[bocian]

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

1/1660-1667 : Mazarin (French statesman) used his influence on Sweden to convince her to sign a peace treaty with Poland (after 10 years of plundering and destructions in Poland).

Yeah, the French who also happened to be allied with Sweden and stood by and watched the barbarous Swedes burn Poland to the ground...while Poles were out constantly fighting Ottomans, Cossasks, Russians and Tatars...

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

2/1733 : The Count Robert de Plélo (King of France's ambassador) led 2,000 volunteers and delivered Danzig (with former Polish king Stanislas Leszczynski, who was besieged by Russian army). The French diplomat was killed during the battle.

Gdansk was taken, I guess 2000 'volunteers wasn't nearly enough.

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

3/1807-1815 : By the Treaty of Tilsit (1807), Napoleon I (re)created a Polish state, the grand duchy of Warsaw (only 8 years of Polish independence between 1795 and 1918). This state was even geographically increased after Wagram in 1809.

One of the biggest shams ever. Polish troops loyally fought and died for Bonaparte from Italy to Haiti to Russia and everywhere in between fpr some hope of regaining their homeland. Bonaparte on the other hand could have done a lot in 1812 when he controlled most of historic Poland yet never made his plans clear...Poniatowski, his most loyal leuitenant, made quite clear the sentiments of the weary, hopeless, betrayed Polish nation when he plunged himself in the Elster.

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

4,5,6/1830, 1848, 1863 : Many French volunteers took part in Polish insurrections, and Polish rebels took refuge in Paris each time after these insurrections. Paris became the center of Polish nationalist activities, almost a second Polish capital. France also became the "second Fatherland" of famous Poles such as Frédéric Chopin or Adam Mickiewicz.

How many? I bet just as many as Polish 'volunteers' served France over the years...

Yeah I agree, true Polish 'patriots' sought refuge in France...

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

7/1918 : A Polish army of 50,000 soldiers (with General Haller as leader) was formed, trained and equipped by France. The French effort was vital in improving the organisation of the newly formed Polish army.

A Polish army formed of Polish war veterans--from the French army.

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

8/1920 : The French military mission to Poland, with Weygand and de Gaulle, gave Poland an important and decisive logistic aid that made possible the Polish victory in the Battle of Warsaw.

De Gaulle wasn't the advisor, he was the advised. Thanks to the war he was able to formulate his ideas on modern warfare.

'Over the corpse of white Poland lies the road to world-wide conflagration'

It truly took a miracle for the Poles, alone, to defeat the Red army.

With such a danger in Europe, France didn't contribute anything more than a few advisors. You should be ashamed.

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

9/1939-1940 : France declared war on Germany on Sept. 3 to defend Poland. (Franco-Polish political and military alliance since February 21, 1921 and Franco-Polish Treaty in 1925)
After Polish capitulation Polish government took refuge in Paris then in Angers.

Yeah...good thing the French attacked the Germans 2 weeks after the outbreak of war. Poland fought, as planned a defensive war, yet neither the French or British attacked from the west like they were supposed to. I'm sure you've heard about the 'phony war'

The French, they make the best of allies.

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

During Communist rule, France was also one of the most important supporters of Solidarnosc and Lech Walesa (France was the first country visited by Walesa in 1988, Mitterand was the first foreign statesman to visit Poland the same year). (10 ?)

Bravo.

Originally Posted by Der Elsasser

However I don't say that it has not been reciprocal (Polish troops in Napoleonic armies or during WWII).

Whatever.


Thanks for all the help France.