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Re: Jewish airmen in WWII
Graham
Well, but should we consider Soviets as Allies? How about Jews serving in quite numbers in such forces like NKVD? For me they were not good guys. But it is not important for me if they were good or not, but if they were at all.
Then we have the question if we should consider Jews as a nation without country or as a religion. As you rightly pointed out, they have lived for about 2000 years in hostile environment and kept their integrity. It is also a fact that the hostility was in their national interest as it disallowed to assimilate. Otherwise they would dissapear as many other nations with perhaps a name distinguishing their origin, just like mentioned Kowalskis.
I do not want to judge their deeds, it often was not a matter of choice. As you mentioned, Poles served both in Soviet and German armies but those doing this willingly were a marigin. Great bulk of them were drafted and nobody asked their opinion. But it must be noted here, that more Poles - German deserters - joined the army in the west than were evacuated from the SU! This says a lot about their feelings and their loyalty.
I have no problem with Jews deserting from the Polish army in Palestine. I understand pretty well that they considered themselves a separate nation and wanted own country. The only thing that bothers me is why they did not do that after the war. Their choice anyway.
In the effect, number of Jews in Polish army (and aviation) was not very significant or rather mariginal. On the other hand there were several Jewish volunteers that chose to serve in Polish army. For example there were two Jewes, one from Argentina and one from the US flying with 304 Sqn. The latter had a chance to be transferred to USAAF but did not do that.
And all I want to know is how the situation was in other air forces. I still find it weird that nobody can say there were hundreds or thousand in XAF, famous ones being Y and Z.
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