WARSAW UPRISING 1944: A conversation with Les Gade

For nine year old Les (Lech) Gade, the German occupation of Warsaw, his native city, in September 1939 unleashed an ordeal resulting in destruction of his home, death of his parents, separation from his sisters, and progression from the secret Polish boy scouts to death-defying service as a runner for the underground Polish Home Army’s commander of the Warsaw region during the brave but doomed uprising of 1 August to 2 October 1944.

He then spent time in a series of prison camps across Germany before liberation in 1945 and his arrival in Australia as a displaced person in 1949.

In conversation with our editor John Muscat, Les will range over the historical, military and personal sides of these dramatic events as well as the fascinating wartime documents he has retained. For those interested in some advance reading, Les’s story appeared in the Autumn 2018 issue of Reconnaissance and was subsequently posted on the Society’s blog at this link:

http://militaryhistorysocietynsw.blogspot.com/2019/04/my-part-in-warsaw-uprising-1944.html

Les served in the Australian Army Reserve between 1958 and 1963 and has been a longtime member of the Military History Society of New South Wales.

NB: This lecture in taking place on the second Saturday of February to accommodate some members who will be overseas until then. The subsequent lecture program as of March will return to the usual routine of first Saturday of each month.