Arkady FiedlerRezensionen

Forget dry history tomes! Buckle up for a thrilling ride through the skies of the Battle of Britain with Arkady Fiedler's "303 Squadron." This isn't just a story about warplanes and dogfights; it's a heart-pounding saga of courage, camaraderie, and the underdog spirit soaring against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Fiedler transports us to the desperate summer of 1940. Britain stands alone, facing the Luftwaffe's relentless onslaught. Enter the 303 Squadron, a band of Polish fighter pilots brimming with skill and unwavering determination. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, they seamlessly integrate into the Royal Air Force, their Hawker Hurricanes becoming extensions of their fighting spirit.

The book doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of war. We witness the adrenaline-pumping aerial battles, the agonizing losses, and the quiet moments of camaraderie that fueled their resilience. Fiedler masterfully weaves personal stories into the historical narrative, making the heroes more than just names on a page. We connect with their hopes, fears, and unwavering dedication to defending their adopted home.

However, prepare for a bumpy ride. Fiedler's passionate storytelling sometimes verges on romanticization, and the lack of citations might leave history buffs hungry for deeper context. Additionally, the narrative occasionally gets bogged down in technical details of aircraft and maneuvers, potentially losing some non-aviation enthusiasts.

But here's the truth: these minor quibbles fade away when you consider the book's strengths. Fiedler's vivid descriptions put you right in the cockpit, feeling the G-forces and the thrill of the chase. The human stories resonate, reminding us that even in the darkest hours, courage and perseverance can shine through.

So, should you "take off" with this book? Absolutely! If you're looking for an exciting and inspiring read that brings the Battle of Britain to life, "303 Squadron" is a surefire winner. Just be prepared to navigate a few turbulence patches along the way. Remember, even the most legendary journeys sometimes encounter a bit of headwind.

Would I recommend it?

For history buffs with a soft spot for underdog stories and thrilling tales of aerial combat, a resounding yes! Just manage your expectations for historical rigor and buckle up for an emotional rollercoaster.

Książka ta jest zapisem kilkumiesięcznej wyprawy do północnej części kanadyjskiej prowincji Ontario, którą Fiedler odbył w latach 30-tych ubiegłego wieku. Pomimo tego, iż książka ta ukazała się na rynku blisko 80 lat temu, wydaje się być nadal w miarę aktualna, szczególnie, że dotyczy głównie przyrody i "dzikich" terenów, których nadal jest wiele w Kanadzie. Fiedler wspomina tu kanadyjską Polonię (m.in z Montrealu czy z Wilna - najstarszej polskiej/ kaszubskiej osady w Kanadzie), ale spędza większość lata w "dziczy", na podziwianiu dzikich kanadyjskich lasów i jezior, w których poluje i obozuje wraz z lokalnymi traperami i Indianami. I to właśnie ta część książki - mówiąca o przyrodzie i jej związku z człowiekiem - jest zasadniczą częścią tej pięknej pozycji. Mnóstwo jest tu również ciekawych dygresji, historycznych wydarzeń i osób, niejednokrotnie związanych z Polską, które miały znaczenie dla rozwoju Kanady jako państwa, czy też jej poszczególnych regionów.
W moim odczuciu jest to naprawdę ciekawa i dobrze napisana pozycja, która zainteresuje wszystkich pasjonatów przyrody oraz tych, którzy marzą o odkrywaniu nowych miejsc na mapie świata. Dla mnie, jako osoby mieszkającej w rejonie Kanady jeszcze bardziej wysuniętym na północ niż prowincja, którą Fiedler odkrywał 80 lat temu, książka ta wydała się w pewnym sensie zaskakująco aktualna. Do tego została napisana przepięknym, wręcz poetyckim stylem narracji, którego nie spotyka się juz zbyt często we współczesnej nam literaturze podróżniczej. Gorąco polecam, "Kanadę..." czyta się lekko i z przyjemnością!½

“303 Squadron” is both an important primary historical document and, it turns out, a pretty good adventure story too. Though definitely a product of its time and place (Battle of Britain-era England), it holds up well for the twenty-first century reader interested in dramatic first-person war narratives and forgotten heroism.

Following the fall of Poland to Nazi (and, lest we forget, Soviet) invaders, a fair number of Polish pilots managed to escape through Hungary and Romania and make their way to France, arriving just in time to take on the Germans again in the invasion that began (coincidentally) 71 years ago today. After France fell, they escaped again to Britain, where they flew in special Polish Air Force squadrons established and maintained by the RAF. Polish writer Arkady Fiedler chronicled the exploits of 303 Squadron, though he did so using pseudonyms for the pilots and ground crews so their families would not be exposed to Nazi reprisals.

In this great new edition from publishers Aquila Polonica, the subjects’ real names are revealed, and a great deal of additional material has been added as well. Most notable is a long section featuring the biographies of many heroic 303 Squadron pilots detailing their individual achievements and what they did after the war if they were fortunate enough to survive.

For the modern reader, author Fiedler’s style comes as a bit of a surprise. It doesn’t have the objective tone we expect historians to have (or simulate), nor much feeling of a journalist standing a step back from his story. Himself a patriotic Pole far from home, Fiedler justly celebrates brave pilots, hardworking and under-recognized ground crews, and the heroism they showed standing alongside their British allies to defeat the Nazi hordes. Indeed, Fiedler explicitly states he hopes his book will be testimony in post-war times to the strong bond that united Briton and Pole during the Finest Hour. In an era when “Polish plumber” has become shorthand for ethnic and economic tensions within the EU, we could all use a reminder of that bond. I recommend this highly.

So much fun. This was a great, quick read, written as anti-NAZI propaganda and dropped into occupied Poland to tell them the story of their countrymen fighting their occupiers in the skies over Britain and the English Channel, the language is over-the-top newsreel pomp and embellishment at its finest.

This book is written in the epic tone that portrays Poles--and particularly the Polish pilots of Squadron 303--as superhuman, mythic figures.

It makes this book an unbelievably energetic, wonderful read, though it's purpose was not to be an objective history but a public relations campaign, with unalloyed biases and soda-straw tunnel vision.

But I think this less objective style manages to portray the frenetic emergence of the situation, the drama, the passion of human feeling and the direness of the war much better than more objective accounts of the events.

This book--or perhaps its translator--manages to convey much more of the meaning and individual experience of a pivotal moment in history than a mere accounting of events could do. Written with unaccustomed panache and overdrama, I thought it was such a fun read.'

An inspiring book. I can only imagine how this story of these courageous Polish and one Czech pilot brought hope to the Polish people in such a dark time in our history. The narrative kept me on the edge of my seat as I felt I was in the pilot seat with each one of them. Unassuming real heroes the 303 was! A must read for everybody who wants to understand courage, freedom that triumphs under unimaginable odds.

The story of a small group of Polish fighter pilots in their fight against the Nazi’s during the early days of WW2, without the help of these brave men and their support crews, the Battle of Britain may very well have had a very different outcome.

If you are a history buff about WW2, then this is a must read about how the air battle over England during Aug – Sept 1940 was won by so few.

Of all the books I have the privilege of winning from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers drawings, this book is a keeper!

I found this book to be a pleasure to read, to be educational about a subject I never knew existed, and as delightful illustration of a writing style not often seen any more.

I have read a lot about WWII, but the story of the Polish fliers who fought alongside the British pilots of the RAF was news to me. Their bravery and their hunger to be in the fight were impressive; I haven't forgotten them though I finished the books weeks ago. And the writing style itself reminded me of the voiceovers of wartime newsreels: when I imagined reading the book in such a voice it unfolded at a rapid pace and grabbed me emotionally.

Concise, easy to read and about a part of WW11 that has rarely generated much press or prose. The Polish fliers described in this book had fought in Poland, then France before they arrived in Britain. For each battlefield they had to learn to fly different airplanes and in the UK they had to face the mentality that reached its strategic nadir with Alan Brooke and its tactical equivalent with Montgomery. WE.are the British and have forgotten more about warfighting than you colonials (US and Dominion military) and and everyone (Polish, Czech, etc.) else not from this island.

They generally fought under British leadership, at the squadron level, but in spite of this, the 303 fliers were among the most effective airmen that defended England during the Battle of Britain. Their effectiveness was usually played down or they were dismissed as wild, vengeance bound crazy fliers that managed to shoot down so many "Adolfs" by sheer luck. The irony of their part in the allied victory was that Poland was in that part of Europe that was handed to Stalin.

For military history buffs and those interested in the air war over England during the fall of 1940, "303 Squadron" by Arkady Fiedler is a must-read. It offers an important account of a little-known (at least today) group of Polish fighter pilots who helped defend the skies over England during the Battle of Britian. Fiedler originally wrote this book in Polish in 1942. It was dropped into German-occupied Poland and boosted morale among the Polish Partisans.

The numbers Fiedler cites are amazing. "303 Squadron shot down three times more enemy aircraft than the average of the other RAF squadrons. Yet its own losses were only one-third those of those other squadrons." So, in other words, the Polish pilots of 303 Squadron (there were a few pilots from elsewhere, but the squadron was predominantly Polish) shot down more German planes than other squadrons while sustaining fewer casualties. The story of these Polish aces is a fascinating WWII tale.

Despite its nearly 300 pages, the book is a quick read. The book is full of the pilots' exciting personal accounts of aerial combat, dogfights, and playing cat-and-mouse with German fighters in the clouds. The descriptions of the dogfights are a reason alone to read the book. You get to know the men and cheer for them as they are scrambled to meet swarm after swarm of Luftwaffe fighters and bombers heading towards London. This book is also full of black and white photographs of the pilots, mostly resting and smiling on the ground during calm moments. Nearly 80 pages is appendices with additional information, including short biographies of the pilots discussed in the book. Fiedler book really only discusses one month (September) in 1940, so it was sad reading the biographies of the brave men I had just read about and constantly coming to the last paragraph that would say something like "he was killed in combat over France in 1942", or "he was killed after ditching his damaged plane into the English Channel in 1941".

As most books written in the midst of the titanic struggle they try to describe, Fiedler's writing is very cheesy at times, full of morale-boosting declarations and broad generalizations of the "little Adolfs" being shot down by the Polish fighters. But Fiedler can be forgiven for his writing style. It was of his time. In this case, it's part of the book's historical significance. The book is a piece of history itself.

“303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron” is the story of a Royal Air Force squadron that fought in the Battle of Britain made up mainly of Polish pilots. Originally written in Polish, this edition is a new translation commissioned by the son of the author. Written in 1940, almost instantaneously as the air war progressed it was first translated into English in 1942. Then in 1943, ‘underground ‘ copies in the original Polish were parachuted into occupied Poland to boost the morale of the oppressed Polish population. It has since become a classic in Poland.
By trade a travel writer, author Arkady Fiedler does not seem to have any journalistic training so, there is no shame in the enthusiasm he shows as he extols the heroics of his fellow countrymen. He brings a fresh perspective as most of the pieces seem to have been written immediately after the battles. The text reads like a play by play, there is a newsreel feel to it, but we must remember it was written as a statement to the Polish people that they did have warriors on the front lines.
The narrative is light so this updated edition is packed with photos, short pilot biographies and other features. This is not an all encompassing history of the Poles in the Royal Air Force nor, is it intended to be. It is entertaining for what it is, a report from the airfields of the valiant fight put up by a handful of fighters who escaped occupation to fight another day.

This is a lovingly prepared update of Fielder's 1942 account of the exploits of a cadre of Polish flyers fighting for the RAF in The Battle of Britain. Originally written as a tract to boost Allied morale in the darkest days of The Second World War, the book has apparently become a young adults' classic in Poland in the intervening years. While not an exhaustive history of the topic, 303 Squadron vividly describes the day to day exploits of a fearless and skilled group of fighter pilots.

This new edition of 303 Squadron is lavishly illustrated with period photos and contains an informative appendix of biographies of the pilots described in the book.

This is a fast and entertaining read for the general reader.

This is a new translation of a book first published during WWII. It covers the experiences of a squadron of Polish fighter pilots in the Battle of Britain. It tells a few accounts of combat as well as chapters describing the bravery of the other personnel. Apparently the book is taught in schools back in Poland and I can understand why. This new edition contains new photos, appendices and explanatory notes from the translator. Not exactly a book you would want to use in a scholarly paper but a good read.

Recommended.

Very vivid account of a squadron of Polish fighter pilots fighting for the British during the Battle of Britain. It was written at the time by a Polish writer and is understandably enthusiastic for its subjects -- all the Polish pilots are naturally heroic and the Germans naturally arrogant and evil. It was intended originally for general readers, English and (thanks to the Polish underground) Polish, so it is written in a clear popular style which makes the effectiveness of the Polish method of close attack clear without requiring technical knowledge (which I do not have). It stresses that despite the stereotype of Poles as brave to the point of recklessness, in fact the Polish fliers not only inflicted more losses on the Germans but also suffered fewer losses themselves than the British air force typically did during the battle. Despite this, it is sad to see from the biographical appendixes how many of the fliers did eventually die during the war. Those who lived faced the hard choice of making terms with the Communist government or remaining in exile; some made each decision. A few actually lived long enough to be honored in post-Communist Poland, which provides a bittersweet happy ending (added to this revised version of the original book.) The author's enthusiasm may seem a little excessive at times, but on the whole, I think these men deserved it.

Written in 1942 about the Battle of Britain, this book gives credit where credit is due. "Poles...who formed 5 percent of 'the Few', were responsible for 15 percent of the losses claimed to have been inflicted on the Luftwaffe." (Keegan, J.The Second World War ). Who knew that the Polish Air Force helped defeat the Luftwaffe in the skies over Britain ? And how did these Polish pilots end up in England in the first place?

Contains many photographs, (some with canine mascots), pilot biographies and much more! If you love WWII history, you will enjoy 303 Squadron.½

This is the story of a Polish Squadron of pilots during the Battle of Britain in WWII. Written in 1942 by a Polish man, it sounds a bit like a newsreel at times, but it was written to encourage those soldiers in Poland who were fighting underground for their freedom. It was also written to publicize the skill and dedication of the pilots and counteract prejudice of the times. The fact that I had not heard of this squadron before reading this, is testimony that the book is needed. These pilots contributed so much and deserve every bit of praise they received, although most did not survive the war to receive any.
This edition has many photos, records and appendices to enhance the story, as well as followup stories on the pilots spoken of. The translator has added footnotes to explain slang and events which might not be readily understood by a modern reader.
In addition to telling the story of the pilots, the author gives an exciting insight into what goes on in the air in the midst of battle. He also uses a chapter to give deserved praise to the ground crews without whom there would have been no victory.
I appreciated reading this. It was a quick, yet moving insight into the lives of some heroic men.½