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The Piast Institute is hosting a lecture by Professor John Radzilowski

April 21, 2018

There will be copies of the book "Frantic 7" at the reading for purchase. Dr. John Radzilowski will also be at the Polish Art Center in Hamtramck on Wednesday, May 16th from noon to 2 pm.

Lecture by Professor John Radzilowski, of the University of Alaska S. E. on May 17, 2018 at 6:00 P.M., at Wayne State University, Romanian Room 408, Manoogian Hall.

In early 1944, the United States in an uneasy partnership with the Soviet Union began a massive bombing campaign of the German homeland, code name Frantic. The American aircraft flying from bases in England bombed deep into Central and Eastern Germany and then flew on to land, refuel and rearm in the Soviet Union. They made a return bombing attack on Germany on their way to their home bases.

In August 1944, the Polish Home Army rose in Warsaw to try to free their capital before the arrival of Soviet forces which were only a few miles away. The battle for Warsaw was to go on for 63 days, into October as Soviet Russian forces stopped their advance and refused to help the insurgents. As the battle raged on, the lightly armed Poles needed supplies, ammunition and medicine. It was decided to transform the last Frantic operation into a supply mission.

Dr. John Radzilowski and his co-author Jerzy Szczesniak tell us the story of the complex negotiations between the Allies, Soviets and the Home Army to supply Warsaw. The operation marked the beginning of the Cold War. The book views it through the prism of the brave struggle of fighting Warsaw, the story of the ordeal of one American aircrew, “I’ll Be Seeing You”, which went down in the Polish Countryside and the reaction of the villagers who tried to rescue the crew.

Dr. John Radzilowski, who is a Board Member of the Piast Institute, specializes in modern U.S. history, Russia/Eastern Europe, and public history. Dr. John Radzilowski will sign copies of his book after the lecture.

This project is funded in part by the Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is also sponsored by Polish Cultural Club, Wayne State University and the Piast Institute. The lecture is open to the public and free of charge.
For more information, call the Piast Institute at 313.733.4535 Ext. 106.

Dr. John Radzilowski will also be at the Hamtramck Polish Art Center on Wednesday, May 16th from noon to 2 pm.

Questions on the event? Contact Malgosia Tulecki at: tulecki@piastinstitute.org or call 313-733-4535 x. 106