PM praises Poland’s ‘unconquerable resistance’ on 80th anniversary of invasion
Boris Johnson pays tribute to Polish efforts repelling the Nazis when Germany invaded eight decades ago, saying the country 'never succumbed to tyranny'
Boris Johnson has praised the “dogged and unconquerable resistance” Poland displayed during the Second World War, 80 years after it was invaded by the Nazis.
His comments came as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, whose father was a kindertransport refugee, joined more than 40 world leaders in Warsaw on Sunday for a ceremony marking the outbreak of the conflict.
The Polish people “never succumbed to tyranny”, Mr Johnson said,
He added: “Today Poland lives and thrives in the heart of Europe, just as Churchill foretold.”
The UK has stood with Poland “in times of triumph and tragedy”, Mr Johnson said.
Poland also has the highest number of people recognised by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among The Nations – non-Jewish people who risked their lives to save Jews during the Shoah.
"80 years ago Hitler invaded Poland and triggered WWII, but the Polish people never succumbed to tyranny. We shall always remember their magnificent contribution to the struggle for freedom.” – PM Boris Johnson???????????????? #80WW2
פורסם על ידי UK Prime Minister ב- יום ראשון, 1 בספטמבר 2019
Others attending the ceremony in Poland include German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US vice-president Mike Pence, who is standing in for Donald Trump after he cancelled his trip due to the progress of Hurricane Dorian towards Florida.
Russian president Vladimir Putin was snubbed by the organisers of the anniversary event and Polish president Andrzej Duda used his speech to denounce aggression shown towards Georgia and Ukraine and the “imperialist tendencies” being displayed in Europe.
Following Hitler’s invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, British prime minister Neville Chamberlain admitted to the nation in a sombre radio address that his “long struggle to win peace” had failed.
Hours later, France issued its own ultimatum to Germany, setting in train the Second World War.
It was a conflict that lasted nearly six years and cost around 50 million lives, with six million Jews being murdered in the Holocaust.
Chamberlain made his famous radio address from the Cabinet room in 10 Downing Street.
He said: “This morning the British ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o’clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us.
“I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.
“You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed.
“Yet I cannot believe that there is anything more or anything different that I could have done, and that would have been more successful.”
He concluded his broadcast: “Now may God bless you all and may He defend the right.
“For it is evil things that we shall be fighting against – brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression, and persecution. And against them I am certain that the right will prevail.”
A year earlier, Chamberlain had returned to London from talks in Munich clutching an agreement signed by Hitler that he said meant “peace for our time”.
But the German leader continued his aggression in Europe, culminating in the invasion of Poland.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said eight decades ago, Britain went to war to “defend our values and our allies from the Nazis”.
He added: “Even though nearly every family in the UK still possessed the memories and hurt of the First World War, they were prepared again to make the ultimate sacrifice.
“The incredible courage of that generation who fought for our freedom must never be forgotten.
“This year the nation showed its gratitude to those who served on D-Day, a vital victory which brought peace within reach.
“Next year we will celebrate that peace with VE Day and VJ Day commemorations, once more paying tribute to the strength, skill and sacrifice of this special generation.
“Each day, sadly fewer of them are with us but our dedication to remembering their legacy grows.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
