{"product_id":"polish-military-aircraft-1918-1939-from-regaining-independence-to-hitlers-blitzkrieg-9781036147662","title":"Polish Military Aircraft 1918-1939: From Regaining Independence to Hitler's Blitzkrieg","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn illustrated history of Polish military aviation from 1917 to 1939, highlighting innovation, development, and wartime resilience.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite not existing as a free country for 123 years until the end of the First World War, the roots of Polish aviation, including military aviation, reach as far back as the days of pioneers such as Otto Lilienthal or the Wright Brothers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Polish Military Aviation can trace its origins to the second half of 1917, and was officially established when Poland regained her independence on 11 November 1918. The country was then able to build its own air force with men being proud to call themselves Poles again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite its difficult rebirth, in the 1930s Poland developed a wide range of its own aircraft. These included the PZL P.6 fighter which gained fame for being the most advanced of its day and the first fighter aircraft made of metal in the world, or PZL P.24 fighter considered by the RAF as a purchase option. Towards the end of the decade, however, foreign aircraft design had overtaken them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1939, Poland fought its lonely war against overwhelming might of the German Third Reich, the fascist state of Slovakia and the Soviet Russia. Though surrounded, massively outnumbered and flying mostly inferior aircraft, Polish fliers caused the attacking forces considerable losses, including 500 aircraft, destroyed and damaged.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs well as telling the story of the valiant Polish flyers, \u003ci\u003ePolish Military Aircraft 1918-1939\u003c\/i\u003e includes a wonderful collection of photographs, the majority of which have never been seen in the West. Together, these take the reader on a journey throughout the early years of Polish military aviation, showing amazing pictures of German, Austro-Hungarian or Russian aeroplanes, in many cases scavenged by the Poles. Also included is selection of British aircraft which were used in Poland, as well as a host of photographs of Polish-designed and built machines, including these that had to face Luftwaffe in September of 1939.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Air World\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/30\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781036147662\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 3.13lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.77h x 6.86w x 1.11d","brand":"Peter Sikora","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52679538409653,"sku":"9781036147662","price":42.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/polish-military-aircraft-1918-1939-from-regaining-independence-to-hitlers-blitzkrieg-9781036147662","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}