Poland's own MI6 agent...

[Lancer44]

I had some doubts if this story belong to WWII, but after a little consideration I'm sure that it will fit well!

I think that you may find it interesting that Poland is the only one country in the whole civilised world, which have Minister of Defence holding foreign passport...

Not mention that he is an old, well known agent of friendly intelligence agencies... Very friendly, indeed, British and American...

Where is a connection to WWII?

This fellow is a grandson of late General Wladyslaw Sikorski. Prime Minister of Polish Government in Exile, and CiC of Polish Armed Forces in the West.



Look at this "honest Polish face..."

Radosław (Radek) Sikorski (born February 23, 1963 in Bydgoszcz), is a conservative Polish politician, journalist and, as of 2006, the Minister of National Defence.

Sikorski was much involved in the Solidarity unrest in the late 1970s, and chaired the student strike committee in Bydgoszcz. Stranded in Britain when martial law was declared in his homeland in 1981, he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Pembroke College, University of Oxford. He then worked as a journalist. In 1984, he took British citizenship. In the mid-1980s, Sikorski worked as a war correspondent in Afghanistan.

(As much as I know about mid 80's and 'quick" British citizenships... clearly
MI6 assignment...

Returning to Poland, in 1992 he briefly became deputy defence minister in the Jan Olszewski government. From 1998 to 2001 he served as deputy minister of foreign affairs in the Jerzy Buzek government. From 2002 to 2005 he was a resident fellow of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. and executive director of the New Atlantic Initiative. He returned to government in Poland as defense minister in 2005.

He is married to the American journalist and historian Anne Applebaum; they have two children, Alexander and Tadeusz.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rados%C5%82aw_Sikorski"

A few month ago the story of "US gulags", secret prisons for Al Quida members hidden somewhere in eastern Europe errupted.
(Just recently George W. Bush admitted that such facilities existed...)

Personally I cannot understand one thing...

Look at this:

"...expect a powerfully-worded condemnation of the CIA gulag. One of the Post's editorial board members is columnist Anne Applebaum, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning (nonfiction) book Gulag: A History.

If one of the secret CIA detention facilities turns out to be in Poland, Applebaum's response will be particularly interesting -- she lived for many years in Poland and is a powerful writer on the subject. What a shame if she recuses herself from writing because of a (possible) conflict-of-interest: Applebaum's husband, Radek Sikorski, a Polish politician who has been in and out of government for more than a decade, won a seat in the Polish Senate this past summer and was recently named Poland's new Defense Minister. "

From a bit "inside" sources I learned that our friend Radek is fond of 'mountain troops" - see them here on parade.



He is also credited with "fixing" supply of US Humvees for Polish Army.

Not mention, that his famous comparison of Russia-Germany deal to build the oil line on the Baltic shelf, bypassing Ukraine, Baltic States and Poland, to "Ribbentrop - Molotov Pact", somewhat contributed to freeezing of Polish - German relations, damaging already bad Polish - Russian...

Hey, he likes mountain troops.... maybe Poland will go now on Zaolzie like in 1938????

Let's talk!


Cheers,

Lancer44

[Jim O]

I'm surprised they don't make him renounce British citizenship to hold such a position. In Lithuania, US citizen Valdas Adamkus was required to renounce his citizenship to be eligible to become president the first time in 1998.

As for a "journalist" also being a spy, I guess this is not so uncommon as we in the West would like to think, but I cannot prove this. Many spies have "fronts" as either diplomats or business people.

As to whether Sikorski's wife would participate in debates critical to the Polish government, particularly if the Defense Ministry is involved, I think anything that she would say would be suspect no matter what. She could not be in a more "no-win" situation. I suppose she can criticize the system of such prisons if she likes, but to get into specifics of individual foreign nations being "friendly" to US efforts would be a slippery slope to be on.

Those are great photos, especially the second one. As for Zaolzie, let us hope not.

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Jim O

Those are great photos, especially the second one. As for Zaolzie, let us hope not

Hi Jim,

Zaolzie was just my joke...

If you liked this photos look at this gallery.
They are from the same event - anniversary of Warsaw Battle in which Polish Army crushed Tukhachevski's advance into Central Europe.

Any questions welcomed.

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Lancer44]

[Lancer44]

[Lancer44]

All photos courtesy of my cousin which lives in Warsaw.

[Tom Houlihan]

Excellent series of photos! However, they do bring up some questions in my mind.

Is there special significance to the particular flag that was raised, like it once flew over Warsaw in '44?

What is the significance of the two-fingered salute, instead of the full hand that most armies use?

I always wondered about that particular uniform cap, but being a Marine, I'll not question tradition!

Any chance of getting either unit types, or specific units identified? So many colored berets, I'm not sure any more which is airborne! We know the mountain troops, obviously.

I'm wondering about the uniforms, because I used to play Twilight:2000. I fought against and with a bunch of Poles!

[Lancer44]

Originally Posted by Tom Houlihan

Excellent series of photos! However, they do bring up some questions in my mind.

Is there special significance to the particular flag that was raised, like it once flew over Warsaw in '44?

What is the significance of the two-fingered salute, instead of the full hand that most armies use?

I always wondered about that particular uniform cap, but being a Marine, I'll not question tradition!

Any chance of getting either unit types, or specific units identified? So many colored berets, I'm not sure any more which is airborne! We know the mountain troops, obviously.



I'm wondering about the uniforms, because I used to play Twilight:2000. I fought against and with a bunch of Poles!

Hi Tom,

Great pleasure to answer your questions!

1. There is no significance to the flag - it's just the ceremony of raising the flag. Like in the other armies the day starts from raising flag and this is the special day so raising the flag is particularly important.

2. Two fingered salute... you can write a book about it!
When Thaddeus Kosciuszko came back to Poland after American Revolution in which he participated together with Casimir Pulaski, he become commander of Insurrection against Russia.
This insurrection started with Kosciuszko being sworn as a commander in Cracow on the main square. He held his hand with two fingers up.
Since than, through napoleonic wars, uprisings in 1830 and 1863, Poles salute with two fingers.
The only exception was in Polish Army in the West in WWII.
Starting from North Africa, Polish forces in Italy, England and on the continent saluted with full hand.
It was very simple - two fingered salute to British or American officer was answered with one finger salute.

After Poland gained independence in 1989 and participation of Polish Army in NATO and/or together with US and UK troops grow rapidly, there was discussion about changing embarassing two fingers to full hand.
Tradition prevailed... as you see.
I know that in Iraq many troops salute against their regulations with full hand.



This photo is the best to explain caps and berets. Looking from left to right:

1. Warsaw garrison

2. Air Force

3. Navy

4. Representative Company of Polish Armed Forces - they are not "real soldiers", just marching, funerals etc. Cushy job in capital city but no one is jealous - their guard duties in front of Unknown Soldier Tomb....

5. Zandarmeria - it mean gendarmerie - MP - Red Caps - well, every army have them and ... love them...

6. Marines - light blue berets.

7. Armoured Forces - black berets.

8. Airborne - maroon berets. It is interesting that even in communist time Polish 6-th Airborne Division cultivated tradition of 1-st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade which fought in Arnhem battle.
Now maroon berets are used by 1-st Air Cavalry Brigade and 6-th Parachute Shock Brigade named after general Sosabowski. (If you remember Gene Hackman's role in a "A Bridge too Far" - he played Sosabowski)

9. Mountains troops.

There are also Green Berets and they are commando - Lubliniec regiment.

GROM is using grey berets. I don't know why. Anyway no one can see them... They almost don't exist. They are invisible...

"Four Corners" officers cap is really traditional after napoleonic wars caps.


Cheers,

Lancer44

[Tom Houlihan]

Many thanks, Lancer! That explains a lot!

Don't worry, should I have occasion to salute you, I'll use all my fingers!

[Tom Houlihan]

8. Airborne - maroon berets. It is interesting that even in communist time Polish 6-th Airborne Division cultivated tradition of 1-st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade which fought in Arnhem battle.

Interesting, as those were the ones I had the most interesting adventure with!

Thanks!