Welcome to Paradise
One
of the pleasing aspects of being a Celtic supporter of a certain vintage has
been watching our fan base become more diverse. In the early days of the club
the average Celtic supporter was a product of the Irish community which gave
birth to the club in the first place. That is not to say that all supporters in
the early days fitted that profile but most did. My grandad on my mother’s side
came from what you might call an ‘Orange’ family but he loved Celtic and told
me as a boy that they played the best football. He liked nothing more than
watching McGrory, Scarff and Napier attacking the opposition even though his
brothers ostracised him and on one occasion burned his Celtic scarf in the
fire. It may appear strange to modern eyes that supporting a football club
could lead to rifts in families but Celtic elicits strong emotions in some and
some of the prejudice the club met in its early years lingers on yet.
Today
we see Celtic supporters coming from a variety of backgrounds which reflects the diverse nature of modern Scotland. Those of you who attend games regularly
will have noticed the banners of the Polish Bhoys and the Polska Number 1 CSC
at Celtic Park. Relations between
Scotland and Poland stretch back over 500 years and one Polish study records
that….
‘One of
the greatest figures in Scottish history, Charles Edward Stuart, better known
as Bonnie Prince Charlie, who led an ill-fated attempt to regain the British
throne for his family in 1745, was half Polish. His mother was Maria Klementyna
Sobieska, the granddaughter of Polish King Jan III Sobieski. But the blood-ties
between Scots and Poles are far more extensive than this royal link. A long
history of Scottish migration to Poland, starting in the 15th century, means
the country boasts several villages and districts named Nowa Szkocja or Szkocja
(New Scotland), and Polonised Scottish surnames are surprisingly common –
MacLeod became Machlejd, for example.’
In more modern times one of the more epic journeys of the 20th
century was that of the Poles who ended up in Scotland during World War 2.
After the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939, the UK and France declared war on
Germany. The Poles fought gallantly but as the blitzkrieg cut deeply into their
country things looked bleak. The final stab in the back came when Stalin sent
the Red Army in from the east to brutally occupy eastern Poland. In order to
pacify the newly annexed areas of Poland, the Soviets sent hundreds of
thousands of Poles to the bleak gulags of Siberia where many perished in the dreadful
conditions. In the spring of 1940, as Hitler launched his army against France,
Stalin ordered the slaughter of more than 20,000 Polish army officers held
prisoner in Russia. The Katyn Massacre is still commemorated in Poland today
and remains one of the worst atrocities of World War 2. Things looked tough for
Poland with the country annexed by two ruthless dictators. For the hundreds of
thousands of Poles exiled in Russia the future was very uncertain but events in
the summer of 1941 changed everything.
Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 saw
Hitler turn on the USSR with an invasion carried out by 3 million axis troops.
Britain, who viewed the USSR as a despicable dictatorship now found itself an
ally of Stalin. The Russians decided that the Poles in their country might as
well go and fight the Nazis who were soon smashing their way towards Moscow.
Many thousands of Polish men women and children under the command of General
Anders began the long trek through Siberia, southern USSR and eventually
through Syria to British controlled Palestine. The British happily enrolled the
many thousands of former Polish soldiers into their own overstretched army and
many of them were sent to Perthshire in Scotland for training.
Polish soldiers and airmen contributed hugely to the defence
of the UK in the darker days of the war. The famous 303 Fighter Squadron of the
RAF was made up of Polish Pilots and shot down over 400 German planes in the
war. In Scotland the thousands of Polish soldiers were trained and formed into
the 1st Polish Armoured Division.
Polish troops saw action in North Africa and in Italy where following a
brutal battle the Poles stormed the German positions on Monte Casino and
planted their red and white banner on the ruins of the old monastery. When the
invasion of France came in June 1944 though, it was to lead to the finest hour
of the Polish Armoured Division led by their beloved General Maczek.
By August 1944, the British, Canadian and Polish forces were
closing in on the German 7th Army and 5th Panzer Army from
the north while the Americans were moving up from the south in a huge pincer
movement. The plan was to trap and destroy the entire German Army in Normandy.
As the trap closed, it was the job of the Polish Armoured Division to be the ‘cork
in the bottle’ and halt the German escape. They captured the vital high ground known
as ‘Hill 262’ and then fought off a series of sustained and increasingly
desperate attacks by Werhmacht and SS units who knew the trap was closing. The
Poles suffered many casualties but inflicted many more on the attacking Germans
and didn’t yield. This contributed hugely to the allied victory in France.
After the battles for France, the Polish Armoured Division fought its way
through Holland, liberating the city of Breda to scenes of great joy and
eventually captured the German port of Willhelmshaven as the war came to an
end.
For many Polish soldiers though their victories were
bitter-sweet. The allies allowed Stalin free reign to dominate post-war Poland
and the majority of Polish soldiers would never see their homeland again.
Indeed the communist puppet government the USSR set up in Poland stripped many
Poles fighting in the west of their citizenship. They gave so much defending
their own land and liberating others and their reward was betrayal. Thousands
of Poles who returned to Scotland after the war settled there permanently and
after leaving the forces had to find jobs in mines and factories. Many married
Scottish women and never saw Poland again. General Maczek ended up working in
the bar of an Edinburgh hotel where former comrades would buy a drink and
salute their former Commander before downing it.
The Poles in Scotland were generally made welcome as brothers
in arms fighting a common enemy. They were grateful for the welcome they
received and have left their mark in Scotland. In the Barony Castle Hotel in
Eddleston, (Scottish Borders) which was
a Polish Officer training HQ in the war years. the Polish owner created a huge
concrete map of Scotland in the grounds of the hotel in recognition of the
welcome the Poles received in Scotland.
In a quiet corner of Duns, a town in
Berwickshire there is a memorial to the Polish Armoured Division which was unveiled
by its former Commander, General Maczec. The old General lived to be 102 years
old and when he passed on in 1994 he was buried beside his fallen comrades in
the Polish military cemetery in the Dutch town of Breda which he and his men
had liberated 50 years before.
So when you see the flag of the Polska Number 1 CSC or the
Polish Bhoys CSC at Celtic Park, it’s worth remembering the contribution the
Polish community made to this country. They join many other groups in Scotland
who see Celtic as their team and we’re proud to call them fellow Celts.
Witajcie w rajskich chłopcach! Hail Hail
great piece... just need to put you right on one thing. "Russia did not" invade Poland after germany.. Russia invaded poland at the same time as germany !! to the minute !!!check it out ! its there to be found outside the "propaganda" pish ! then think about the implications !!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant piece of writing. I have met Lebanese Celtic supporters proudly wearing the Green and White Hoops in the Malls and Streets of Beirut.
DeleteThese Bhoysand Ghirls were just as passionate about the Celtic as I am.
We welcome all Races and Creeds to the Celtic Family. Their biggest déan is to see their team play at Celtic Park. I would say that's Not A Bad Ambition to Have. H H
The USSR invaded Easterm Poland on September 17th 1939, 16 days after the Germans invaded in the west (north & south) If I'm wrong then every reputable historian I've ever read is part of this propaganda? The Polish Government give the 17th as the date too.
ReplyDeleteExcellent reading
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul, appreciate you taking the time to read it HH
DeleteGreat article thanks. Just to clarify about the two invasions: Germany and the USSR agreed in August 1939 to divide Poland (and other neighbouring states). Germany invaded on 1 September, but Stalin chose to wait till 17th, presumably to allow the Germans to take the bulk of the flak and thus make it an easier task for the Soviet troops.
DeleteAs an aside my dad was one of those Poles deported to slave labour in Northern Russia who fought in the Polish army then navy before settling in Scotland. He became Chairman of Hamilton Accies in 1969, made Ronnie Simpson manager of the club in 1970/1, then later did the same for Bertie Auld.
Good stuff. A club open to all. HH Phil
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather was one of many who managed to escape the atrocities in Poland and eventually settle in Scotland. He saldy passed 27 years ago when I was in my teens, but I have always remembered Poland's sacrifice through adversity, and the new lives many had to build over here from WW2. He was a master builder around Argyll for many years, and I still remember his Celtic mug sitting in the kitchen shelf. He would be proud of the reputation charity and success the club has built up, as I am myself. His experiences,his life story and his legacy to us are in stark contrast to other more locally minded xenophobic opinions from around the country. The conclusion of the Nazi regime had us all told "lest we forget" whilst reminding each other of the danger of right wing extremism. It's as important now as it's ever been to illuminate hose past memories of my grandfather and many like him to ensure those horrific times are never imposed on society again.
ReplyDeleteFantastic piece of history and a nice reminder to never forget the sacrifices of all our allies during both world wars,and also showing that Celtic FC is a club for all comers no matter race,creed or colour.HH
ReplyDeleteGreat read and a wonderful reminder of the diversity of our club.
ReplyDeleteMust say aye really enjoyed this read great article H H 🍀🍀
ReplyDeleteGreat piece. Jan Sobieski III, with his Winged Hussars, was a true hero of Europe. And, rather more recently (and prosaically), Artur Boruc performed some heroics for us on the European stage. God bless Poland. HH.
ReplyDeleteJust to add that St Simon's Church in Partick where Mass is still celebrated in Polish served the Poles that were stationed in Yorkhill Barracks after escaping from the Nazis during the war.
ReplyDeleteEach year at Christmas the Polish community helps to decorate the church with a nod to their homeland.
There is a large stone outside with an inscription thanking the church for their help through those difficult times and although a small church it has a very long and distinguished history.
Hi John, I've seen that plaque on many occasions & was aware of the Polish link to St Simon's. I have taught a few Polish kids over the years & their families are always pleased when I tell them about that church & the Sikorski Club GG
DeleteHi Tirnaog,
DeleteI was married in St Simon's 32 years ago by a Fr Tierney who was a very funny man as well. I remember he took in a stray cat and called it Billy. We all thought that it was a strange name for a cat until he explained that most Billys in Glasgow had strayed from home lol.
If I remember correctly Tosh McKinlay's father was a passkeeper there around that time as well.
The amount of English who don't appreciate what Poland done for Britain during the war is astounding. I tried to explain to an English why 10 German Bombers is offensive, not just to Germans and Scots but to many Poles who were in the 303rd squadron. He said I never knew that and would google it. Needless to say his favourite Scottish team played out of Govan.
ReplyDelete