 1944.