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This remarkable autobiography recounts the experiences of Tom Firth, an Anglo-Pole who spent his early childhood in Japan, before his family moved to Poland.
When war came the family was split. The author and his mother were in Poland, while his father and brother were in Britain. Even within Poland there was a split, with the author in the east and his mother in Warsaw. As a result they found themselves in different zones of occupation and the author found himself under Soviet rule.
In order to find his mother Firth applied to move to German occupied Poland. After some time at large he was arrested, and spent eighteen months in the custody of the Gestapo. After his eventual release he managed to cross through the front lines, expecting to be greeted as an ally. Instead he was arrested once again, and spent time in Soviet captivity before eventually reaching safety.
As a result Firth witness every phase of Poland's suffering during the Second World War, from the initial invasion to the arrival of the Russians. Unsurprisingly neither the Russians nor the Germans emerge well, although it is quite hard to decide who looks worst! In contract Firth and his fellow prisoners copied with their ordeal in very impressive way, co-operating in attempts to help other prisoners and even managing to get information out to the Resistance. This in an enthralling tale of the best and worst of humanity and a valuable look inside two of the Twentieth Century's worst regimes.
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Author: Tom Firth
Edition: Hardcover
Pages: 190
Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
Year: 2010