There was an old joke — long before the days of political correctness — that went like this:

First person: “What is the shortest book ever written?”
Second person: “I don’t know. What is it?”
First person: “Polish War Victories.”

It was a cruel reminder of Poland’s centuries-long history of invasion, occupation and partition, including three partitions in the 18th century alone that divided Poland and Lithuania amongst Russia, Prussia and Austria; numerous conflicts with various neighboring countries, including the Polish-Bohemian Wars, the Polish-Ottoman War, and the Polish-Teutonic Wars; the invasion by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, marking the start of that little upset known as World War II; and the 44-year Communist occupation from 1945 to 1989.

So it’s understandable that they might be a bit skittish when they hear sabers rattling from one of their nearby neighbors: in this case, of course, Russia . . . the bulk of which is located just one degree of separation away, to the east of Putin-friendly Belarus and already-invaded Ukraine. But there is also that tiny wedge (in purple, below) between Poland and northeastern neighbor Lithuania, called Kaliningrad, that belongs to Russia and puts the enemy right on Poland’s doorstep.

But this time, having learned from experience — and being privy to advanced communications and intelligence-gathering — the Poles are not sitting around, blindly hoping for the best. They are preparing to defend their country if . . . or when . . . it becomes necessary.

There is, for example, a military training ground near the city of Wroclaw, where ordinary citizens — men, women and children — are being handed guns and taught how to shoot them. There is also a Saturday morning program called “Train with the Army,” that teaches them hand-to-hand combat, first aid, and how to use a gas mask. [Will Vernon, BBC News, May 2, 2025.]

The project’s coordinator, Captain Adam Sielicki, says, “The times are dangerous now, we need to be ready. We have a military threat from Russia, and we are preparing for this.” [Id.]

The program is already oversubscribed, and the Polish government plans to expand it so that every adult male in the country will receive training. Poland is spending nearly five percent of its GDP on defense this year — the highest percentage among its fellow NATO members. And Prime Minister Donald Tusk said last week that his country’s goal is to build “the strongest army in the region” — a fact supported by the number of planes, ships, artillery systems and missiles they’ve been buying from the U.S., Sweden, South Korea, and elsewhere. [Id.]

One woman attending the camp told the BBC that the U.S. election of Donald Trump to a second presidential term has caused serious concern for the people of Poland: “He wants to pull out [of Europe]. That’s why we feel even less safe. If we’re not prepared and Russia attacks us, we’ll simply become their prisoners.” [Id.]

*. *. *

Poland is not alone among European nations gearing up against a possible Russian invasion. Vladimir Putin’s empire-building ambitions are well-known . . . to everyone, it seems, except Donald Trump, who still chooses to believe that settling the conflict in Ukraine to Putin’s satisfaction will keep him happy indefinitely . . . while the world knows that the reverse is true.

And Trump — not known for his particular acumen in geography or history — also seems to overlook the fact that Russia and the United States are separated, not by an ocean, but by a mere 55 miles of water known as the Bering Strait.

But you can be damned sure that Putin hasn’t forgotten.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/4/25