In 1920 there was a little known war between the brand new Soviet Union and Poland, whereby Poland stood in the way of the imposing Communism by force over Europe.
Over a million Soviet soldiers attacked Warsaw, certain defeat loomed - yet, despite all odds, the Poles turned them back. This victory is known as the Miracle on the Visula, as the invading Soviets were said to have seen Our Lady on a cloud over the city, thus causing confusion in their ranks and leading to their defeat.
A Polish chaplain told me of the Miracle of the Vistula while kilted Scottish pipers played the Polish national anthem. He told me of that eve of the Feast of the Assumption twenty years ago when Our Lady's Poland fell back in demoralised retreat before the anti-God hordes of Soviet Russia.My Grandfather fought in this war. For this reason, he and his family were deported to Siberia in WWII - Stalin's revenge for his humiliating defeat in 1920.
THE MIRACLE OF THE VISTULA
" We were beaten," he said. " Bitterly and terribly beaten, demoralised, crushed.
It was at that moment that the hearts of our men went out to her whom we had crowned true Queen of Poland, and who that next day would seat herself at the side of her Beloved Son in heaven. We prayed to her, sang that song to Our Lady without which no Polish soldier would do battle.
"Our good General Sikorski, whom you see here to-day, was in command of the North Front. He and his men, with the cry of love to Our Lady on their lips, had the courage and the audacity to launch a counter-attack. The anti-God hordes were swept back like chaff. Our Lady was with us. A miracle was happening before our eyes. The men whose faces had been lined with tragedy had taken on a new spirit, a new determination,"
A movie on the war by Polish film maker, Jerzy Hoffman, has just been released in Poland. The trailer for 1920: The Battle of Warsaw is above and it looks incredibly dramatic. It's awesome that movie has been made to show the history of that time, so few people know much about this. I hope it comes out here to New Zealand.
Related links: POLISH TROOPS CELEBRATE Miracle of Vistula
Recalled in Scottish Village ~ Catholic Herald UK
My Grandfather fought in this war.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's him and his mates who deserve the credit for their excellent and hard-won victory. Assuming it must have been some really powerful woo that won it for them demonstrates anything but respect for them.
I doubt my Grandfather would see it that way, Psycho.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, supernatural help doesn't do all the work for you - you still have to do as much as you are able, and then some. Supernatural help takes care of the impossible.
It's like that in every day life as well.
Sure - this kind of religious superstition has a long tradition. The Lakota didn't stand a chance at the Battle of the Hundred in the Hand until the gods showed the medicine man the lives of a hundred Americans in his hands, after which they killed nearly a hundred Americans. The Athenians were never up to much unless Athena turned up to reassure them they'd win, and so on. Historians tend to offer a somewhat different explanation for events.
ReplyDeleteAssuming it must have been some really powerful woo that won it for them demonstrates anything but respect for them.
ReplyDeleteRubbish. (Aside from your phrasing of the argument).
Did having weapons help? Or was it merely having to fight hard?
A miracle was happening before our eyes. The men whose faces had been lined with tragedy had taken on a new spirit, a new determination,"
The historian misses much if he doesn't include this.
Wandered off topic a bit. My first word shouldn't need further explanation though, so I'll let it stand alone as a well reasoned, detailed response to your suggestion.
ReplyDelete