Quote:
Originally posted by rusdrm
mishaaverko,
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A little further on, choosing between Napoleon and Alexander was a very difficult decision for the Poles. Many supported the idea of siding with Alexander, even Jozef Poniatowski. However, by 1805/7 (?) the foundations laid by the Polish Legions fighting for France already in 1797, made it almost impossible for Poles to side with Russia; a matter of honor here. The scenario would've worked out very well as the Poles looked very kindly on Russia stepping in and taking Warsaw away from the Prussians. After all, it was Prussia who instigated the partitions, not Russia. The last King of Poland knew this very well and feared Prussia much more than he feared Russia, but few of his countrymen thought the same way.
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Sincerely,
Krzysztof
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Hi Krzysztof, I liked your considerate voice, however I am sceptic about any possibility of changing Misha's mind. If you read his endless repetitions about how Poland dismembered Czechoslovakia in 1938 etc. etc. your hopes will probably fade. Anyway, you added something valuable to our discussion. Some people posting here tend to think that Poland has only its eastern side. Duke Józef Poniatowski was not an enthusiast of occupying Moscow at all. It was Napoleon's idea and the Poles were dramatically torn between what reason commanded and what honour+French madman suggested. BTW Krzysztof, have you heard about recently discovered remnants of Napoleon's Grand Army near Vilnius?
The Lithuanian construction workers discovered plenty of once frozen skeletons in the outskirts of Wilno/Vilnius.
[Edited by Zbyszek on 23rd April 2003 at 00:56]