Kamikadze in Japan were not the first to carry out suicide combat missions behind their homeland. In 1939, Poles volunteered thousands to die as “living torpedoes”. Who were the Polish kamikazes and did they influence the past of planet War II? Did they even exist?
Kamikaga in Japan is not only a communicative of planet War II, but besides an component of pop culture. However, in Poland volunteers to die for their homeland were not short in 1939. Although there are not many papers on the subject, any sources say that Poland used... "living torpedoes", that is torpedoes controlled in front of people. Is Polish kamikaze They existed and did they execute any combat missions?
Polish kamikazes and “living torpedoes” in 1939
Numerous sources confirm that Poland conducted recruitment of Polish kamikaze. The first for the suicide mission came in 1937 reserve mate Stanisław Chojecki. In a letter to Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigł, he reported readiness to execute the mission as a "living torpedo" if planet War II broke out. More volunteers shortly appeared, and on April 29, 1939, a letter of 3 young men, Władysław Bożeczko and Edward and Leon Lutostan, were printed. They encouraged Poles to service as "living torpedoes". Overall, 1939 for suicide missions 5,000 Poles were to come in, mostly aged 18-28.
In 1939, paperboys have their hands full. "Illustrated Courier Daily" – a diary with the top circulation – shouts the red-black header "Live torpedoes in Poland" – Newsweek writes.
Well, I and my 2 brothers-in-laws – the Warsawians from Pocztowa compose – we call on all Poles, who want to give their lives immediately for Homeland, but not in the ranks of the army together with everyone, but in the form of live torpedoes from submarines, surviving bombs from airplanes, as live anti-tank and anti-tank mines – we read in the letter of Bożazka and Lutostanski.
What guided them? Kazimierz Malek, the great-aunt of Maciej Koterby, a student from Łódź, explained that “this is what a actual Polish patriot should do.” We don't have our Maginot Line, let's make it from our bodies – 1 of the volunteers wrote to Rydz-Śmigły. In a letter from God and Lutostan, we read that Poland did not have many torpedoes, bombs and mines, and their usage could cost the lives of many soldiers, so it is better for 1 man to give his life as a surviving bullet for savings.
There were besides women. There were 150 of them. An example is Zenobia Crane. However, she was never called on a mission, so she took care of follow-up of seizures and taking arms from transport. She took part in many actions as an orderly.
An army that had not previously planned to usage suicide volunteers began collecting their reports. The Navy selected 89 people who were invited to meet in Gdynia. – Grandpa said that the officer showed them drawings and plans of the boat with the torpedo suspended, talked about 16 prototypes of specified a gun, and reported that the pilot could save himself from it by leaving the vehicle just before hitting the target," the student recalls. In October 1939, volunteers were to undergo training with torpedo operation and navigation – writes Armed Poland.
Dr. Jan Chmielewski, historian of the Second planet War period, points out that although the Polish navy had projects and plans to usage the Polish kamikaze, volunteers were not missing, but no suicide mission was always carried out. any sources say that "living torpedoes" and Polish kamikazes were misinformation, intended to origin panic among the Germans.
A peculiar study was created in the office of the Polish Army, which selected 250 people among suicide volunteers who were seconded. for risky diversion actions on the German back. On the basis of these ‘blades’, a peculiar battalion (the ‘death battalion’) was formed in the Sanock 2nd Podhalan firearm Regiment. They crashed, among others, the columns of cars close Bogumin. In the besieged Warsaw, the kamikazes interrupted the communication to the Germans. Unfortunately, during planet War II A list of “living torpedoes” came to the hands of Germans and Russians, which had tragic consequences for many of them, besides after the end of the war.
Live torpedoes were utilized successfully in another countries. In 1918, suicide soldiers sank the Austro-Hungarian battleship "Viribus Unitis". In 1941, a newer version of their torpedo destroyed the British battleship “Queen Elizabeth”.
Edward Lutostanski was sentenced by the PRL authorities to death punishment in 1950. She was later traded for 12 years in prison. However, he assured that he never regretted his decision years ago. Like Maciek's dead grandfather. “When I asked him if he would do the same today, he confirmed without thinking,” Koterba says. (Army Poland)
Sources: Armed Poland, past Without Censure, Virtual Poland, Newsweek, Elżbieta Szumiec Zielińska "Live torpedoes 1939"
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