Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36456 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 776 pages

Anne Applebaum, Evening Standard, 27 October 2003
'Davies is at his best when he focuses on issues such as everyday life during the uprising'

John Crossland, Sunday Times, 2 November 2003
'Passionate and impressive'

Daniel Johnson in Daily Telegraph, November 2003
This is a splendid book, long overdue and a worthy memorial to its noble subject.

Customer Reviews

A Magnificent Account of the Battle for Warsaw 1944
This magnificent book must be the definitive work in English on the uprising of the Poles in Warsaw in 1944 against their German oppressors. (Potential readers should not confuse this sixty-six day battle with the rather more limited and tragic ghetto rising of 1943.) The breadth and sweep of Davies' book and the staggering amount of research that must have been undertaken are truly impressive. Davies begins by examining the attitudes towards the occupation of Poland and the possibility of an uprising in Warsaw that prevailed in the Allied capitals of London and Washington, also in Moscow whose armies were fast approaching the city and in Poland itself, a country with a long history of insurrection against occupiers. The actual uprising and its progress is dealt with in considerable detail from all points of view including that of the Germans and the consistently hostile British press. 'Capsules' of personal experiences are inserted in the text that may be read or skipped to maintain the narrative thrust. The last part of the book deals with the Stalinist repression that followed the sweep West by the Soviet armies and the widespread operation of the NKVD (Secret Police) and brings us right up to the year 2000 with regard to the national treatment of the events of 1944. Davies goes to great lengths to describe fairly the actions of the Soviet forces but does not flinch at a clear description of the treatment of the Poles under the Soviet regime. In this respect the book is much more reliable than other histories provided by left-leaning academics. Equally the shabby treatment the Poles received from Roosevelt and also the British Foreign Office is explained plainly. Three sections of excellent contemporary photographs are provided together with copious appendices. Prospective buyers should know that Norman Davies is held in high esteem in Poland and I have no hesitation in recommending this magnificent book to all those interested in Polish history.

Raw Truth Hurts
Having recently returned from a business trip to Warsaw, but having the opportunity to visit the Warsaw Rising museum - a deeply moving and disturbing experience - I bought and found Norman Davies 'Rising' one of the best history books I have ever read. Not only is it passionate and well written, but it also leaves a nasty taste in the Western mouth as to our pathetic lack of support for the Warsaw poles in their desperate fight against the Nazis and then the Soviets. This is no light read, and no-one should approach it expecting an easy and simply factual recounting of the true Warsaw rising of 1944 so often confused with the earlier Warsaw Ghetto rising. It left me a sadder and hopefully more enlightened person. And I hope it is compulsory reading in German and Russian schools!

Poles don't give up.......ever
A soul stirring book. A nation with along tradition of rebellion, the Poles were always going to rise..it was just a matter of when. The Germans seem to have known this and therefore meted out special treatment during their occupation.
All the various aspects of politics, planning, communication and intelligence are covered without any great emphasis on military technicalities.
The only real issue I have with the narrative is the use of "The resistance" to cover the AK. They were the "home army", a fully military force with "proper" ranks and organisation and fought in uniform. I feel "resistance" gives the general reader the impression of civilians with a gun.
When you read this and pick up on how Poles were fighting alongside their "allies" in Italy, Western Europe, with the Red Army (The polish paras were dropped into Arnhem whilst the rising was on...guess where they wanted to go! Read Poles Apart for their story) and yet so little positive help was extended towards Warsaw you feel humbled.
This book may just make you ask the next old chap you meet with a Polish surname "how did you get here?" and you may feel grateful to him for his sacrifice rather than maybe expect him to be grateful for being allowed to live here.