Richard C. Lukas

Of course I was aware that the Poles suffered horribly during World War II and, as a nation, were the most victimized of all. I already knew that something like 20% of the population of Poland was killed during the war. But that doesn't mean I didn't learn a lot from Dr. Lukas's book. He covers World War II in Poland almost day by day -- though not in chronological order; each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the war (civilian attitudes towards the Germans, the Polish Underground, show more Poles and Jews, etc) instead. And he is able to enlighten the reader on Polish attitudes towards Jews without trying to either demonize or whitewash either side.

The Poles would best be described as feisty. Certainly they have a long history of resisting invasions from one direction or another, and their defiant attitude can be seen throughout the book. The last chapter, describing the Warsaw Uprising, sounds like something out of a good novel -- one by Frederick Forsyth, say.

I will also note that this book is a work of superb scholarship with loads of notes and footnotes to back up Lukas's arguments.

Well done! show less