The “Blacks and Shadows of the Heroic 5 Years” are highly valuable memories of Colonel Józef Rokicki, an officer of the Polish Army, chief of the National Military Organization (NOW) and 1 of the commanders of the Warsaw Uprising.
Rokicki, utilizing the pseudonym "Michael", describes his conspiracy activity in the book in 1939–1944, analyzing the key events and decisions taken within the resistance. It is both a historical paper and a individual reflection on the dramatic period of fighting for Poland's independence.
The author is not limited to describing military activities – his study besides shows political and strategical tensions in the Polish underground, which influenced the formation of military and political structures. 1 of the central themes of the book is the critical analysis of decisions about the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising. Rokicki presents his doubts about the merits of this challenge, especially in the context of military weakness and deficiency of real aid from the Allies. He describes the dramatic events that took place in Mokotów – the area where he commanded the forces of the Home Army. It approximates both the heroic fighting of insurgents and the tragic consequences of their efforts, including bloody German repression and the request to evacuate through channels.
The book, written just after the war and originally published in 1949, stands out not only in item of the description, but besides in the emotional charge it carries. Rokicki does not avoid hard topics – he admits that although the uprising was an act of courage and patriotism, its effects on Warsaw and its inhabitants were disastrous. He criticises certain decisions of the command and analyses the impact of divisions in the Polish underground on the final course of events. At the same time, he pays tribute to the heroes of those days, emphasizing their dedication and the relentless will to fight.
"Black and Shadows of the Heroic 5 Years" is simply a mandatory reading for all curious in the past of planet War II, especially the past of the Polish underground and the Warsaw Uprising. The book offers both a factual view of events and individual reflections of 1 of their participants. This is simply a evidence of a man who was at the center of events and who, despite the passing of years, inactive raises interest from historians and enthusiasts of the subject.
Józef Rokicki was born in 1894 and was associated with patriotic activity from his youth. During planet War I he served in the Polish Legions and then in the Polish Army, taking part in the Polish-bolshevik War. During the interwar period, he held various functions in the army, and his military career developed in staff structures and training. He was an officer with large tactical experience, which weighed on his later function during planet War II.
After the defeat of September 1939, Rokicki engaged in a conspiracy activity within the National Military Organization (NEW), which was associated with the national camp. He shortly became 1 of her leading commanders and played a key function in integrating national structures with the National Army. He advocated a broad knowing of all the underground currents and the creation of a strong military organization capable of carrying out an uprising at a convenient moment.
During the Warsaw Uprising he commanded AK troops in Mokotów, where he organized defences against German pacification forces. His troops took part in dense fighting, and after the collapse of the district, any of the Rokicki soldiers passed through the sewers to Śródmieście. After the surrender of the uprising, he got into German captivity.
After the war, Rokicki moved to London, where he became active in emigration activities. He published his memoirs, in which he not only described war events, but besides subjected them to critical analysis, indicating errors and unused chances of the Polish underground. His book became an crucial voice in the discussion about the Warsaw Uprising and the underground combat strategy.
He died in 1976, leaving behind the legacy of an officer who devoted his full life to fighting for Poland's independence.
