Reminders of War
Places all over Warsaw mark the site where men, women, and children were routinely murdered. The plaques tell us how many people died and who killed them. The number of civilians killed in Warsaw was almost 200,000. Himmler gave the order to kill all the inhabitants of the city and not take prisoners. Like other European cities, history is everywhere in Warsaw. But, the loss of life here was particularly horrendous.
Plaque reads:
“This place was consecrated by the blood of Poles fallen for the freedom of the fatherland. Here on September 2, 1944, Hitler’s henchmen shot dead 70 Poles.”
“This place was consecrated by the blood of Poles fallen for the freedom of the fatherland. Here on September 2, 1944, Hitler’s henchmen shot 30 people.”
“This place was consecrated by the blood of Poles fallen for the freedom of the fatherland. Here on August 10, 1944, Hitler’s henchmen shot several hundred Poles.”
“This place was consecrated by the blood of Poles fallen for the freedom of the fatherland. Here on September 1, 1944, at this hospital, Hitler’s henchmen murdered approximately 430 people.“
“This place was consecrated by the blood of Poles fallen for the freedom of the fatherland. Here on September 2, 1944, Hitler’s henchmen shot dead 50 people.”
An elderly gentleman walked past our table at an outdoor cafe. He wore the Warsaw Uprising armband. Living, breathing reminders of the Uprising are still with us.
Allied Help for the Warsaw Uprising
There were some allied airdrops. Polish, British, American, Canadian, and South African pilots flew 11 missions. 360 airmen were lost during the Warsaw airdrops. Their goal was Napoleon Square which is now known as Uprising Square. The method was always the same. Four torches were lit in the four corners of the target. Four girls stood on the rooftops, each holding a torch. The Germans shot them off the roof. As one girl fell, another would take her place.
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