“Other soldiers were here in transit and had a ‘return ticket’ home. The Poles acted as if they had come home. Why? Because they had no home. Poland had been taken over by Stalin. They had no intention of returning to Poland. So they behaved as if they had reached home. This difference made an incredible impression on the Italians” Alberto Spadoni, Bologna

Grateful citizens

Alberto Spadoni was a 17-year-old boy when Bologna was liberated by Polish troops. They were the first to enter the city at 6am on 21 April 1945 as part of the Eighth British Army. Residents celebrated enthusiastically as the Polish flag fluttered at the highest tower Torre degli Asinelli and the Town Hall. 

Poles in Bologna

Poland for centuries had links with the city of Bologna. Many Poles had studied at its university including the astronomer Mikołaj Kopernik. Medics to the Kings, future bishops and artists were amongst others. Several Poles had been rectors of the University. The Polish troops, following in their footsteps, certainly felt the warmth of the locals:

“They were surrounded by smiling, cheering crowds, many of whom shouted Viva la Polonia. Women threw flowers, men passed glasses of wine, girls hugged and kissed them. For the Poles, it was a bittersweet experience. ‘On the one hand, I was happy that I had brought freedom to these people’, recalled one soldier, ‘but on the other, I was sad that this was not a street in Poland..’ . (Lynne Olson, Stanley Cloud: ‘For your freedom and ours’ London 2003 in ‘Szlak Nadzei’, Norman Davies, Rosikon Press 2015)

The Italian Campaign

The Italian Campaign had been exhausting. Described initially by Winston Churchill as the ‘soft underbelly of Europe’ it proved the opposite. After the fall of Mussolini, the Germans had invaded northern and central Italy, finding the mountainous terrain easy to defend. Polish troops, formed from those rescued after Soviet deportation took part in the campaign after training in Palestine. The 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division was the first to land in Taranto in the heel of Italy in December 1943.

Moving north, the first Polish clashes with the Germans took place in the mountains of the Abruzzo region. Months later they gained the monastery in the fourth battle for Monte Cassino in May 1944 with so much bloodshed. After a short break, in mid-June they moved to the Adriatic Coast fighting in eight major battles. The most difficult being for the port of Ancona, crucial to shorten supply lines for the Allies. “The battle for Ancona was one of the most spectacular military operations in the history of the 8th Army’s battles.” General Leese, Eighth Army Commander.

With no place to call home

“The Polish Odyssey” had not yet ended. Every Polish soldier knew the decision taken in February 1945 at the Yalta Conference between President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Stalin. They were heart-broken that Stalin was to keep their homeland of Eastern Poland within the USSR as well as total influence over Poland’s future with new borders. Although Allied politicians had doubts about the continued motivation of the Polish troops, General Anders ordered them to fight on with honour and discipline. Reaching the Emilian Appenines in January 1945, three months of static warfare began before the final assault on Bologna from 9 – 21 April 1945.

The task of the troops was to break through enemy positions on the Senio River and gain bridgeheads on the Santerno River. The Poles captured Imola on 15th April before finally entering Bologna.

“In your advance up the historic Via Emilia, from Faenza to Bologna, you have been opposed throughout by the enemy’s best troops……The fighting has been fierce and bitter. These tough enemy parachutists were fighting hard up to the final blow you gave them east of the river Idice, which shattered the enemy and directly led to the capture of historic Bologna.” Richard McCreery Lieut.- General, G.O.C 8th Army to the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Polish Corps.

As the troops entered Bologna, the Soviet army were storming Berlin. On 29 April 1945 the German commander signed the complete surrender of German troops in Italy at Caserta, ending the Italian Campaign. For the Polish troops, they had no idea what was now to be their fate…

The Polish Odyssey

As part of the 80th anniversary commemoration ceremonies in Bologna 23 – 25 April 2025, a new documentary” L’Odissea Polacca” premiered at the Cinema “Modernissimo” . In Polish below:

Directed by Michał Miziołek, Wojciech Saramonowicz and Grzegorz Czerniak, it tells the incredible journey of the Polish soldiers starting in Siberia, through the Middle East to Italy. Veterans who took part in the battles of Monte Cassino and the liberation of Bologna speak of their experiences. The documentary also highlights Italians such as Alberto (1927 – 2024) who appreciated the Polish fight for freedom and the kindness with which they treated the Italians.

There are 1,432 soldiers of the II Polish Corps buried at the Polish War Cemetery in Bologna, the largest of all four military Polish cemeteries in Italy. May we remember their sacrifices forever.

Polish at Heart is organising an 80th commemorative event with a speaker from the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum in Manchester Central Library on 21 May. You may wish to read more about the cemeteries and the battle for Monte Cassino:

This article was written on the basis of many sources including: Norman Davies – Szlak Nadziei, Rosikon Press, 2015, The Polish Digest, Rome, Polish Army Publications Branch, November 1945, The Italian Campaign, National Army Museum www.nam.ac.uk with photographs from the Imperial War Museum and the Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe.