Vintage beetles commemorate WWII leader Sikorski

General Sikorski (Centre, pointing) in Gibraltar: wikipedia

The vintage car rally has been organised by history buffs in northern Poland, with participants from Gdansk, Olsztyn and Elblag and other localities involved.

General Sikorski, who was prime minister of Poland's wartime government-in-exile in London, died on 4 July 1943 when his Liberator plane crashed into the sea while returning to England from a reconnaissance trip to Gibraltar.

“The route of the expedition has been calculated so that the finish takes place on 4 July,” revealed Tomasz Gliniecki, a history lover with a soft spot for Beetles, who is taking part in the trip.

Although the pilot of the July 1943 flight survived with broken legs, all fourteen other people on board, including British MP and liaison officer to Sikorski Victor Cazalet, died in the accident.

Conspiracy theories flourished over the years, with the finger pointed at Russia, Britain and even a clique loyal to Polish military leader General Wladyslaw Anders, who had been at odds with Sikorski.

However, noted historian Norman Davies has reflected that “no reputable historian” has ever insisted that sabotage took place. Likewise, historian Adam Zamoyski, whose father served for a time as aide-de-camp to Sikorski, told the Krakow Post that the Polish leader was “simply not important enough to warrant being liquidated.” (nh)

Source: IAR