Jenny Grant
@SilenceInPolish
Followers
15,722
Following
7,647
Media
6,781
Statuses
35,018
Historian: Wartime Britain and the Polish Armed Forces in the West Postgraduate Researcher at QMUL Three books in the pipeline
Newbury, England
Joined June 2017
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Madrid
• 1902095 Tweets
#SalvemOCavaloDeCanoas
• 100458 Tweets
Luka
• 80928 Tweets
Jokic
• 54945 Tweets
Knicks
• 54806 Tweets
Brunson
• 45241 Tweets
Shai
• 37877 Tweets
Luciano
• 37567 Tweets
Pasta
• 35399 Tweets
Chivas
• 32465 Tweets
Pacers
• 32057 Tweets
Shaq
• 31146 Tweets
#AEWDynamite
• 30552 Tweets
Venus
• 30202 Tweets
Botafogo
• 28664 Tweets
Nestor
• 28152 Tweets
アイスクリームの日
• 26295 Tweets
もちづきさん
• 24409 Tweets
ドカ食いダイスキ
• 17363 Tweets
Panthers
• 15408 Tweets
Lema
• 14187 Tweets
Cavani
• 13506 Tweets
Bruins
• 12682 Tweets
Calleri
• 12397 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
For 'bollocks' please read 'Polish pilots' as these belong to Squadron 303...
204
923
9K
A woman who knows what Nazism actually looks like. Incredible bravery.
In
#StPetersburg
,
#Russia
, the police detained a well-known survivor of the Siege of Leningrad Yelena Osipova at an anti-war
#protest
:
2K
43K
96K
77
2K
7K
Eldest decided Barbie needed a gas mask, and now you can join me in never ever sleeping again.
231
270
3K
Right - the Sikorski Museum in London. You need to go.
Why?
1/
Oh, just the Polish flag which flew on the ruins of the monastery after the capture of Monte Cassino
39
139
2K
The bodies of Polish babies who died of starvation during deportation to Siberia had to be dropped out of the top of cattle trucks because the heat from the crowded conditions speeded up decomposition.
Sorry - I don't have it in me to block and move on.
49
290
2K
6th December 1940:
On departing for a mission, the English bomber crew were addressed at the door by a Polish spokesman: "God pickle you, gentlemen."
The newspaper comments: 'The English language is full of pitfalls, not least the difference between "pickle" and "preserve."'
46
305
2K
Two Polish airmen visiting Oxford in 1940 were struck by the plight of the children whose homes had been destroyed in the
#CoventryBlitz
.
The Poles paid for a party for 200 children in Oxford Town Hall, and the children were waited upon by Polish airmen.
(JPIA)
22
282
1K
My Polish grandfather's dogtags. An officer before the war, he was deported by the Soviets to work in a mine. On release, he joined the 2nd Polish Corps and fought at Monte Cassino.
After the war, he worked in a mill in Bradford. He died in 1974, aged 67.
I never met him.
40
74
872
If 303 is going to be where our interest in Polish history starts and ends, let's at least bash a few myths on the head.
Three times more successful than the average RAF squadron in the Battle of Britain, with one third of the losses.
So it's not reckless bravery...
/1
44
187
874
Declaring your anti-imperialism while having a hammer-and-sickle in your bio is a strong, nay, demented, look.
26
80
868
This is about as cool as you can look.
The 1st Polish Armoured Division disembarking at Arromanches.
Also, someone please tell me if this would make a good front cover. For a thing...
30
49
704
<Poland frantically roots around its wallet to find its NATO membership card>
70
49
664
A Polish soldier, sailor and airman meet outside Easter Mass in Edinburgh, 1941
My absolutely favourite photograph.
(IWM)
13
79
677
On
#BattleOfBritainDay
, a reminder that the Air Ministry absolutely came out swinging in its insistence that the foreign airmen who had served with the RAF during the war be included in the Victory Parade - to remind the British people of how much Britain owed to these men.
19
114
666
Remembering my grandfather, a Polish officer, who suffered snow blindness from forced labour in Siberian mines, and died of a stroke aged 67 after working in mills in Bradford in post-war Britain.
War has many ways of stealing lives.
12
52
646
A quarter of a million Poles were under British command in 1945.
Quarter of a million.
And still they won't be considered part of British military history unless referenced in some bloody film from the pre-Thatcher era.
32
153
621
My grandfather, a survivor of Siberia and a veteran of Monte Cassino, leading the Polish contingent of the Remembrance Day Parade in Bradford in the 1950s.
At the time he was working in a mill to support his family.
#Remembrance
? Honouring the sacrifices of our allies.
23
76
616
One of
#TheFew
. F/O Tadeusz Chłopik, serving in Polish Fighter Squadron No. 302.
On 13th Sept he arrived at Duxford to take part in the Big Wing alongside Czech and Canadian squadrons.
In the afternoon of 15th Sept, he was shot down.
/1
11
64
627
My Polish grandfather left a negative TripAdvisor review of his stay
14
74
613
God, the shame, the ignominy - 'behind the Polish president'
56
55
609
At least the fascists in the 1930s liked to be called fascists. Invented logos, little salutes, the works. Now fascists get upset about being called fascists. Snowflakes.
14
78
600
"The Germans had surrendered."
#OTD
5th May 1945
General Maczek, commander of the 1st Polish Armoured Division, describes the moment that he, and the German officers, learned that the naval base of Wilhelmshaven would be surrendered - to the Poles.
/1
16
199
576
My grandfather, Stefan Jan Seligman, survivor of Siberia, officer of the 6th Lwowski Light Artillery Regiment, veteran of Monte Cassino and Bologna - a textile worker in post-war Bradford.
17
84
537
Who's a fictional military leader that you would follow into combat?
164
12
538
Really, really sad to report that Lily, the slinkiest of all God's hounds, died in her sleep last night.
Happily chasing celestial squirrels, I hope, but she's left a huge hole in our family.
120
3
530
Commemoration has always been fluid in its interpretation.
Given the lack of a Polish presence in the 1946 Victory Parade, it was seen as a triumph for the Poles to be included in any
#RemembranceDay
event.
My grandfather, leading the Polish contingent, in late 1950s Bradford.
20
57
530
I think we can all agree this is the greatest poster ever made
9
56
515
Your girl just passed the first progression hurdle of her PhD 🥂
Thanks to Rhodri and James for giving up their time and suggesting further paths to explore over the next two years.
66
2
517
And my discovery of the day - Anne Frank's father fought at the Somme and Cambrai
21
43
514
20 years since I first studied in Kraków - dressed as a wood elf, apparently.
24
3
508
Polish survivors of Siberian deportation who reached Pahlevi in Iran generally had their clothes burned to eradicate disease.
They relied on international charitable donations and military uniforms for their clothing - Australian hats in this case.
15
65
502
A wonderful obituary of Richard Polanski in today's Times
The last surviving crew member of Polish destroyer ORP Piorun, which engaged the Bismarck, signalling 'I Am A Pole'.
Huge thanks to
@allan_mallinson
for his commitment to this piece.
6
108
474
Soldiers of the 1st Polish Corps in Scotland, 1942
The Poles hugely appreciated the fact that the Scottish people lined the routes of their parades and cheered - a stark contrast to their recent reception in France.
(JPIA)
19
64
467
Tempted to flog some of these with '05 June' and claim they're the ultra-rare editions printed before the weather forecast came out.
28
23
476
Nope, not going to play this cool.
The first time seeing my name in print, and I'm dancing.
51
30
470
So sweet. You think Russia got that big through magnetism?
30
31
462
At 9000 followers, I'll start tweeting in Polish - and may God have mercy on your souls.
46
16
455
Day immeasurably improved by the student who has gone through life believing 'infantry' involved child soldiers
26
41
449
1/
'It must be carried out with absolute calm so as not to spark resistance or panic among the local populace.'
A short thread on the mass deportations of Poles to Siberia, the first of which began during the night of 9-10th February 1940, 80 years ago today.
...
17
276
424
Sometimes your Politics A Level recruitment posters just write themselves
18
71
433
Polish children, survivors of Siberia, watching sheep in their new home country of New Zealand, 1943.
7
108
427
My rather wonderful Babcia would have been 101 today.
Born at the top of the stairs, she survived Siberian deportation and served as a driver with the 2nd Polish Corps before forging a new life in Bradford.
A force to be reckoned with.
20
26
440
So goddam angry. On the second morning of the Anglo-Polish Conference, my wonderful colleague was verbally attacked in our hotel lobby for having a Polish accent.
Xenophobic scum.
65
44
441
My Polish grandfather, an officer in the Polish Army, was imprisoned in a number of camps after the capture of Lwów in 1939.
He treasured this box, carved by a fellow POW, for the rest of the war and onto into his new life in the UK.
22
37
437
Ukrainian minister on Radio 4: The only way Russian tanks will roll into Maidan Square would be if the Ukrainians towed them there themselves.
Despite the invasion, Ukraine retains its position as the world's leading exporter of shade.
6
79
413
I'm pretty sure they're saying that our collective past should be accessible to all, and that the government should pick up the tab.
18
61
409
Right, still wobbly but out of pyjamas. Covid is not, my friends, like a cold.
71
10
391
Today I should be attending Babcia's funeral but I'm struck down with a fever - my Public Health sister would taser me if I tried.
Babcia deserves a better funeral. I'd like to think she would understand, but she was a great believer in ceremony. A webcast would not cut it.
95
57
383
"If it's going to be wasted or perhaps handed over to the Hun, we'd better take it ourselves..."
In June 1940, as Pétain seeks an armistice with Hitler, a difficult choice faced the 4000 Poles of the Carpathian Brigade serving under French command in Syria.
/1
23
117
392
Yoga and instruments of death - am I doing this right?
33
17
377
I've been sitting on this for so long!
Join me as I talk about the role of Polish pilots and the Polish Air Force during the Battle of Britain - training, culture clash, language learning and just why 303 was so successful.
26
99
390
Hitler, so I can explain to him how left wing he really was.
You have a 60 minute dinner with a 20th century historical figure.
Who is it, and why them?
185
17
93
36
21
395
The scarf?
My grandfather, a Polish artillery officer, was deported to Siberia where he worked in the mines through a bitterly cold winter.
His life was undoubtedly saved by this gift - a fellow officer cut his own scarf in half and gave it to Dziadek.
10
34
381
I've been saving this story but now seems the perfect time...
When the Poles arrived in Scotland in 1940, English lessons were, of course, set up for them. What is less well known is that *Polish* lessons were set up for the locals, who attended in droves. Such open heartedness
In the Co-op in Rothesay. Syrian folk seem to be settling in ok.
Old Bute guy to Syrian dad with kid in pushchair: “As-salaam-alaikum!”
Syrian bloke: “Hiya!”
51
389
3K
5
101
378
Perhaps men are too emotional for the profession, if they can't handle stress without bullying their juniors.
20
66
383
I know there are bigger things going on in the world but I'm achingly close to achieving a dream.
Would be hugely grateful if you could spare a virtual tip of the hat to wish me luck.
I should know by the end of the week 😬
88
2
373
On engaging the Bismarck, the Poles on board ORP Piorun were so motivated to destroy the German vessel that they ran out of shells. The use of kittens was the last resort.
As with so many other aspects of Polish history, this incident has been left out of Western accounts.
45
44
380
This deserves to be an iconic photograph - the 1st Polish Armoured Division arriving at Arromanches.
(IWM)
20
40
356
I mean, thank goodness the Poles were portrayed sympathetically in 'The Battle of Britain' and 'A Bridge Too Far.'
A bit of a shame that that's where most British understanding of the Polish role in the Second World War starts and ends.
32
35
365
Will never not astonish me that the men who formed the Polish II Corps had survived deportation to Siberia, hard labour, brutalisation, starvation, disease, separation from families - and still fielded a military unit which could go toe-to-toe with any other Ally.
(IWM)
9
63
366
So, we went ahead and adopted this little chap (Stanley) but also his gentle giant of a greyhound buddy, who has a dopey rescue centre name.
Suggestions, please, for names which go with Stanley. I'm pushing hard for Ramsay...
323
12
355
#OperationMarketGarden
Just before the 10th anniversary, Clement Davies MP visited Oosterbeek. He commented that the graves of 'the Polish boys' still had only a tin cross in place (bottom left).
Thankfully he made his comments to Churchill. Permanent headstones were arranged.
5
63
348
Similarly, I have cancelled my performance at Glastonbury this year.
16
19
352
The Polish grandfather I wish so much I had had the chance to know
20
20
341
Today I am mostly thinking about how the French role in supporting the British retreat from Dunkirk is celebrated, but the loss of 75% of the Polish Army in France while supporting the French retreat is, well, not.
27
68
344
Stalin was an enslaver and an imperialist.
Sorry if that sits uncomfortably with some people, but that's your cognitive dissonance, not mine.
29
48
339
"I need ammunition, not liaison officer."
General Maczek, 1st Polish Armoured Division, Normandy 1944
4
69
333
My grandmother persuaded the Russian guards to release her from her Siberian camp in 1941 by flashing her school report with its official-looking stamp upon it.
She claimed it was the amnesty order from Stalin.
Speaking of genealogy and family lore: tell me the oddest or coolest fact from your family’s history.
4K
379
4K
20
35
337
These twelve Polish airmen lost their lives during top secret experiments in early transporter technology in 1941.
Their deaths were never officially acknowledged and their families received no compensation.
I will soon be launching the campaign to demand justice from the MOD.
12
51
326
Gosh, lost followers after being mildly proud of a fairly humble achievement. I feel sorry for the women in your lives.
57
3
335
303 escorting Montgomery's B-17 from Prestwick to Northolt, May 1943
Polish fighter squadrons developed a reputation for providing close escort and were in demand among Allied VIPs, including Churchill.
(IWM)
9
53
335
Regretfully, I've decided to pull back from public history for the next 6 months.
The PhD is taking me away from other projects I'd like to pursue, so I'm going to drill down and try to finish it off. With that, editing a book, teaching and motherhood, I've hit my limit.
57
4
339
Tell me you're Polish without telling me you're Polish 🇵🇱
542
20
315
"Went missing"
More than 600 thousand Soviet soldiers gave their lives to liberate
#Poland
. Defending their motherland, 26 thousand Polish troops were killed or went missing.
#WW2
#Victory75
263
28
72
35
68
307
I don't know how else to explain that a Tweet is a way of communicating information and not actually the total sum of my knowledge.
11
16
327
One of a series of postcards printed in the UK and given as souvenirs by Polish troops stationed in Scotland.
7
52
319
Shout out to Admiral Jozéf Unrug, who, despite speaking German far more fluently than Polish, refused to speak in German to his German captors after the surrender of Hel in October 1939 - and insisted on a translator being brought in.
17
59
320
Sorry to be a pedantic nutter but there were no 'Free Polish' forces because Poland did not surrender.
There were 'Polish' forces fighting for a government-in-exile which had inherited its constitutional mandate from the peacetime government.
15
22
316
'Journeying across the Iranian desert in Australian hats'
Young Polish women, survivors of Siberian deportation, with their new uniform.
13
64
317