Poles in German Forces
Around 500,000 people who were citizens of Poland before 1939 were drafted into the German armed forces during the war. These were mostly people who were considered by the Nazi authorities to be ethnically German (Volksdeutsche). The degree of loyalty of these soldiers to the Nazi cause varied; tens of thousands of them volunteered to join Polish formations after being taken prisoner by the Allies (15,000 joined in 1944 alone during fighting in Western Europe).
Read more about this topic: Polish Contribution To World War II
Famous quotes containing the words poles, german and/or forces:
“I see you boys of summer in your ruin.
Man in his maggot’s barren.
And boys are full and foreign in the pouch.
I am the man your father was.
We are the sons of flint and pitch.
O see the poles are kissing as they cross.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)
“I am particularly interested in the indications that the people seem to understand and approve the necessity of pursuing the course that will prevent a further effort on the part of the German peoples to continue the struggle for world domination, even though they are thoroughly beaten in this war.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)
“No one will stop to help you when you are in need, but everyone forces opinions upon you that you do not require.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)