Theo Young-Smith

Yes, and not all German officers are comfortable with it. So there's a guy called Colonel General Johannes Blaskowicz, who is a Wehrmacht commander in Poland. And Two months into this, so in November 1939, he wrote a report. And he said, I'm absolutely appalled by what we've done. By the animal and pathological instincts of the SS.

Yes, and not all German officers are comfortable with it. So there's a guy called Colonel General Johannes Blaskowicz, who is a Wehrmacht commander in Poland. And Two months into this, so in November 1939, he wrote a report. And he said, I'm absolutely appalled by what we've done. By the animal and pathological instincts of the SS.

Yes, and not all German officers are comfortable with it. So there's a guy called Colonel General Johannes Blaskowicz, who is a Wehrmacht commander in Poland. And Two months into this, so in November 1939, he wrote a report. And he said, I'm absolutely appalled by what we've done. By the animal and pathological instincts of the SS.

He said, we have murdered tens of thousands of Jews and Polish civilians. And he said, if we don't bring the SS under control now, remember this is just two months into the Second World War, there will be an immeasurable brutalization and moral debasement. And his superiors were kind of, they thought this bloke's lost his marbles. They basically buried his report. He persisted.

He said, we have murdered tens of thousands of Jews and Polish civilians. And he said, if we don't bring the SS under control now, remember this is just two months into the Second World War, there will be an immeasurable brutalization and moral debasement. And his superiors were kind of, they thought this bloke's lost his marbles. They basically buried his report. He persisted.

He said, we have murdered tens of thousands of Jews and Polish civilians. And he said, if we don't bring the SS under control now, remember this is just two months into the Second World War, there will be an immeasurable brutalization and moral debasement. And his superiors were kind of, they thought this bloke's lost his marbles. They basically buried his report. He persisted.

Hitler was told about it. And Hitler just said very contemptuously, you can't wage war with Salvation Army methods. And Blazkowicz was the only senior commander who wasn't promoted after the conquest of Poland. He basically denied promotion. He was brought back later on, but his career kind of stalled. And actually, he ended up taking his own life at the Nuremberg trials.

Hitler was told about it. And Hitler just said very contemptuously, you can't wage war with Salvation Army methods. And Blazkowicz was the only senior commander who wasn't promoted after the conquest of Poland. He basically denied promotion. He was brought back later on, but his career kind of stalled. And actually, he ended up taking his own life at the Nuremberg trials.

Hitler was told about it. And Hitler just said very contemptuously, you can't wage war with Salvation Army methods. And Blazkowicz was the only senior commander who wasn't promoted after the conquest of Poland. He basically denied promotion. He was brought back later on, but his career kind of stalled. And actually, he ended up taking his own life at the Nuremberg trials.

And he was going to be acquitted. He was put on trial at Nuremberg and he jumped out of a window, killed himself. And the judges and everybody were very surprised because they said not only were we going to acquit him, we were going to say he was how the German army should have behaved. He was clearly so traumatized by guilt and honor. Anyway, back to the narrative.

And he was going to be acquitted. He was put on trial at Nuremberg and he jumped out of a window, killed himself. And the judges and everybody were very surprised because they said not only were we going to acquit him, we were going to say he was how the German army should have behaved. He was clearly so traumatized by guilt and honor. Anyway, back to the narrative.

And he was going to be acquitted. He was put on trial at Nuremberg and he jumped out of a window, killed himself. And the judges and everybody were very surprised because they said not only were we going to acquit him, we were going to say he was how the German army should have behaved. He was clearly so traumatized by guilt and honor. Anyway, back to the narrative.

All the time the Germans are grinding eastwards. On the 7th of September, the Poles move their high command to the far east of the country, to Brest, because they realise that Warsaw is next in the firing line. Their communications network has fallen apart. Their defensive plan is in a complete and utter mess.

All the time the Germans are grinding eastwards. On the 7th of September, the Poles move their high command to the far east of the country, to Brest, because they realise that Warsaw is next in the firing line. Their communications network has fallen apart. Their defensive plan is in a complete and utter mess.

All the time the Germans are grinding eastwards. On the 7th of September, the Poles move their high command to the far east of the country, to Brest, because they realise that Warsaw is next in the firing line. Their communications network has fallen apart. Their defensive plan is in a complete and utter mess.

And the next day, the 8th of September, the German panzers reach the outskirts of Warsaw.

And the next day, the 8th of September, the German panzers reach the outskirts of Warsaw.

And the next day, the 8th of September, the German panzers reach the outskirts of Warsaw.

Heroically, I think, Tom, in a word. We heard from the mayor, Stefan Starzynski, at the very beginning. He musters the population of the city to dig anti-tank ditches and to put up barricades and all this stuff. And they actually do hold off the first German attack. The Germans surround, they then surround the city with infantry and with panzers.

Heroically, I think, Tom, in a word. We heard from the mayor, Stefan Starzynski, at the very beginning. He musters the population of the city to dig anti-tank ditches and to put up barricades and all this stuff. And they actually do hold off the first German attack. The Germans surround, they then surround the city with infantry and with panzers.